Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-10-30

hing unknown 10 either. But as the
youth neared manhood il was inevi-
table that ii should come TO him, as II
did to every other savage Jungle male
As Meriem became proficient in their
common language the pleasures of
their companionship grew correspond
ngly. for now they could converse
and. aided by the mental powers OF
their human heritage, they amplfied
the restricted vocabulary of the apes
until talking was transformed from a
task into an enjoyable pastlme.
When korak runted Meriem usually
accompanied him, for she had learned
the fine art of silence when silence
was desirable. She could pass through
the branches of the great trees now
with all the agility and stealth of the
Killer himself Grear heights no long
CT appalled, her. She swung from limb
10 limb. or she raced through the
mighty branches. sure footed, little and
fearless korak was very proud Of
her and even old Akut grunted in APP
prevail whore before he had growled
! IN contempt.
! A distant village of blacks had fur.
nished her with mantle of fur and
feathers, with copper ornaments and
weapons. for korak would not permit
her To 60 unarmed or IMMERSED in the
use of the weapons he stole for her.
A light spear and n long knife were
her weapons of offense or defense.
Her body, rounding into the fulness
Of IN early maturity, followed the
lines of Il Greek goddess, but there the
similarity ceased, for her face was
beautiful.
As she grew more accustomed to the
zens fear left her. As time wore on
/ she even hunted alone when Korak
! and Akut were proving at II great
distance. as they We're sometimes
| forced 10 do when game was scarce in
their immediate vicinity. Upon these
/ occasions she usually confined her en-
/ dcavors TO the smaller animals. though
4 sometimes she brought down Il deer
and once even Horta, the boar, II great
| tnGler that might have made ever
| Slirrta think twice before attacllin,
I him.
/ After korak had left the village OF
he blacks following his last tlievh?
expedition the screams of women anC
children had brought the warriors IN
from the forest and the rlver Great
was the excitement and hot was thu
rage OF the men when they Learned
that the white devil had again entered
their homes. frightened their wOlner
and stolen arrows and ornaments ant
food.
Even their superstitious fear of thi,
weird creature who hunted with 4
huge bun ape was overcome in theil
desire to wreak vengeance upon him
and rid themselves for good and all OI
the menace Of his presence in th,
! jungle.
And so II was that n score of the
lleeteSt and most doughty warriors o
the tribe set out In pursuit Of KOral
and Aknt but few minutes after
they had left the scene of the Killer,
many dcpredations.
The little party Of warriors was lee
by kovlldoo, the chief, Il middle aget
savage of exceptional cunning ant
bravery. Ii was he who first cam.
within sight of the quarry which the,
had followed for hours by the myS
FERROUS methods of their almost I'm
and even scent.
The white youth and the white mai,
stood alone IN the jungle when the,
! were discovered by koyud0os band
Akut had been made king Of his ap,
tribe. and Korak, to Akut's sorrow
had left him to dwell with Mericm II
the Jungle. one Of kovudoO's meI
leaned close to the ear Of his chief.
Look" he whispered and pointe,
10 something that dangled Ut the girl''
side. "When MY brother and | wer,
slaves In the village of the shelk my
brother made that thing for the shek',
little daughter. She played with ii al
ways and called 1t after my brother
whose name Is Geeka. Just before we
eescapeG some eGa came and struck