Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1918-02-06
Copyright by
Frank A. Munsey Co.
CHAPTER xIII-continued.


AS they rode through the wood the
sounds of their careless passage came
to the ears of another jungle wayfarer.
1t was no other than korak himself,
who was perched in a tree.
He moved stealthily through the
branches until he came within sight of
the riders. He fell in behind the pair,
following them to Hansons camp.
Here the Hon. Morrison penned a brief
note. which Hanson gave into the
keeping of one of his boys, who start
ed off forthwith with it toward the
south. Out of curiosity Korak re-
manned in the vicinity of the camp.
Baynes was restless, pacing back
and forth beneath the trees when he
should have been resting against the
forced marches of the coming flight.
Hanson lay in his hammock and smok-
ed. They spoke but little. KOrak lay
stretched upon a branch among the
dense foliage above them.
In the garden beside the bungalow
Meriem wandered thoughtfully in the
moonlight. She still smarted from
Bwana's. to her, unjust treatment of
the Hon. Morrison Baynes.
Meriem loved them both and was
grateful to them for all that they had
done for her, but deep in her heart
surged the savage love of liberty that
her years of unirammeled freedom In
the jungle had made part and parcel of
her being Now, for the first time
since she had come to them, Meriem
felt like a prisoner in the bungalow of
Bwana and My Dear.
Like a Gagged tigress the girl paced
the length of the Enclosure. Once she
paused near the outer fence, her head
upon one side, listening to the pad OF
naked human feet just beyond the gar
den. The sound was not repeated.
Then she resumed her restless walk
ing. Down to the opposite end of the
garden she passed, turned and retraced
her steps toward the upper end. Upon
the sward near the bushes that hid the
fence, full in the glare of the moon
light, lay O white envelope that had
not been there when she had turned
almost upon the very spot moment
before.
Meriem stopped short in her tracks.
listening again and sniffing-more than
ever the tigress-alert. ready. Beyond
the bushes a naked black runner squat
ted, peering through the foliage. he
saw her take a step closer to the letter.
She had seen it. He rose quietly and
following the shadows of the bushes
that ran down to the corral, was soon
gone from sight.
Meriem's trained ears heard his
every move She made no attempt to
seek closer knowledge of his identity.
Already she had guessed that he was
a messenger from the Hon. Morrison.
She stopped and picked up the envel-
ope Tearing 1t open, she read the con-
tents easily by the moons brilliant
light.
1t was, as she had guessed. from
Baynes:
~ cannot go without seeing you
again. Come to the clearing early to-
morrow morning and say goodby to
me. Come alone"
There WI little more-wOrds that
made her heart beat faster and hap
by flush mount her cheek.
1t was still dark when the Hon.
Morrison Baynes set forth for the tryst-
ing place He insisted upon having Il
guide, saying that he was not sure that
ne could find his way back to the little
clearing.
As a matter of fact, the thought of
that lonely ride through the darkness
before the sun rose had been too much
for his courage, and he craved COM
pany.
A black, therefore, preceded him on
foot. Behind and above him came Ko-
rak. whom the noise in the camp had
awakened.
1t was nine o'clock before Baynes
drew rein in the clearing. Meriem had
not yet arrived. The black lay down
to rest. Baynes lolled In his saddle
KOrak stretched himself comfortably
upon a lofty limb, where he could
watch those beneath him without being
seen.
An hour passed. Baynes gave evil
dence of nervousness. Korak had al
ready guessed that the young English
man had come here to meet another.
Presently the sound of an approach
ing horse came TO Korak's ears. Me
riem was coming. She had almost
reached the clearing before Baynes
became aware of her presence, and
then as he looked up the foliage part
mount, and Meriem rode into view.
Baynes spurred TO meet her,
korak looked searchingly down upon
her. mentally anathematizing the
broad-brimmed hat that hid her fea-
lures from his eyes. She was abreast
the Englishman now.
Korak saw the man take both her
hands and draw her close TO his breast
He saw the mans face concealed for
a moment beneath the same broad brim
that hid the girls.
When he looked again they had
drawn apart and were conversing earn
estly. Korak could see the man urg-
ing something. 1t was equally evident
that the girl was holding back. There
were many of her gestures, and the
way in which she tossed her head up
and to the right, Uplifting her chin,
that reminded Korak strongly of Me-
Tiem. And then the conversation was
over. and the man took the girl in his
arms again to kiss her goodby.
She turned and rode toward the
point from which she had come. The
.-a- cot Hie horse sr.+ohfnrr har A.