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told anotheryour brave Monsieur Tarzan leaped overboard
in an agony of fear because I recognized him； and insisted
that he make reparation to me the following morningwe
could have fought with knives in my stateroom。〃
Jane Porter laughed。 〃You do not for a moment imagine
that one who has known both Monsieur Tarzan and you
could ever believe such an impossible tale？〃
〃Then why did he travel under an assumed name？〃 asked
Monsieur Thuran。
〃I do not believe you；〃 she cried； but nevertheless the
seed of suspicion was sown； for she knew that Hazel Strong
had known her forest god only as John Caldwell； of London。
A scant five miles north of their rude shelter； all unknown
to them； and practically as remote as though separated by
thousands of miles of impenetrable jungle； lay the snug
little cabin of Tarzan of the Apes。 While farther up the
coast； a few miles beyond the cabin； in crude but well…built
shelters； lived a little party of eighteen soulsthe occupants
of the three boats from the LADY ALICE from which Clayton's
boat had become separated。
Over a smooth sea they had rowed to the mainland in less
than three days。 None of the horrors of shipwreck had been
theirs； and though depressed by sorrow； and suffering from
the shock of the catastrophe and the unaccustomed hardships
of their new existence there was none much the worse
for the experience。
All were buoyed by the hope that the fourth boat had
been picked up； and that a thorough search of the coast
would be quickly made。 As all the firearms and ammunition
on the yacht had been placed in Lord Tennington's boat；
the party was well equipped for defense； and for hunting
the larger game for food。
Professor Archimedes Q。 Porter was their only immediate anxiety。
Fully assured in his own mind that his daughter had been
picked up by a passing steamer； he gave over the last
vestige of apprehension concerning her welfare； and
devoted his giant intellect solely to the consideration of
those momentous and abstruse scientific problems which he
considered the only proper food for thought in one of
his erudition。 His mind appeared blank to the influence
of all extraneous matters。
〃Never；〃 said the exhausted Mr。 Samuel T。 Philander； to
Lord Tennington； 〃never has Professor Porter been more
difficulterI might say； impossible。 Why； only this
morning； after I had been forced to relinquish my surveillance
for a brief half hour he was entirely missing upon my return。
And； bless me； sir； where do you imagine I discovered him？
A half mile out in the ocean； sir； in one of the lifeboats；
rowing away for dear life。 I do not know how he attained
even that magnificent distance from shore； for he had but a
single oar； with which he was blissfully rowing about in circles。
〃When one of the sailors had taken me out to him in
another boat the professor became quite indignant at my
suggestion that we return at once to land。 ‘Why； Mr。 Philander；'
he said； ‘I am surprised that you； sir； a man of letters
yourself； should have the temerity so to interrupt the
progress of science。 I had about deduced from certain astronomic
phenomena I have had under minute observation during the
past several tropic nights an entirely new nebular hypothesis
which will unquestionably startle the scientific world。 I wish
to consult a very excellent monograph on Laplace's hypothesis；
which I understand is in a certain private collection in
New York City。 Your interference； Mr。 Philander； will result
in an irreparable delay； for I was just rowing over to obtain
this pamphlet。' And it was with the greatest difficulty that I
persuaded him to return to shore； without resorting to force；〃
concluded Mr。 Philander。
Miss Strong and her mother were very brave under the
strain of almost constant apprehension of the attacks of
savage beasts。 Nor were they quite able to accept so readily
as the others the theory that Jane； Clayton； and Monsieur Thuran
had been picked up safely。
Jane Porter's Esmeralda was in a constant state of tears at the
cruel fate which had separated her from her 〃po； li'le honey。〃
Lord Tennington's great…hearted good nature never deserted
him for a moment。 He was still the jovial host； seeking
always for the comfort and pleasure of his guests。 With the
men of his yacht he remained the just but firm commander
there was never any more question in the jungle than there
had been on board the LADY ALICE as to who was the final
authority in all questions of importance； and in all
emergencies requiring cool and intelligent leadership。
Could this well…organized and comparatively secure party
of castaways have seen the ragged； fear…haunted trio a few
miles south of them they would scarcely have recognized in
them the formerly immaculate members of the little company
that had laughed and played upon the LADY ALICE。
Clayton and Monsieur Thuran were almost naked； so torn
had their clothes been by the thorn bushes and tangled
vegetation of the matted jungle through which they had been
compelled to force their way in search of their ever more
difficult food supply。
Jane Porter had of course not been subjected to these
strenuous expeditions； but her apparel was； nevertheless；
in a sad state of disrepair。
Clayton； for lack of any better occupation； had carefully
saved the skin of every animal they had killed。 By stretching
them upon the stems of trees； and diligently scraping them；
he had managed to save them in a fair condition； and now
that his clothes were threatening to cover his nakedness no
longer； he commenced to fashion a rude garment of them；
using a sharp thorn for a needle； and bits of tough grass and
animal tendons in lieu of thread。
The result when completed was a sleeveless garment which
fell nearly to his knees。 As it was made up of numerous
small pelts of different species of rodents； it presented a
rather strange and wonderful appearance； which； together
with the vile stench which permeated it； rendered it anything
other than a desirable addition to a wardrobe。 But the time
came when for the sake of decency he was compelled to don
it； and even the misery of their condition could not prevent
Jane Porter from laughing heartily at sight of him。
Later； Thuran also found it necessary to construct a similar
primitive garment； so that； with their bare legs and heavily
bearded faces； they looked not unlike reincarnations of two
prehistoric progenitors of the human race。 Thuran acted like one。
Nearly two months of this existence had passed when the
first great calamity befell them。 It was prefaced by an
adventure which came near terminating abruptly the sufferings
of two of themterminating them in the grim and horrible
manner of the jungle； forever。
Thuran； down with an attack of jungle fever； lay in the
shelter among the branches of their tree of refuge。
Clayton had been into the