CHAPTER II. The Savage Home

The sight that met Lord Greystoke's eyes, as he emerged on deck the next morning, confirmed his worst fears. A shot rang out, and then another and another. Facing the little knot of five officers was the entire motley crew of the Fuwalda, and at their head stood Black Michael.
The sight that met Lord Greystoke's eyes, as he emerged on deck the next morning, confirmed his worst fears. A shot rang out, and then another and another. Facing the little knot of five officers was the entire motley crew of the Fuwalda, and at their head stood Black Michael.
Enraged, the blood-thirsty ruffians charged the officers representing the hated authority of the ship. Most of them were armed with boathooks, axes, and crowbars. The officers retreated before the infuriated rush of their men. An axe cleft the captain from forehead to chin.
Enraged, the blood-thirsty ruffians charged the officers representing the hated authority of the ship. Most of them were armed with boathooks, axes, and crowbars. The officers retreated before the infuriated rush of their men. An axe cleft the captain from forehead to chin.
Both sides were cursing and swearing in a frightful manner, which, together with the reports of the firearms and the screams and groans of the wounded, turned the deck of the Fuwalda to the likeness of a madhouse. Short and grisly had been the work of the mutineers.
Both sides were cursing and swearing in a frightful manner, which, together with the reports of the firearms and the screams and groans of the wounded, turned the deck of the Fuwalda to the likeness of a madhouse. Short and grisly had been the work of the mutineers.
Though outwardly calm, Lord Greystoke was inwardly apprehensive, for he feared for the safety of his wife, and the little unborn Greystoke, at the hands of the ignorant half-brutes. "Here's two more for the fishes," snarled one of the crew, as he rushed toward them with uplifted axe.
Though outwardly calm, Lord Greystoke was inwardly apprehensive, for he feared for the safety of his wife, and the little unborn Greystoke, at the hands of the ignorant half-brutes. "Here's two more for the fishes," snarled one of the crew, as he rushed toward them with uplifted axe.
Black Michael was even quicker than the brute who had attacked Lord and Lady Greystoke with an axe, and the sailor went down with a bullet in his back. "I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I says goes," said the mutineers' leader, looking threateningly on his fellows. "These here are my friends. Don't touch 'em."
Black Michael was even quicker than the brute who had attacked Lord and Lady Greystoke with an axe, and the sailor went down with a bullet in his back. "I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I says goes," said the mutineers' leader, looking threateningly on his fellows. "These here are my friends. Don't touch 'em."
Following the murder of the officers, land was sighted, and they learned they were to be put ashore with their belongings. Remonstrance against the inhumanity of landing them upon an unknown shore, to be left to the mercies of the savage beasts, and possibly still more savage men, was absolutely useless.
Following the murder of the officers, land was sighted, and they learned they were to be put ashore with their belongings. Remonstrance against the inhumanity of landing them upon an unknown shore, to be left to the mercies of the savage beasts, and possibly still more savage men, was absolutely useless.
Before dark, the barkentine lay peacefully at anchor in a land-locked harbor. The surrounding shores were beautiful with semi-tropical verdure, while in the distance the country rolled from the ocean in hill and table-land, almost uniformly clothed in primeval forest. No signs of habitation were to be seen.
Before dark, the barkentine lay peacefully at anchor in a land-locked harbor. The surrounding shores were beautiful with semi-tropical verdure, while in the distance the country rolled from the ocean in hill and table-land, almost uniformly clothed in primeval forest. No signs of habitation were to be seen.
No pleas, threats, or promises of reward could move Black Michael. "I'm the only man on board who would not rather see you both dead; but you saved my life once, and in return I'm going to spare yours. We put you ashore to-morrow." The deep roar of a lion came from the dark shadows of the distant jungle!
No pleas, threats, or promises of reward could move Black Michael. "I'm the only man on board who would not rather see you both dead; but you saved my life once, and in return I'm going to spare yours. We put you ashore to-morrow." The deep roar of a lion came from the dark shadows of the distant jungle!
As darkness settled upon the earth, the woman shrank closer to the man in terror-stricken anticipation of the horrors lying in wait for them in the awful blackness of the nights to come, when they too should be alone upon that wild and lonely shore. What treachery awaited them in that dark, mysterious tropical forest?
As darkness settled upon the earth, the woman shrank closer to the man in terror-stricken anticipation of the horrors lying in wait for them in the awful blackness of the nights to come, when they too should be alone upon that wild and lonely shore. What treachery awaited them in that dark, mysterious tropical forest?
Early next morning Lord and Lady Greystoke's chests and boxes were hoisted on deck and lowered to waiting small boats for transportation to shore. There was a great quantity and variety of stock, arms, and ammunition, as they had expected a possible five years' residence in their new West Coast African home.
Early next morning Lord and Lady Greystoke's chests and boxes were hoisted on deck and lowered to waiting small boats for transportation to shore. There was a great quantity and variety of stock, arms, and ammunition, as they had expected a possible five years' residence in their new West Coast African home.
The man shuddered as he meditated upon the awful gravity, the fearful helplessness of their situation. But it was a merciful providence that prevented him from seeing the hideous reality that awaited them in the grim depth of that dense jungle. They silently sat, each wrapped in gloomy forebodings, wondering.
The man shuddered as he meditated upon the awful gravity, the fearful helplessness of their situation. But it was a merciful providence that prevented him from seeing the hideous reality that awaited them in the grim depth of that dense jungle. They silently sat, each wrapped in gloomy forebodings, wondering.
They had escaped death at the hands of the mutineers; but were faced with far graver dangers. Alone, he might hope to survive for years. But what of his wife, and that other little life so soon to be launched amid the hardships and grave dangers of a primeval world? His heart sunk in despair, considering their future.
They had escaped death at the hands of the mutineers; but were faced with far graver dangers. Alone, he might hope to survive for years. But what of his wife, and that other little life so soon to be launched amid the hardships and grave dangers of a primeval world? His heart sunk in despair, considering their future.
Having filled the ship's casks with fresh water, the small boats moved slowly over the water to the ship. As the Fuwalda passed out of sight behind a projecting point, Lord Greystoke and his wife--in the breasts of both, a feeling of impending disaster and utter helplessness--bravely stood, silently watching.
Having filled the ship's casks with fresh water, the small boats moved slowly over the water to the ship. As the Fuwalda passed out of sight behind a projecting point, Lord Greystoke and his wife--in the breasts of both, a feeling of impending disaster and utter helplessness--bravely stood, silently watching.
And behind them, over the edge of a low ridge, other eyes WATCHED THEM--close-set wicked eyes, gleaming beneath shaggy brows!
And behind them, over the edge of a low ridge, other eyes WATCHED THEM--close-set wicked eyes, gleaming beneath shaggy brows!