Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-06
Copyright by
Fcank A. Munscy Co.
CHAPTER X.
korak's Vengeance.

korak's Vengeance.
Meriem looked straight into the keen
gray eyes She must have found there
an unquestionable assurance of the
honorableness Of their owner. for she
permitted him to lay his palm upon
her forehead and feel her pulse. APP
parently- she had no fever
How long have you been an apeT'
asked the man.
Since ! was little girl. many,
many years ago, and Korak came and
took me from my father, who was
beating me. Since then l have lived
in the trees with Korak and Ait"
where in the jungle lives Korak?'
asked the stranger.
Meriem pointed with sweep Of her
hand that took in, generously, half the
continent of Africa.
Gould you find your way back to
himT
Il do not KNOW" she replied, "but
he will find his way to me-
Then have plan" said the stran-
ger. Il live but few marches from
here. shall take you home, where
my wife will look after you and care
for you until we can find Korak or
Korak finds us. If he could find you
here. he can find you at my village.
Is it not so?"
Neriem thought that 1t was so, but
she did not like the idea of not start
ing Immediately back to meet Korak.
On the other hand, the man had no
intention Of permitting this poor, In.
sane child to wander further amid the
dangers of the jungle. Whence she
had come or what she had undergone
ne could not guess. but that her Korak
and their life among the apes was but
a Pigment OF disordered mind he
could not doubt.
He knew the jungle well, and he
knew that men had lived alone and
naked among the savage beasts for
years, but frail and slender girl!
No, II was not possible.
Together they went outside. NAL
bihn's boys were striking camp In
preparation for hasty departure. The
strangers blacks were cOnversing with
them. Malbihn stood at distance,
angry and glowerlng.
The stranger approached one of his
own men.
Find out where they got this girl"
ne commanded.
The negro thus addressed questioned
one of Malbihn's followers. Presently
he returned 10 his master.
They bought her from old Kovu-
doO.' he said That is all that this
fellow Will tell me. He pretends that
he knows nothing more, and think
that he does not. These two white
men were very bad men. They did
many things that their boys knew not
the meanings of. 1t would be well,
,Bwana. to kill the other"
Il wish that might, but a new law
Is come into this part of the jungle.
1t Is not as 1t was in the old day, Mu-
viri,' replied the master.
The stranger remained until Malblhn
and his safari had disappeared into
the jungle toward the north. Mertem,
trustful now, stood at his side, Geeka
iclutched In one slim, brown hand.
( They talked together, the man won
fdering at the faltering Arabic. of the
girl, but atTibuting it finally to her
defective mentality. Could he have
known that yean had elapsed since
she had used it until she was taken
by the Swedes. he would not have
wondered that she had half forgot
ten it.
There was yet another reason why
the language of the sheik had thus
readily eluded her, but Of that reason
she herself could not have guessed the
truth any better than could the man.
He. tried to persuade her to return
with him to his village" as he called
1t, or 'dOuar' in Arabic, but she was
lnslstcnt upon searching Immediately
for korak. AS IA last resort he deter |
mined to take her with him by force |
rather than sacrifice her life to the in
sane hallucinatiOn which haunted her
But, being wise man, he determined
to humor her first and then ATTEMPT to !
lead her as he would have her CO.
SO when they took up their march
ii was in the direction of the south.
though HIS own ranch lay almost due
east.
by degrees he turned the direction
of their way more and more eastward,
aud greatly was he pleased 10 note
that the girl failed to discover that
any change was being made.
Little By little she became more
trusting. At frst she had had but her
intuition TO guide her belief that this
big TarInangani meant her no harm.
but as the days passed and she saw
that his kindness and consideration
never faltered she came to compare
him with her korak and to be very
fond Of him, but never did her loyalty
10 her ape man flag.
On the fifth day they came suddenly
upon a great plain. and from the edge
VI the forest the girl saw In the dis
lance fenced fields and many build
ngs. AT the sight she drew back in
establishment.
Where are WEI" she asked, point
ng.
We could not find Korak." replied
he man. "and Us our way led near my
louar / have brought you here to wait
md rest with my wife until my men
AN find your ana or ha finds vou II