The Jasper news., 1918-02-21
The Son of
TarZan
BY EDGAR RICE
BURROUGHS
Copyright by Frank A. Munsey Co.
Copyright BY Frank A. Munsey Co.
CHAPTER xlv-continued.

Here we are at last" said Hanson.
He drew his revolver and fred In the
air. Instantly the camp across the riv-
er was astir. Black men ran down to
the rivers bank. Hanson hailed them.
But there was no sign of the Hon.
Morrison Baynes.
In accordance with their masters in
structions the blacks manned canoe
and rowed across. Hanson placed Me-
riem in the little craft and entered 1t
himself, leaving two boys to watch the
horses, which the canoe was to return
for and swim across to the camp side
of the river.
Once In the camp Meriem asked for
Baynes. For the moment her fears
had been allayed by the sight Of the
camp, which she had come to look
upon as more or less Of a myth! Han
son pointed toward the single tent that
stood in the center of the Enclosure.
There" he said, and preceded her
toward 1t. At the entrance he held the
flap aside and motioned her within.
Meriem entered and looked about. The
tent was empty.
She turned toward Hanson. There
was broad grin on his face.
where is Mr.. Baynes?" she de-
manded.
HE amt here" replied Hanson.
"Leastwise / don't see him, do you?
But I'm here, and I'm better man
than that thing ever was. You don't
need him no more-you got me-" and
he laughed uproariously and reached
for her.
Meriem was looking full into his face
as she fought for freedom when there
came over her sudden recollection of
n similar scene In which she had been
u participant and with 1t full recogni-
ton Of her assailant. He was the
Swede Milbihn, who had attacked her
once before, who had shot his compan-
ion, who would have saved her and
from whom she had been rescued by
Bwana.
His smooth face had deceived her,
but now, with the growing beard and
the similarity of conditions, recogni-
ton came swift and sure.
But today there would be no Bwana
to save her!
AS Meriem struggled with Malbihn
hope died within her. She did not
utter sound, for she knew that there
was none to come to her assistance,
and, besides, the jungle training Of her
earlier life had taught her the futility
of appeals for succor in the savage
world of her upbringing.
But as she fought to free herself one
hand came in contact with the butt
of Malbihn's revolver where 1t rested
in the holster at his hip. Slowly her
fingers encircled the coveted prize and
drew it from its resting place. She
leveled 1t at his breast, but the ham,
mer fell futilely upon an empty cham
Der.
For a moment she eluded Malblhn
and ran toward the entrance to the
tent, but at the very doorway his heavy
hand fell upon her shoulders and drag.
ged her back. Wheeling upon him with
the fury of wounded lioness, Meriem
grasped the long revolver by the bar
rel, swung 1t high above her head
and crashed 1t down full In Malbihns
face.
With an oath Of pain and rage the
man staggered backward, releasing his
hold upon her. and then sank uncon.
scious to the ground. Without back
ward look Meriem turned and fled into
the open.
Several of the blacks saw her and
tried to intercept her flight, but the
menace of the harmless weapon kept
them at distance.
And SO she won beyond the encir
cling bona and disappeared into the
jungle to the south.
Straight into the branches of a tree
she went, true to the arboreal instincts
of the little Mangani she had been, anG
there she stripped off her riding skirt
her shoes and her stockings, for She
knew that she had before her jour
ney and flight which would not brool
the burden Of these garments.
She had not gone far before she com
menced to realize how slight were hel
chances for survival without means Of
defense or weapon to bring dowr
meat. Why had she not thought t.
strip the cartridge belt from Malbihn'i
waist before she had left his tent
With cartridges for the revolver sh,
might hope to bag small game and t.
protect herself from all but the mos
ferocious of the enemies that would
beset her way back to the beloved
hearthstone Of Bwana and Ny Dear.