e him was none other than the
king ape which had driven him away from the great anthropoids to whom
he had looked for friendship and asylum.

Dropping the body of the girl to the ground the bull turned to battle
anew for possession of his expensive prize; but this time he looked for
an easy conquest. He too recognized Korak. Had he not chased him away
from the amphitheater without even having to lay a fang or paw upon
him? With lowered head and bulging shoulders he rushed headlong for
the smooth-skinned creature who was daring to question his right to his
prey.

They met head on like two charging bulls, to go down together tearing
and striking. Korak forgot his knife. Rage and bloodlust such as his
could be satisfied only by the feel of hot flesh between rending fangs,
by the gush of new life blood against his bare skin, for, though he did
not realize it, Korak, The Killer, was fighting for something more
compelling than hate or revenge--he was a great male fighting another
male for a she of his own kind.

So impetuous was the attack of the man-ape that he found his hold
before the anthropoid could prevent him--a savage hold, with strong
jaws closed upon a pulsing jugular, and there he clung, with closed
eyes, while his fingers sought another hold upon the shaggy throat.

It was then that Meriem opened her eyes. At the sight before her they
went wide.

"Korak!" she cried. "Korak! My Korak! I knew that you would come.
Kill him, Korak! Kill him!" And with flashing eyes and heaving bosom
the girl, coming to her feet, ran to Korak's side to encourage him.
Nearby lay The Killer's spear, where he had flung it as he charged the
ape. The girl saw it and snatched it up. No faintness overcame her in
the face of this battle primeval at her feet. For her there was no
hysterical reaction from the nerve strain of her own personal encounter
with the bull. She was excited; but cool and entirely unafraid. Her
Korak was battling with another Mangani that would have stolen her; but
she did not seek the safety of an overhanging bough there to watch the
battle from afar, as would a she Mangani. Instead she placed the point
of Korak's spear against the bull ape's side and plunged the sharp
point deep into the savage heart. Korak had not needed her aid, for
the great bull had been already as good as dead, with the blood gushing
from his torn jugular; but Korak rose smiling with a word of
approbation for his helper.