e gigantic
feet as he raced over him as you and I might crush out the life of an
ant that chanced to be in our pathway.

And then, bearing his burden carefully, Tantor, the elephant, entered
the blackness of the jungle.

Chapter 26

Meriem, dazed by the unexpected sight of Korak whom she had long given
up as dead, permitted herself to be led away by Baynes. Among the
tents he guided her safely to the palisade, and there, following
Korak's instructions, the Englishman pitched a noose over the top of
one of the upright logs that formed the barrier. With difficulty he
reached the top and then lowered his hand to assist Meriem to his side.

"Come!" he whispered. "We must hurry." And then, as though she had
awakened from a sleep, Meriem came to herself. Back there, fighting
her enemies, alone, was Korak--her Korak. Her place was by his side,
fighting with him and for him. She glanced up at Baynes.

"Go!" she called. "Make your way back to Bwana and bring help. My
place is here. You can do no good remaining. Get away while you can
and bring the Big Bwana back with you."

Silently the Hon. Morison Baynes slid to the ground inside the palisade
to Meriem's side.

"It was only for you that I left him," he said, nodding toward the
tents they had just left. "I knew that he could hold them longer than
I and give you a chance to escape that I might not be able to have
given you. It was I though who should have remained. I heard you call
him Korak and so I know now who he is. He befriended you. I would
have wronged you. No--don't interrupt. I'm going to tell you the
truth now and let you know just what a beast I have been. I planned to
take you to London, as you know; but I did not plan to marry you. Yes,
shrink from me--I deserve it. I deserve your contempt and loathing;
but I didn't know then what love was. Since I have learned that I have
learned something else--what a cad and what a coward I have been all my
life. I looked down upon those whom I considered my social inferiors.
I did not think you good enough to bear my name. Since Hanson tricked
me and took you for himself I have been through hell; but it has made a
man of me, though too late. Now I can come to you with an offer of
honest love, which will realize the honor of having such as you share
my name with me."

For a moment Meriem was silent, buried in thought. Her first question
seemed irrelevant.

"How did you happen to be in