Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-02
By Edgar Rice Burroughs

She knew 1t. He would never come
now, and these men would take her
away. Presently they would kill her.
She would never see her Korak again.
On this day the Swedes rested, for
they had marched rapidly and their
men were tired. Malbihn and Jensen
had gone from camp to hunt, takins
different directions.
They had been gone about an hour
when the door of Meriem's tent was
lifted and Malbihn entered. His look
portended no good to the girl.
Out In the jungle Jensen had
brought down two bucks. His hunting
had not carried him far afield, nor
was he prone to permit 1t to do 80. He
was suspicious Of Malbihn. The very
fact that his companion had refused to
accompany him and elected instead to
hunt alone in another direction would
not, under ordinary circumstances
have seemed fraught with sinister sug.
gestion. but Jensen knew Malbihn
well, and so, having secured meat, he
turned Immediately back toward camr
while his boys brought In his kill.
He had covered about half the re
turn journey when a scream came
family to his ears from the direction
Of camp. He halted to listen. 1t was
repeated twice. Then silence.
With q muttered curse Jensser
broke into Q rapid run. What foo
Malbihn was, indeed, thus to, chance
jeopardizing fortunel
Further away from camp than Jens
sen and upon the opposite side an
other heard Meriem's screams
stranger who was not even aware Of
the proximity Of white men other thar
himself. a hunter with a handful Of
sleek, black warriors.
He. too. listened intentIy for . mo
ment That the voice was that Of 9
woman In distress he could not doubt
and 80 he also fastened at a run In
the direction Of the affrighted voice
but he was much farther away thar
Jensen, so that the latter reached the
tent first.
What the Swede found there reused
no pity within his calloused heart, only
anger against his fellow scoundrel
Meriem was fighting of her attacker
Malbihn was showering blows upon
her.
Jensen, streaming foul curses upor
his erstwhile friend, burst into the
tent. Malbihn, interrupted, dropped
his victim and turned to meet Jens
sens Infatuated charge.
He whipped q revolver from his hip
Jensen. anticipating the lightning
move Of the others hand, drew almos
simultaneously, and both men fired a
| once.
Jensen was still moving towart
| Malbihn at the time, but at the fasl
Of the explosion he stopped. His re
volver dropped from nerveless fingers
For moment he staggered drunkenly
Deliberately Malbihn put two NOR
bullets into his friends body at clos
range.
Even in the midst Of the excitemen
and her terror Meriem found hersel
! wondering at the tenaeity Of uf
which the hit man displayed. Hi
eyes were closed, his head droppe
| ID hiS hroocf his hand
hung Imply before him. Yet still b
stood there upon his feet, though b
reeled horribly.
It was not until the third bullet ha
found Its mark within his body tina
he lunged forward upon his face. The
Malbihn approached him and, with a
oath, kicked him viciously. Then h
turned once more to Meriem.
At the same instant the flaps Of tn
tent opened silently and a tall whit
man stood in the aperture. Neithe
Meriem or Malbihn saw the newcon
er. The latter's back was toward hin
while his body hid the stranger fro1
Meriem's eye.
/ He crossed the tent quickly, ster
ping over Jenssen's body. The frs
intimation Malbihn had was q heav
hand upon his shoulder.
! He wheeled, to face an utter strar
ger, a tall, black haired, gray eye
stranger. clad in khaki and pith hel
met. Malbihn reached for his gu
again, but another nand mad Dee
quicker than his, and he saw tn
weapon tossed TO the ground at tn
s,de Of the tent-out Of reach.
what is the meaning Of thisT' TIL
stranger addressed his question t
Meriem In a tongue she did not under
stand. She shook her head and spok
in Arabic. Instantly the man change
his question to that language.
'These men are taking me ava
from Korak" painted the girl. "Thi
Observation-Disclosures