The Choteau'acantha
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THE CHOTEAU’ACANTHA pronchlng beneath the burden of two THE SON OF TARZAN »tied from a sleep, Meriem came to est due east of the sheik’s village. She ,“Tarzan has Returned! Tarzan, lord bis host scenes and events "nearly two 11 (Continued from last week) saddles. - icrself. Back there, fighting her ene- moved silently and swiftly. From her o f the jungle I” decades old. H e told his host how he Quickly they placed these upon,the Arab tents he made his way, sniffling nies alone, was Korak— her Korak! mind she had expunged all thoughts It was Akut, and Instantly he com had been a captain In the Foreign Le horses. They could see by the light o fv and listening. II«> passed behind them, Her place was by his side, fighting other than that she must reach Ivorak menced leaping and bounding about gion o f France stationed at that time the torture fire tliut still burned that searching for some sign of Meriem. with him and for him. anil bring him back with her. the trio, uttering hideous shrieks and in Africa. He told how he had hunted the blacks and Arabs were recovering Not even the wild Arab curs heard his She glanced up at Baynes. Now there came to her sensitive nos mouthings that to any other human down marauding bands of Arabs and from their panic. Men were running- passage, so silently he went—a shadow “ C o!" she called. “ Make your way trils the scent of Tantor, and she knew beings might have Indicated the most blacks in the heart of the great desert about gathering in the loose stock, and passing through shadows. lack to Bwana and bring help. My , that she was on the right trail and ferocious rage, but these three knew o f Sahara. He told how he had Id two or three were already leading place is here. You can do no good re close to him she sought. She did not that the king of the apes was doing camp with him his little four-year-old Naked but for his leopard skin and their captives back to the end of the maining. Get away while you can and call out, because she wished to sur homage to a king greater than him daughter and how he came back to his loin cloth, Korak the Killer slunk village where Meriem and Baynes were ’■»ring the big Bwana back with you.” prise him, and presently she did, break self. camp one day to find that she had Into the shadows at the back of the busy with the trappings of their Silently the Hon. Morison Baynes ing into sight of them as the great Korak laid hfs hand affectionately mysteriously disappeared. tent, where his keen scent told him mounts. slid to tin* ground inside the palisade elephant shuffled ahead, balancing the upon his father’s shoulder. Meriem was. Ilis sharp knife slit a Now the girl flung herself into the Neither the wealth of-her father and man and tlie heavy stake upon his “There Is but one Tarzan,” he said. sis foot opening in the tent wall, and to Merloni’s side. suddle. mother nor all the powerful resources Korak, tall and mighty, sprang “ It was only for you that I left him,” head, holding them there with his up- “There can never be another.” of the great French republic were able “ Hurry!” she whispered. “ We shall cuiled trunk. through upon the astonished \isions of he said, nodding toward the tents they have to run for it. Hide through the to wrest the secret of her whereabouts “ Korak!’’ cried Meriem from the CHAPTER XVIII. the inmutes. had just left. “ I knew* that lie could gap that the elephant made.” And as from the inscrutable desert that had foliage above him. A Family Reunion. Meriem saw and recognized him the hold them longer than I and give you i she saw* Baynes swing Ills leg over swallowed her and her abductor. Instantly the bull swung about, low Two days later the three dropped instant that he entered tlie apartment. a elm nee to escape that I might not I the buck of his horse she shook the A reward of such enormous propor ered liis burden to the ground and, 1 from the trees on ihe edge of the plain, Her heart leaped in pride and joy at be able to have given you. It was I, I reins free over her mount’s neck. With tions wns offered that many adven trumpeting savagely, prepared to de | across which they could see the smoke the sight of the noble ligure for which though, who should have remained. I a lunge the nervous beast leaped for turers were attracted to the hunt, fend Ills Comrade. The ape man, rec rising from the bungalow and the it had hungered so long. heard you call him Korak, and so I ward. The shortest path led straight among them Jenssen and Malblhn. ognizing the girl’s voice, felt a sudden cookhouse chimneys. Tarzan of the ¿‘Korak! - she cried. know who he is." through the center of the village, and This was no case for the modern de lump in his throat. Apes had regained his civilized cloth “Meriem!” lie uttered the single As they stood there for the moment this Meriem took. Baynes was close tective of civilization, yet several of “ Meriem!” he called back to her. ing from the tree where lie had hidden word as he hut led himself upon the of their conversation the sounds of behind her, their horses running at full these threw themselves into the search. * Happily the girl clambered to the it, and as Korak refused to enter the Inmates of the tent. Three uegresses tumult in the village subsided. speed. The bones of some are bleaching be leaped from their sleeping mats, “They have killed him !’’ whispered’ ground and ran forward to release presence of liis mother in the savage neath the African sun upon the 'silent So sudden and impetuous was their Korak, but Tantor lowered his head screaming. Meriem tried to prevent Meriem. half raiment that he had worn so long sands of the Sahara. lash for liberty that it carried them ominously and trumpeted a warning. them from eseapiug, hut before she The statement brought Baynes to a and as Meriem would not leave him “ I have come to you,” explained naif way across the village before the "Go back ! Go back!” cried Korak. could succeed the terrilied blacks had realization of the cause of their return. for fear, as she explained, that he General Jacot as he concluded, “ be surprised inhabitants were aware of “He will kill you!” darted through the hole in the tent “ Wait here,” he said. “ I will go and would change his mind and run off cause our dear admiral tells me that «vliat was happening. Then an Arab Meriem was almost at Korak’s side wall made by Korak’s knife and were see. I f he is dead we can do him no Into the jungle again, the father went there is no one in all the world who recognized them and, with a cry of when Tantor saw a long knife in her gone screaming through the village. good. If he lives I will do my best to on ahead to the bungalow for horses is more intimately acquainted with itarm, raised his rifle and fired. hand, and then he broke forth, bellow 'and clothes. Korak turned toward Meriem, and free him.” Central Africa than you. The shot wus a signal for a volley, ing horribly, and charged down upon My Dear met him at the gate, her at the same moment a bloody and “ We will go together,” replied Mer “ We did all that love and money and and amid the rattle of musketry Meri the frail girl. eyes filled with questioning and sor disheveled apparition leaped into the iem. “ Come!” And she leu the way em and Baynes leaped their flying Korak screamed commands to his row, for she saw that Merlepa was not even government resources could do to apartment. back toward the tent in which they mounts thropgh the breach in the pali huge protector, in an effort to halt him, with him. discover her, but aH to no avail. “ Morlson!” cried the girl. lust had seen Korak. sade and were gone up the well worn “ A week since there came to me In For it was Baynes, who, despite his but all to no uvail. Meriem raced to “ Where is she?” she asked, her voice As they went they were often forced trail toward the north. ward the bordering trees with all the Paris a swarthy Arab, who called him wounds, had made his way to the trembling. “ Muvirl told me that she to throw themselves to the ground in speed that lay in her swift little feet, disobeyed your instructions and ran self Abdul Kamak. He said that he sheik’s vilfage. the shadow of a tent or hut, for people CHAPTER XVII. but Tantor, for all his huge bulk, drove had found my daughter and could lead Korak turned and looked at the new off into the jungle after you had left were passing hurriedly to and fro now. Tarzan Returns. down upon her witli the rapidity o f an them. Oh, John, I cannot bear to lose me to her. I took hini at once to Ad comer. He had been about to take The whole village was aroused and And Korak? express train.