comment upon this startling
announcement; but what he thought might have been partially interpreted
through the pitying light that entered his eyes. He approached the
girl and started to lay his hand upon her forehead. She drew back with
a savage little growl. A smile touched his lips.

"You need not fear me," he said. "I shall not harm you. I only wish
to discover if you have fever--if you are entirely well. If you are we
will set forth in search of Korak."

Meriem looked straight into the keen gray eyes. She must have found
there an unquestionable assurance of the honorableness of their owner,
for she permitted him to lay his palm upon her forehead and feel her
pulse. Apparently she had no fever.

"How long have you been an ape?" asked the man.

"Since I was a little girl, many, many years ago, and Korak came and
took me from my father who was beating me. Since then I have lived in
the trees with Korak and A'ht."

"Where in the jungle lives Korak?" asked the stranger.

Meriem pointed with a sweep of her hand that took in, generously, half
the continent of Africa.

"Could you find your way back to him?"

"I do not know," she replied; "but he will find his way to me."

"Then I have a plan," said the stranger. "I live but a few marches
from here. I shall take you home where my wife will look after you and
care for you until we can find Korak or Korak finds us. If he could
find you here he can find you at my village. Is it not so?"

Meriem thought that it was so; but she did not like the idea of not
starting immediately back to meet Korak. On the other hand the man had
no intention of permitting this poor, insane child to wander further
amidst the dangers of the jungle. From whence she had come, or what
she had undergone he could not guess, but that her Korak and their life
among the apes was but a figment of a disordered mind he could not
doubt. He knew the jungle well, and he knew that men have lived alone
and naked among the savage beasts for years; but a frail and slender
girl! No, it was not possible.

Together they went outside. Malbihn's boys were striking camp in
preparation for a hasty departure. The stranger's blacks were
conversing with them. Malbihn stood at a distance, angry and
glowering. The stranger approached one of his own men.

"Find out where they got this girl," he commanded.

The Negro thus addressed questioned one of Malbihn's followers.
Presently he returned to