the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第20章
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would have betrayed him had the opportunity come； the while he enjoyed
in anticipation the other's disappointment in the loss of both the girl and
the treasure。
The tide was rising now； and presently the Ithaca began to float。 No
sooner was it apparent that she was free than the Dyaks sprang into the
water and swam to her side。 Like monkeys they scrambled aboard；
swarming below deck in search； thought von Horn； of pillage。 He prayed
that they would not discover the chest。
Presently a half dozen of them leaped overboard and swam to the mass
of tangled spars and rigging which littered the beach。 Selecting what
they wished they returned to the vessel； and a few minutes later von Horn
was chagrined to see them stepping a jury mast he thought the treasure
lay in the Ithaca's cabin。
Before dark the vessel moved slowly out of the harbor； setting a course
across the strait in the direction that the war prahus had taken。 When it
was apparent that there was no danger that the head hunters would return；
the lascar came from his hiding place； and dancing up and down upon the
shore screamed warlike challenges and taunts at the retreating enemy。
Von Horn also came forth； much to the sailor's surprise； and in silence
the two stood watching the disappearing ship。 At length they turned and
made their way up the stream toward campthere was no longer aught to
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fear there。 Von Horn wondered if the creatures he had loosed upon
Professor Maxon had done their work before they left； or if they had all
turned to mush as had Number Thirteen。
Once at the encampment his questions were answered； for he saw a
light in the bungalow； and as he mounted the steps there were Sing and
Professor Maxon just coming from the living room。
〃Von Horn！〃 exclaimed the professor。 〃You； then； are not dead； but
where is Virginia？ Tell me that she is safe。〃
〃She has been carried away〃 was the startling answer。 〃Your creatures；
under the thing you wished to marry her to； have taken her to Borneo with
a band of Malay and Dyak pirates。 I was alone and could do nothing to
prevent them。〃
〃God！〃 moaned the old man。 〃Why did I not kill the thing when it
stood within my power to do so。 Only last night he was here beside me；
and now it is too late。〃
〃I warned you；〃 said von Horn； coldly。
〃I was mad；〃 retorted the professor。 〃Could you not see that I was
mad？ Oh； why did you not stop me？ You were sane enough。 You at
least might have forced me to abandon the insane obsession which has
overpowered my reason for all these terrible months。 I am sane now； but
it is too latetoo late。〃
〃Both you and your daughter could only have interpreted any such
action on my part as instigated by self… interest； for you both knew that I
wanted to make her my wife；〃 replied the other。 〃My hands were tied。 I
am sorry now that I did not act； but you can readily see the position in
which I was placed。〃
〃Can nothing be done to get her back？〃 cried the father。 〃There must
be some way to save her。 Do it von Horn； and not only is my daughter
yours but my wealth as well every thing that I possess shall be yours if
you will but save her from those frightful creatures。〃
〃The Ithaca is gone； too；〃 replied the doctor。 〃There is only a small
boat that I hid in the jungle for some such emergency。 It will carry us to
Borneo； but what can we four do against five hundred pirates and the
dozen monsters you have brought into the world？ No； Professor Maxon； I
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fear there is little hope； though I am willing to give my life in an attempt
to save Virginia。 You will not forget your promise should we succeed？〃
〃No； doctor；〃 replied the old man。 〃I swear that you shall have
Virginia as your wife； and all my property shall be made over to you if she
is rescued。〃
Sing Lee had been a silent listener to this strange conversation。 An
odd look came into his slant eyes as he heard von Horn exact a
confirmation from the professor； but what passed in his shrewd mind only
he could say。
It was too late to attempt to make a start that day for Borneo； as
darkness had already fallen。 Professor Maxon and von Horn walked over
to the workshop and the inner campong to ascertain what damage had
been done there。
On their return Sing was setting the table on the verandah for the
evening meal。 The two men were talking； and without making his
presence noticeable the Chinaman hovered about ever within ear shot。
〃I cannot make it out； von Horn；〃 Professor Maxon was saying。 〃Not
a board broken； and the doors both apparently opened intentionally by
someone familiar with locks and bolts。 Who could have done it？〃
〃You forget Number Thirteen；〃 suggested the doctor。
〃But the chest！〃 expostulated the other。 〃What in the world would he
want of that enormous and heavy chest？〃
〃He might have thought that it contained treasure；〃 hazarded von Horn；
in an innocent tone of voice。
〃Bosh； my dear man；〃 replied Professor Maxon。 〃He knew nothing
of treasures； or money； or the need or value of either。 I tell you the
workshop was opened； and the inner campong as well by some one who
knew the value of money and wanted that chest； but why they should have
released the creatures from the inner enclosure is beyond me。〃
〃And I tell you Professor Maxon that it could have been none other
than Number Thirteen；〃 insisted von Horn。 〃Did I not myself see him
leading his eleven monsters as easily as a captain commands his company？
The fellow is brighter than we have imagined。 He has learned much
from us both； he has reasoned； and he has shrewdly guessed many things
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that he could not have known through experience。〃
〃But his object？〃 asked the professor。
〃That is simple；〃 returned von Horn。 〃You have held out hopes to
him that soon he should come to live under your roof with Virginia。 The
creature has been madly infatuated with her ever since the day he took her
from Number One； and you have encouraged his infatuation until
yesterday。 Then you regained your sanity and put him in his rightful
place。 What is the result？ Denied the easy prey he expected he
immediately decided to take it by force； and with that end in view； and
taking advantage of the series of remarkable circumstances which played
into his hands； he liberated his fellows； and with them hastened to the
beach in search of Virginia and in hopes of being able to fly with her upon
the Ithaca。 There he met the Malay pirates； and together they formed an
alliance under terms of which Number Thirteen is to have the girl； and the
pirates the chest in return for transporting him and his crew to Borneo。
Why it is all perfectly simple and logical； Professor Maxon； do you not see
it now？〃
〃You may be right； doctor；〃 answered the old man。 〃But it is idle to
conjecture。 Tomorrow we can be up and doing； so let us get what sleep
we can tonight。 We shall need all our energies if we are to save my poor；
dear girl； from the clutches of that horrid； soulless thing。〃
At the very moment that he spoke the object of his contumely was
entering the dark mouth of a broad river that flowed from out of the heart
of savage Borneo。 In the prahu with him his eleven hideous companions
now bent to their paddles with slightly increased efficiency。 Before them
the leader saw a fire blazing upon a tiny island in the center of the stream。
Toward this they turned their silent way。 Grimly the war prahu with its
frightful freight nosed closer to the bank。
At last Number Thirteen made out the figures of men about the fire；
and as they came still closer he was sure that they were members of the
very party he had been pursuing across the broad waters for hours。 The
prahus were drawn up upon the bank and the warriors were preparing to
eat。
Just as the young giants' prahu came within the circle of firelight a
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swarthy Malay approached the fire； dragging a white girl roughly by the
arm。 No more was needed to convince Number Thirteen of the identity
of the party。 With a low command to his fellows he urged them to
redoubled speed。 At the same instant a Dyak warrior caught sight of the
approaching boat as it sped into the full glare of the light。
At sight of the occupants the head hunters scattered for their own
prahus。 The frightful aspect of the enemy turned their savage hearts to
water； leaving no fight in their ordinarily warlike souls。
So quickly they moved that as the pursuing prahu touched the bank all
the nearer boats had been launched； and the remaining pirates were
scurrying across the little island for those which lay upon the opposite side。
Among these was the Malay who guarded the girl； but he had not been
quick enough to prevent Virginia Maxon recognizing the stalwart figure
standing in the bow of the oncoming craft。
As he dragged her away toward the prahu of Muda Saffir she cried out
to the strange white man who seemed her self…appointed protector。
〃Help！ Help！〃 she called。 〃This way！ Across the island！〃 And
then the brown hand of her jailer c
