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. her, too 1” And Lady Greystoke broke miral D ’Arnot, who I knew had trav Meriem in his arms forgetful of all moving about. The return to the tent Tantor carried him deep into the What was that? Korak’s eyes start down and wept as she pillowed her eled some in Central Africa. The man’s that might have transpired since last of the sheik took much longer than jungle, nor paused until no sound story led the admiral to believe that he had seen Her. Then the coming ed from their sockets. A strange fig head upon the broad breast where so had their swift flight to the palisade. from the distant village reached liis ure hud leapel from the tree the shade often before she had found comfort in the place where the girl the Arab sup of the young Englishman recalled the Cautiously they crept to the silt that keen ears. Then he laid his burden of which Meriem already had reached the great tragedies of her life. posed to be my daughter was held in :ene he had witnessed in the little Korak’s knife had made in the rear gently down. Korak struggled to free —leaped beyond the girl straight into Lord Greystoke raised her head and captivity was not far from your Af earing, and a wave of misery swept wuli. Meriem peered Inside. The rear tiimself from his bonds, but even his the path of the charging elephant. looked down Into her eyes, his own rican estates, and he advised that I er the ape man. apartment was empty. She crawled great strength was unable to cope with It was a half naked white giant smiling and filled with the light of hap come at once and call upon you— that Already from without came the through the aperture, Baynes at her the many strands of hard knotted cord Across his shoulder a coil of rope was you would know If such a girl were In sounds of the nlurm that the three piness. heels, and then silently crossed the that bound him. ’ looped. In the band of his gee-string “ What is It, John?” she cried. “ You your neighborhood.” space to the rugs that partitioned the And while he struggled through the was a hunting knife. have good news. Do not keep me “ What proof did the Arab bring that- tent into two rooms. Parting the night with his bonds Baynes and Meri A sharp command broke from the waiting for it.” she was your daughter?" 'asked Lord hangings, Meriem looked into the front em were riding rapidly northward stranger’s lijui. Tlie great beast halted “ I want to be quite sure that you Greystoke. room. It, too, was deserted. along the river. The girl had assured in ids tracks, and Meriem swung her can stand hearing the best news that “None,” replied the other. “That Is She crossed to the door of the tent Baynes that Korak was safe in the self upward into the tree to safety. ever came to either of «us," he said. why we thought best to consult you and looked out. Then she gave a little jungle with Tantor. It had not oc Korak breathed a sigh of relief, not “Joy never kills!” she cried. “ You before organizing an expedition. The gasp of horror. Baynes at her shoulder curred to her that the ape man might unmixed with wonder. He fastened have found—her?" She could not bring fellow had only an old photograph of looked past her to the sight that had not be able to burst his bonds. Baynes herself to hope for the impossible. her, on the back of which was pasted startled her, and lie, too," exclaimed, had been wounded by a shot from the “Yes, Jane,” he said, and his voice a newspaper cutting describing her and but his was an oath of anger. rifle of one of the Arabs, and the girl was husky with emotion, “ I have found offering a reward. We feared that, A hundred feet away they saw Ko wanted to get him back to Bwana’s her and—him 1” t having found this somewhere, it had rak hound to a stake, the brush piled home, where he could be properly “ Where is he? Where are they?” aroused his cupidity and led him to about him already alight. The Eng eared for. she demanded. believe that In some way he could ob lishman pushed Meriem to one side “Then," she said, “ I shall get Bwana “ Out there at the edge of the jungle. tain the reward, possibly by foisting and started on a rurt for the doomed to Come with me and search for K o He wouldn’t come to you in his savage upon as a white girl on the chance man. Whnt he could do in the face of rak. lie must come and live with us.” leopard skin and his nakedness. He that so many years had elapsed that scores of hostile blacks and Arabs he All night they rode, and the day was sent- me to fetch hint civilized cloth we would not be able to recognize an did not stop to consider. still young when they came suddenly ing.” impostor as such.” At the same instant Tantor broke upon a party hurrying southward. It She clapped her hands in ecstasy and “Have you the photograph with through the palisade and charged the was Bwana himself and his sleek, turned to run toward the bungalow. you?” asked Lord Greystoke. group In the face of the maddened black warriors. “ W ait!” she cried over her shoulder. The general drew an envelope from beast the crowd turned and fled, carry .Her Heart Leaped in Pride and Joy. At sight of Baynes the big English “ I have all his little suits. I have his pocket, took a yellowed photograph “ Koraki" She Cried. ing Baynes backward with them. man’s brows contracted in a scowl' saved them all. I will bring one to from it and handed it to the English Tantor wrapped his trunk about the but he waited to hear Merlem’s story you." man. Tears dimmed the old warrior’s •uegresses bad started. Men were run body of Ivorak and the stake to which before giving vent to the long pent Tarzan laughed and called to her to eyes as they fell again upon the pic ning toward the tent. There was no it wag tyound and tore it from the finger in his breast. When she had stop. tured features of his lost daughter. 'time to be lost. ground. Lifting ids burdeir high above finished he seemed to have forgotten “The only clothing on the place that Lord Greystoke examined the pho “Quickcried Korak, turning to Ills head, the giant beast wheeled and Baynes. His thoughts were occupied will fit him," he said, “is mine—if It tograph for a moment. A queer ex ward Baynes, who had scarce yet real raced for the breach he had just made with another subject. isn’t too small for him. Your little boy pression entered his eyes. He touched ized whether be was facing a friend in tlie palisade. The sheik, rifle in “You say that you found Korak?” he has grown, Jane.” : n hell at his elbow, and an instant -or foe. “Take her to tin* palisade, fol hand, rushed directly In the path of asked. “ You really saw him?” Then He Charged Down Upon, the Sfie tauglied, lo o ; she felt like laugh-' later a footman entered. lowing the rear of the tents. Here is tlie maddened brute. lie raised bis “Yes,” replied Meriem; “as plainly Frail Girl...... ing at Everything or at nothing. The “Ask my son’s wife if she will be so my rope With it you cun scale the weapon and fired once. The bullet as I see you, and I want you to come w’Qrid was all love and happiness and good as to come to the library,” he wall and mala* your escape.” missed its mark, and Tantor wus upon witii me, Bwana, and help me find him his eyes upon the face of Merlem’s de joy once piore, the world that had directed. t “ But you, Korak?” cried Meriem. him, crushing him beneath his gigantic aguin. liverer, and as recognition slowly fil been shrouded in the gloom of her The two men sat in silence. General “ 1 will remain,“ replied tin* ape man. feet as lie raced over him. And then, “ Did you see him?” He turned to tered into Ills understanding they went great sorrow for so many years. So Jacot was too well bred to show in “ 1 have business with the sheik.” bearing his burden carefully, Tantor, ward the Hon. Morison. wide in incredulity and surprise. Tan great was her joy that for the mo any way the chagrin and disappoint Meriem would have demurred, but tin* elephant, entered tlie blackness of "Yes, sir,” replied Baynes; “ very tor, still rumbling angrily, stood sway ment she forgot the sad message that ment he felt in the summary manner in the Killer seized them both by the the jungle. plainly.” ing to and fro before the giant white awaited Meriem. which Lord Greystoke had dismissed shoulders and hustled them through In a moment it was all over, and the “ NYhat sort of appearing man is he?” man. She called to Tarzan after lie had the subject of his call. As soon as the the slit wall and out into the shadows elephant laid disappeared with his continued Bwana. “ About how old Then the latter stepped straight be ridden away to prepare her for it, but joung lady had come and he had been ,beyond. prize, but pandemonium reigned would you say?" neath the upraised trunk and spoke a In* did not hear and rode on without presented he would make his de throughout the village. Men. women “ Now run for it,” he admonished “ I should say he was an Englishman low word of command. The great knowing of it himself. parture. and children ran heller skelter for • and turned to meet ami hold those who about my own age,” replied Baynes, beast ceased Ills muttering. The sav When they arrived the mother faced A moment later Merleip entered. safety. Curs fled, yelping. The horses were pouring into the tent from the Bwana turned to his head man. age light died from Ills <\ves, and as Meriem, an expression of sadness Lord Greystoke and General Jacot and camels and donkeys, terrorized by the stranger stepped forward toward front. “Take Miss Meriem and Mr. Baynes erasing the happiness from her eyes. rose and fuced her. The Englishman the trumpeting of tlie paelijderm. Korak, Tantor trailed docilely at his Tlie ape man fought well, fought as home,” he said. “ I am going into the “My little girl,” she said, “ in the spoke no word of introduction. He kicked and pulled at their tethers, lioels. :ly* had ’“never fought before, hut tin jungle.” midst of our happiness a great sorrow wanted to see the. effect of the firs A dozen or more broke loose, and it Meriem wns watching, too, and won awaits you— Mr. Baynes did not sur- odds wen* too great for vii tory. though Then ho motioned to his head man he won that which he most craved— was tin* galloping of those past him dering. Suddenly the man turned to \ive his wounds.” sight of the girl’s face on the French that brought a sudden idea into to lake his horse and commence tlie ward her. man, for he had a theory, a heaven time for tin* Englishman to i*s«-iiju return journey to the farm. Meriem Tlie expression of sorrow in Mer Baj ties’ head. He turned to search “ Come, Meriem f” he called. And born theory, that had leaped into his with Meriem. Then ho wns over slowly mounted the tired horse that loni's eyes expressed only what she for Meriem, only to find iter at Ills then she recognized him with a star mind the moment Ills eyes had rested whelmed by numbers, and a few min had brought her from tlie village of sincerely felt, but it was not the sor elbow. tled “Bwana!” on the baby face of Jeanne Jacot. utes later, bound and guarded, be wus the sheik. A litter wus rigged for the row of a woman bereft of her best be “ Tlie horses!" lie cried. “If we can “Jack !’’ cried the white giant, kneel General Jacot took one look at carried t * * the sheik's tent. now feverish Baynes, and the little loved. ' got a couple of them!” ing at the ape man’s side. Merlent, then turned toward Lord The old man eyed him in silence for cavalcade was soon slowly winding off “ I am .sorry,” she said quite simply. Filled witli the idea, Meriem led IiLni “ Father!" came chokingly from the Greystoke. “ How long have you known n long time. He wns trying to fix in along the river trail. “ But it was not love, I did not know to the far end of the village. Killer’s lips. “ Thank G««l that it wns It?” he asked, a trifle accusingly. his own mind some form of torture Bwana stood watching them until what love was until I knew that Korak “ Loosen two of them,” she said, you! No one else in all tlie jungle ‘iSince you showed me that photo that would gratify ids rage and hatred they were out of sight. lived,” and she turned toward the toward this creature who twice had “ and lend them back Into the shadows could have stopped Tantor.” graph a moment ago,” replied the Eng Slowly lu* turned toward a nearby Killer with a smile. been the means of his losing posses behind those huts. I know where tliero Quickly the man cut tlie bonds that Lady Greystoke looked quickly up lishman. tree. Leaping upward, lie caught a sion of Meriem. held Korak, and as the youth strug into the eyes of her son, the son who “It is she,” said Jacot, shaking with lower brunch and drew himself up And us lie sat there looking upon gled weakly to his feet and threw his one day would be Lord Greystoke. No suppressed etbotton, “ but she does not among the branches. His movements Korak tin* silence was broken by the anus about his father, the older man thought of the difference In tlie sta recognize me. Of course, she could were catlike and agile. High into the trumpeting of an elephant In the jungle turned toward Meriem. tions of the girl and her boy entered not.” Then he turned to Meriem. tree he made his way and there com beyond the palisade. A half smile “ I thought,” he said, sternly, “ that her mind. To her Meriem was fit for’ “My child,” he said, “I am your ----- menced to divest himself of his cloth touched ICornk’s lips. He turned his I told you to return to the farm.” a king. She only wanted to* know that But she interrupted1 him with a ing. quick, glad cry as she ran toward him head a ¿rifle in the direction from ******* Korak wus looking at them wonder- Jack loved the little Arab waif. which the sound had come, and then tngly. In his henrt wus a great yearn The look- In his eyes answered1 tlie' with outstretched arms. After Bwana had left his party, there broke from his lips a low, weird ing to take the girl In Ills arms, but question In her heart, and she threw “I know you I I know you I" she trending them back toward the farm, call. In time he remembered the other— the her arms about them both and klssed! cried. "Oh, now I remember!” ‘ And Meriem had* ridden for a short dis One of the blacks guarding him dapper young English gentleman— and them each a dozen times.- the old man folded her In his arms. tance with bowed head. What thoughts struck him across the mouth with the that he was but a savage ape man, “Now,” she cried, “I shall1 really Jack Clayton and his mother were passed through that active brain who haft of Ills spear, but none there knew Meriem looked up pleadingly into have a daughter 1” summoned, and when the story had may say? Presently she seemed to the significance of his cry. Bwana’s eyes. It was several weary marches to tlie been told them they were only glad some to a decision. She called the In the jungle Tantor cocked his ears “ You told me,” she said In a very nearest mission, but they waited at that little Meriem hud1 found a father head man to her side. <* as the sound of Korak’s voice fell upon small voice, “ that my place was be the farm only a few days for rest add and a mother. - “ I am going back with Bwana,” she them. He approached the palisade side the man I love." And she turned preparation for the great event before' “And really you didn’t marry an- anaotmeed. and, lifting his trunk above it, sniffed. her eyes toward Korak, all filled with setting out upon the journey, and after- Arab waif after all,” said Merlem< The black shook his head. “ N o !” he Then he placed his head against the the wonderful light that no other man the marriage ceremony hud been per “ Isn’t it fine?” ' announced. “Bwana says I take you wooden logs and pushed, but the pali had yet seen in them and that none formed they kept on to the coast to’ “You are fine," replied the Killer. home. So I take you home.” sade was strong and gave onljr a little other ever would. take passage for England. “I married my little Meriem, and I Presently her horse phssed beneath to the pressure. The Killer started toward her with They had been home but a week don’t care for my part whether'she Is a low hanging branch, und the black In the sheik’s tent the .sheik rose at outstretched arms, but suddenly lie when Lord Greystoke received a mes an Arab or just a little Mangani." head man found himself gazing at the last and, pointing toward the bound fell upon one knee before her instead sage from Ills old friend D’Arnot It “ She is neither, my son," said Gen girl’s empty saddle. He ran forward captive, turned to one of his lieu and, lifting her hand to his lips, kissed was in the form of it letter of intro eral Armand Jacot. “She Is a princess to the tree Into which she had disap tenants. it more reverently than he could have duction brought by one General Ar- in her own right.” peared. He could see nothing of her. “ Burn lihn,” he commanded, “ at kissed the hand of his country’s queen. inand Jacot. Lord Greystoke recalled (T H E END.) He called, but there was no response once! The stake is set." A nimble from Tantor brought the the name, ns wlio familiar with mod unless it might have been a low, taunt ******* three, nil jungle bred, to instant alert- , ern French history would not? For Chronic Constipation ing lntigh far to tlie rigid. lit* sent Ills Meriem, dazed by the unexpected ness. Tantor wns looking toward the Jacot was in reality tlie Prince de Cad- Perhaps you have never thought men into the jungle to search for her,* sight of Korak, whom she had long trees behind them, and as their eyes 1 renot, that intense republican who re it, but this disorder is due to a la Tantor Wrapped His Trunk About the but they came back empty handed. given up as dead, permitted herself to followed his gaze the head and shoul- * fuses to use, even by courtesy, n title Body of Korak. After awhile he resumed his march of moisture in the residual matter be led away by Baynes. Among the ders of a great ape appeared amid the' that had belonged to his family for toward the farm, for Baynes by this the food. If you will drink an abu tents he guided her safely to the pali are saddles. ^ I will bring them and the foliage. 400 years. time was delirious with fever. dance of water, eat raw fruits at sade, and there, following Korak’s in bridles,” and before he could stop her For a moment the creature eyed “There is no place'for princes In a Meriem, shedding the awkward Arab take lots of outdoor exercise, you nn structions, the Englishman pitched a she was gone. them, and then from Ills throat rose a republic,” he Was wont to say. robe they had given her in the sheik’s be able eventually to overcome it e noose over the top of one of the up Baynes quickly untied two of the loud scream of recognition and of joy, Lord Greystoke received the hawk dounr, raced in riding breeches and right logs that formed the barrier. frightened animals and led them to the and n moment later the beast had nosed, gray mustached soldier In Ills tirely. In the mantime use the mo barefoot straight back toward the With difficulty he reached the top and point designated by Meriem. Here hb leaped to the ground, followed by a library, and after a dozen words the mild and gnle laxative. Strong ai point she imagined Tantor would make then lowered his hand to assist Mer waited impatiently for whnt seemed score of hulls like himself, and was ' two men had formed a mutual esteem harsh cathartics take too much wat for, a point where she knew the ele iem to his side. an hour, but was In reality but a few waddling toward them, shouting in the ! that was to endure through life. And ! out ofthe system and make a bad m; phants often gntheredi deep in the for “ Conic," ho whispered. “ We must minutes. Then he saw the girl ap^ primordial tongue of the anthropoid: • the soldiers’ words laid vividly before ' ter worse. Chamberlain’s Tables a t hurry-" easy anil pleasant to take, and- mo J And than, as though she had awak- agreeable-In effect Give them a trk f * - - - -
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