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At the steamer's side they found a monkey…ladder dangling
close above them； and up this the two men crept stealthily。
Once on deck they hastened aft to where the Russian pointed
to a hatch。
〃The boy is hidden there；〃 he said。 〃You had better go
down after him； as there is less chance that he will cry in
fright than should he find himself in the arms of a stranger。
I will stand on guard here。〃
So anxious was Tarzan to rescue the child that he gave not
the slightest thought to the strangeness of all the conditions
surrounding the Kincaid。 That her deck was deserted； though
she had steam up； and from the volume of smoke pouring
from her funnel was all ready to get under way made no
impression upon him。
With the thought that in another instant he would fold that
precious little bundle of humanity in his arms； the ape…man
swung down into the darkness below。 Scarcely had he released
his hold upon the edge of the hatch than the heavy
covering fell clattering above him。
Instantly he knew that he was the victim of a plot； and that
far from rescuing his son he had himself fallen into the hands
of his enemies。 Though he immediately endeavoured to reach
the hatch and lift the cover； he was unable to do so。
Striking a match； he explored his surroundings； finding
that a little compartment had been partitioned off from the
main hold； with the hatch above his head the only means of
ingress or egress。 It was evident that the room had been
prepared for the very purpose of serving as a cell for himself。
There was nothing in the compartment； and no other occupant。
If the child was on board the Kincaid he was confined elsewhere。
For over twenty years； from infancy to manhood； the ape…man
had roamed his savage jungle haunts without human companionship
of any nature。 He had learned at the most impressionable period
of his life to take his pleasures and his sorrows as the beasts
take theirs。
So it was that he neither raved nor stormed against fate；
but instead waited patiently for what might next befall him；
though not by any means without an eye to doing the utmost to
succour himself。 To this end he examined his prison carefully；
tested the heavy planking that formed its walls； and measured
the distance of the hatch above him。
And while he was thus occupied there came suddenly to him
the vibration of machinery and the throbbing of the propeller。
The ship was moving！ Where to and to what fate was it carrying him？
And even as these thoughts passed through his mind there
came to his ears above the din of the engines that which
caused him to go cold with apprehension。
Clear and shrill from the deck above him rang the scream
of a frightened woman。
Chapter 2
Marooned
As Tarzan and his guide had disappeared into the shadows
upon the dark wharf the figure of a heavily veiled woman
had hurried down the narrow alley to the entrance of the
drinking…place the two men had just quitted。
Here she paused and looked about； and then as though
satisfied that she had at last reached the place she sought；
she pushed bravely into the interior of the vile den。
A score of half…drunken sailors and wharf…rats looked up at
the unaccustomed sight of a richly gowned woman in their midst。
Rapidly she approached the slovenly barmaid who stared half
in envy； half in hate； at her more fortunate sister。
〃Have you seen a tall； well…dressed man here； but a minute
since；〃 she asked； 〃who met another and went away with him？〃
The girl answered in the affirmative； but could not tell
which way the two had gone。 A sailor who had approached
to listen to the conversation vouchsafed the information that
a moment before as he had been about to enter the 〃pub〃
he had seen two men leaving it who walked toward the wharf。
〃Show me the direction they went；〃 cried the woman；
slipping a coin into the man's hand。
The fellow led her from the place； and together they walked
quickly toward the wharf and along it until across the water
they saw a small boat just pulling into the shadows of a
nearby steamer。
〃There they be；〃 whispered the man。
〃Ten pounds if you will find a boat and row me to that steamer；〃
cried the woman。
〃Quick； then；〃 he replied； 〃for we gotta go it if we're goin'
to catch the Kincaid afore she sails。 She's had steam up
for three hours an' jest been a…waitin' fer that one passenger。
I was a…talkin' to one of her crew 'arf an hour ago。〃
As he spoke he led the way to the end of the wharf where
he knew another boat lay moored； and； lowering the woman
into it； he jumped in after and pushed off。 The two were
soon scudding over the water。
At the steamer's side the man demanded his pay and；
without waiting to count out the exact amount； the woman
thrust a handful of bank…notes into his outstretched hand。
A single glance at them convinced the fellow that he had been
more than well paid。 Then he assisted her up the ladder；
holding his skiff close to the ship's side against the chance
that this profitable passenger might wish to be taken ashore later。
But presently the sound of the donkey engine and the rattle
of a steel cable on the hoisting…drum proclaimed the fact that
the Kincaid's anchor was being raised； and a moment later
the waiter heard the propellers revolving； and slowly the little
steamer moved away from him out into the channel。
As he turned to row back to shore he heard a woman's
shriek from the ship's deck。
〃That's wot I calls rotten luck；〃 he soliloquized。 〃I might
jest as well of 'ad the whole bloomin' wad。〃
When Jane Clayton climbed to the deck of the Kincaid she
found the ship apparently deserted。 There was no sign of
those she sought nor of any other aboard； and so she went
about her search for her husband and the child she hoped
against hope to find there without interruption。
Quickly she hastened to the cabin； which was half above and
half below deck。 As she hurried down the short companion…ladder
into the main cabin； on either side of which were the smaller
rooms occupied by the officers； she failed to note the quick
closing of one of the doors before her。 She passed the
full length of the main room； and then retracing her steps
stopped before each door to listen； furtively trying each latch。
All was silence； utter silence there； in which the throbbing
of her own frightened heart seemed to her overwrought
imagination to fill the ship with its thunderous alarm。
One by one the doors opened before her touch； only to reveal
empty interiors。 In her absorption she did not note the
sudden activity upon the vessel； the purring of the engines；
the throbbing of the propeller。 She had reached the last door
upon the right now； and as she pushed it open she was seized
from within by a powerful； dark…visaged man； and drawn
hastily into the stu