d for safety. The man lay
flat upon his pony's back hugging the animal's neck tightly with both
arms and digging the spurs into his sides. An instant later the second
pony appeared--riderless.

Hanson groaned as he guessed what had happened out of sight in the
jungle. With an oath he spurred on in the hope of driving the lion
from his prey--his rifle was ready in his hand. And then the lion came
into view behind the girl's pony. Hanson could not understand. He
knew that if Numa had succeeded in seizing the girl he would not have
continued in pursuit of the others.

He drew in his own mount, took quick aim and fired. The lion stopped
in his tracks, turned and bit at his side, then rolled over dead.
Hanson rode on into the forest, calling aloud to the girl.

"Here I am," came a quick response from the foliage of the trees just
ahead. "Did you hit him?"

"Yes," replied Hanson. "Where are you? You had a mighty narrow
escape. It will teach you to keep out of the jungle at night."

Together they returned to the plain where they found the Hon. Morison
riding slowly back toward them. He explained that his pony had bolted
and that he had had hard work stopping him at all. Hanson grinned, for
he recalled the pounding heels that he had seen driving sharp spurs
into the flanks of Baynes' mount; but he said nothing of what he had
seen. He took Meriem up behind him and the three rode in silence
toward the bungalow.

Chapter 19

Behind them Korak emerged from the jungle and recovered his spear from
Numa's side. He still was smiling. He had enjoyed the spectacle
exceedingly. There was one thing that troubled him--the agility with
which the she had clambered from her pony's back into the safety of the
tree ABOVE her. That was more like mangani--more like his lost Meriem.
He sighed. His lost Meriem! His little, dead Meriem! He wondered if
this she stranger resembled his Meriem in other ways. A great longing
to see her overwhelmed him. He looked after the three figures moving
steadily across the plain. He wondered where might lie their
destination. A desire to follow them came over him, but he only stood
there watching until they had disappeared in the distance. The sight
of the civilized girl and the dapper, khaki clad Englishman had aroused
in Korak memories long dormant.

Once he had dreamed of returning to the world of such as these; but
with the death of Meriem hope and ambition seemed to