away. While they are
gone we can seize Meriem and carry her off. We do not have to kill or
be killed--all that Korak wishes is his Meriem."

"We are too few," croaked the old ape again.

"Yes, we are too few," echoed others.

Korak could not persuade them. They would help him, gladly; but they
must do it in their own way and that meant enlisting the services of
their kinsmen and allies of the hill country. So Korak was forced to
give in. All he could do for the present was to urge them to haste,
and at his suggestion the king baboon with a dozen of his mightiest
bulls agreed to go to the hill country with Korak, leaving the balance
of the herd behind.

Once enlisted in the adventure the baboons became quite enthusiastic
about it. The delegation set off immediately. They traveled swiftly;
but the ape-man found no difficulty in keeping up with them. They made
a tremendous racket as they passed through the trees in an endeavor to
suggest to enemies in their front that a great herd was approaching,
for when the baboons travel in large numbers there is no jungle
creature who cares to molest them. When the nature of the country
required much travel upon the level, and the distance between trees was
great, they moved silently, knowing that the lion and the leopard would
not be fooled by noise when they could see plainly for themselves that
only a handful of baboons were on the trail.

For two days the party raced through the savage country, passing out of
the dense jungle into an open plain, and across this to timbered
mountain slopes. Here Korak never before had been. It was a new
country to him and the change from the monotony of the circumscribed
view in the jungle was pleasing. But he had little desire to enjoy the
beauties of nature at this time. Meriem, his Meriem was in danger.
Until she was freed and returned to him he had little thought for aught
else.

Once in the forest that clothed the mountain slopes the baboons
advanced more slowly. Constantly they gave tongue to a plaintive note
of calling. Then would follow silence while they listened. At last,
faintly from the distance straight ahead came an answer.

The baboons continued to travel in the direction of the voices that
floated through the forest to them in the intervals of their own
silence. Thus, calling and listening, they came closer to their
kinsmen, who, it was evident to Korak, were coming to meet them in
great numbers; but when,