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Nature¡¡had¡¡favored¡¡him¡¡with¡¡a¡¡splendid¡¡physique¡¡and¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡face£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡with¡¡sufficient¡¡good¡¡judgment¡¡to¡¡appreciate¡¡that¡¡while¡¡he¡¡might¡¡enjoy¡¡the¡¡contemplation¡¡of¡¡his¡¡superiority¡¡to¡¡the¡¡masses£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡little¡¡likelihood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡masses¡¡being¡¡equally¡¡entranced¡¡by¡¡the¡¡same¡¡cause¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡he¡¡easily¡¡maintained¡¡the¡¡reputation¡¡of¡¡being¡¡a¡¡most¡¡democratic¡¡and¡¡likeable¡¡fellow£»¡¡and¡¡indeed¡¡he¡¡was¡¡likable¡£¡¡¡¡Just¡¡a¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡his¡¡egotism¡¡was¡¡occasionally¡¡apparentnever¡¡sufficient¡¡to¡¡become¡¡a¡¡burden¡¡to¡¡his¡¡associates¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡this£»¡¡briefly£»¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡Baynes¡¡of¡¡luxurious¡¡European¡¡civilization¡£¡¡¡¡What¡¡would¡¡be¡¡the¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡Baynes¡¡of¡¡central¡¡Africa¡¡it¡¡were¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡guess¡£
Meriem£»¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡was¡¡shy¡¡and¡¡reserved¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡strangers¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡benefactors¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡fit¡¡to¡¡ignore¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡her¡¡strange¡¡past£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡she¡¡passed¡¡as¡¡their¡¡ward¡¡whose¡¡antecedents¡¡not¡¡having¡¡been¡¡mentioned¡¡were¡¡not¡¡to¡¡be¡¡inquired¡¡into¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡guests¡¡found¡¡her¡¡sweet¡¡and¡¡unassuming£»¡¡laughing£»¡¡vivacious¡¡and¡¡a¡¡never¡¡exhausted¡¡storehouse¡¡of¡¡quaint¡¡and¡¡interesting¡¡jungle¡¡lore¡£
She¡¡had¡¡ridden¡¡much¡¡during¡¡her¡¡year¡¡with¡¡Bwana¡¡and¡¡My¡¡Dear¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡each¡¡favorite¡¡clump¡¡of¡¡concealing¡¡reeds¡¡along¡¡the¡¡river¡¡that¡¡the¡¡buffalo¡¡loved¡¡best¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡knew¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡places¡¡where¡¡lions¡¡laired£»¡¡and¡¡every¡¡drinking¡¡hole¡¡in¡¡the¡¡drier¡¡country¡¡twenty¡five¡¡miles¡¡back¡¡from¡¡the¡¡river¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡unerring¡¡precision¡¡that¡¡was¡¡almost¡¡uncanny¡¡she¡¡could¡¡track¡¡the¡¡largest¡¡or¡¡the¡¡smallest¡¡beast¡¡to¡¡his¡¡hiding¡¡place¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡the¡¡thing¡¡that¡¡baffled¡¡them¡¡all¡¡was¡¡her¡¡instant¡¡consciousness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡carnivora¡¡that¡¡others£»¡¡exerting¡¡their¡¡faculties¡¡to¡¡the¡¡utmost£»¡¡could¡¡neither¡¡see¡¡nor¡¡hear¡£
The¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡Baynes¡¡found¡¡Meriem¡¡a¡¡most¡¡beautiful¡¡and¡¡charming¡¡companion¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡delighted¡¡with¡¡her¡¡from¡¡the¡¡first¡£¡¡¡¡Particularly¡¡so£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡possible£»¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡find¡¡companionship¡¡of¡¡this¡¡sort¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡African¡¡estate¡¡of¡¡his¡¡London¡¡friends¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡together¡¡a¡¡great¡¡deal¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were¡¡the¡¡only¡¡unmarried¡¡couple¡¡in¡¡the¡¡little¡¡company¡£¡¡¡¡Meriem£»¡¡entirely¡¡unaccustomed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡companionship¡¡of¡¡such¡¡as¡¡Baynes£»¡¡was¡¡fascinated¡¡by¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡tales¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great£»¡¡gay¡¡cities¡¡with¡¡which¡¡he¡¡was¡¡familiar¡¡filled¡¡her¡¡with¡¡admiration¡¡and¡¡with¡¡wonder¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡the¡¡Hon¡£¡¡Morison¡¡always¡¡shone¡¡to¡¡advantage¡¡in¡¡these¡¡narratives¡¡Meriem¡¡saw¡¡in¡¡that¡¡fact¡¡but¡¡a¡¡most¡¡natural¡¡consequence¡¡to¡¡his¡¡presence¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡scene¡¡of¡¡his¡¡storywherever¡¡Morison¡¡might¡¡be¡¡he¡¡must¡¡be¡¡a¡¡hero£»¡¡so¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡girl¡£
With¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡presence¡¡and¡¡companionship¡¡of¡¡the¡¡young¡¡Englishman¡¡the¡¡image¡¡of¡¡Korak¡¡became¡¡less¡¡real¡£¡¡¡¡Where¡¡before¡¡it¡¡had¡¡been¡¡an¡¡actuality¡¡to¡¡her¡¡she¡¡now¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡Korak¡¡was¡¡but¡¡a¡¡memory¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡that¡¡memory¡¡she¡¡still¡¡was¡¡loyal£»¡¡but¡¡what¡¡weight¡¡has¡¡a¡¡memory¡¡in¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡a¡¡fascinating¡¡reality£¿
Meriem¡¡had¡¡never¡¡accompanied¡¡the¡¡men¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡hunt¡¡since¡¡the¡¡arrival¡¡of¡¡the¡¡guests¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡never¡¡had¡¡cared¡¡particularly¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sport¡¡of¡¡killing¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡tracking¡¡she¡¡enjoyed£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡mere¡¡killing¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sake¡¡of¡¡killing¡¡she¡¡could¡¡not¡¡find¡¡pleasure¡¡inlittle¡¡savage¡¡that¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡and¡¡still£»¡¡to¡¡some¡¡measure£»¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡When¡¡Bwana¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡forth¡¡to¡¡shoot¡¡for¡¡meat¡¡she¡¡had¡¡always¡¡been¡¡his¡¡enthusiastic¡¡companion£»¡¡but¡¡with¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡of¡¡the¡¡London¡¡guests¡¡the¡¡hunting¡¡had¡¡deteriorated¡¡into¡¡mere¡¡killing¡£¡¡¡¡Slaughter¡¡the¡¡host¡¡would¡¡not¡¡permit£»¡¡yet¡¡the¡¡purpose¡¡of¡¡the¡¡hunts¡¡were¡¡for¡¡heads¡¡and¡¡skins¡¡and¡¡not¡¡for¡¡food¡£¡¡¡¡So¡¡Meriem¡¡remained¡¡behind¡¡and¡¡spent¡¡her¡¡days¡¡either¡¡with¡¡My¡¡Dear¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡shaded¡¡verandah£»¡¡or¡¡riding¡¡her¡¡favorite¡¡pony¡¡across¡¡the¡¡plains¡¡or¡¡to¡¡the¡¡forest¡¡edge¡£¡¡¡¡Here¡¡she¡¡would¡¡leave¡¡him¡¡untethered¡¡while¡¡she¡¡took¡¡to¡¡the¡¡trees¡¡for¡¡the¡¡moment's¡¡unalloyed¡¡pleasures¡¡of¡¡a¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wild£»¡¡free¡¡existence¡¡of¡¡her¡¡earlier¡¡childhood¡£
Then¡¡would¡¡come¡¡again¡¡visions¡¡of¡¡Korak£»¡¡and£»¡¡tired¡¡at¡¡last¡¡of¡¡leaping¡¡and¡¡swinging¡¡through¡¡the¡¡trees£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡stretch¡¡herself¡¡comfortably¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡branch¡¡and¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡presently£»¡¡as¡¡today£»¡¡she¡¡found¡¡the¡¡features¡¡of¡¡Korak¡¡slowly¡¡dissolve¡¡and¡¡merge¡¡into¡¡those¡¡of¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡a¡¡tanned£»¡¡half¡¡¡naked¡¡tarmangani¡¡become¡¡a¡¡khaki¡¡clothed¡¡Englishman¡¡astride¡¡a¡¡hunting¡¡pony¡£
And¡¡while¡¡she¡¡dreamed¡¡there¡¡came¡¡to¡¡her¡¡ears¡¡from¡¡a¡¡distance£»¡¡faintly£»¡¡the¡¡terrified¡¡bleating¡¡of¡¡a¡¡kid¡£¡¡¡¡Meriem¡¡was¡¡instantly¡¡alert¡£¡¡¡¡You¡¡or¡¡I£»¡¡even¡¡had¡¡we¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡pitiful¡¡wail¡¡at¡¡so¡¡great¡¡distance£»¡¡could¡¡not¡¡have¡¡interpreted¡¡it£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡Meriem¡¡it¡¡meant¡¡a¡¡species¡¡of¡¡terror¡¡that¡¡afflicts¡¡the¡¡ruminant¡¡when¡¡a¡¡carnivore¡¡is¡¡near¡¡and¡¡escape¡¡impossible¡£
It¡¡had¡¡been¡¡both¡¡a¡¡pleasure¡¡and¡¡a¡¡sport¡¡of¡¡Korak's¡¡to¡¡rob¡¡Numa¡¡of¡¡his¡¡prey¡¡whenever¡¡possible£»¡¡and¡¡Meriem¡¡too¡¡had¡¡often¡¡enjoyed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡thrill¡¡of¡¡snatching¡¡some¡¡dainty¡¡morsel¡¡almost¡¡from¡¡the¡¡very¡¡jaws¡¡of¡¡the¡¡king¡¡of¡¡beasts¡£¡¡¡¡Now£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kid's¡¡bleat£»¡¡all¡¡the¡¡well¡¡remembered¡¡thrills¡¡recurred¡£¡¡¡¡Instantly¡¡she¡¡was¡¡all¡¡excitement¡¡to¡¡play¡¡again¡¡the¡¡game¡¡of¡¡hide¡¡and¡¡seek¡¡with¡¡death¡£
Quickly¡¡she¡¡loosened¡¡her¡¡riding¡¡skirt¡¡and¡¡tossed¡¡it¡¡asideit¡¡was¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡handicap¡¡to¡¡successful¡¡travel¡¡in¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡boots¡¡and¡¡stockings¡¡followed¡¡the¡¡skirt£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bare¡¡sole¡¡of¡¡the¡¡human¡¡foot¡¡does¡¡not¡¡slip¡¡upon¡¡dry¡¡or¡¡even¡¡wet¡¡bark¡¡as¡¡does¡¡the¡¡hard¡¡leather¡¡of¡¡a¡¡boot¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡liked¡¡to¡¡discard¡¡her¡¡riding¡¡breeches¡¡also£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡motherly¡¡admonitions¡¡of¡¡My¡¡Dear¡¡had¡¡convinced¡¡Meriem¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡good¡¡form¡¡to¡¡go¡¡naked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡world¡£
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The¡¡kid¡¡was¡¡still¡¡bleating¡¡as¡¡Meriem¡¡started¡¡rapidly¡¡in¡¡its¡¡direction£»¡¡which¡¡she¡¡knew¡¡was¡¡straight¡¡toward¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡water
hole¡¡which¡¡had¡¡once¡¡been¡¡famous¡¡as¡¡a¡¡rendezvous¡¡for¡¡lions¡£¡¡¡¡Of¡¡late¡¡there¡¡had¡¡been¡¡no¡¡evidence¡¡of¡¡carnivora¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighborhood¡¡of¡¡this¡¡drinking¡¡place£»¡¡but¡¡Meriem¡¡was¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡the¡¡bleating¡¡of¡¡the¡¡kid¡¡was¡¡due¡¡to¡¡the¡¡presence¡¡of¡¡either¡¡lion¡¡or¡¡panther¡£
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