the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第2章
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hurt to sue for a reestablishment of the old relations。 On all other topics
than his scientific work their interests were as mutual as formerly； but by
what seemed a manner of tacit agreement this subject was taboo。 And so
it was that they came to Singapore without the girl having the slightest
conception of her father's plans。
Here they spent nearly a month； during which time Professor Maxon
was daily engaged in interviewing officials； English residents and a
motley horde of Malays and Chinamen。
Virginia met socially several of the men with whom her father was
engaged but it was only at the last moment that one of them let drop a hint
of the purpose of the month's activity。 When Virginia was present the
conversation seemed always deftly guided from the subject of her father's
immediate future； and she was not long in discerning that it was in no
sense through accident that this was true。 Thereafter her wounded pride
made easy the task of those who seemed combined to keep her in
ignorance。
It was a Dr。 von Horn； who had been oftenest with her father； who
gave her the first intimation of what was forthcoming。 Afterward； in
recollecting the conversation； it seemed to Virginia that the young man
had been directed to break the news to her； that her father might be spared
the ordeal。 It was evident then that he expected opposition； but the girl
was too loyal to let von Horn know if she felt other than in harmony with
the proposal； and too proud to evince by surprise the fact that she was not
wholly conversant with its every detail。
〃You are glad to be leaving Singapore so soon？〃 he had asked；
although he knew that she had not been advised that an early departure
was planned。
〃I am rather looking forward to it；〃 replied Virginia。
〃And to a protracted residence on one of the Pamarung Islands？〃
continued von Horn。
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〃Why not？〃 was her rather non…committal reply； though she had not
the remotest idea of their location。
Von Horn admired her nerve though he rather wished that she would
ask some questionsit was difficult making progress in this way。 How
could he explain the plans when she evinced not the slightest sign that she
was not already entirely conversant with them？
〃We doubt if the work will be completed under two or three years；〃
answered the doctor。 〃That will be a long time in which to be isolated
upon a savage little speck of land off the larger but no less savage Borneo。
Do you think that your bravery is equal to the demands that will be made
upon it？〃
Virginia laughed； nor was there the slightest tremor in its note。
〃I am equal to whatever fate my father is equal to；〃 she said； 〃nor do I
think that a life upon one of these beautiful little islands would be much of
a hardship certainly not if it will help to promote the success of his
scientific experiments。〃
She used the last words on a chance that she might have hit upon the
true reason for the contemplated isolation from civilization。 They had
served their purpose too in deceiving von Horn who was now half
convinced that Professor Maxon must have divulged more of their plans to
his daughter than he had led the medical man to believe。 Perceiving her
advantage from the expression on the young man's face； Virginia followed
it up in an endeavor to elicit the details。
The result of her effort was the knowledge that on the second day they
were to sail for the Pamarung Islands upon a small schooner which her
father had purchased； with a crew of Malays and lascars； and von Horn；
who had served in the American navy； in command。 The precise point of
destination was still undecidedthe plan being to search out a suitable
location upon one of the many little islets which dot the western shore of
the Macassar Strait。
Of the many men Virginia had met during the month at Singapore von
Horn had been by far the most interesting and companionable。 Such time
as he could find from the many duties which had devolved upon him in the
matter of obtaining and outfitting the schooner； and signing her two mates
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THE MONSTER MEN
and crew of fifteen； had been spent with his employer's daughter。
The girl was rather glad that he was to be a member of their little
company； for she had found him a much travelled man and an interesting
talker with none of the； to her； disgusting artificialities of the professional
ladies' man。 He talked to her as he might have talked to a man； of the
things that interest intelligent people regardless of sex。
There was never any suggestion of familiarity in his manner； nor in his
choice of topics did he ever ignore the fact that she was a young girl。
She had felt entirely at ease in his society from the first evening that she
had met him； and their acquaintance had grown to a very sensible
friendship by the time of the departure of the Ithacathe rechristened
schooner which was to carry them away to an unguessed fate。
The voyage from Singapore to the Islands was without incident。
Virginia took a keen delight in watching the Malays and lascars at their
work； telling von Horn that she had to draw upon her imagination but little
to picture herself a captive upon a pirate shipthe half naked men； the
gaudy headdress； the earrings； and the fierce countenances of many of the
crew furnishing only too realistically the necessary savage setting。
A week spent among the Pamarung Islands disclosed no suitable site
for the professor's camp； nor was it until they had cruised up the coast
several miles north of the equator and Cape Santang that they found a tiny
island a few miles off the coast opposite the mouth of a small riveran
island which fulfilled in every detail their requirements。
It was uninhabited； fertile and possessed a clear； sweet brook which
had its source in a cold spring in the higher land at the island's center。
Here it was that the Ithaca came to anchor in a little harbor； while her crew
under von Horn； and the Malay first mate； Bududreen； accompanied
Professor Maxon in search of a suitable location for a permanent camp。
The cook； a harmless old Chinaman； and Virginia were left in sole
possession of the Ithaca。
Two hours after the departure of the men into the jungle Virginia heard
the fall of axes on timber and knew that the site of her future home had
been chosen and the work of clearing begun。 She sat musing on the
strange freak which had prompted her father to bury them in this savage
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corner of the globe； and as she pondered there came a wistful expression
to her eyes； and an unwonted sadness drooped the corners of her mouth。
Of a sudden she realized how wide had become the gulf between them
now。 So imperceptibly had it grown since those three horrid days in
Ithaca just prior to their departure for what was to have been but a few
months' cruise that she had not until now comprehended that the old
relations of open； good…fellowship had gone； possibly forever。
Had she needed proof of the truth of her sad discovery it had been
enough to point to the single fact that her father had brought her here to
this little island without making the slightest attempt to explain the nature
of his expedition。 She had gleaned enough from von Horn to understand
that some important scientific experiments were to be undertaken； but
what their nature she could not imagine； for she had not the slightest
conception of the success that had crowned her father's last experiment at
Ithaca； although she had for years known of his keen interest in the
subject。
The girl became aware also of other subtle changes in her father。 He
had long since ceased to be the jovial； carefree companion who had shared
with her her every girlish joy and sorrow and in whom she had confided
both the trivial and momentous secrets of her childhood。 He had become
not exactly morose； but rather moody and absorbed； so that she had of late
never found an opportunity for the cozy chats that had formerly meant so
much to them both。 There had been too； recently； a strange lack of
consideration for herself that had wounded her more than she had
imagined。 Today there had been a glaring example of it in his having left
her alone upon the boat without a single European companionsomething
that he would never have thought of doing a few months before。
As she sat speculating on the strange change which had come over her
father her eyes had wandered aimlessly along the harbor's entrance； the
low reef that protected it from the sea； and the point of land to the south；
that projected far out into the strait like a gigantic index finger pointing
toward the mainland； the foliage covered heights of which were just
visible above the western horizon。
Presently her attention was arrested by a tossing speck far out upon the
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THE MONSTER MEN
rolling bosom of the strait。 For some time the girl watched the object
until at length it resolved itself into a boat moving head on toward the
island。 Later she saw that it was long and low； pr
