The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1918-02-21
Copyright by
Frank A. Munsey Co.
CHAPTER XVII.
Tarzan Returns.

aAA1
Tantor carried him deep into the
jungle, nor paused until no sound
from the distant village reached ms
keen ears. Then he laid his burden
gently down. korak struggled to free
himself from mis- bonds, but even his
great strength was unable to cope with
the many strands of hard knotted cord
that bound him.
And while he struggled through the
night with his bonds Baynes and Meri-
EN- were riding rapidly northWard
along the river. The girl had assured
Baynes hat Korak was safe in the
Jungle with Tant0r. 1t had not oc-
Cured to her that the ape nan might
not be able to burst his bonds. BayneS
had been wounded by Il shot from the
rifle of one of the Arabs, and the girl
wanted to get him back to Bwana's
home, where he could be properly
cared for.
"Thcn." she said, 81 shall get Bwana
TO come with me and search for 10
rak. He must come and live with us"
All night they rode, and the day was
still young when they came suddenly
upon a party hurrying southwark. 1t
was Bwana himself and his sleek,
black warriors.
At sight of BayneS the big English
mans brows contracted in Il scowl,
but he waited to heal Meriem's story
before giving vent to the long pent
anger in his breast. When she had
finished he seemed to have forgotten
Baynes. His thoughts were occupied
with another subject.
"You say that you found Korak?' he
asked. You really saw him?'
Eyes" replied Merlem; "as plainly
as | see you, and | want you to come
with me, Bwana, and help me find him
again.
Did you see him?" He turned to-
ward the Hon. Morrison.
Eyes, sir" replied Baynes; very
plainly"
what sort of appearing man is her
continued Bwnna. about how old
would you say?'
81 should say he was an E~nglishman
about my WI age replied Baynes,
Bw0na turned to his head man
"Take Miss Meriem and Mr.. Baynes
home" he said. Il am going into the
Jungle"
Then he motioned to his head man
to take his horse and the
return journey to the farm. Meriem
slowly mounted the tired horse that
the sheik. A litter was rugged for the
now feverish Baynes, and the little
cavalcade was 500 slowly winding off
along the river trail.
Bwana stood watching them until
they were out of sight.
Slowly he turned toward q nearby
tree. Leaping upward, he caught a
lower branch and drew himself up
among the branches. His movements
were catlike and agile. High into the
tree he made his way and there com
menced to divest himself of his cloth
ing.
After Bwana had left his party,
sending them back toward the farm,
Meriem had ridden for a short dis
lance with bowed head. What thoughts
passed through that active brain who
may say? Presently she seemed to
come to a decision. She called the
head man to her side.
II am going back with Bwana," she
announced.
The black shook his head. "No!" he
announced. 'Bwana says | take you
home. So | take YOU home"
Presently her horse passed beneath
a low hanging branch, and the black
head man found himself gazing at the
girls empty saddle. He ran forward
to the tree into which she had disap-
peared. He could see nothing of her.
He called, but there was no response
unless it might have been n low, taunt-
ing laugh far to the right. He sent his
men into the jungle to search for her,
blu they came back empty handed.
After awhile he resumed his march
toward the farm, for Baynes by this
time was delirious with fever.
Meriem, shedding the awkward Arab
robe they had given her in the sheik's
dOuar, raced in riding brooches nd
barefoot straight back toward the
point she imagined Tantor would make
for, a point where she knew the ele-
plants often gathered deep in the for
est due east Of the sheik's village. She
moved silently and swiftly. From her
mind she had expunged all thoughts
other than that she must reach Korak
and bring him back with her.
Now there came to her sensitive nos.
trils the scent of Tantor, and she knew
that she was Oh the right trail and
close to him she sought. She did NOT
call out, because she wished to sur
prise him, and presently she did, break.
ing into sight Of them as the great
elephant shuflled ahead, balancing the
man and the heavy stake upon his
head. holding them there with his up
curled trunk.