Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-30
Copyright by
e-ssk A. Manscy Co.
CHAPTER VII.
4 Rescue.

NSSSOS..
wear had passed since the two
Swedes had been driven in terror from
ne savage country where the sheik
held sway, Little Meriem still played
with her doll Geeka. iayishing all her
childish love upon the now almost
homeless ruin Of what had never. even
in its palmiest days. possessed even a
aight degree of loveliness.
The shcik had been away for long
time. conducting g caravan Of ivory.
skins aud rubber far into the north.
The interim had been one of great
peace for Meriem. II is true that Ma
hunu had still been with her, to pinch
ar beat her as the mood seized the vii
famous old bag, but Nahum was only
one When the sheik was there also
there were TWO of them. and the shefk
was stronger and more brutal even
than Nahum.
Little Meriem often wondered why
the grim old mnns hated her SO. 1t Is
true that he vas cruel and unjust TO
all with uhom he came in contact. but
10 Meriru 3d. reserved his greatest
crueliies. his most studied injustices.
As the little girl played she prat.
lied continuously to her companion,
dropped in a sitting position with a
couple of twigs. She was totally alb
sorbed In Geeka--sO much so that she
did not note the gentle swaying of the
branches of the tree above her as they
bent to the body of creature that had
entered them stealthily from the jun
gle.
In happy ignorance the little girl
played on. while from above two steady
eyes looked down upon her, unblink-
inc. unws tering. There was none 9th
or than the little girl in this part of
the village, which had been almost de-
serted since the sheik had left long
months before upon his journey to-
ward the north.
And out in the jungle, an hours
march from the village, the sheik was
leading his returning caravan home
ward
A year had passed since the white
men had fired upon the lad and driven
him back into the jungle to take up
his search for the only remaining crea-
lures 10 whom he might look for COM
panionship-the great apes. For
months the two had wandered east
ward, deeper and deeper into the jun
gle.
The year had done much for the boy
turning hk already mighty rnusclea
70 thews OF steel, developing his WooG-
craft TO point where it verged upon
the uncanny, perfecting his arboreal
instincts and training him In the use
Of both natural and artificial weapons
Of offense and defense.
He had become at last creature OF
marvellous physical powers and menta
cunning. He was still but boy, yet
80 great was his strength that the
powerful anthropoid with which he
often engaged in mimic battles was
no match for him. Akut had taught
him to fight MS the bull ape fights, MOI
ever was there teacher better fitted
TO Instruct in the savage warfare OF
primordial man or pupil better
equipped 10 profit by the lessons Of {
master.
As the two searched for a band OF
the almost extinct species Of ape t.
which Akut belonged they lived upor
the best the jungle afforded. Antelope
md zebra fell to the boys spear OF
were dragged down by the two power
iul beasts Of prey. who leaped upoI
them from some overhanging limb Of
from the ambush of the underground
beside the trail to the water hole OF
tho ford.
Akut and Jack. now called Korak II
The ape language, were moving slOwl!
down the wind, and warily, because
me advantage was with whatever
Hast might chance to be hunting
. ahead Of them. where their scent spoo
was being borne by the light breeze
suddenly the two halted simultaneous
". Two heads were cooked upon on
SIDE Like creatures hewn from soll'
rock they stood .inmovable, listening
NOT a muscle quivered.
For several seconds they remained
mus. Then Korak advanced cautiousl.
Few yards and leaped nimbly int
Tree. Akut followed close upon hi
heels Neither had made a sound tina
would have been appreciable to hu
man ears at dozen PAGES.
stopping often TO listen. they crep
forward through the trees. That bou