He was of
giant stature and of giant strength. Slowly he forced the girl
back upon the ground, striking her in the face when she hurt him
badly either with teeth or nails. Meriem struck back, but she was
growing weaker from the choking fingers at her throat.
Out in the jungle Jenssen had brought down two bucks. His hunting
had not carried him far afield, nor was he prone to permit it
to do so. He was suspicious of Malbihn. The very fact that his
companion had refused to accompany him and elected instead to hunt
alone in another direction would not, under ordinary circumstances,
have seemed fraught with sinister suggestion; but Jenssen knew
Malbihn well, and so, having secured meat, he turned immediately
back toward camp, while his boys brought in his kill.
He had covered about half the return journey when a scream came
faintly to his ears from the direction of camp. He halted to
listen. It was repeated twice. Then silence. With a muttered
curse Jenssen broke into a rapid run. He wondered if he would be
too late. What a fool Malbihn was indeed to thus chance jeopardizing
a fortune!
Further away from camp than Jenssen and upon the opposite side
another heard Meriem's screams--a stranger who was not even aware
of the proximity of white men other than himself--a hunter with a
handful of sleek, black warriors.
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