Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
The Call of the Primitive
Herforestaysailandmizzenspankerweresetasthoughanefforthadbeenmadetoholdherheadupintothewind,butthesheetshadparted,andthesailsweretearingtoribbonsinthehalfgaleofwind.
Inthehighseathatwasrunningitwasadifficultanddangeroustasktoattempttoputaprizecrewaboardher;andasnosignsoflifehadbeenseenabovedeck,itwasdecidedtostandbyuntilthewindandseaabated;butjustthenafigurewasseenclingingtotherailandfeeblywavingamutesignalofdespairtowardthem.
Immediatelyaboat’screwwasorderedoutandanattemptwassuccessfullymadetoboardtheArrow.
ThesightthatmettheFrenchmen’seyesastheyclamberedovertheship’ssidewasappalling.
Adozendeadanddyingmenrolledhitherandthitheruponthepitchingdeck,thelivingintermingledwiththedead.Twoofthecorpsesappearedtohavebeenpartiallydevouredasthoughbywolves.
Theprizecrewsoonhadthevesselunderpropersailoncemoreandthelivingmembersoftheill-starredcompanycarriedbelowtotheirhammocks.
Thedeadwerewrappedintarpaulinsandlashedondecktobeidentifiedbytheircomradesbeforebeingconsignedtothedeep.
NoneofthelivingwasconsciouswhentheFrenchmenreachedtheArrow’sdeck.Eventhepoordevilwhohadwavedthesingledespairingsignalofdistresshadlapsedintounconsciousnessbeforehehadlearnedwhetherithadavailedornot.
