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He tested the strength of the limb to which he clung。 It seemed strong enough to support a dozen men。 Then he reached down and lifted his rifle from the bottom of the canoe； slipping the sling over his shoulder。 Again he tested the branch； and then reaching upward as far as he could for a safe hold he drew himself painfully and slowly upward until his feet swung clear of the canoe； which； released； floated silently from beneath him to be lost forever in the blackness of the dark shadows down stream。
He had burned his bridges behind him。 He must either climb aloft or drop back into the river； but there had been no other way。 He struggled to raise one leg over the limb； but found himself scarce equal to the effort； for he was very weak。 For a time he hung there feeling his strength ebbing。 He knew that he must gain the branch above at once or it would be too late。
Suddenly the lion roared almost in his ear。 Baynes glanced up。 He saw two spots of flame a short distance from and above him。 The lion was standing on the bank of the river glaring at him； andwaiting for him。 Well； thought the Hon。 Morison； let him wait。 Lions can't climb trees； and if I get into this one I shall be safe enough from him。
The young Englishman's feet hunt almost to the surface of the watercloser than he knew； for all was pitch dark below as above him。 Presently he heard a slight commotion in the river beneath him and something banged against one of his feet； followed almost instantly by a sound that he felt he could not have mistakenthe click of great jaws snapping together。
〃By George！〃 exclaimed the Hon。 Morison； aloud。 〃The beggar nearly got me；〃 and immediately he struggled again to climb higher and to comparative safety； but with that final effort he knew that it was futile。 Hope that had survived persistently until now began to wane。 He felt his tired； numbed fingers slipping from their holdhe was dropping back into the river into the jaws of the frightful death that awaited him there。
And then he heard the leaves above him rustle to the movement of a creature among them。 The branch to which he clung bent beneath an added weightand no light weight； from the way it sagged； but still Baynes clung desperatelyhe would not give up voluntarily either to the death above or the death below。
He felt a soft； warm pad upon the fingers of one of his hands where they circled the branch to which he clung； and then something reached down out of the blackness above and dragged him up among the branches of the tree。
Chapter 24
Sometimes lolling upon Tantor's back； sometimes roaming the jungle in solitude； Korak made his way slowly toward the West and South。 He made but a few miles a day； for he had a whole lifetime before him and no place in particular to go。 Possibly he would have moved more rapidly but for the thought which continually haunted him that each mile he traversed carried him further and further away from Meriemno longer his Meriem； as of yore； it is true！ but still as dear to him as ever。
Thus he came upon the trail of The Sheik's band as it traveled down river from the point where The Sheik had captured Meriem to his own stockaded village。 Korak pretty well knew who it was that had passed； for there were few in the great jungle with whom he was not familiar； though it had been years since he had come this far north。 He had no particular business； however； with the old Sheik and so he did not propose following himthe further from men he could stay the better pleased he would behe wished that he might never see a human face again。 Men always brought him sorrow and misery。
The river suggested fishing and so he waddled upon its shores； catching fish after a fashion of his own devising and eating them raw。 When night came he curled up in a great tree beside the streamthe one from which he had been fishing during the afternoonand was soon asleep。 Numa； roaring beneath him； awoke him。 He was about to call out in anger to his noisy neighbor when something else caught his attention。 He listened。 Was there something in the tree beside himself？ Yes； he heard the noise of something below him trying to clamber upward。 Presently he heard the click of a crocodile's jaws in the waters beneath； and then； low but distinct： 〃By George！ The beggar nearly got me。〃 The voice was familiar。
Korak glanced downward toward the speaker。 Outlined against the faint luminosity of the water he saw the figure of a man clinging to a lower branch of the tree。 Silently and swiftly the ape…man clambered downward。 He felt a hand beneath his foot。 He reached down and clutched the figure beneath him and dragged it up among the branches。 It struggled weakly and struck at him； but Korak paid no more attention than Tantor to an ant。 He lugged his burden to the higher safety and greater comfort of a broad crotch； and there he propped it in a sitting position against the bole of the tree。 Numa still was roaring beneath them； doubtless in anger that he had been robbed of his prey。 Korak shouted down at him； calling him； in the language of the great apes； 〃Old green…eyed eater of carrion；〃 〃Brother of Dango；〃 the hyena； and other choice appellations of jungle opprobrium。
The Hon。 Morison Baynes； listening； felt assured that a gorilla had seized upon him。 He felt for his revolver； and as he was drawing it stealthily from its holster a voice asked in perfectly good English； 〃Who are you？〃
Baynes started so that he nearly fell from the branch。
〃My God！〃 he exclaimed。 〃Are you a man？〃
〃What did you think I was？〃 asked Korak。
〃A gorilla；〃 replied Baynes； honestly。
Korak laughed。
〃Who are you？〃 he repeated。
〃I'm an Englishman by the name of Baynes； but who the devil are you？〃 asked the Hon。 Morison。
〃They call me The Killer；〃 replied Korak； giving the English translation of the name that Akut had given him。 And then after a pause during which the Hon。 Morison attempted to pierce the darkness and catch a glimpse of the features of the strange being into whose hands he had fallen； 〃You are the same whom I saw kissing the girl at the edge of the great plain to the East； that time that the lion charged you？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Baynes。
〃What are you doing here？〃
〃The girl was stolenI am trying to rescue her。〃
〃Stolen！〃 The word was shot out like a bullet from a gun。 〃Who stole her？〃
〃The Swede trader； Hanson；〃 replied Baynes。
〃Where is he？〃
Baynes related to Korak all that had transpired since he had come upon Hanson's camp。 Before he was done the first gray dawn had relieved the darkness。 Korak made the Englishman comfortable in the tree。 He filled his canteen from the river and fetched him fruits to eat。 Then he bid him good…bye。
〃I am going to the Swede's camp；〃 he announced。 〃I will bring the girl back to you here。〃
〃I shall go； too； then；〃 insisted Baynes。 〃It is my right and my duty； for she was to have become my wife。〃
Korak winced。 〃You are wounded。 You could not make the trip；〃 he said。 〃I can go much faster alone。〃
〃Go； then；〃 replied Baynes； 〃but I shall follow。 It is my right and duty。〃
〃As you will；〃 replied Korak； with a shrug。 If the man wanted to be killed it was none of his affair。 He wanted to kill him himself； but for Meriem's sake he would not。 If she loved him then he must do what he could to preserve him； but he could not prevent his following him； more than to advise him against it； and this he did； earnestly。
And so Korak set out rapidly toward the North； and limping slowly and painfully along； soon far to the rear； came the tired and wounded Baynes。 Korak had reached the river bank opposite Malbihn's camp before Baynes had covered two miles。 Late in the afternoon the Englishman was still plodding wearily along； forced to stop often for rest when he heard the sound of the galloping feet of a horse behind him。 Instinctively he drew into the concealing foliage of the underbrush and a moment later a white…robed Arab dashed by。 Baynes did not hail the rider。 He had heard of the nature of the Arabs who penetrate thus far to the South； and what he had heard had convinced him that a snake or a panther would as quickly befriend him as one of these villainous renegades from the Northland。
When Abdul Kamak had passed out of sight toward the North Baynes resumed his weary march。 A half hour later he was again surprised by the unmistakable sound of galloping horses。 This time there were many。 Once more he sought a hiding place； but it chanced that he was crossing a clearing which offered little opportunity for concealment。 He broke into a slow trotthe best that he could do in his weakened condition； but it did not suffice to carry him to safety and before he reached the opposite side of the clearing a band of white…robed horsemen dashed into view behind him。
At sight of him they shouted in Arabic； which； of course； he could not understand； and then they closed about him； threatening and angry。 Their questions were unintelligible to him； and no more could they interpret his English。 At last； evidently out of patience； the leader ordered two of his men to seize him； which they lost no time in doing。 They disarmed him and ordered him to climb