He rode a little closer. Yes, the
animal was saddled. The Hon. Morison approached yet nearer, and as
he did so his eyes expressed a pleasurable emotion of anticipation,
for they had now recognized the pony as the special favorite of
Meriem.
He galloped to the animal's side. Meriem must be within the wood.
The man shuddered a little at the thought of an unprotected girl
alone in the jungle that was still, to him, a fearful place of
terrors and stealthily stalking death. He dismounted and left his
horse beside Meriem's. On foot he entered the jungle. He knew
that she was probably safe enough and he wished to surprise her by
coming suddenly upon her.
He had gone but a short distance into the wood when he heard
a great jabbering in a near-by tree. Coming closer he saw a band
of baboons snarling over something. Looking intently he saw that
one of them held a woman's riding skirt and that others had boots
and stockings. His heart almost ceased to beat as he quite naturally
placed the most direful explanation upon the scene. The baboons
had killed Meriem and stripped this clothing from her body.
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