The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1919-08-29
CHAPTER x-continued.

CHAPTER x-continued.
-12--
He persuaded them to aid him in
rescuing Meriem and attacking the vii
lage Of Kovudoo, calling to mind how
he had saved their king. And 80 they
came, upon the second day. to the vii
lage Of Kovudoo. It was midafter-
noon. The village was sunk In the
quiet Of the great equatorial sun heat.
The mighty herd travelled quietly now.
Beneath the thousands Of padded feet
the forest gave forth no greater sound
than might have been produced by the
Increased soughing Of a stronger breeze
through the leafy branches OF the
trees.
Korak was In the lead. Close beside
the village they halted until the strag-
glers had closed up. Now utter silence
reigned.
The king Of the balloons was anxious
70 revenge himself upon Kovudoo. and
90 the band was quickly organised. 4
Korak. creeping stealthily, entered
the tree that overhung the palisade.
He glanced behind him. The pack
was close upon his heels. The time
had come. He had warned them con-
tinuously during the long march that
mo harm must befall the white woman
ape who lay a prisoner within the vii
nage. All others were their legitimate
prey. Tfs
Then. raising his face toward the
Hky, he gave voice to q single cry. II
WAS the signal.
In response 5000 hairy bulls leaped
screaming and barking into the village
ef the terrified blacks. Warriors pour
ed from every hut. Mothers gathered
their babies In their arms and led to-
ward the gates as they saw the horrid
horde pouring into the village street.
Kavudoo marshaied his fighting men
about him and. ieaping and yelling to
arouse their co age, offered q bris-
thing, spear-tipped front to the charg-
ing horde.
Korak, as he had led the march, led
the charge. The blacks were struck
with horror and dismay at the sight Of
this white-skinned youth at the head
of pack Of hideous balloons.
For an instant they held their
ground, hurting their spears once at
hhe advancing multitude. But before
they could At arrows to their bows
they wavered, gave and turned in ter
riled rout. Into their ranks. upon
their backs. sinking strong fangs into
the muscles Of their necks, sprang the
balloons. and first among them. most
derocious, most bloodthirsty. most ter
Tible, was Korak, the Killer.
At the village gates, through which
the blacks poured In panic. Korak left
them to the tender mercies Of his IL
Hes and turned himself eagerly toward
the hut In which Nerism had been .
Jrisoner.
Il Was empty. One after another
fths filthy interiors revealed the same
Alaheartening fAct-Neriem was In
hone Of them. That she had not been
taken by the blacks In their flight from
the village Korak knew. for he had
watched carefully for glimpse Of her
among the fugitiYes.
10 the mind q the ape man, know
Ing - hs I'D the proeliyities Of the
,savages. there was but . singis ex-
planatiop-Nsrism had been killed and
eotsn. With the conviction that Ne
hism was dead, there surged through
KeRak's brain Q wave Of blood-red
rage against those he believed to be
her murderers. In the distance he
could hear the snarling Of the balloons
mixed with the screams Of their vic.
tims, and toward this he made his
way.
In the distance Kovudoo was gath
,esing his scattered tribesmen and tax
bng account Of injuries and losses. His
people were panic-stricken. Nothing
could prevail upon them to remain
longer In this country. They would
mot even return to the village for their
Belongings. Instead they insisted upon
continuing their flight until they had
put many miles between themselves
and the stamping ground of the white
demon whose hordes had SO bitterly
attacked them.
And thus 1t befell that Korak drove
from their homes the only people who
might have aided him in search for
Aeriem and cut off the only connect.
Ing link between him and her from
whomsoever might come In search OF
him from the douar Of the kindly Bwa.
ma who had befriended his little jungle
sweetheart