the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第24章
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the water's edge。 Almost immediately tired； Nature plunged her into a deep
sleep。 It was daylight when she awoke； dreaming that the tall young
giant had rescued her from a band of demons and was lifting her in his
arms to carry her back to her father。
Through half open lids she saw the sunlight filtering through the leafy
canopy above hershe wondered at the realism of her dream； full
consciousness returned and with it the conviction that she was in truth
being held close by strong arms against a bosom that throbbed to the
beating of a real heart。
With a sudden start she opened her eyes wide to look up into the
hideous face of a giant ourang outang。
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11 〃I AM COMING！〃
The morning following the capture of Virginia Maxon by Muda Saffir；
Professor Maxon； von Horn； Sing Lee and the sole surviving lascar from
the crew of the Ithaca set out across the strait toward the mainland of
Borneo in the small boat which the doctor had secreted in the jungle near
the harbor。 The party was well equipped with firearms and ammunition；
and the bottom of the boat was packed full with provisions and cooking
utensils。 Von Horn had been careful to see that the boat was furnished
with a mast and sail； and now； under a good breeze the party was making
excellent time toward the mysterious land of their destination。
They had scarcely cleared the harbor when they sighted a ship far out
across the strait。 Its erratic movements riveted their attention upon it； and
later； as they drew nearer； they perceived that the strange craft was a good
sized schooner with but a single short mast and tiny sail。 For a minute or
two her sail would belly with the wind and the vessel make headway； then
she would come suddenly about； only to repeat the same tactics a moment
later。 She sailed first this way and then that； losing one minute what she
had gained the minute before。
Von Horn was the first to recognize her。
〃It is the Ithaca；〃 he said； 〃and her Dyak crew are having a devil of a
time managing hershe acts as though she were rudderless。〃
Von Horn ran the small boat within hailing distance of the dismasted
hulk whose side was now lined with waving； gesticulating natives。 They
were peaceful fishermen； they explained； whose prahus had been wrecked
in the recent typhoon。 They had barely escaped with their lives by
clambering aboard this wreck which Allah had been so merciful as to
place directly in their road。 Would the Tuan Besar be so good as to tell
them how to make the big prahu steer？
Von Horn promised to help them on condition that they would guide
him and his party to the stronghold of Rajah Muda Saffir in the heart of
Borneo。 The Dyaks willingly agreed； and von Horn worked his small
boat in close under the Ithaca's stern。 Here he found that the rudder had
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THE MONSTER MEN
been all but unshipped； probably as the vessel was lifted over the reef
during the storm； but a single pintle remaining in its gudgeon。 A half
hour's work was sufficient to repair the damage； and then the two boats
continued their journey toward the mouth of the river up which those they
sought had passed the night before。
Inside the river's mouth an anchorage was found for the Ithaca near the
very island upon which the fierce battle between Number Thirteen and
Muda Saffir's forces had occurred。 From the deck of the larger vessel the
deserted prahu which had borne Bulan across the strait was visible； as
were the bodies of the slain Dyaks and the misshapen creatures of the
white giant's forces。
In excited tones the head hunters called von Horn's attention to these
evidences of conflict； and the doctor drew his boat up to the island and
leaped ashore； followed by Professor Maxon and Sing。 Here they found
the dead bodies of the four monsters who had fallen in an attempt to
rescue their creator's daughter； though little did any there imagine the real
truth。
About the corpses of the four were the bodies of a dozen Dyak
warriors attesting to the ferocity of the encounter and the savage prowess
of the unarmed creatures who had sold their poor lives so dearly。
〃Evidently they fell out about the possession of the captive；〃 suggested
von Horn。 〃Let us hope that she did not fall into the clutches of Number
Thirteen any fate would be better than that。〃
〃God give that that has not befallen her；〃 moaned Professor Maxon。
〃The pirates might but hold her for ransom； but should that soulless fiend
possess her my prayer is that she found the strength and the means to take
her own life before he had an opportunity to have his way with her。〃
〃Amen；〃 agreed von Horn。
Sing Lee said nothing； but in his heart he hoped that Virginia Maxon
was not in the power of Rajah Muda Saffir。 The brief experience he had
had with Number Thirteen during the fight in the bungalow had rather
warmed his wrinkled old heart toward the friendless young giant； and he
was a sufficiently good judge of human nature to be confident that the girl
would be comparatively safe in his keeping。
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It was quickly decided to abandon the small boat and embark the
entire party in the deserted war prahu。 A half hour later saw the strangely
mixed expedition forging up the river； but not until von Horn had boarded
the Ithaca and discovered to his dismay that the chest was not on board
her。
Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir still squatted in his
hiding place； for no friendly prahu or sampan had passed his way since
dawn。 His keen eyes roving constantly up and down the long stretch of
river that was visible from his position finally sighted a war prahu coming
toward him from down stream。 As it drew closer he recognized it as one
which had belonged to his own fleet before his unhappy encounter with
the wild white man and his abhorrent pack； and a moment later his heart
leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several of his men； but who were the
strangers in the stern； and what was a Chinaman doing perched there upon
the bow？
The prahu was nearly opposite him before he recognized Professor
Maxon and von Horn as the white men of the little island。 He wondered
how much they knew of his part in the raid upon their encampment。
Bududreen had told him much concerning the doctor； and as Muda Saffir
recalled the fact that von Horn was anxious to possess himself of both the
treasure and the girl he guessed that he would be safe in the man's hands
so long as he could hold out promises of turning one or the other over to
him； and so； as he was tired of squatting upon the uncomfortable bank and
was very hungry； he arose and hailed the passing prahu。
His men recognized his voice immediately and as they knew nothing
of the defection of any of their fellows； turned the boat's prow toward
shore without waiting for the command from von Horn。 The latter；
fearing treachery； sprang to his feet with raised rifle； but when one of the
paddlers explained that it was the Rajah Muda Saffir who hailed them and
that he was alone von Horn permitted them to draw nearer the shore；
though he continued to stand ready to thwart any attempted treachery and
warned both the professor and Sing to be on guard。
As the prahu's nose touched the bank Muda Saffir stepped aboard and
with many protestations of gratitude explained that he had fallen
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overboard from his own prahu the night before and that evidently his
followers thought him drowned； since none of his boats had returned to
search for him。 Scarcely had the Malay seated himself before von Horn
began questioning him in the rajah's native tongue； not a word of which
was intelligible to Professor Maxon。 Sing； however； was as familiar with
it as was von Horn。
〃Where are the girl and the treasure？〃 he asked。
〃What girl； Tuan Besar？〃 inquired the wily Malay innocently。 〃And
what treasure？ The white man speaks in riddles。〃
〃Come； come；〃 cried von Horn impatiently。 〃Let us have no
foolishness。 You know perfectly well what I mean it will go far better
with you if we work together as friends。 I want the girlif she is
unharmedand I will divide the treasure with you if you will help me to
obtain them； otherwise you shall have no part of either。 What do you say？
Shall we be friends or enemies？〃
〃The girl and the treasure were both stolen from me by a rascally
panglima； Ninaka；〃 said Muda Saffir； seeing that it would be as well to
simulate friendship for the white man for the time being at leastthere
would always be an opportunity to use a kris upon him in the remote
fastness of the interior to which Muda Saffir would lead them。
〃What became of the white man who led the strange monsters？〃 asked
von Horn。
〃He killed many of my men； and the last I saw of him he was pushing
up the river after the girl and the treasure；〃 replied the Malay。
〃If another should ask you；〃 continued von Horn with a meaningful
glance toward Professor Maxon； 〃it will be well to say that the girl was
stolen by this white giant and that you suffered defeat in an attempt to
rescue her because of your friendship for us。 Do you understand？〃
Muda Saffir nodded。 Here was a man after his own
