Chapter II. The Savage Home

by Edgar Rice Burroughs

　　Nor did they have long to wait, for the next morning asClayton was emerging on deck for his accustomed walk beforebreakfast, a shot rang out, and then another, and another.

　　The sight which met his eyes confirmed his worst fears.Facing the little knot of officers was the entire motley crewof the Fuwalda, and at their head stood Black Michael.

　　At the first volley from the officers the men ran for shelter,and from points of vantage behind masts, wheel-house andcabin they returned the fire of the five men who representedthe hated authority of the ship.

　　Two of their number had gone down before the captain'srevolver. They lay where they had fallen between thecombatants. But then the first mate lunged forward upon hisface, and at a cry of command from Black Michael the mutineerscharged the remaining four. The crew had been able to musterbut six firearms, so most of them were armed with boathooks, axes, hatchets and crowbars.

　　The captain had emptied his revolver and was reloading asthe charge was made. The second mate's gun had jammed,and so there were but two weapons opposed to the mutineersas they bore down upon the officers, who now started to giveback before the infuriated rush of their men.

　　Both sides were cursing and swearing in a frightful manner,which, together with the reports of the firearms and thescreams and groans of the wounded, turned the deck of theFuwalda to the likeness of a madhouse.

　　Before the officers had taken a dozen backward steps themen were upon them. An ax in the hands of a burly Negrocleft the captain from forehead to chin, and an instant laterthe others were down: dead or wounded from dozens ofblows and bullet wounds.

　　Short and grisly had been the work of the mutineers of theFuwalda, and through it all John Clayton had stood leaningcarelessly beside the companionway puffing meditatively uponhis pipe as though he had been but watching an indifferentcricket match.

　　As the last officer went down he thought it was time thathe returned to his wife lest some members of the crew findher alone below.

　　Though outwardly calm and indifferent, Clayton was inwardlyapprehensive and wrought up, for he feared for his wife'ssafety at the hands of these ignorant, half-brutes intowhose hands fate had so remorselessly thrown them.

　　As he turned to descend the ladder he was surprised to seehis wife standing on the steps almost at his side.

　　"How long have you been here, Alice?"

　　"Since the beginning," she replied. "How awful, John. Oh,how awful! What can we hope for at the hands of such as those?"

　　"Breakfast, I hope," he answered, smiling bravely in anattempt to allay her fears.

　　"At least," he added, "I'm going to ask them. Come withme, Alice. We must not let them think we expect any butcourteous treatment."

　　The men had by this time surrounded the dead and woundedofficers, and without either partiality or compassionproceeded to throw both living and dead over the sides ofthe vessel. With equal heartlessness they disposed of theirown dead and dying.

　　Presently one of the crew spied the approaching Claytons,and with a cry of: "Here's two more for the fishes," rushedtoward them with uplifted ax.

　　But Black Michael was even quicker, so that the fellowwent down with a bullet in his back before he had taken ahalf dozen steps.

　　With a loud roar, Black Michael attracted the attention ofthe others, and, pointing to Lord and Lady Greystoke, cried:

　　"These here are my friends, and they are to be left alone.D'ye understand?

　　"I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I says goes," headded, turning to Clayton. "Just keep to yourselves, andnobody'll harm ye," and he looked threateningly on his fellows.

　　The Claytons heeded Black Michael's instructions so wellthat they saw but little of the crew and knew nothing of theplans the men were making.

　　Occasionally they heard faint echoes of brawls and quarrelingamong the mutineers, and on two occasions the viciousbark of firearms rang out on the still air. But Black Michaelwas a fit leader for this band of cutthroats, and, withal heldthem in fair subjection to his rule.

　　On the fifth day following the murder of the ship's officers,land was sighted by the lookout. Whether island or mainland,Black Michael did not know, but he announced to Claytonthat if investigation showed that the place was habitable heand Lady Greystoke were to be put ashore with their belongings.

　　"You'll be all right there for a few months," he explained,"and by that time we'll have been able to make an inhabitedcoast somewhere and scatter a bit. Then I'll see that yergover'ment's notified where you be an' they'll soon send a man-o'war to fetch ye off.

　　"It would be a hard matter to land you in civilization withouta lot o' questions being asked, an' none o' us here has anyvery convincin' answers up our sleeves."

　　Clayton remonstrated against the inhumanity of landingthem upon an unknown shore to be left to the mercies ofsavage beasts, and, possibly, still more savage men.

　　But his words were of no avail, and only tended to angerBlack Michael, so he was forced to desist and make the besthe could of a bad situation.

　　About three o'clock in the afternoon they came about off abeautiful wooded shore opposite the mouth of what appearedto be a land-locked harbor.

　　Black Michael sent a small boat filled with men to soundthe entrance in an effort to determine if the Fuwaldacould be safely worked through the entrance.

　　In about an hour they returned and reported deep waterthrough the passage as well as far into the little basin.

　　Before dark the barkentine lay peacefully at anchor uponthe bosom of the still, mirror-like surface of the harbor.

　　The surrounding shores were beautiful with semitropicalverdure, while in the distance the country rose from theocean in hill and tableland, almost uniformly clothed byprimeval forest.

　　No signs of habitation were visible, but that the land mighteasily support human life was evidenced by the abundant birdand animal life of which the watchers on the Fuwalda's deckcaught occasional glimpses, as well as by the shimmer of alittle river which emptied into the harbor, insuring freshwater in plenitude.

　　As darkness settled upon the earth, Clayton and LadyAlice still stood by the ship's rail in silent contemplation oftheir future abode. From the dark shadows of the mighty forestcame the wild calls of savage beasts--the deep roar of thelion, and, occasionally, the shrill scream of a panther.

　　The woman shrank closer to the man in terror-strickenanticipation of the horrors lying in wait for them in the awfulblackness of the nights to come, when they should be aloneupon that wild and lonely shore.

　　Later in the evening Black Michael joined them longenough to instruct them to make their preparations for landingon the morrow. They tried to persuade him to take themto some more hospitable coast near enough to civilization sothat they might hope to fall into friendly hands. But no pleas,or threats, or promises of reward could move him.

　　"I am the only man aboard who would not rather see yeboth safely dead, and, while I know that's the sensible way tomake sure of our own necks, yet Black Michael's not theman to forget a favor. Ye saved my life once, and in returnI'm goin' to spare yours, but that's all I can do.

　　"The men won't stand for any more, and if we don't get yelanded pretty quick they may even change their minds aboutgiving ye that much show. I'll put all yer stuff ashore with yeas well as cookin' utensils an' some old sails for tents, an'enough grub to last ye until ye can find fruit and game.

　　"With yer guns for protection, ye ought to be able to livehere easy enough until help comes. When I get safely hidaway I'll see to it that the British gover'ment learns aboutwhere ye be; for the life of me I couldn't tell 'em exactlywhere, for I don't know myself. But they'll find ye all right."

　　After he had left them they went silently below, eachwrapped in gloomy forebodings.

　　Clayton did not believe that Black Michael had the slightestintention of notifying the British government of theirwhereabouts, nor was he any too sure but that some treacherywas contemplated for the following day when they shouldbe on shore with the sailors who would have to accompanythem with their belongings.

　　Once out of Black Michael's sight any of the men might strikethem down, and still leave Black Michael's conscience clear.

　　And even should they escape that fate was it not but to befaced with far graver dangers? Alone, he might hope to survivefor years; for he was a strong, athletic man.

　　But what of Alice, and that other little life so soon to belaunched amidst the hardships and grave dangers of a primeval world?

　　The man shuddered as he meditated upon the awful gravity,the fearful helplessness, of their situation. But it was amerciful Providence which prevented him from foreseeingthe hideous reality which awaited them in the grim depths ofthat gloomy wood.

　　Early next morning their numerous chests and boxes werehoisted on deck and lowered to waiting small boats fortransportation to shore.

　　There was a great quantity and variety of stuff, as theClaytons had expected a possible five to eight years' residencein their new home. Thus, in addition to the many necessitiesthey had brought, there were also many luxuries.

　　Black Michael was determined that nothing belonging tothe Claytons should be left on board. Whether out ofcompassion for them, or in furtherance of his own self-interests,it would be difficult to say.

　　There was no question but that the presence of property of amissing British official upon a suspicious vessel would have beena difficult thing to explain in any civilized port in the world.

　　So zealous was he in his efforts to carry out his intentionsthat he insisted upon the return of Clayton's revolvers to himby the sailors in whose possession they were.

　　Into the small boats were also loaded salt meats and biscuit,with a small supply of potatoes and beans, matches, andcooking vessels, a chest of tools, and the old sails whichBlack Michael had promised them.

　　As though himself fearing the very thing which Claytonhad suspected, Black Michael accompanied them to shore,and was the last to leave them when the small boats, havingfilled the ship's casks with fresh water, were pushed outtoward the waiting Fuwalda.

　　As the boats moved slowly over the smooth waters of thebay, Clayton and his wife stood silently watching theirdeparture--in the breasts of both a feeling of impendingdisaster and utter hopelessness.

　　And behind them, over the edge of a low ridge, other eyeswatched--close set, wicked eyes, gleaming beneath shaggy brows.

　　As the Fuwalda passed through the narrow entrance to theharbor and out of sight behind a projecting point, Lady Alicethrew her arms about Clayton's neck and burst into uncontrolled sobs.

　　Bravely had she faced the dangers of the mutiny; with heroicfortitude she had looked into the terrible future; but nowthat the horror of absolute solitude was upon them, heroverwrought nerves gave way, and the reaction came.

　　He did not attempt to check her tears. It were better thatnature have her way in relieving these long-pent emotions, andit was many minutes before the girl--little more than a childshe was--could again gain mastery of herself.

　　"Oh, John," she cried at last, "the horror of it. What are weto do? What are we to do?"

　　"There is but one thing to do, Alice," and he spoke as quietlyas though they were sitting in their snug living room at home,"and that is work. Work must be our salvation. We must notgive ourselves time to think, for in that direction lies madness.

　　"We must work and wait. I am sure that relief will come,and come quickly, when once it is apparent that the Fuwaldahas been lost, even though Black Michael does not keep hisword to us."

　　"But John, if it were only you and I," she sobbed, "wecould endure it I know; but--"

　　"Yes, dear," he answered, gently, "I have been thinking ofthat, also; but we must face it, as we must face whatevercomes, bravely and with the utmost confidence in our abilityto cope with circumstances whatever they may be.

　　"Hundreds of thousands of years ago our ancestors of thedim and distant past faced the same problems which we mustface, possibly in these same primeval forests. That we arehere today evidences their victory.

　　"What they did may we not do? And even better, for arewe not armed with ages of superior knowledge, and have wenot the means of protection, defense, and sustenance whichscience has given us, but of which they were totally ignorant?What they accomplished, Alice, with instruments and weaponsof stone and bone, surely that may we accomplish also."

　　"Ah, John, I wish that I might be a man with a man'sphilosophy, but I am but a woman, seeing with my heart ratherthan my head, and all that I can see is too horrible, toounthinkable to put into words.

　　"I only hope you are right, John. I will do my best to be abrave primeval woman, a fit mate for the primeval man."

　　Clayton's first thought was to arrange a sleeping shelter forthe night; something which might serve to protect them fromprowling beasts of prey.

　　He opened the box containing his rifles and ammunition,that they might both be armed against possible attack whileat work, and then together they sought a location for theirfirst night's sleeping place.

　　A hundred yards from the beach was a little level spot,fairly free of trees; here they decided eventually to build apermanent house, but for the time being they both thought itbest to construct a little platform in the trees out of reach ofthe larger of the savage beasts in whose realm they were.

　　To this end Clayton selected four trees which formed arectangle about eight feet square, and cutting long branchesfrom other trees he constructed a framework around them,about ten feet from the ground, fastening the ends of thebranches securely to the trees by means of rope, a quantityof which Black Michael had furnished him from the hold ofthe Fuwalda.

　　Across this framework Clayton placed other smallerbranches quite close together. This platform he paved withthe huge fronds of elephant's ear which grew in profusionabout them, and over the fronds he laid a great sail foldedinto several thicknesses.

　　Seven feet higher he constructed a similar, though lighterplatform to serve as roof, and from the sides of this hesuspended the balance of his sailcloth for walls.

　　When completed he had a rather snug little nest, to whichhe carried their blankets and some of the lighter luggage.

　　It was now late in the afternoon, and the balance of thedaylight hours were devoted to the building of a rude ladderby means of which Lady Alice could mount to her new home.

　　All during the day the forest about them had been filled withexcited birds of brilliant plumage, and dancing, chatteringmonkeys, who watched these new arrivals and their wonderfulnest building operations with every mark of keenest interestand fascination.

　　Notwithstanding that both Clayton and his wife kept asharp lookout they saw nothing of larger animals, though ontwo occasions they had seen their little simian neighborscome screaming and chattering from the near-by ridge, castingfrightened glances back over their little shoulders, andevincing as plainly as though by speech that they were fleeingsome terrible thing which lay concealed there.

　　Just before dusk Clayton finished his ladder, and, filling agreat basin with water from the near-by stream, the twomounted to the comparative safety of their aerial chamber.

　　As it was quite warm, Clayton had left the side curtainsthrown back over the roof, and as they sat, like Turks, upontheir blankets, Lady Alice, straining her eyes into the darkeningshadows of the wood, suddenly reached out and graspedClayton's arms.

　　"John," she whispered, "look! What is it, a man?"

　　As Clayton turned his eyes in the direction she indicated,he saw silhouetted dimly against the shadows beyond, a greatfigure standing upright upon the ridge.

　　For a moment it stood as though listening and then turnedslowly, and melted into the shadows of the jungle.

　　"What is it, John?"

　　"I do not know, Alice," he answered gravely, "it is toodark to see so far, and it may have been but a shadow cast bythe rising moon."

　　"No, John, if it was not a man it was some huge and grotesquemockery of man. Oh, I am afraid."

　　He gathered her in his arms, whispering words of courageand love into her ears.

　　Soon after, he lowered the curtain walls, tying them securelyto the trees so that, except for a little opening towardthe beach, they were entirely enclosed.

　　As it was now pitch dark within their tiny aerie they laydown upon their blankets to try to gain, through sleep, abrief respite of forgetfulness.

　　Clayton lay facing the opening at the front, a rifle and abrace of revolvers at his hand.

　　Scarcely had they closed their eyes than the terrifying cryof a panther rang out from the jungle behind them. Closerand closer it came until they could hear the great beastdirectly beneath them. For an hour or more they heard itsniffing and clawing at the trees which supported their platform,but at last it roamed away across the beach, where Claytoncould see it clearly in the brilliant moonlight--a great, handsomebeast, the largest he had ever seen.

　　During the long hours of darkness they caught but fitfulsnatches of sleep, for the night noises of a great jungleteeming with myriad animal life kept their overwrought nerveson edge, so that a hundred times they were startled towakefulness by piercing screams, or the stealthy moving ofgreat bodies beneath them.