Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-27
Copyright by Y
Frank A. MunseJ Co.
CHAPTER xVl-continued.

shoulders and hustled them through
the slit wall and out into the shadows
be Jond
Now run for it," he admo2ished
and turned TO meet and hold those who
were pouring into the tent from the
front
The ape man fought well, fought as
he had never fought before, but the
odds were too great for victory, though
he won that which he most crayed-
tine for the Englishman to escape
with Meriem. Then he was over
whelmed by numbers, and a few min
utes later, bound and guarded. he was
carried to the sheik's tent.
The old man eyed him in silence for
a long time. He was trying to fix in
his own mind some form of torture
that would crafty his rage and hatred
toward this creature who twice had
been the means of his losing posses
sion of Meriem.
And as he sat there looking upon
Korak the silence was broken by the
trumpeting of an elephant in the jungle
beyond the palisade. A half smile
touched KOrak's lips. He turned his
head trifle in the direction from
which the sound had come, and then
there broke from his lips a low, weird
call.
One of the blacks guarding him
struck him across the mouth with the
haft of his spear, but none there knew
he significance of his cry
In the jungle TantOr cooked his ears
as the sound Of Koraks voice fell upon
them. He approached the palisade
and, lifting his trunk above IT, shifted.
Then he placed his head against the
wooden logs and pushed, but the pail
SADIE was strong and gave only little
10 the pressure.
In the sheik's tent the sheik rose at
last and, pointing toward the bound
captive, turned TO one of his lieu
tenants.
Burn him." he commanded "at
oncel The stake is set"
Meriem, dazed by the unexpected
sight of Korak, whom she had long
given up as dead, permitted herself to
be led away by Baynes. Among the
tents he guided her safely TO the pail
SADIE, and there, following Korak's in
Structions, the Englishman pitched
moose over the top of one of the up
right logs that formed the barrier.
With difficulty he reached the top and
then lowered his hand to assist Mer-
lem to his side.
Come" he whispered I'VE must
hurry"
And then, as though she had awak
ened from sleep Meriem came to
herself. Back there, fighting her enc
mics alone. was Korak-her Korak
Her place was by his side, fighting
with him and for him.
She glanced up at Baynes.
Coz she called. MAKE your way
back to Bwana and bring help. My
place is here. You can do no good re-
naming. Get away while you can and
bring the big Bwana back with you"
Silently the Hon. Morrison Baynes
slid TO the ground inside the palisade
TO Meriem's side.
ne said, nodding toward the tents they
had just left. Il knew that he could
hold them longer than / and give you
Il chance 10 escape that | might not
be able TO have given you. II was l.
though. who should have remained.
heard you call him Korak. and so
know who he is
As they stood there for the moment
of their conversation the sounds of
tumuit in the village subsidized.
They have killed hint" whispered
Meriem.
The statement brought Paynes to a
realization of the cause of their return.
wait here" he said Il will go and
see. If he is dead we can do him no
good If he lives will do my best to
free him"
I'VE will so together" replied Mer-
lem. Gomez And she led the way
back toward the tent in which they
last had seen KOrak.
As they went they were often forced
to throw themselves to the ground in
the shadow of tent or hut, for people
were passing hurriedly to and fro now.
The whole village was aroused and
moving about Tho return to the tent
of the sheik took much longer than
had their swift flight to the palisade.
Cautiously they crept to the slit that
KOrak's knife had made in the rear
wall. Meriem peered inside. The rear
apartment was empty. She crawled
through the aperture. Baynes at her
heels, and then silently crossed the
space to the rugs that partitioned the
tect into two rooms. Parting the
halgings. Meriem looked into the front
rom. 1t, too. was deserted.
she crossed TO the door Of the tent
ana looked out. Then she gave little
gasp of horror. Baynes at her shoulder
locked past her 10 the sight that had
startled her. and he. too, exclaimed.
but his was an oath of anger
hundred feet away they saw KO-
rak bound to a stake. the brush piled
about him already alight. The Eng
lishman pushed Meriem to one side
and started on a run for the doomed
man. What he could do in the face of
scores of hostile blacks aud Arabs he
did not stop TO consider.
At the same instant Tantor broke
through the palisade and-charged the
group. In the face Of the maddened
beast the crowd turned and fed. carry