Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Jungle Toll
Thewriterhadbeenoneofthecrew,andtheletterwastohisson,whowas,attheverytimetheletterwaswritten,masterofaSpanishmerchantman.
Manyyearshadelapsedsincetheeventstheletternarratedhadtranspired,andtheoldmanhadbecomearespectedcitizenofanobscureSpanishtown,buttheloveofgoldwasstillsostronguponhimthatheriskedalltoacquainthissonwiththemeansofattainingfabulouswealthforthemboth.
ThewritertoldhowwhenbutaweekoutfromSpainthecrewhadmutiniedandmurderedeveryofficerandmanwhoopposedthem;buttheydefeatedtheirownendsbythisveryact,fortherewasnoneleftcompetenttonavigateashipatsea.
Theywereblownhitherandthitherfortwomonths,untilsickanddyingofscurvy,starvation,andthirst,theyhadbeenwreckedonasmallislet.
Thegalleonwaswashedhighuponthebeachwhereshewenttopieces;butnotbeforethesurvivors,whonumberedbuttensouls,hadrescuedoneofthegreatchestsoftreasure.
Thistheyburiedwellupontheisland,andforthreeyearstheylivedthereinconstanthopeofbeingrescued.
Onebyonetheysickenedanddied,untilonlyonemanwasleft,thewriteroftheletter.
Themenhadbuiltaboatfromthewreckageofthegalleon,buthavingnoideawheretheislandwaslocatedtheyhadnotdaredtoputtosea.
