raised his rifle and fired. The shot was a signal for a
volley, and amid the rattle of musketry Meriem and Baynes leaped their
flying mounts through the breach in the palisade and were gone up the
well-worn trail toward the north.

And Korak?

Tantor carried him deep into the jungle, nor paused until no sound from
the distant village reached his keen ears. Then he laid his burden
gently down. Korak struggled to free himself from his bonds, but even
his great strength was unable to cope with the many strands of
hard-knotted cord that bound him. While he lay there, working and
resting by turns, the elephant stood guard above him, nor was there
jungle enemy with the hardihood to tempt the sudden death that lay in
that mighty bulk.

Dawn came, and still Korak was no nearer freedom than before. He
commenced to believe that he should die there of thirst and starvation
with plenty all about him, for he knew that Tantor could not unloose
the knots that held him.

And while he struggled through the night with his bonds, Baynes and
Meriem were riding rapidly northward along the river. The girl had
assured Baynes that Korak was safe in the jungle with Tantor. It had
not occurred to her that the ape-man might not be able to burst his
bonds. Baynes had been wounded by a shot from the rifle of one of the
Arabs, and the girl wanted to get him back to Bwana's home, where he
could be properly cared for.

"Then," she said, "I shall get Bwana to come with me and search for
Korak. He must come and live with us."

All night they rode, and the day was still young when they came
suddenly upon a party hurrying southward. It was Bwana himself and his
sleek, black warriors. At sight of Baynes the big Englishman's brows
contracted in a scowl; but he waited to hear Meriem's story before
giving vent to the long anger in his breast. When she had finished he
seemed to have forgotten Baynes. His thoughts were occupied with
another subject.

"You say that you found Korak?" he asked. "You really saw him?"

"Yes," replied Meriem; "as plainly as I see you, and I want you to come
with me, Bwana, and help me find him again."

"Did you see him?" He turned toward the Hon. Morison.

"Yes, sir," replied Baynes; "very plainly."

"What sort of appearing man is he?" continued Bwana. "About how old,
should you say?"

"I should say he was an Englishman, about my own age," replied Baynes;
"though he might be older. He is remarkably m