Part 27 (1/2)
All night they rode, and the day was still young when they ca southward It ana hiht of Baynes the big Englishman's brows contracted in a scowl; but he waited to hear Merieer in his breast When she had finished he seehts were occupied with another subject
”You say that you found Korak?” he asked ”You really saw him?”
”Yes,” replied Meriem; ”as plainly as I see you, and I want you to coain”
”Did you see him?” He turned toward the Hon Morison
”Yes, sir,” replied Baynes; ”very plainly”
”What sort of appearing man is he?” continued Bwana ”About how old, should you say?”
”I should say he was an Englishht be older He is rely tanned”
”His eyes and hair, did you notice them?” Bwana spoke rapidly, almost excitedly It was Meriem who answered hiray,” she said
Bwana turned to his headman
”Take Miss Meriele”
”Letto search for Korak Let irl
”Your place,” he said, ”is beside the man you love”
Then he motioned to his head-man to take his horse and commence the return journey to the farht her froed for the now feverish Baynes, and the little cavalcade was soon sloinding off along the river trail
Bwana stood watching theht Not once had Meriem turned her eyes backward She rode with bowed head and drooping shoulders Bwana sighed He loved the little Arab girl as he hter He realized that Baynes had redeemed himself, and so he could interpose no objections now if Meriem really loved the man; but, somehow, some way, Bwana could not convince himself that the Hon Morison orthy of his little Merie upward he caught a lower branch and drew hi the branches His h into the trees he made his way and there co slung across one shoulder he drew a long strip of doe-skin, a neatly coiled rope, and a wicked looking knife The doe-skin, he fashi+oned into a loin cloth, the rope he looped over one shoulder, and the knife he thrust into the belt for
When he stood erect, his head thrown back and his great chest expanded a grim smile touched his lips for a le odors His gray eyes narrowed He crouched and leaped to a lower lih the trees toward the southeast, bearing away fro only occasionally to raise his voice in a weird and piercing scream, and to listen for a moment after for a reply
He had traveled thus for several hours when, ahead of hile, a faint response-the cry of a bull ape answering his cry His nerves tingled and his eyes lighted as the sound fell upon his ears Again he voiced his hideous call, and sped forward in the new direction
Korak, finally beco convinced that hefor the succor that could not coreat beast understood He commanded the elephant to lift him and carry him toward the northeast There, recently, Korak had seen both white men and black If he could come upon one of the latter it would be a simple matter to coet hi at least-better than lying there in the jungle until he died As Tantor bore hih the forest Korak called aloud now and then in the hope of attracting Akut's band of anthropoids, whose wanderings often brought theht possibly be able to negotiate the knots-he had done so upon that other occasion when the Russian had bound Korak years before; and Akut, to the south of him, heard his calls faintly, and came There was another who heard the them back toward the farm, Meriehts passed through that active brain who may say? Presently she seemed to come to a decision She called the head back with Bwana,” she announced
The black shook his head ”No!” he announced ”Bwana says I take you hoo?” asked the girl