him that had held in check the spirit of murder running riot
in his veins?

He lowered his spear cautiously that it might make no noise by scraping
against foliage or branches. Quietly he crouched in a comfortable
position along a great limb and there he lay with wide eyes looking
down in wonder upon the creature he had crept upon to kill--looking
down upon a little girl, a little nut brown maiden. The snarl had gone
from his lip. His only expression was one of interested attention--he
was trying to discover what the girl was doing. Suddenly a broad grin
overspread his face, for a turn of the girl's body had revealed Geeka
of the ivory head and the rat skin torso--Geeka of the splinter limbs
and the disreputable appearance. The little girl raised the marred
face to hers and rocking herself backward and forward crooned a
plaintive Arab lullaby to the doll. A softer light entered the eyes of
The Killer. For a long hour that passed very quickly to him Korak lay
with gaze riveted upon the playing child. Not once had he had a view
of the girl's full face. For the most part he saw only a mass of wavy,
black hair, one brown little shoulder exposed upon the side from where
her single robe was caught beneath her arm, and a shapely knee
protruding from beneath her garment as she sat cross legged upon the
ground. A tilt of the head as she emphasized some maternal admonition
to the passive Geeka revealed occasionally a rounded cheek or a piquant
little chin. Now she was shaking a slim finger at Geeka, reprovingly,
and again she crushed to her heart this only object upon which she
might lavish the untold wealth of her childish affections.

Korak, momentarily forgetful of his bloody mission, permitted the
fingers of his spear hand to relax a little their grasp upon the shaft
of his formidable weapon. It slipped, almost falling; but the
occurrence recalled The Killer to himself. It reminded him of his
purpose in slinking stealthily upon the owner of the voice that had
attracted his vengeful attention. He glanced at the spear, with its
well-worn grip and cruel, barbed head. Then he let his eyes wander
again to the dainty form below him. In imagination he saw the heavy
weapon shooting downward. He saw it pierce the tender flesh, driving
its way deep into the yielding body. He saw the ridiculous doll drop
from its owner's arms to lie sprawled and pathetic beside the quivering
body of the little girl. The Killer shudd