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that whatever had caused the explosion had scattered
some highly inflammable substance upon the surrounding
woodwork； for the water which they poured in from the pump
seemed rather to spread than to extinguish the blaze。
Fifteen minutes after the explosion great； black clouds of
smoke were rising from the hold of the doomed vessel。
The flames had reached the engine…room； and the ship no longer
moved toward the shore。 Her fate was as certain as though the
waters had already closed above her charred and smoking remains。
〃It is useless to remain aboard her longer；〃 remarked the
ape…man to the mate。 〃There is no telling 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 made with infinite ease。 Eager 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 smile curved the lips of the ape…man as he
watched them go。
〃Good…bye； my friends；〃 he murmured。 〃You have been
good 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 many human beings into their confidence。 Mugambi 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 for my beastsit is you whom they are fleeing。
Doubtless they feel that they cannot trust themselves in the
close vicinity of so much perfectly good food without the
danger that they may help themselves to a mouthful some
time by mistake。〃
Jane laughed。 〃I think they are just trying to escape you；〃
she retorted。 〃You are always making them stop something
which they see no reason why they should not do。 Like little
children they are doubtless delighted at this opportunity to
flee from the zone of parental discipline。 If they come back；
though； I hope they won't come by night。〃
〃Or come hungry； eh？〃 laughed Tarzan。
For two hours after landing the little party stood watching the
burning ship 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 immediatel thereafter；
and sank within a few minutes。
The cause of the second explosion was less a mystery than
that of the first； the mate attributing it 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 among the stranded company。
Chapter 20
Jungle Island Again
The first consideration of the party was to locate fresh
water and make camp； for all knew that their term of
existence upon Jungle Island might 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
meat； leaving the faithful Mugambi and the Mosula woman
to guard 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 mother…heart lay not in her own privations
but in the knowledge that she might now never be able to
learn the fate of her first…born or do aught to discover his
whereabouts； or ameliorate his conditiona condition which
imagination naturally pictured in the most frightful forms。
For two weeks the party divided the time amongst the
various duties which had been allotted to each。 A daylight
watch was maintained from sunrise to sunset upon a bluff
near the campa jutting shoulder of rock which overlooked
the sea。 Here； ready for instant lighting； was gathered a huge
pile of dry branches； while from a lofty pole which they had
set in the ground there floated an improvised distress signal
fashioned from a red undershirt which belonged to the mate
of the Kincaid。
But never a speck upon the horizon that might 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 fashion rude tools； and
when the idea had taken root in the minds of the men they
were eager to commence their labours。
But as time went on and the Herculean nature of their task
became more and more apparent they fell to grumbling； and
to quarrelling among themselves； so that to the other dangers
were now added dissension and suspicion。
More than before did Tarzan now fear to leave Jane among
the half brutes of the Kincaid's crew； but hunting he must
do； for none other could so surely go forth and return with
meat as he。 Sometimes Mugambi spelled him at the hunting；
but the black's spear and arrows were never so sure of results
as the rope and knife of the ape…man。
Finally the men shirked their work； going off into the
jungle by twos to explore and to hunt。 All this time the camp
had had no sight of Sheeta； or Akut and the other great apes；
though Tarzan had sometimes met them in the jungle as he hunted。
And as matters tended from bad to worse in the camp of
the castaways upon the east coast of Jungle Island； another
camp came into being upon the north coast。
Here； in a little cove； lay a small schooner； the Cowrie；
whose decks had but a few days since run red with the blood
of her officers and the loyal members of her crew； for the
Cowrie had fallen upon bad days when it had shipped such
men as Gust and Momulla the Maori and that arch…fiend
Kai Shang of Fachan。
There were others； too； ten of them all told； the scum of
the South Sea ports； but Gust and Momulla and Kai Shang
were the brains and cunning of the company。 It was they who
had instigated the mutiny that they might seize and divide
the catch of pearls which constituted the wealth of the
Cowrie's cargo。
It was Kai Shang who had murdered the captain as he lay
asleep in his berth； and it had been Momulla the Maori who
had led the attack upon the officer of the wat