She moved silently and
swiftly. From her mind she had expunged all thoughts other than that
she must reach Korak and bring him back with her. It was her place to
do that. Then, too, had come the tantalizing fear that all might not
be well with him. She upbraided herself for not thinking of that
before--of letting her desire to get the wounded Morison back to the
bungalow blind her to the possibilities of Korak's need for her. She
had been traveling rapidly for several hours without rest when she
heard ahead of her the familiar cry of a great ape calling to his kind.

She did not reply, only increased her speed until she almost flew. Now
there came to her sensitive nostrils the scent of Tantor and she knew
that she was on the right trail and close to him she sought. She did
not call out because she wished to surprise him, and presently she did,
breaking into sight of them as the great elephant shuffled ahead
balancing the man and the heavy stake upon his head, holding them there
with his upcurled trunk.

"Korak!" cried Meriem from the foliage above him.

Instantly the bull swung about, lowered his burden to the ground and,
trumpeting savagely, prepared to defend his comrade. The ape-man,
recognizing the girl's voice, felt a sudden lump in his throat.

"Meriem!" he called back to her.

Happily the girl clambered to the ground and ran forward to release
Korak; but Tantor lowered his head ominously and trumpeted a warning.

"Go back! Go back!" cried Korak. "He will kill you."

Meriem paused. "Tantor!" she called to the huge brute. "Don't you
remember me? I am little Meriem. I used to ride on your broad back;"
but the bull only rumbled in his throat and shook his tusks in angry
defiance. Then Korak tried to placate him. Tried to order him away,
that the girl might approach and release him; but Tantor would not go.
He saw in every human being other than Korak an enemy. He thought the
girl bent upon harming his friend and he would take no chances. For an
hour the girl and the man tried to find some means whereby they might
circumvent the beast's ill directed guardianship, but all to no avail;
Tantor stood his ground in grim determination to let no one approach
Korak.

Presently the man hit upon a scheme. "Pretend to go away," he called
to the girl. "Keep down wind from us so that Tantor won't get your
scent, then follow us. After a while I'll have him put me down, and
find some pretext for sending