atural terror of being left alone in the awful jungle was
submerged in a greater horror as she saw the man and the beast spring
simultaneously upon their prey and drag it down, as she saw the
handsome face of her preserver contorted in a bestial snarl; as she saw
his strong, white teeth buried in the soft flesh of the kill.

When he came back to her blood smeared his face and hands and breast
and she shrank from him as he offered her a huge hunk of hot, raw meat.
He was evidently much disturbed by her refusal to eat, and when, a
moment later, he scampered away into the forest to return with fruit
for her she was once more forced to alter her estimation of him. This
time she did not shrink, but acknowledged his gift with a smile that,
had she known it, was more than ample payment to the affection starved
boy.

The sleeping problem vexed Korak. He knew that the girl could not
balance herself in safety in a tree crotch while she slept, nor would
it be safe to permit her to sleep upon the ground open to the attacks
of prowling beasts of prey. There was but a single solution that
presented itself--he must hold her in his arms all night. And that he
did, with Akut braced upon one side of her and he upon the other, so
that she was warmed by the bodies of them both.

She did not sleep much until the night was half spent; but at last
Nature overcame her terrors of the black abyss beneath and the hairy
body of the wild beast at her side, and she fell into a deep slumber
which outlasted the darkness. When she opened her eyes the sun was
well up. At first she could not believe in the reality of her
position. Her head had rolled from Korak's shoulder so that her eyes
were directed upon the hairy back of the ape. At sight of it she
shrank away. Then she realized that someone was holding her, and
turning her head she saw the smiling eyes of the youth regarding her.
When he smiled she could not fear him, and now she shrank closer
against him in natural revulsion toward the rough coat of the brute
upon her other side.

Korak spoke to her in the language of the apes; but she shook her head,
and spoke to him in the language of the Arab, which was as
unintelligible to him as was ape speech to her. Akut sat up and looked
at them. He could understand what Korak said but the girl made only
foolish noises that were entirely unintelligible and ridiculous. Akut
could not understand what Korak saw in her to attract him. He looked