The Son of Tarzan · Chapter
XXVI explained
Meriem, dazed by Korak's unexpected survival, is led away by Baynes but insists on returning to help him.
What happens
Meriem, dazed by Korak's unexpected survival, is led away by Baynes but insists on returning to help him. Baynes confesses his past dishonorable intentions and his transformation through love. They return to find Korak bound and about to be burned alive, but Tantor breaks through the palisade, rescues Korak, and carries him into the jungle. Meriem and Baynes escape on horseback. In the jungle, Tantor guards Korak, preventing Meriem from freeing him. Korak tricks Tantor into leaving, but the elephant returns and charges at Meriem as she approaches with a knife.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Sacrifice
Baynes confesses his transformation through love and sacrifices his own safety to help Meriem and Korak; Meriem risks her life to free Korak.
Identity and Belonging
Meriem grapples with her feelings for Korak and Baynes, redefining her sense of loyalty and love.
Characters to notice
- Meriem
Dazed by Korak's survival, she insists on returning to help him, leads Baynes back, and later attempts to free Korak from Tantor's guardianship.
- Morison Baynes
Confesses his past dishonorable intentions and his transformation through love; helps Meriem escape and attempts to rescue Korak.
- Korak
Bound to a stake and nearly burned alive, rescued by Tantor, then guarded by the elephant in the jungle; he tricks Tantor to allow Meriem to approach.
- Tantor
Breaks through the palisade to rescue Korak, carries him into the jungle, and guards him aggressively, preventing Meriem from freeing him.
- Akut
Heard calling in the distance; Korak responds, hoping Akut can approach Tantor.
Key passages
“Go! Make your way back to Bwana and bring help. My place is here. You can do no good remaining. Get away while you can and bring the Big Bwana back with you.”
Meriem tells Baynes to flee and fetch Bwana for help, insisting she must stay with Korak.
Meriem prioritizes Korak's safety over her own escape.
“I planned to take you to London, as you know; but I did not plan to marry you. Yes, shrink from me—I deserve it. I deserve your contempt and loathing; but I didn't know then what love was. Since I have learned that I have learned something else—what a cad and what a coward I have been all my life.”
Baynes confesses his original dishonorable intentions and admits his transformation through love, acknowledging his past cowardice.
Baynes reveals his moral growth and remorse.
“Pretend to go away. Keep down wind from us so that Tantor won't get your scent, then follow us. After a while I'll have him put me down, and find some pretext for sending him away. While he is gone you can slip up and cut my bonds—have you a knife?”
Korak devises a plan for Meriem to hide and later free him by tricking Tantor into leaving.
Korak uses his knowledge of Tantor's behavior to attempt escape.