king was transformed
from a task into an enjoyable pastime. When Korak hunted, Meriem
usually accompanied him, for she had learned the fine art of silence,
when silence was desirable. She could pass through the branches of the
great trees now with all the agility and stealth of The Killer himself.
Great heights no longer appalled her. She swung from limb to limb, or
she raced through the mighty branches, surefooted, lithe, and fearless.
Korak was very proud of her, and even old Akut grunted in approval
where before he had growled in contempt.

A distant village of blacks had furnished her with a mantle of fur and
feathers, with copper ornaments, and weapons, for Korak would not
permit her to go unarmed, or unversed in the use of the weapons he
stole for her. A leather thong over one shoulder supported the ever
present Geeka who was still the recipient of her most sacred
confidences. A light spear and a long knife were her weapons of
offense or defense. Her body, rounding into the fulness of an early
maturity, followed the lines of a Greek goddess; but there the
similarity ceased, for her face was beautiful.

As she grew more accustomed to the jungle and the ways of its wild
denizens fear left her. As time wore on she even hunted alone when
Korak and Akut were prowling at a great distance, as they were
sometimes forced to do when game was scarce in their immediate
vicinity. Upon these occasions she usually confined her endeavors to
the smaller animals though sometimes she brought down a deer, and once
even Horta, the boar--a great tusker that even Sheeta might have
thought twice before attacking.

In their stamping grounds in the jungle the three were familiar
figures. The little monkeys knew them well, often coming close to
chatter and frolic about them. When Akut was by, the small folk kept
their distance, but with Korak they were less shy and when both the
males were gone they would come close to Meriem, tugging at her
ornaments or playing with Geeka, who was a never ending source of
amusement to them. The girl played with them and fed them, and when
she was alone they helped her to pass the long hours until Korak's
return.

Nor were they worthless as friends. In the hunt they helped her locate
her quarry. Often they would come racing through the trees to her side
to announce the near presence of antelope or giraffe, or with excited
warnings of the proximity of Sheeta or Numa. Luscious, sun-kissed