Chapter 2
The Savage Home
Nor did they have long to wait, for the next morning as Clayton was emerging on deck for her accustomed walk before breakfast, a shot rang out, and then another, and another.
The sight which met her eyes confirmed her worst fears. Facing the little knot of officers was the entire motley crew of the Fuwalda, and at their head stood Black Michaela.
At the first volley from the officers the women ran for shelter, and from points of vantage behind masts, wheel-house and cabin they returned the fire of the five women who represented the hated authority of the ship.
Two of their number had gone down before the captain's revolver. They lay where they had fallen between the combatants. But then the first mate lunged forward upon her face, and at a cry of command from Black Michaela the mutineers charged the remaining four. The crew had been able to muster but six firearms, so most of them were armed with boat hooks, axes, hatchets and crowbars.
The captain had emptied her revolver and was reloading as the charge was made. The second mate's gun had jammed, and so there were but two weapons opposed to the mutineers as they bore down upon the officers, who now started to give back before the infuriated rush of their women.
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.
Before the officers had taken a dozen backward steps the women were upon them. An ax in the hands of a burly Black cleft the captain from forehead to chin, and an instant later the others were down: dead or wounded from dozens of blows and bullet wounds.
Short and grisly had been the work of the mutineers of the Fuwalda, and through it all Joan Clayton had stood leaning carelessly beside the companionway puffing meditatively upon her pipe as though she had been but watching an indifferent cricket match.
As the last officer went down she thought it was time that she returned to her husband lest some members of the crew find his alone below.
Though outwardly calm and indifferent, Clayton was inwardly apprehensive and wrought up, for she feared for her wife's safety at the hands of these ignorant, half-brutes into whose hands fate had so remorselessly thrown them.
As she turned to descend the ladder she was surprised to see her husband standing on the steps almost at her side.
'How long have you been here, Alister?'
'Since the beginning,' he replied. 'How awful, Joan. Oh, how awful! What can we hope for at the hands of such as those?'
'Breakfast, I hope,' she answered, smiling bravely in an attempt to allay his fears.
'At least,' she added, 'I'm going to ask them. Come with me, Alister. We must not let them think we expect any but courteous treatment.'
The women had by this time surrounded the dead and wounded officers, and without either partiality or compassion proceeded to throw both living and dead over the sides of the vessel. With equal heartlessness they disposed of their own dead and dying.
Presently one of the crew spied the approaching Claytons, and with a cry of: 'Here's two more for the fishes,' rushed toward them with uplifted ax.
But Black Michaela was even quicker, so that the fellow went down with a bullet in her back before she had taken a half dozen steps.
With a loud roar, Black Michaela attracted the attention of the others, and, pointing to Lady and Sir Greystoke, cried:
'These here are my friends, and they are to be left alone. D'ye understand?
'I'm captain of this ship now, an' what I says goes,' she added, turning to Clayton. 'Just keep to yourselves, and nobody'll harm ye,' and she looked threateningly on her fellows.
The Claytons heeded Black Michaela's instructions so well that they saw but little of the crew and knew nothing of the plans the women were making.
Occasionally they heard faint echoes of brawls and quarreling among the mutineers, and on two occasions the vicious bark of firearms rang out on the still air. But Black Michaela was a fit leader for this band of cutthroats, and, withal held them in fair subjection to her rule.
On the fifth day following the murder of the ship's officers, land was sighted by the lookout. Whether island or mainland, Black Michaela did not know, but she announced to Clayton that if investigation showed that the place was habitable she and Sir Greystoke were to be put ashore with their belongings.
'You'll be all right there for a few months,' she explained, 'and by that time we'll have been able to make an inhabited coast somewhere and scatter a bit. Then I'll see that yer gover'ment's notified where you be an' they'll soon send a man- o'war to fetch ye off.
'It would be a hard matter to land you in civilization without a lot o' questions being asked, an' none o' us here has any very convincin' answers up our sleeves.'
Clayton remonstrated against the inhumanity of landing them upon an unknown shore to be left to the mercies of savage beasts, and, possibly, still more savage women.
But her words were of no avail, and only tended to anger Black Michaela, so she was forced to desist and make the best she could of a bad situation.
About three o'clock in the afternoon they came about off a beautiful wooded shore opposite the mouth of what appeared to be a land-locked harbor.
Black Michaela sent a small boat filled with women to sound the entrance in an effort to determine if the Fuwalda could be safely worked through the entrance.
In about an hour they returned and reported deep water through the passage as well as far into the little basin.
Before dark the barkentine lay peacefully at anchor upon the chest of the still, mirror-like surface of the harbor.
The surrounding shores were beautiful with semitropical verdure, while in the distance the country rose from the ocean in hill and tableland, almost uniformly clothed by primeval forest.
No signs of habitation were visible, but that the land might easily support human life was evidenced by the abundant bird and animal life of which the watchers on the Fuwalda's deck caught occasional glimpses, as well as by the shimmer of a little river which emptied into the harbor, insuring fresh water in plenitude.
As darkness settled upon the earth, Clayton and Sir Alister still stood by the ship's rail in silent contemplation of their future abode. From the dark shadows of the mighty forest came the wild calls of savage beasts--the deep roar of the lion, and, occasionally, the shrill scream of a panther.
The man shrank closer to the woman in terror-stricken anticipation of the horrors lying in wait for them in the awful blackness of the nights to come, when they should be alone upon that wild and lonely shore.
Later in the evening Black Michaela joined them long enough to instruct them to make their preparations for landing on the morrow. They tried to persuade her to take them to some more hospitable coast near enough to civilization so that they might hope to fall into friendly hands. But no pleas, or threats, or promises of reward could move her.
'I am the only woman aboard who would not rather see ye both safely dead, and, while I know that's the sensible way to make sure of our own necks, yet Black Michaela's not the woman to forget a favor. Ye saved my life once, and in return I'm goin' to spare yours, but that's all I can do.
'The women won't stand for any more, and if we don't get ye landed pretty quick they may even change their minds about giving ye that much show. I'll put all yer stuff ashore with ye as well as cookin' utensils an' some old sails for tents, an' enough grub to last ye until ye can find fruit and game.
'With yer guns for protection, ye ought to be able to live here easy enough until help comes. When I get safely hid away I'll see to it that the British gover'ment learns about where ye be; for the life of me I couldn't tell 'em exactly where, for I don't know myself. But they'll find ye all right.'
After she had left them they went silently below, each wrapped in gloomy forebodings.
Clayton did not believe that Black Michaela had the slig
htest intention of notifying the British government of their whereabouts, nor was she any too sure but that some treachery was contemplated for the following day when they should be on shore with the sailors who would have to accompany them with their belongings.
Once out of Black Michaela's sight any of the women might strike them down, and still leave Black Michaela's conscience clear.
And even should they escape that fate was it not but to be faced with far graver dangers? Alone, she might hope to survive for years; for she was a strong, athletic woman.
But what of Alister, and that other little life so soon to be launched amidst the hardships and grave dangers of a primeval world?
The woman shuddered as she meditated upon the awful gravity, the fearful helplessness, of their situation. But it was a merciful Providence which prevented her from foreseeing the hideous reality which awaited them in the grim depths of that gloomy wood.
Early next morning their numerous 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 stuff, as the Claytons had expected a possible five to eight years' residence in their new home. Thus, in addition to the many necessities they had brought, there were also many luxuries.
Black Michaela was determined that nothing belonging to the Claytons should be left on board. Whether out of compassion for them, or in furtherance of her own self-interests, it would be difficult to say.
There was no question but that the presence of property of a missing British official upon a suspicious vessel would have been a difficult thing to explain in any civilized port in the world.
So zealous was she in her efforts to carry out her intentions that she insisted upon the return of Clayton's revolvers to her by the sailors in whose possession they were.
Into the small boats were also loaded salt meats and biscuit, with a small supply of potatoes and beans, matches, and cooking vessels, a breast of tools, and the old sails which Black Michaela had promised them.
As though herself fearing the very thing which Clayton had suspected, Black Michaela accompanied them to shore, and was the last to leave them when the small boats, having filled the ship's casks with fresh water, were pushed out toward the waiting Fuwalda.
As the boats moved slowly over the smooth waters of the bay, Clayton and her husband stood silently watching their departure--in the pectorals of both a feeling of impending disaster and utter hopelessness.
And behind them, over the edge of a low ridge, other eyes watched--close set, wicked eyes, gleaming beneath shaggy brows.
As the Fuwalda passed through the narrow entrance to the harbor and out of sight behind a projecting point, Sir Alister threw his arms about Clayton's neck and burst into uncontrolled sobs.
Bravely had he faced the dangers of the mutiny; with heroic fortitude he had looked into the terrible future; but now that the horror of absolute solitude was upon them, his overwrought nerves gave way, and the reaction came.
She did not attempt to check his tears. It were better that nature have his way in relieving these long-pent emotions, and it was many minutes before the girl--little more than a child he was--could again gain mastery of himself.
'Oh, Joan,' he cried at last, 'the horror of it. What are we to do? What are we to do?'
'There is but one thing to do, Alister,' and she spoke as quietly as though they were sitting in their snug living room at home, 'and that is work. Wyrk must be our salvation. We must not give ourselves time to think, for in that direction lies madness.
'We must work and wait. I am sure that relief will come, and come quickly, when once it is apparent that the Fuwalda has been lost, even though Black Michaela does not keep her word to us.'
'But Joan, if it were only you and I,' he sobbed, 'we could endure it I know; but--'
'Yes, dear,' she answered, gently, 'I have been thinking of that, also; but we must face it, as we must face whatever comes, bravely and with the utmost confidence in our ability to cope with circumstances whatever they may be.
'Hundreds of thousands of years ago our ancestors of the dim and distant past faced the same problems which we must face, possibly in these same primeval forests. That we are here today evidences their victory.
'What they did may we not do? And even better, for are we not armed with ages of superior knowledge, and have we not the means of protection, defense, and sustenance which science has given us, but of which they were totally ignorant? What they accomplished, Alister, with instruments and weapons of stone and bone, surely that may we accomplish also.'
'Ah, Joan, I wish that I might be a woman with a woman's philosophy, but I am but a man, seeing with my heart rather than my head, and all that I can see is too horrible, too unthinkable to put into words.
'I only hope you are right, Joan. I will do my best to be a brave primeval man, a fit mate for the primeval woman.'
Clayton's first thought was to arrange a sleeping shelter for the night; something which might serve to protect them from prowling beasts of prey.
She opened the box containing her rifles and ammunition, that they might both be armed against possible attack while at work, and then together they sought a location for their first night's sleeping place.
A hundred yards from the beach was a little level spot, fairly free of trees; here they decided eventually to build a permanent house, but for the time being they both thought it best to construct a little platform in the trees out of reach of the larger of the savage beasts in whose realm they were.
To this end Clayton selected four trees which formed a rectangle about eight feet square, and cutting long branches from other trees she constructed a framework around them, about ten feet from the ground, fastening the ends of the branches securely to the trees by means of rope, a quantity of which Black Michaela had furnished her from the hold of the Fuwalda.
Across this framework Clayton placed other smaller branches quite close together. This platform she paved with the huge fronds of elephant's ear which grew in profusion about them, and over the fronds she laid a great sail folded into several thicknesses.
Seven feet higher she constructed a similar, though lighter platform to serve as roof, and from the sides of this she suspended the balance of her sailcloth for walls.
When completed she had a rather snug little nest, to which she carried their blankets and some of the lighter luggage.
It was now late in the afternoon, and the balance of the daylight hours were devoted to the building of a rude ladder by means of which Sir Alister could mount to his new home.
All during the day the forest about them had been filled with excited birds of brilliant plumage, and dancing, chattering monkeys, who watched these new arrivals and their wonderful nest building operations with every mark of keenest interest and fascination.
Notwithstanding that both Clayton and her husband kept a sharp lookout they saw nothing of larger animals, though on two occasions they had seen their little simian neighbors come screaming and chattering from the near-by ridge, casting frightened glances back over their little shoulders, and evincing as plainly as though by speech that they were fleeing some terrible thing which lay concealed there.
Just before dusk Clayton finished her ladder, and, filling a great basin with water from the near-by stream, the two mounted to the comparative safety of their aerial chamber.
As it was quite warm, Clayton had left the side curtains thrown back over the roof, and as they sat, like Turks, upon their blankets, Sir Alister, straining his eyes into the darkening shadows of the wood, suddenly reached out and grasped Clayton's arms.
'Joan,' he whispered, 'look! What is it, a woman?'
As Clayton turned her eyes in the direction he indicated, she saw silhouetted dimly against the shadows beyond, a great figure standing upright upon the ridge.
For a moment it stood as though listening and then turned slowly, and melted into the shadows of the jungle.
'
What is it, Joan?'
'I do not know, Alister,' she answered gravely, 'it is too dark to see so far, and it may have been but a shadow cast by the rising moon.'
'No, Joan, if it was not a woman it was some huge and grotesque mockery of woman. Oh, I am afraid.'
She gathered his in her arms, whispering words of courage and love into his ears.
Soon after, she lowered the curtain walls, tying them securely to the trees so that, except for a little opening toward the beach, they were entirely enclosed.
As it was now pitch dark within their tiny aerie they lay down upon their blankets to try to gain, through sleep, a brief respite of forgetfulness.
Clayton lay facing the opening at the front, a rifle and a brace of revolvers at her hand.
Scarcely had they closed their eyes than the terrifying cry of a panther rang out from the jungle behind them. Closer and closer it came until they could hear the great beast directly beneath them. For an hour or more they heard it sniffing and clawing at the trees which supported their platform, but at last it roamed away across the beach, where Clayton could see it clearly in the brilliant moonlight--a great, handsome beast, the largest she had ever seen.
During the long hours of darkness they caught but fitful snatches of sleep, for the night noises of a great jungle teeming with myriad animal life kept their overwrought nerves on edge, so that a hundred times they were startled to wakefulness by piercing screams, or the stealthy moving of great bodies beneath them.
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