the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第15章
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Shortly after von Horn became separated from Virginia he collided
with the fleeing lascar who had escaped the parangs of Muda Saffir's head
hunters at the same time as had Bududreen。 So terror stricken was the
fellow that he had thrown away his weapons in the panic of flight； which
was all that saved von Horn from death at the hands of the fear crazed man。
To him； in the extremity of his fright； every man was an enemy； and the
doctor had a tough scuffle with him before he could impress upon the
fellow that he was a friend。
From him von Horn obtained an incoherent account of the attack；
together with the statement that he was the only person in camp that
escaped； all the others having been cut down by the savage horde that
overwhelmed them。 It was with difficulty that von Horn persuaded the
man to return with him to the campong； but finally； he consented to do so
when the doctor with drawn revolver； presented death as the only
alternative。
Together they cautiously crept back toward the palisade； not knowing
at what moment they might come upon the savage enemy that had
wrought such havoc among their forces； for von Horn believed the lascar's
story that all had perished。 His only motive for returning lay in his desire
to prevent Virginia Maxon falling into the hands of the Dyaks； or； failing
that； rescuing her from their clutches。
Whatever faults and vices were Carl von Horn's cowardice was not
one of them； and it was without an instant's hesitation that he had elected
to return to succor the girl he believed to have returned to camp； although
he entertained no scruples regarding the further pursuit of his dishonorable
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intentions toward her； should he succeed in saving her from her other
enemies。
As the two approached the campong quiet seemed to have again fallen
about the scene of the recent alarm。 Muda Saffir had passed on toward the
cove with the heavy chest； and the scrimmage in the bungalow was over。
But von Horn did not abate his watchfulness as he stole silently within the
precincts of the north campong； and； hugging the denser shadows of the
palisade； crept toward the house。
The dim light in the living room drew him to one of the windows
which overlooked the verandah。 A glance within showed him Sing and
Number Thirteen bending over the body of Professor Maxon。 He noted
the handsome face and perfect figure of the young giant。 He saw the
bodies of the dead lascars and Dyaks。 Then he saw Sing and the young
man lift Professor Maxon tenderly in their arms and bear him to his own
room。
A sudden wave of jealous rage swept through the man's vicious brain。
He saw that the soulless thing within was endowed with a kindlier and
more noble nature than he himself possessed。 He had planted the seed of
hatred and revenge within his untutored heart without avail； for he read in
the dead bodies of Bududreen's men and the two Dyaks the story of
Number Thirteen's defense of the man von Horn had hoped he would kill。
Von Horn was quite sure now that Virginia Maxon was not within the
campong。 Either she had become confused and lost in the jungle after
she left him； or had fallen into the hands of the wild horde that had
attacked the camp。 Convinced of this； there was no obstacle to thwart the
sudden plan which entered his malign brain。 With a single act he could rid
himself of the man whom he had come to look upon as a rival； whose
physical beauty aroused his envy and jealousy； he could remove； in the
person of Professor Maxon； the parental obstacle which might either
prevent his obtaining the girl； or make serious trouble for him in case he
took her by force； and at the same time he could transfer to the girl's
possession the fortune which was now her father'sand he could
accomplish it all without tainting his own hands with the blood of his
victims。
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As the full possibilities of his devilish scheme unfolded before his
mind's eye a grim smile curled his straight； thin lips at the thought of the
fate which it entailed for the creator of the hideous monsters of the court
of mystery。
As he turned away from the bungalow his eye fell upon the trembling
lascar who had accompanied him to the edge of the verandah。 He must
be rid of the fellow in some wayno eye must see him perpetrate the deed
he had in mind。 A solution quickly occurred to him。
〃Hasten to the harbor；〃 he said to the man in a low voice； 〃and tell
those on board the ship that I shall join them presently。 Have all in
readiness to sail。 I wish to fetch some of my belongingsall within the
bungalow are dead。〃
No command could have better suited the sailor。 Without a word he
turned and fled toward the jungle。 Von Horn walked quickly to the
workshop。 The door hung open。 Through the dark interior he strode
straight to the opposite door which let upon the court of mystery。 On a nail
driven into the door frame hung a heavy bull whip。 The doctor took it
down as he raised the strong bar which held the door。 Then he stepped
through into the moonlit inner campongthe bull whip in his right hand； a
revolver in his left。
A half dozen misshapen monsters roved restlessly about the hard
packed earth of the pen。 The noise of the battle in the adjoining
enclosure had aroused them from slumber and awakened in their half
formed brains vague questionings and fears。 At sight of von Horn
several of them rushed for him with menacing growls； but a swift crack of
the bull whip brought them to a sudden realization of the identity of the
intruder； so that they slunk away； muttering and whining in rage。
Von Horn passed quickly to the low shed in which the remainder of the
eleven were sleeping。 With vicious cuts from the stinging lash he lay
about him upon the sleeping things。 Roaring and shrieking in pain and
anger the creatures stumbled to their feet and lumbered awkwardly into
the open。 Two of them turned upon their tormentor； but the burning
weapon on their ill protected flesh sent them staggering back out of reach；
and in another moment all were huddled in the center of the campong。
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As cattle are driven； von Horn drove the miserable creatures toward
the door of the workshop。 At the threshold of the dark interior the
frightened things halted fearfully； and then as von Horn urged them on
from behind with his cruel whip they milled as cattle at the entrance to a
strange corral。
Again and again he urged them for the door； but each time they turned
away； and to escape the whip beat and tore at the wall of the palisade in a
vain effort to batter it from their pathway。 Their roars and shrieks were
almost deafening as von Horn； losing what little remained of his scant
self…control； dashed among them laying to right and left with the stern
whip and the butt of his heavy revolver。
Most of the monsters scattered and turned back into the center of the
enclosure； but three of them were forced through the doorway into the
workshop； from the darkness of which they saw the patch of moonlight
through the open door upon the opposite side。 Toward this they scurried
as von Horn turned back into the court of mystery for the others。
Three more herculean efforts he made before he beat the last of the
creatures through the outer doorway of the workshop into the north
campong。
Among the age old arts of the celestials none is more strangely
inspiring than that of medicine。 Odd herbs and unspeakable things when
properly compounded under a favorable aspect of the heavenly bodies are
potent to achieve miraculous cures； and few are the Chinamen who do not
brew some special concoction of their own devising for the lesser ills
which beset mankind。
Sing was no exception in this respect。 In various queerly shaped；
bamboo covered jars he maintained a supply of tonics； balms and lotions。
His first thought when he had made Professor Maxon comfortable upon
the couch was to fetch his pet nostrum； for there burned strong within his
yellow breast the same powerful yearning to experiment that marks the
greatest of the profession to whose mysteries he aspired。
Though the hideous noises from the inner campong rose threateningly；
the imperturbable Sing left the bungalow and passed across the north
campong to the little lean…to that he had built for himself against the
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palisade that separated the north enclosure from the court of mystery。
Here he rummaged about in the dark until he had found the two phials
he sought。 The noise of the monsters upon the opposite side of the
palisade had now assumed the dimensions of pandemonium； and through
it all the Chinaman heard the constant crack that was the sharp voice of the
bull whip。
He had completed his search and was about to return to the bungalow
when the first of the monste
