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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 watch。
Gust； after his own peculiar habit； had found means to
delegate to the others the actual taking of life。 Not that
Gust entertained any scruples on the subject； other than those
which induced in him a rare regard for his own personal safety。
There is always a certain element of risk to the assassin；
for victims of deadly assault are seldom prone to die quietly
and considerately。 There is always a certain element of risk
to go so far as to dispute the issue with the murderer。
It was this chance of dispute which Gust preferred to forgo。
But now that the work was done the Swede aspired to the
position of highest command among the mutineers。 He had
even gone so far as to appropriate and wear certain articles
belonging to the murdered captain of the Cowriearticles of
apparel which bore upon them the badges and insignia of authority。
Kai Shang was peeved。 He had no love for authority； and
certainly not the slightest intention of submitting to the
domination of an ordinary Swede sailor。
The seeds of discontent were； therefore； already planted in the camp
of the mutineers of the Cowrie at the north edge of Jungle Island。
But Kai Shang realized that he must act with circumspection；
for Gust alone of the motley horde possessed sufficient
knowledge of navigation to get them out of the South Atlantic
and around the cape into more congenial waters where they might
find a market for their ill…gotten wealth； and no questions asked。
The day before they sighted Jungle Island and discovered
the little land…locked harbour upon the bosom of which the
Cowrie now rode quietly at anchor； the watch had discovered
the smoke and funnels of a warship upon the southern horizon。
The chance of being spoken and investigated by a man…of…war
appealed not at all to any of them； so they put into hiding
for a few days until the danger should have passed。
And now Gust did not wish to venture out to sea again。
There was no telling； he insisted； but that the ship they had
seen was actually searching for them。 Kai Shang pointed out
that such could not be the case since it was impossible for
any human being other than themselves to have knowledge
of what had transpired aboard the Cowrie。
But Gust was not to be persuaded。 In his wicked heart he
nursed a scheme whereby he might increase his share of the
booty by something like one hundred per cent。 He alone
could sail the Cowrie； therefore the others could not leave
Jungle Island without him； but what was there to prevent
Gust； with just sufficient men to man the schooner； slipping
away from Kai Shang； Momulla the Maori； and some half
of the crew when opportunity presented？
It was for this opportunity that Gust waited。 Some day
there would come a moment when Kai Shang； Momulla； and
three or four of the others would be absent from camp；
exploring or hunting。 The Swede racked his brain for some plan
whereby he might successfully lure from the sight of the
anchored ship those whom he had determined to abandon。
To this end he organized hunting party after hunting party；
but always the devil of perversity seemed to enter the soul of
Kai Shang； so that wily celestial would never hunt except
in the company of Gust himself。
One day Kai Shang spoke secretly with Momulla the Maori；
pouring into the brown ear of his companion the suspicions
which he harboured concerning the Swede。 Momulla was for
going immediately and running a long knife through
the heart of the traitor。
It is true that Kai Shang had no other evidence than the
natural cunning of his own knavish soulbut he imagined
in the intentions of Gust what he himself would have been
glad to accomplish had the means lain at hand。
But he dared not let Momulla slay the Swede； upon whom
they depended to guide them to their destination。
They decided； however； that it would do no harm to attempt to
frighten