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e itching back of a comrade commanded his industrious attention。
〃I am Goob；〃 cried another。 〃My fighting fangs are long。 They are sharp。 They are strong。 Into the soft flesh of many a Gomangani have they been buried。 Alone I slew the sister of Sheeta。 Goob will go to the low country with you and kill so many of the Gomangani that there will be none left to count the dead；〃 and then he； too； strutted and pranced before the admiring eyes of the shes and the young。
Korak looked at the king； questioningly。
〃Your bulls are very brave；〃 he said； 〃but braver than any is the king。〃
Thus addressed； the shaggy bull； still in his primeelse he had been no longer kinggrowled ferociously。 The forest echoed to his lusty challenges。 The little baboons clutched fearfully at their mothers' hairy necks。 The bulls； electrified； leaped high in air and took up the roaring challenge of their king。 The din was terrific。
Korak came close to the king and shouted in his ear； 〃Come。〃 Then he started off through the forest toward the plain that they must cross on their long journey back to the village of Kovudoo； the Gomangani。 The king； still roaring and shrieking； wheeled and followed him。 In their wake came the handful of low country baboons and the thousands of the hill clansavage； wiry； dog…like creatures； athirst for blood。
And so they came； upon the second day； to the village of Kovudoo。 It was mid…afternoon。 The village was sunk in the quiet of the great equatorial sun…heat。 The mighty herd traveled quietly now。 Beneath the thousands of padded feet the forest gave forth no greater sound than might have been produced by the increased soughing of a stronger breeze through the leafy branches of the trees。
Korak and the two kings were in the lead。 Close beside the village they halted until the stragglers had closed up。 Now utter silence reigned。 Korak； creeping stealthily； entered the tree that overhung the palisade。 He glanced behind him。 The pack were close upon his heels。 The time had come。 He had warned them continuously during the long march that no harm must befall the white she who lay a prisoner within the village。 All others were their legitimate prey。 Then； raising his face toward the sky； he gave voice to a single cry。 It was the signal。
In response three thousand hairy bulls leaped screaming and barking into the village of the terrified blacks。 Warriors poured from every hut。 Mothers gathered their babies in their arms and fled toward the gates as they saw the horrid horde pouring into the village street。 Kovudoo marshaled his fighting men about him and； leaping and yelling to arouse their courage； offered a bristling； spear tipped front to the charging horde。
Korak； as he had led the march； led the charge。 The blacks were struck with horror and dismay at the sight of this white… skinned youth at the head of a pack of hideous baboons。 For an instant they held their ground； hurling their spears once at the advancing multitude； but before they could fit arrows to their bows they wavered； gave； and turned in terrified rout。 Into their ranks； upon their backs； sinking strong fangs into the muscles of their necks sprang the baboons and first among them； most ferocious； most blood…thirsty； most terrible was Korak； The Killer。
At the village gates； through which the blacks poured in panic； Korak left them to the tender mercies of his allies and turned himself eagerly toward the hut in which Meriem had been a prisoner。 It was empty。 One after another the filthy interiors revealed the same disheartening factMeriem was in none of them。 That she had not been taken by the blacks in their flight from the village Korak knew for he had watched carefully for a glimpse of her among the fugitives。
To the mind of the ape…man； knowing as he did the proclivities of the savages； there was but a single explanationMeriem had been killed and eaten。 With the conviction that Meriem was dead there surged through Korak's brain a wave of blood red rage against those he believed to be her murderer。 In the distance he could hear the snarling of the baboons mixed with the screams of their victims； and towards this he made his way。 When he came upon them the baboons had commenced to tire of the sport of battle； and the blacks in a little knot were making a new stand； using their knob sticks effectively upon the few bulls who still persisted in attacking them。
Among these broke Korak from the branches of a tree above themswift； relentless； terrible； he hurled himself upon the savage warriors of Kovudoo。 Blind fury possessed him。 Too； it protected him by its very ferocity。 Like a wounded lioness he was here； there； everywhere； striking terrific blows with hard fists and with the precision and timeliness of the trained fighter。 Again and again he buried his teeth in the flesh of a foeman。 He was upon one and gone again to another before an effective blow could be dealt him。 Yet； though great was the weight of his execution in determining the result of the combat； it was outweighed by the terror which he inspired in the simple； superstitious minds of his foeman。 To them this white warrior； who consorted with the great apes and the fierce baboons； who growled and snarled and snapped like a beast； was not human。 He was a demon of the foresta fearsome god of evil whom they had offended； and who had come out of his lair deep in the jungle to punish them。 And because of this belief there were many who offered but little defense； feeling as they did the futility of pitting their puny mortal strength against that of a deity。
Those who could fled； until at last there were no more to pay the penalty for a deed； which； while not beyond them； they were； nevertheless； not guilty of。 Panting and bloody； Korak paused for want of further victims。 The baboons gathered about him； sated themselves with blood and battle。 They lolled upon the ground； fagged。
In the distance Kovudoo was gathering his scattered tribesmen； and taking account of injuries and losses。 His people were panic stricken。 Nothing could prevail upon them to remain longer in this country。 They would not even return to the village for their belongings。 Instead they insisted upon continuing their flight until they had put many miles between themselves and the stamping ground of the demon who had so bitterly attacked them。 And thus it befell that Korak drove from their homes the only people who might have aided him in a search for Meriem； and cut off the only connecting link between him and her from whomsoever might come in search of him from the douar of the kindly Bwana who had befriended his little jungle sweetheart。
It was a sour and savage Korak who bade farewell to his baboon allies upon the following morning。 They wished him to accompany him； but the ape…man had no heart for the society of any。 Jungle life had encouraged taciturnity in him。 His sorrow had deepened this to a sullen moroseness that could not brook even the savage companionship of the ill…natured baboons。
Brooding and despondent he took his solitary way into the deepest jungle。 He moved along the ground when he knew that Numa was abroad and hungry。 He took to the same trees that harbored Sheeta； the panther。 He courted death in a hundred ways and a hundred forms。 His mind was ever occupied with reminiscences of Meriem and the happy years that they had spent together。 He realized now to the full what she had meant to him。 The sweet face； the tanned； supple； little body； the bright smile that always had welcomed his return from the hunt haunted him continually。
Inaction soon threatened him with madness。 He must be on the go。 He must fill his days with labor and excitement that he might forgetthat night might find him so exhausted that he should sleep in blessed unconsciousness of his misery until a new day had come。
Had he guessed that by any possibility Meriem might still live he would at least have had hope。 His days could have been devoted to searching for her； but he implicitly believed that she was dead。
For a long year he led his solitary； roaming life。 Occasionally he fell in with Akut and his tribe； hunting with them for a day or two； or he might travel to the hill country where the baboons had come to accept him as a matter of course； but most of all was he with Tantor； the elephantthe great gray battle ship of the junglethe super…dreadnaught of his savage world。
The peaceful quiet of the monster bulls； the watchful solicitude of the mother cows； the awkward playfulness of the calves rested； interested； and amused Korak。 The life of the huge beasts took his mind； temporarily from his own grief。 He came to love them as he loved not even the great apes； and there was one gigantic tusker in particular of which he was very fondthe lord of the herda savage beast that was wont to charge a stranger upon the slightest provocation； or upon no provocation whatsoever。 And to Korak this mountain of destruction was docile and affectionate as a lap dog。
He came when Korak called。 He wound his trunk about the ape…man's body and lifted him to his broad neck in response to a gesture； and there would Korak lie at full length kicking his toes affection