the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第26章
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reddish hair which covered them； shading to black upon the face and
hands。
The lips of the nearest were raised in an angry snarl that exposed
wicked looking fighting fangs； but the beasts did not seem inclined to
initiate hostilities； and as they were unarmed and evidently but engaged
upon their own affairs Bulan decided to withdraw without arousing them
further。 As he turned to retrace his steps he found his three companions
gazing in wide…eyed astonishment upon the strange new creatures which
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confronted them。
Number Ten was grinning broadly； while Number Three advanced
cautiously toward one of the creatures； making a low guttural noise； that
could only be interpreted as peaceful and conciliatorymore like a feline
purr it was than anything else。
〃What are you doing？〃 cried Bulan。 〃Leave them alone。 They have
not offered to harm us。〃
〃They are like us；〃 replied Number Three。 〃They must be our own
people。 I am going with them。〃
〃And I；〃 said Number Ten。
〃And I；〃 echoed Number Twelve。 〃At last we have found our own；
let us all go with them and live with them； far away from the men who
would beat us with great whips； and cut us with their sharp swords。〃
〃They are not human beings；〃 exclaimed Bulan。 〃We cannot live
with them。〃
〃Neither are we human beings；〃 retorted Number Twelve。 〃Has not
von Horn told us so many times？〃
〃If I am not now a human being；〃 replied Bulan； 〃I intend to be one；
and so I shall act as a human being should act。 I shall not go to live with
savage beasts； nor shall you。 Come with me as I tell you； or you shall
again taste the bull whip。〃
〃We shall do as we please；〃 growled Number Ten； baring his fangs。
〃You are not our master。 We have followed you as long as we intend to。
We are tired of forever walking； walking； walking through the bushes that
tear our flesh and hurt us。 Go and be a human being if you think you can；
but do not longer interfere with us or we shall kill you；〃 and he looked
first at Number Three and then at Number Twelve for approval of his
ultimatum。
Number Three nodded his grotesque and hideous head he was so
covered with long black hair that he more nearly resembled an ourang
outang than a human being。 Number Twelve looked doubtful。
〃I think Number Ten is right；〃 he said at last。 〃We are not human。 We
have no souls。 We are things。 And while you； Bulan； are beautiful； yet
you are as much a soulless thing as wethat much von Horn taught us well。
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So I believe that it would be better were we to keep forever from the sight
of men。 I do not much like the thought of living with these strange； hairy
monsters； but we might find a place here in the jungle where we could live
alone and in peace。〃
〃I do not want to live alone；〃 cried Number Three。 〃I want a mate； and
I see a beautiful one yonder now。 I am going after her；〃 and with that he
again started toward a female ourang outang； but the lady bared her fangs
and retreated before his advance。
〃Even the beasts will have none of us；〃 cried Number Ten angrily。 〃Let
us take them by force then；〃 and he started after Number Three。
〃Come back！〃 shouted Bulan； leaping after the two deserters。
As he raised his voice there came an answering cry from a little
distance aheada cry for help； and it was in the agonized tones of a
woman's voice。
〃I am coming！〃 shouted Bulan； and without another glance at his
mutinous crew he sprang through the line of menacing ourang outangs。
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12 PERFIDY
On the morning that Bulan set out with his three monsters from the
deserted long…house in which they had spent the night； Professor Maxon's
party was speeding up the river； constantly buoyed with hope by the
repeated reports of natives that the white girl had been seen passing in a
war prahu。
In translating this information to Professor Maxon； von Horn
habitually made it appear that the girl was in the hands of Number
Thirteen； or Bulan； as they had now come to call him owing to the natives'
constant use of that name in speaking of the strange； and formidable white
giant who had invaded their land。
At the last long…house below the gorge； the head of which had
witnessed Virginia Maxon's escape from the clutches of Ninaka and
Barunda； the searching party was forced to stop owing to a sudden attack
of fever which had prostrated the professor。 Here they found a woman
who had a strange tale to relate of a remarkable sight she had witnessed
that very morning。
It seemed that she had been straining tapioca in a little stream which
flowed out of the jungle at the rear of the long…house when her attention
was attracted by the crashing of an animal through the bushes a few yards
above her。 As she looked she saw a huge MIAS PAPPAN cross the
stream； bearing in his arms the dead； or unconscious form of a white…
skinned girl with golden hair。
Her description of the MIAS PAPPAN was such as to half convince
von Horn that she might have seen Number Three carrying Virginia
Maxon； although he could not reconcile the idea with the story that the
two Dyaks had told him of losing all of Bulan's monsters in the jungle。
Of course it was possible that they might have made their way over
land to this point； but it seemed scarcely credibleand then； how could
they have come into posession of Virginia Maxon； whom every report
except this last agreed was still in the hands of Ninaka and Barunda。
There was always the possibility that the natives had lied to him； and the
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more he questioned the Dyak woman the more firmly convinced he
became that this was the fact。
The outcome of it was that von Horn finally decided to make an
attempt to follow the trail of the creature that the woman had seen； and
with this plan in view persuaded Muda Saffir to arrange with the chief of
the long…house at which they then were to furnish him with trackers and an
escort of warriors； promising them some splendid heads should they be
successful in overhauling Bulan and his pack。
Professor Maxon was too ill to accompany the expedition； and von
Horn set out alone with his Dyak allies。 For a time after they departed
Sing Lee fretted and fidgeted upon the verandah of the long…house。 He
wholly distrusted von Horn； and from motives of his own finally decided
to follow him。 The trail of the party was plainly discernible； and the
Chinaman had no difficulty in following them； so that they had gone no
great way before he came within hearing distance of them。 Always just far
enough behind to be out of sight； he kept pace with the little column as it
marched through the torrid heat of the morning； until a little after noon he
was startled by the sudden cry of a woman in distress； and the answering
shout of a man。
The voices came from a point in the jungle a little to his right and
behind him； and without waiting for the column to return； or even to
ascertain if they had heard the cries； Sing ran rapidly in the direction of the
alarm。 For a time he saw nothing； but was guided by the snapping of
twigs and the rustling of bushes ahead； where the authors of the
commotion were evidently moving swiftly through the jungle。
Presently a strange sight burst upon his astonished vision。 It was the
hideous Number Three in mad pursuit of a female ourang outang； and an
instant later he saw Number Twelve and Number Ten in battle with two
males； while beyond he heard the voice of a man shouting encouragement
to some one as he dashed through the jungle。 It was in this last event that
Sing's interest centered； for he was sure that he recognized the voice as
that of Bulan； while the first cry for help which he had heard had been in a
woman's voice； and Sing knew that its author could be none other than
Virginia Maxon。
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Those whom he pursued were moving rapidly through the jungle
which was now becoming more and more open； but the Chinaman was no
mean runner； and it was not long before he drew within sight of the object
of his pursuit。
His first glimpse was of Bulan； running swiftly between two huge bull
ourang outangs that snapped and tore at him as he bounded forward
cutting and slashing at his foes with his heavy whip。 Just in front of the
trio was another bull bearing in his arms the unconscious form of Virginia
Maxon who had fainted at the first response to her cry for help。 Sing was
armed with a heavy revolver but he dared not attempt to use it for fear that
he might wound either Bulan or the girl； and so he was forced to remain
but a passive spectator of what ensued。
Bulan； notwithstanding the running battle the two bulls were forcing
upon him； was gaining steadily upon the fleeing ourang outang that was
handicapped by the weight of the fair captive he bore in his huge； hairy
arms。 As they came into a natural clearing in the jungle the fleeing bull
glanced back to see his pursuer almos
