The Kendrick gazette., 1919-10-10
CHAPTER XVI-Continued.
Copyright by
Frank A. Munsey Co.

Meriem would have demurred, but
the Killer seized them both by the
shoulders and hustled them through
the slit wall and out into the shadows
beyond.
"Now run for it," he admonished
and turned to meet and hold those who
were pouring into the tent from the
front.
{ The ape man fought well, fought as
he had never fought before, but the
odds were too great for victory, though
he won that which he most craved-
time for the Englishman to escape
with Meriem. Then he was over
whelmed by numbers, and few min
utes later, bound and guarded, he was
carried to the sheik's tent.
The old man eyed him in silence for
a long time. He was trying to fix in
his own mind some form Of torture
that would crafty his rage and hatred
toward this creature who twice had
been the means of his losing posses
sion Of Meriem.
And as he sat there looking upon
AOluh IllC SllSuSC was OAohSA W IAO
trumpeting of an elephant in the jungle
beyond the palisade. A half smile
touched Korak's lips. He turned his
head a trifle in the direction from
which the sound had come, and then
there broke from his lips low, weird
call.
One of the blacks guarding him
struck him across the mouth with the
haft Of his spear, but none there knew
the Significance of his cry.
In the jungle Tantor cooked his ears
as the sound of Korak's voice fell upon
them. He approached the palisade
and, lifting his trunk above it, shifted.
Then he placed his head against the
wooden logs and pushed, but the pail
sade was strong and gave only little
to the pressure.
In the sheik's tent the sheik rose at
last and, pointing toward the bound
captive, turned to one of his lieu
tenants.
Burn him." he commanded. "at
once! The stake is set"
Meriem, dazed by the unexpected
sight Of Korak, whom she had long
given up as dead, permitted herself to
be led away by Baynes. Among the
tents he guided her safely to the pali-
sade, and there, following Korak's in
structions, the Englishman pitched a
moose over the top of one Of the up
right logs that formed the barrier.
With difficulty he reached the top and
then lowered his hand to assist Mer-
lem to his side.
"Come," he whispered. eve must
hurry"
And then, as though she had awak-
ened from q sleep, Meriem came to
herself. Back there, fighting her enc
mics alone, was Korak-her Korak
Her place was by his side, fighting
with him and for him.
She glanced up at Baynes.
"Go!" she called. snake your way
back to Bwana and bring help. My
place is here. You can do no good re-
manning. Get away while you can and
bring the big Bwana back with you y
Silently the Hon. Morrison Baynes
slid to the ground inside the palisade
to Meriem's side.
1T was only for you that left him. y
he said, nodding toward the tents they
had just left. II knew that he could
hold them longer than I and give you
q chance to escape that I might not
be able to have given you. 1t was I
though, who should have remained.
heard you call him Korak, and so
know who he Is"
AS they stood there for the moment
of their conversation the sounds ot
tumult in the village subsidized.
''They have killed him!" whispered
Meriem.
The statement brought Baynes to {
realization of the cause of their return
"Wait here" he said. II will go an(
see. If he Is dead we can do him NJ
good. If he lives will do my best t
free him."
"We will go together" replied Mer
lem. "ComeI" And she led the wa,
back toward the tent in which the
last had seen Korak.
AS they went they were often force,
to throw themselves to the ground Il
the shadow of tent or hut, for peopl
were passing hurriedly to and fro now
The whole village was aroused an
moving about. The return to the ten
of the sheik took much longer tina
So had their swift flight to the palisad.
Cautiously they crept to the slit tina
Korak's knife had made in the rea
wall. Meriem peered inside. The rea
apartment was empty. She crawle
through the aperture, Baynes at he
heels, and then silently crossed th
space to the rugs that partitioned tn
tent into two rooms. Parting III
hangings, Meriem looked into the froI
room. 1t, too, was deserted.
She crossed to the door Of the tel
and looked out. Then she gave itt
gasp Of horror. Baynes at her should'
looked past her to the sight that ha
z q e q 80