Chapter 3 Home on a deserted island-1

They didn't have to wait long.The next morning Clayton appeared on deck, taking his usual walk before breakfast, when he heard a shot, followed by a second, and a third. What he feared most happened before his eyes.Facing the chiefs was the motley crew of the Fowalda, with Blake Michael at the forefront. The captain and his assistants fired the first volley, and the crew scattered and took cover.Using the vantage point behind the masts, maneuvering cabins, and cabins, they fought back against the five chiefs representing the ship's hated "administrative authority." Two of the crew fell at the gunpoint of the captain, lying between the belligerents.

Then the first officer was shot and fell face down on the deck.Black Michael gave an order, and the rebels rushed towards the remaining four.The crew had only six guns, and most were armed with hooked poles, axes, hatchets, and crowbars. When the crew rushed over, the captain's pistol just ran out of bullets, and the second officer's gun jammed again.Therefore, the moment the rebels pressed on the leaders, there were only two guns to resist.Facing the angry attack of the crew, the chiefs began to retreat. Both sides cursed in the most vicious language.Noisy, gunshots and the screams and groans of the wounded mixed together. The deck of the "Fovarda" has turned into a madhouse.

The bosses didn't take a few steps back before the crew rushed in front of them.A thick black man raised the ax in his hand, aimed at the captain's face, and slashed with the ax from forehead to chin.In the blink of an eye, the other guys also fell to the ground, dead, wounded, covered in scars from sticks and bullets. The "Fovarda" rebels did it with aplomb.All this time John Clayton had been standing by the hatchway as if nothing had happened, smoking his pipe thoughtfully, as if he were watching a cricket fight. After the last boss fell, he thought it was time to go back to his wife.He was afraid the crew would find her down there alone.

Although Clayton appeared calm and indifferent on the surface, deep down he was worried and restless.Fate had thrown them mercilessly into the hands of this group of ignorant and murderous rebels, and he feared for her safety. He turned and was about to go down the ladder when he was surprised to see his wife standing on the steps, almost beside him. "How long have you been here, Alice." "It's been here from the beginning," she replied, "How dreadful, John. Ah, how terrible!In the hands of such a crowd, what hope can we expect! " "Counting on breakfast," he replied, trying to assuage her fears with a brave smile.

"At least," he added, "I'll ask them to make us breakfast. Come with me, Alice. Make them think that they never, in our imagination, treat us with anything but courtesy." Treat us any other way." At this time, the group of people had already run around the leaders who were killed and injured, and were about to throw them into the sea together, neither biased nor sympathetic.With the same ruthlessness and cruelty, they disposed of their own dead bodies and struggling companions. After a while, one of the crew members saw the Clayton couple coming towards them, raised an ax and rushed over, shouting: "There are two more fish feeders here!"

But Black Michael was quicker than him, and the guy was shot in the back and fell to the deck within a few steps. Black Michael roared, attracting everyone's attention.Pointing to Lord and Lady Greystoke, he said aloud: "These two are my friends. No one is allowed to touch a hair of them. Do you understand?" "I am the captain of this ship now. My words are orders that must be carried out." Then he turned to Clayton and said, "You stay where you are. No one will do you any harm." He scanned his companions menacingly. The Claytons only listened to Black Michael giving orders there, they didn't pay much attention to the expressions of the crew members at that time, and they didn't know anything about their respective plans.

By chance they heard a few indistinct curses and noises coming from among the group of rebels.Twice, in the silence, there were vicious shots.But Black Michael was indeed the well-deserved leader of this group of murderers, and he ruled them into obedience. On the fifth day after the slaughter of the captains of the ship, the shadow of land was seen from the watchtower.Is it an island, or a continent, Blake? Michael didn't know, but he informed Clayton that if the result of his understanding showed that this place was suitable for living, he and Mrs. Greystoke would be sent ashore together with their luggage.

"You can stay here for a few months," he explained. "During this time, we can find an inhabited coast and disperse some people. At that time, I think your government should also know the whereabouts of you two, And soon send a warship to pick you up. "If you landed in a civilized place, it would be very difficult not to be asked a lot of questions, and none of us in this group can give convincing answers." Clayton vehemently objected to the inhumanity of leaving them on an unnamed shore, to be abused by wild beasts, and probably many savages. But his words were useless except to irritate Black Michael.So I had to keep my mouth shut and work hard in the best direction amid misfortune.

About three o'clock in the afternoon they approached the beautiful wooded coast, facing the mouth of what seemed to be a landlocked harbour. Blake Michael sent a small boat full of crew to measure the depth of the water at the entrance to see if Fowalda could pass safely. About an hour later, they returned to report that the water in the channel was very deep, and went down to the little water-dock. Before dark, the three-masted sailing ship dropped anchor smoothly and steadily in the middle of the mirror-like harbor. The surrounding land is covered with subtropical lush vegetation, which is very beautiful.The mountains in the distance are hills and terraces that "stand out" from the sea, almost covered with virgin forests.

It is uninhabited, but the land is obviously easy to support people.This is evidenced by the numerous sightings of birds and beasts which one chances to see from the deck of the "Fovarda".In addition, there is a silver stream flowing into the harbor to ensure that there is plenty of fresh water here. Darkness enveloped the land, and Clayton and Mrs. Alice still stood leaning on the railing on the deck, silently gazing at their future shelter.From the dark, dense forest came the wild howling of animals.It was the deep roar of a lion, and sometimes the piercing screech of a leopard.

The woman, frightened as she thought of the nights they would have to pass after they were left behind on this empty and desolate shore, and the terror that lurked in the dark awaited them at any moment, clung more and more tightly to her husband's arms. . Later that night, Blake Michael stayed with them for a while and told them to prepare for landing the next morning.They tried to persuade him to take them to a more hospitable shore, closer to human civilization, where they might hopefully fall into the hands of their friends.But no matter begging or threatening, or rewarding him with a lot of money, he couldn't convince him. "On this boat, I'm the only one who doesn't want to see you die in front of our eyes. But I also understand that in order to keep our own heads safe, letting you die is the most sensible way. But I, Blake Michael isn't the type to be ungrateful. You saved my life and I'll save yours in return. But there's only so much I can do. "The crew don't want to put up with this any longer. If you don't get you ashore soon, they might change their minds and stop letting you enjoy yourselves. I'll take your things ashore and give you a cooker set for cooking and old sails for tenting.There is also food, enough to last until you find wild fruits and game. "You've got your guns, and you're sure to stay here quite comfortably until someone comes to your aid. When I'm safely hidden, I promise to let the British government know where you're staying. Even if it costs me my life, of course. , I can't tell them the exact place, because we don't know it ourselves. However, they will always find you. " After he left, they walked down the cabin in silence, both hearts were shrouded in ominous premonition. Clayton didn't believe that Black Michael would actually tell the British government of their whereabouts, and he couldn't guarantee that no one would do them any harm when they went ashore with the sailors who helped them carry their things the next day. . Anyone would beat them to death if they left the sight of Black Michael, and Black Michael could still keep his conscience at peace because he knew nothing about it. And, even if they escaped the immediate catastrophe, wouldn't they face more dire dangers?If it was just him, there was hope, because he was a strong man.But what will happen to Alice and the little life that will soon be born in the danger of this chaotic world? Clayton shuddered at the thought of how harsh and isolated their situation would be.But the merciful God had not yet allowed him to foresee that, in the depths of the gloomy and unforgiving forest, a more terrible reality awaited them. Early the next morning their numerous boxes and parcels were loaded on deck into the small boats which were waiting to carry them ashore. They brought a lot of variety and quantity because the Claytons expected to spend five to eight years in their new home in West Africa.therefore.In addition to many necessities of life, he also brought a lot of luxury items.