spring upon its prey.

He saw them rise and, shouting, attempt to frighten away the baboons as
they approached the cage. Then one of them raised his rifle and fired
into the midst of the surprised and angry herd. For an instant Korak
thought that the baboons were about to charge, but two more shots from
the rifles of the white men sent them scampering into the trees. Then
the two Europeans advanced upon the cage. Korak thought that they were
going to kill the king. He cared nothing for the king but he cared
less for the two white men. The king had never attempted to kill
him--the white men had. The king was a denizen of his own beloved
jungle--the white men were aliens. His loyalty therefore was to the
baboon against the human. He could speak the language of the
baboon--it was identical to that of the great apes. Across the
clearing he saw the jabbering horde watching.

Raising his voice he shouted to them. The white men turned at the
sound of this new factor behind them. They thought it was another
baboon that had circled them; but though they searched the trees with
their eyes they saw nothing of the now silent figure hidden by the
foliage. Again Korak shouted.

"I am The Killer," he cried. "These men are my enemies and yours. I
will help you free your king. Run out upon the strangers when you see
me do so, and together we will drive them away and free your king."

And from the baboons came a great chorus: "We will do what you say,
Korak."

Dropping from his tree Korak ran toward the two Swedes, and at the same
instant three hundred baboons followed his example. At sight of the
strange apparition of the half-naked white warrior rushing upon them
with uplifted spear Jenssen and Malbihn raised their rifles and fired
at Korak; but in the excitement both missed and a moment later the
baboons were upon them. Now their only hope of safety lay in escape,
and dodging here and there, fighting off the great beasts that leaped
upon their backs, they ran into the jungle. Even then they would have
died but for the coming of their men whom they met a couple of hundred
yards from the cage.

Once the white men had turned in flight Korak gave them no further
attention, turning instead to the imprisoned baboon. The fastenings of
the door that had eluded the mental powers of the baboons, yielded
their secret immediately to the human intelligence of The Killer, and a
moment later the king baboon stepped forth