Edgar Rice Burroughs

Tarzan of the Apes Edgar Rice Burroughs

Nor did they have long to wait, for the next morning as Clayton was emerging on deck for hisaccustomed walk before breakfast, a shot rang out, and then another, and another. The sight which met his eyes confirmed his worst fears. Facing the little knot of officers was theentire motley crew of the Fuwalda, and at their head stood Black Michael. At the first volley from the officers the men ran for shelter, and from points of vantage behindmasts, wheel-house and cabin they returned the fire of the five men who represented the hatedauthority of the ship. Two of their number had gone down before the captain's revolver. They lay where they hadfallen between the combatants. But then the first mate lunged forward upon his face, and at a cry ofcommand from Black Michael the mutineers charged the remaining four. The crew had been able tomuster but six firearms, so most of them were armed with boat hooks, axes, hatchets and crowbars. The captain had emptied his revolver and was reloading as the charge was made. The secondmate's gun had jammed, and so there were but two weapons opposed to the mutineers as they boredown upon the officers, who now started to give back before the infuriated rush of their men. Both sides were cursing and swearing in a frightful manner, which, together with the reports ofthe firearms and the screams and groans of the wounded, turned the deck of the Fuwalda to thelikeness of a madhouse. Before the officers had taken a dozen backward steps the men were upon them. An ax in thehands of a burly Negro cleft the captain from forehead to chin, and an instant later the others weredown: dead or wounded from dozens of blows and bullet wounds.