Clearwater Republican. [volume] (Orofino, Idaho) 1912-1922, 1919-10-10
CHAPTER XVII.
Tarzan Returns.
And KOrak2

Tantor carried him deep into the
jungle, nor paused until no sound
from the distant village reached his
keen ears. Then he laid his burden
gently down. Korak struggled to free
himself from his 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 Merl-
elm were riding rapidly northward
along the river. The girl had assured
Baynes that Korak was safe in the
| jungle with Tantor. 1t had not oc-
Cured to her that the ape man might
not be able to burst his bonds. Baynes
had been wounded by 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.
'"Then," she said, II shall get Bwana
to come with me and search for Ko-
rak. He must come and live with u.s."
All night they rode, and the day was
still young when they came suddenly
upon party hurrying southwark. 1t
was Bwana himself and his sleek,
black warriors.
At sight of Baynes the big English
mans brows contracted in scowl,
but he waited to hear 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 We're occupied
with another subject.
"You say that you found Korak ?" he
asked. "You really saw him?'
eyes," replied Meriem; "as plainly
as l 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; Every
plainly"
"What sort of appearing man is he?"
| continued Bwana. "About how old
would you say?"
II should say he was an Englishman
about my own age" replied Baynes,
Bwana turned to his head man.
"Take Miss Merlem and Mr.. Baynes
home" he said. II am going into the
Jungle"
Then he motioned to his head man
to take his horse and commence the
return journey to the farm. Meriem
slowly mounted the tired horse that
had brought her from the village Of
the sheik. A litter was rugged for the
now feverish Baynes, and the little
cavalcade was soon slowly winding of
along the river trail.
Bwana stood watching them until
| they were out of sight.
Slowly he turned toward a nearby
tree. Leaping upward, he caught
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 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. "Nol |" he
announced. 'Bwana says I take you
home. So I take you home"
Presently her horse passed beneath
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 1t might have been low, taunt-
ing laugh far to the right. He sent his
men into the jungle to search for her,
but 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 breeches and
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 on 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 shuffled ahead, balancing the
man and the heavy stake upon his
head, holding them there with his up
curled trunk.
"Korak!" cried Meriem from the
foliage above him.
Instantly the bull swung about, low
cred his burden to the ground and,