have deserted him.
He cared now only to pass the remainder of his life in solitude, as far
from man as possible. With a sigh he turned slowly back into the
jungle.

Tantor, nervous by nature, had been far from reassured by close
proximity to the three strange whites, and with the report of Hanson's
rifle had turned and ambled away at his long, swinging shuffle. He was
nowhere in sight when Korak returned to look for him. The ape-man,
however, was little concerned by the absence of his friend. Tantor had
a habit of wandering off unexpectedly. For a month they might not see
one another, for Korak seldom took the trouble to follow the great
pachyderm, nor did he upon this occasion. Instead he found a
comfortable perch in a large tree and was soon asleep.

At the bungalow Bwana had met the returning adventurers on the
verandah. In a moment of wakefulness he had heard the report of
Hanson's rifle far out across the plain, and wondered what it might
mean. Presently it had occurred to him that the man whom he considered
in the light of a guest might have met with an accident on his way back
to camp, so he had arisen and gone to his foreman's quarters where he
had learned that Hanson had been there earlier in the evening but had
departed several hours before. Returning from the foreman's quarters
Bwana had noticed that the corral gate was open and further
investigation revealed the fact that Meriem's pony was gone and also
the one most often used by Baynes. Instantly Bwana assumed that the
shot had been fired by Hon. Morison, and had again aroused his foreman
and was making preparations to set forth in investigation when he had
seen the party approaching across the plain.

Explanation on the part of the Englishman met a rather chilly reception
from his host. Meriem was silent. She saw that Bwana was angry with
her. It was the first time and she was heart broken.

"Go to your room, Meriem," he said; "and Baynes, if you will step into
my study, I'd like to have a word with you in a moment."

He stepped toward Hanson as the others turned to obey him. There was
something about Bwana even in his gentlest moods that commanded instant
obedience.

"How did you happen to be with them, Hanson?" he asked.

"I'd been sitting in the garden," replied the trader, "after leaving
Jervis' quarters. I have a habit of doing that as your lady probably
knows. Tonight I fell asleep behind a bush, and was awakened by them
two