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Jane and Tarzan stood upon the bridge looking out toward Jungle Island. The
men were forward, also watching the land grow upward out of the ocean. The
beasts had sought the shade of the galley, where they were curled up in sleep.
All was quiet and peace upon the ship, and upon the waters.
Suddenly, without warning, the cabin roof shot up into the air, a cloud of dense
smoke puffed far above the Kincaid, there was a terrific explosion which shook
the vessel from stem to stern.
Instantly pandemonium broke loose upon the deck. The apes of Akut, terrified by
the sound, ran hither and thither, snarling and growling. Sheeta leaped here and
there, screaming out his startled terror in hideous cries that sent the ice of fear
straight to the hearts of the Kincaid's crew.
Mugambi, too, was trembling. Only Tarzan of the Apes and his wife retained their
composure. Scarce had the debris settled than the ape-man was among the
beasts, quieting their fears, talking to them in low, pacific tones, stroking their
shaggy bodies, and assuring them, as only he could, that the immediate danger
was over.
An examination of the wreckage showed that their greatest danger, now, lay in
fire, for the flames were licking hungrily at the splintered wood of the wrecked
cabin, and had already found a foothold upon the lower deck through a great
jagged hole which the explosion had opened.
By a miracle no member of the ship's company had been injured by the blast, the
origin of which remained for ever a total mystery to all but one--the sailor who
knew that Paulvitch had been aboard the Kincaid and in his cabin the previous
night. He guessed the truth; but discretion sealed his lips. It would, doubtless,
fare none too well for the man who had permitted the arch enemy of them all
aboard the ship in the watches of the night, where later he might set an infernal
machine to blow them all to kingdom come. No, the man decided that he would
keep this knowledge to himself.
As the flames gained headway it became apparent to Tarzan 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.
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