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louder their wild and savage shouts。 The women rose and
fell in unison； shrieking now at the tops of their voices。
The spears were brandishing fiercely； and as the dancers stooped
down and beat their shields upon the hard…tramped earth of
the village street the whole sight was as terribly primeval
and savage as though it were being staged in the dim dawn
of humanity； countless ages in the past。
As the excitement waxed the ape…man sprang to his feet
and joined in the wild ceremony。 In the center of the
circle of glittering black bodies he leaped and roared and
shook his heavy spear in the same mad abandon that enthralled
his fellow savages。 The last remnant of his civilization was
forgottenhe was a primitive man to the fullest now； reveling
in the freedom of the fierce； wild life he loved； gloating in
his kingship among these wild blacks。
Ah； if Olga de Coude had but seen him thencould she
have recognized the well…dressed； quiet young man whose
well…bred face and irreproachable manners had so captivated
her but a few short months ago？ And Jane Porter！ Would
she have still loved this savage warrior chieftain； dancing
naked among his naked savage subjects？ And D'Arnot！
Could D'Arnot have believed that this was the same man he
had introduced into half a dozen of the most select clubs
of Paris？ What would his fellow peers in the House of
Lords have said had one pointed to this dancing giant； with
his barbaric headdress and his metal ornaments； and said：
〃There； my lords； is John Clayton； Lord Greystoke。〃
And so Tarzan of the Apes came into a real kingship
among menslowly but surely was he following the evolution
of his ancestors； for had he not started at the very bottom？
Chapter 18
The Lottery of Death
Jane Porter had been the first of those in the lifeboat
to awaken the morning after the wreck of the LADY ALICE。
The other members of the party were asleep upon the thwarts
or huddled in cramped positions in the bottom of the boat。
When the girl realized that they had become separated
from the other boats she was filled with alarm。 The sense
of utter loneliness and helplessness which the vast expanse
of deserted ocean aroused in her was so depressing that；
from the first； contemplation of the future held not the
slightest ray of promise for her。 She was confident that
they were lostlost beyond possibility of succor。
Presently Clayton awoke。 It was several minutes before he
could gather his senses sufficiently to realize where he was；
or recall the disaster of the previous night。 Finally his
bewildered eyes fell upon the girl。
〃Jane！〃 he cried。 〃Thank God that we are together！〃
〃Look；〃 said the girl dully； indicating the horizon with an
apathetic gesture。 〃We are all alone。〃
Clayton scanned the water in every direction。
〃Where can they be？〃 he cried。 〃They cannot have gone down；
for there has been no sea； and they were afloat after the
yacht sankI saw them all。〃
He awoke the other members of the party； and explained their plight。
〃It is just as well that the boats are scattered； sir；〃 said
one of the sailors。 〃They are all provisioned； so that they
do not need each other on that score； and should a storm
blow up they could be of no service to one another even if
they were together； but scattered about the ocean there is a
much better chance that one at least will be picked up； and
then a search will be at once started for the others。
Were we together there would be but one chance of rescue；
where now there may be four。〃
They saw the wisdom of his philosophy； and were cheered
by it； but their joy was short…lived； for when it was
decided that they should row steadily toward the east and
the continent； it was discovered that the sailors who had
been at the only two oars with which the boat had been
provided had fallen asleep at their work； and allowed both
to slip into the sea； nor were they in sight anywhere upon
the water。
During the angry words and recriminations which followed
the sailors nearly came to blows； but Clayton succeeded in
quieting them； though a moment later Monsieur Thuran almost
precipitated another row by making a nasty remark about the
stupidity of all Englishmen； and especially English sailors。
〃Come； come； mates；〃 spoke up one of the men； Tompkins；
who had taken no part in the altercation； 〃shootin'
off our bloomin' mugs won't get us nothin'。 As Spider 'ere
said afore； we'll all bloody well be picked up； anyway； sez
'e； so wot's the use o' squabblin'？ Let's eat； sez I。〃
〃That's not a bad idea；〃 said Monsieur Thuran； and then；
turning to the third sailor； Wilson； he said： 〃Pass one of
those tins aft； my good man。〃
〃Fetch it yerself；〃 retorted Wilson sullenly。 〃I ain't a…takin'
no orders from nofurrineryou ain't captain o' this ship yet。〃
The result was that Clayton himself had to get the tin；
and then another angry altercation ensued when one of the
sailors accused Clayton and Monsieur Thuran of conspiring to
control the provisions so that they could have the lion's share。
〃Some one should take command of this boat；〃 spoke up Jane Porter；
thoroughly disgusted with the disgraceful wrangling that had
marked the very opening of a forced companionship that might
last for many days。 〃It is terrible enough to be alone
in a frail boat on the Atlantic； without having the added
misery and danger of constant bickering and brawling among
the members of our party。 You men should elect a leader；
and then abide by his decisions in all matters。 There is
greater need for strict discipline here than there is
upon a well…ordered ship。〃
She had hoped before she voiced her sentiments that it
would not be necessary for her to enter into the transaction
at all； for she believed that Clayton was amply able to cope
with every emergency； but she had to admit that so far at
least he had shown no greater promise of successfully handling
the situation than any of the others； though he had at least
refrained from adding in any way to the unpleasantness； even
going so far as to give up the tin to the sailors when they
objected to its being opened by him。
The girl's words temporarily quieted the men； and finally it
was decided that the two kegs of water and the four tins of
food should be divided into two parts； one…half going forward
to the three sailors to do with as they saw best； and the
balance aft to the three passengers。
Thus was the little company divided into two camps； and
when the provisions had been apportioned each immediately
set to work to open and distribute food and water。 The sailors
were the first to get one of the tins of 〃food〃 open； and their
curses of rage and disappointment caused Clayton to ask
what the trouble might be。
〃Trouble！〃 shrieked Spider。 〃Trouble！ It's worse than
troubleit's death！ This … tin is full of coal oil！〃