ere was a new light in his eyes as she
looked up into them; but she did not understand it. She did not
realize how close they were to maturity, nor aught of all the
difference in their lives the look in Korak's eyes might mean.

"Meriem," he whispered and his voice was husky as he laid a brown hand
upon her bare shoulder. "Meriem!" Suddenly he crushed her to him.
She looked up into his face, laughing, and then he bent and kissed her
full upon the mouth. Even then she did not understand. She did not
recall ever having been kissed before. It was very nice. Meriem liked
it. She thought it was Korak's way of showing how glad he was that the
great ape had not succeeded in running away with her. She was glad
too, so she put her arms about The Killer's neck and kissed him again
and again. Then, discovering the doll in his belt she transferred it
to her own possession, kissing it as she had kissed Korak.

Korak wanted her to say something. He wanted to tell her how he loved
her; but the emotion of his love choked him and the vocabulary of the
Mangani was limited.

There came a sudden interruption. It was from Akut--a sudden, low
growl, no louder than those he had been giving vent to the while he
pranced about the dead bull, nor half so loud in fact; but of a timbre
that bore straight to the perceptive faculties of the jungle beast
ingrained in Korak. It was a warning. Korak looked quickly up from
the glorious vision of the sweet face so close to his. Now his other
faculties awoke. His ears, his nostrils were on the alert. Something
was coming!

The Killer moved to Akut's side. Meriem was just behind them. The
three stood like carved statues gazing into the leafy tangle of the
jungle. The noise that had attracted their attention increased, and
presently a great ape broke through the underbrush a few paces from
where they stood. The beast halted at sight of them. He gave a
warning grunt back over his shoulder, and a moment later coming
cautiously another bull appeared. He was followed by others--both
bulls and females with young, until two score hairy monsters stood
glaring at the three. It was the tribe of the dead king ape. Akut was
the first to speak. He pointed to the body of the dead bull.

"Korak, mighty fighter, has killed your king," he grunted. "There is
none greater in all the jungle than Korak, son of Tarzan. Now Korak is
king. What bull is greater than Korak?" It was a challenge to a