Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-02

When Korak hunted Meriem usually
accompanied him, for she had learned
the fine art of silence when silence
was desirable. She could pass through
the branches of the great trees now
with all the agility and stealth of the
Killer himself. Great heights no long
er appalled, her. She swung from limb
to limb, or she raced through the
mighty branches, sure footed, 1.-THE and
fearless. Korak was very proud Of
her, and even old Akut grunted in ap-
prevail where before he had growled
in contempt.
A distant village of blacks had fur
nished her with mantle of fur and
feathers. with copper ornaments and
weapons. for Korak would not permit
her to go unarmed or IMMERSED in the
use OF the weapons he stole for her
A light spear and long knife were
her weapons of offense or defense.
Her body. rounding into the fulness
of an early maturity, followed the
lines Of a Greek goddess. but there the
similarity ceased, for her face was
beautiful.
AS she grew more accustomed TO the
jungle and the ways Of its wild denl.
zens, fear left her. AS time wore on
she even hunted alone when Korak
and Akut were prowling at a great
distance. as they were sometimes
forced to DO when game was scarce In
their immediate vicinity. Upon these
occasions she usually confined her en-
deavors to the smaller animals. though
sometimes she brought down a deer
and once even Horta, the boar, a great
tusker that might have made even
Sheeta think twice before attacking
him.
After korak had left the village OF
the blacks following his last thieving
expedition the screams of women and
children had brought the warriors in
from the forest and the river. Great
was the excitement and hot was the
rage OF the men when they learned
that the white devil had again entered
their homes, frightened their women
and stolen arrows and ornaments and
food.
Even their superstitious fear of this
weird creature who hunted with q
huge bull ape was overcome in their
desire to wreak vengeance upon him
and rid themselves for good and all OF
the menace Of his presence in the
jungle.
And so it was that a score Of the
tieetest and most doughty warriors OF
the tribe set out in pursuit of korak
and Akut hut few minutes after
they had left the scene of the Killers
many depredations.
The little party of warriors was led
by Kovudoo. the chief. d middle aged
! savage Of exceptional cunning and
! bravery. 1t was he who first came
within sight of the quarry which they
/ had followed for hours by the mys
terious methods of their almost I'M
| canny powers of observation, intuition
ana even scent.
| The white youth and the white maid
stood alone in the jungle when they
| We're discovered by Kovudoo's band
! Akut had been made king of his ape
| tribe, and Korak. to Akut's sorrow
! had left him to dwell with Meriem iI
the jungle. One Of Kovudoo's mer
| leaned close TO the ear of his chief.
Look he whispered and pointed
! TO something that dangled at the girls
side. when my brother and l were
! slaves IN the village of the sheik my
I brother made that thing for the sheik's
little daughter. She played with it al
ways and called IL after my brother
whose name is Geeka Just before VIZ