Part 27 (1/2)

An exaer, now, lay in fire, for the flarily at the splintered wood of the wrecked cabin, and had already found a foothold upon the lower deck through a great jagged hole which the explosion had opened

By a miracle no member of the shi+p's coin of which remained for ever a total mystery to all but one-the sailor who knew that Paulvitch had been aboard the Kincaid and in his cabin the previous night He guessed the truth; but discretion sealed his lips It would, doubtless, fare none too well for the man who had permitted the arch eneht, where later he doe to hiained headway it became apparent to Tarzan that whatever had caused the explosion had scattered so ork, for the water which they poured in frouish the blaze

Fifteen reat, black clouds of s from the hold of the dooine-rooer h the waters had already closed above her charred and ser,” re but there may be other explosions, and as we cannot hope to save her, the safest thing which we can do is to take to the boats without further loss of time and make land”

Nor was there other alternative Only the sailors could bring away any belongings, for the fire, which had not yet reached the forecastle, had consumed all in the vicinity of the cabin which the explosion had not destroyed

Two boats were lowered, and as there was no sea the landing was er and anxious, the beasts of Tarzan sniffed the familiar air of their native island as the small boats drew in toward the beach, and scarce had their keels grated upon the sand than Sheeta and the apes of Akut were over the bows and racing swiftly toward the jungle A half-sad so

”Good-bye, ood and faithful allies, and I shall miss you”

”They will return, will they not, dear?” asked Jane Clayton, at his side

”They may and they may not,” replied the ape-man ”They have been ill at ease since they were forced to accept so ambi and I alone affected them less, for he and I are, at best, but half human You, however, and the members of the crew are far too civilized forDoubtless they feel that they cannot trust theood food without the danger that they may help thehed ”I think they are just trying to escape you,” she retorted ”You are alwayswhich they see no reason why they should not do Like little children they are doubtless delighted at this opportunity to flee froh, I hope they won't cohed Tarzan

For two hours after landing the little party stood watching the burning shi+p which they had abandoned Then there came faintly to them from across the water the sound of a second explosion The Kincaid settled rapidly almost immediately thereafter, and sank within a few minutes

The cause of the second explosion was less ait to the bursting of the boilers when the flames had finally reached them; but what had caused the first explosion was a subject of considerable speculation ale Island Again

The first consideration of the party was to locate fresh water and le Island ht be drawn out to months, or even years

Tarzan knew the nearest water, and to this he immediately led the party Here the men fell to work to construct shelters and rude furniture while Tarzan went into the jungle after uard Jane, whose safety he would never trust to any member of the Kincaid's cut-throat crew

Lady Greystoke suffered far greater anguish than any other of the castaways, for the blow to her hopes and her already cruelly lacerated e that she ht now never be able to learn the fate of her first-born or do aught to discover his whereabouts, or aination naturally pictured in the htful forst the various duties which had been allotted to each A daylight watch was maintained fro shoulder of rock which overlooked the sea Here, ready for instant lighting, was gathered a huge pile of dry branches, while froround there floated an inal fashi+oned froed to the mate of the Kincaid

But never a speck upon the horizon that ht be sail or smoke rewarded the tired eyes that in their endless, hopeless vigil strained daily out across the vast expanse of ocean

It was Tarzan who suggested, finally, that they attempt to construct a vessel that would bear them back to the mainland He alone could show them how to fashi+on rude tools, and when the idea had taken root in the er to commence their labours

But as time went on and the Herculean nature of their task beca, and to quarrelling aers were now added dissension and suspicion

More than before did Tarzan now fear to leave Jane a he o forth and return with ; but the black's spear and arroere never so sure of results as the rope and knife of the ape- off into the jungle by twos to explore and to hunt All this tiht of Sheeta, or Akut and the other great apes, though Tarzan had sole as he hunted

And as matters tended from bad to worse in the cale Island, another ca upon the north coast