the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第12章
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So it was that as the second mate of the Ithaca with his six men waded
down the bed of the little stream toward the harbor and the ship； a fleet of
ten war prahus manned by over five hundred fierce Dyaks and
commanded by Muda Saffir himself； pulled cautiously into the little cove
upon the opposite side of the island； and landed but a quarter of a mile
from camp。
At the same moment von Horn was leading Virginia Maxon farther
and farther from the north campong where resistance； if there was to be
any； would be most likely to occur。 At his superior's cough Bududreen had
signalled silently to the men within the enclosure； and a moment later six
savage lascars crept stealthily to his side。
The moment that von Horn and the girl were entirely concealed by the
darkness； the seven moved cautiously along the shadow of the palisade
toward the north campong。 There was murder in the cowardly hearts of
several of them； and stupidity and lust in the hearts of all。 There was no
single one who would not betray his best friend for a handful of silver； nor
any but was inwardly hoping and scheming to the end that he might alone
possess both the chest and the girl。
It was such a pack of scoundrels that Bududreen led toward the north
campong to bear away the treasure。 In the breast of the leader was the
hope that he had planted enough of superstitious terror in their hearts to
make the sight of the supposed author of their imagined wrongs sufficient
provocation for his murder； for Bududreen was too sly to give the order
for the killing of a white manthe arm of the white man's law was too
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longbut he felt that he would rest easier were he to leave the island with
the knowledge that only a dead man remained behind with the secret of his
perfidy。
While these events were transpiring Number Thirteen was pacing
restlessly back and forth the length of the workshop。 But a short time
before he had had his authorthe author of his miserywithin the four
walls of his prison； and yet he had not wreaked the vengeance that was in
his heart。 Twice he had been on the point of springing upon the man； but
both times the other's eyes had met his and something which he was not
able to comprehend had stayed him。 Now that the other had gone and he
was alone contemplation of the hideous wrong that had been done loosed
again the flood gates of his pent rage。
The thought that he had been made by this manmade in the
semblance of a human being； yet denied by the manner of his creation a
place among the lowest of Nature's creaturesfilled him with fury； but it
was not this thought that drove him to the verge of madness。 It was the
knowledge； suggested by von Horn； that Virginia Maxon would look upon
him in horror； as a grotesque and loathsome monstrosity。
He had no standard and no experience whereby he might classify his
sentiments toward this wonderful creature。 All he knew was that his life
would be complete could he be near her alwayssee her and speak with
her daily。 He had thought of her almost constantly since those short；
delicious moments that he had held her in his arms。 Again and again he
experienced in retrospection the exquisite thrill that had run through every
fiber of his being at the sight of her averted eyes and flushed face。 And
the more he let his mind dwell upon the wonderful happiness that was
denied him because of his origin； the greater became his wrath against his
creator。
It was now quite dark without。 The door leading to Professor
Maxon's campong； left unlatched earlier in the evening by von Horn for
sinister motives of his own； was still unbarred through a fatal coincidence
of forgetfulness on the part of the professor。
Number Thirteen approached this door。 He laid his hand upon the
knob。 A moment later he was moving noiselessly across the campong
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toward the house in which Professor Maxon lay peacefully sleeping； while
at the south gate Bududreen and his six cutthroats crept cautiously within
and slunk in the dense shadows of the palisade toward the workshop
where lay the heavy chest of their desire。 At the same instant Muda
Saffir with fifty of his head…hunting Dyaks emerged from the jungle east
of the camp； bent on discovering the whereabouts of the girl the Malay
sought and bearing her away to his savage court far within the jungle
fastness of his Bornean principality。
Number Thirteen reached the verandah of the house and peered
through the window into the living room； where an oil lamp； turned low；
dimly lighted the interior； which he saw was unoccupied。 Going to the
door he pushed it open and entered the apartment。 All was still within。
He listened intently for some slight sound which might lead him to the
victim he sought； or warn him from the apartment of the girl or that of von
Hornhis business was with Professor Maxon。 He did not wish to
disturb the others whom he believed to be sleeping somewhere within the
structurea low； rambling bungalow of eight rooms。
Cautiously he approached one of the four doors which opened from
the living room。 Gently he turned the knob and pushed the door ajar。
The interior of the apartment beyond was in inky darkness； but Number
Thirteen's greatest fear was that he might have stumbled upon the sleeping
room of Virginia Maxon； and that if she were to discover him there； not
only would she be frightened； but her cries would alarm the other inmates
of the dwelling。
The thought of the horror that his presence would arouse within her；
the knowledge that she would look upon him as a terrifying monstrosity；
added new fuel to the fires of hate that raged in his bosom against the man
who had created him。 With clenched fists； and tight set jaws the great；
soulless giant moved across the dark chamber with the stealthy
noiselessness of a tiger。 Feeling before him with hands and feet he made
the circuit of the room before he reached the bed。
Scarce breathing he leaned over and groped across the covers with his
fingers in search of his preythe bed was empty。 With the discovery
came a sudden nervous reaction that sent him into a cold sweat。 Weakly；
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he seated himself upon the edge of the bed。 Had his fingers found the
throat of Professor Maxon beneath the coverlet they would never have
released their hold until life had forever left the body of the scientist； but
now that the highest tide of the young man's hatred had come and gone he
found himself for the first time assailed by doubts。
Suddenly he recalled the fact that the man whose life he sought was
the father of the beautiful creature he adored。 Perhaps she loved him and
would be unhappy were he taken away from her。 Number Thirteen did
not know； of course； but the idea obtruded itself； and had sufficient weight
to cause him to remain seated upon the edge of the bed meditating upon
the act he contemplated。 He had by no means given up the idea of killing
Professor Maxon； but now there were doubts and obstacles which had not
been manifest before。
His standards of right and wrong were but half formed； from the brief
attempts of Professor Maxon and von Horn to inculcate proper moral
perceptions in a mind entirely devoid of hereditary inclinations toward
either good or bad； but he realized one thing most perfectlythat to be a
soulless thing was to be damned in the estimation of Virginia Maxon； and
it now occurred to him that to kill her father would be the act of a soulless
being。 It was this thought more than another that caused him to pause in
the pursuit of his revenge； since he knew that the act he contemplated
would brand him the very thing he was； yet wished not to be。
At length； however； he slowly comprehended that no act of his would
change the hideous fact of his origin； that nothing would make him
acceptable in her eyes； and with a shake of his head he arose and stepped
toward the living room to continue his search for the professor。
In the workshop Bududreen and his men had easily located the chest。
Dragging it into the north campong the Malay was about to congratulate
himself upon the ease with which the theft had been accomplished when
one of his fellows declared his intention of going to the house for the
purpose of dispatching Professor Maxon； lest the influence of his evil eye
should overtake them with some terrible curse when the loss of the chest
should be discovered。
While this met fully with Bududreen's plans he urged the man against
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any such act that he might have witnesses to prove that he not only had no
hand in the crime； but had exerted his authority to prevent it； but when two
of the men separated themselves from the party and crept toward the
bungalow no force was interposed to stop them。
The moon had risen now； so that from the dark shadows of the
palisade Muda Saffir and his savages watched the party with Bududreen
squatting about the heavy chest； and saw the two who crept toward the
house。 To Muda Saffir's evil mind there was but one explanation。
Bududreen had discovered a rich treasure； and having stolen that had
dispatched two of his men to bring him the girl also。
Rajah Muda Saffir was furious。 In subdued whispers he sent a half
