the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第34章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Virginia。 They could get no help from the natives of the long…house； who
feared the vengeance of Muda Saffir should he learn that they had aided
the white men upon his trail。
And always as the three hunted through the jungle and up and down
the river there lurked ever near a handful of the men of the tribe of the two
whom von Horn had murdered； waiting for the chance that would give
them revenge and the heads of the three they followed。 They feared the
guns of the white men too much to venture an open attack； and at night the
quarry never abated their watchfulness； so that days dragged on； and still
the three continued their hopeless quest unconscious of the relentless foe
that dogged their footsteps。
Von Horn was always searching for an opportunity to enlist the aid of
the friendly natives in an effort to regain the chest； but so far he had found
none who would agree to accompany him even in consideration of a large
share of the booty。 It was the treasure alone which kept him to the search
for Virginia Maxon； and he made it a point to direct the hunt always in the
vicinity of the spot where it was buried； for a great fear consumed him that
Ninaka might return and claim it before he had a chance to make away
with it。
Three times during the week they returned and slept at the long…house；
hoping each time to learn that the natives had received some news of her
they sought； through the wonderful channels of communication that
seemed always open across the trackless jungle and up and down the
savage； lonely rivers。
For two days Bulan lay raving in the delirium of fever； while the
delicate girl； unused to hardship and exposure； watched over him and
nursed him with the loving tenderness and care of a young mother with
her first born。
For the most part the young giant's ravings were inarticulate； but now
and then Virginia heard her name linked with words of reverence and
144
… Page 145…
THE MONSTER MEN
worship。 The man fought again the recent battles he had passed through；
and again suffered the long night watches beside the sleeping girl who
filled his heart。 Then it was that she learned the truth of his self…
sacrificing devotion。 The thing that puzzled her most was the repetition of
a number and a name which ran through all his delirium 〃Nine ninety
nine Priscilla。〃
She could make neither head nor tail of it； nor was there another word
to give a clue to its meaning； so at last from constant repetition it became a
commonplace and she gave it no further thought。
The girl had given up hope that Bulan ever could recover； so weak and
emaciated had he become； and when the fever finally left him quite
suddenly she was positive that it was the beginning of the end。 It was on
the morning of the seventh day since they had commenced their
wandering in search of the long…house that； as she sat watching him； she
saw his eyes resting upon her face with a look of recognition。
Gently she took his hand； and at the act he smiled at her very weakly。
〃You are better； Bulan；〃 she said。 〃You have been very sick； but now
you shall soon be well again。〃
She did not believe her own words； yet the mere saying of them gave
her renewed hope。
〃Yes；〃 replied the man。 〃I shall soon be well again。 How long have I
been like this？〃
〃For two days；〃 she replied。
〃And you have watched over me alone in the jungle for two days？〃 he
asked incredulously。
〃Had it been for life；〃 she said in a low voice； 〃it would scarce have
repaid the debt I owe you。〃
For a long time he lay looking up into her eyes longingly； wistfully。
〃I wish that it had been for life；〃 he said。
At first she did not quite realize what he meant； but presently the tired
and hopeless expression of his eyes brought to her a sudden knowledge of
his meaning。
〃Oh； Bulan；〃 she cried； 〃you must not say that。 Why should you wish
to die？〃
145
… Page 146…
THE MONSTER MEN
〃Because I love you； Virginia；〃 he replied。 〃And because； when you
know what I am； you will hate and loathe me。〃
On the girl's lips was an avowal of her own love； but as she bent closer
to whisper the words in his ear there came the sound of men crashing
through the jungle； and as she turned to face the peril that she thought
approaching； von Horn sprang into view； while directly behind him came
her father and Sing Lee。
Bulan saw them at the same instant； and as Virginia ran forward to
greet her father he staggered weakly to his feet。 Von Horn was the first to
see the young giant； and with an oath sprang toward him； drawing his
revolver as he came。
〃You beast；〃 he cried。 〃We have caught you at last。〃
At the words Virginia turned back toward Bulan with a little scream of
warning and of horror。 Professor Maxon was behind her。
〃Shoot the monster； von Horn；〃 he ordered。 〃Do not let him escape。〃
Bulan drew himself to his full height； and though he wavered from
weakness； yet he towered mighty and magnificent above the evil faced
man who menaced him。
〃Shoot！〃 he said calmly。 〃Death cannot come too soon now。〃
At the same instant von Horn pulled the trigger。 The giant's head fell
back； he staggered； whirled about； and crumpled to the earth just as
Virginia Maxon's arms closed about him。
Von Horn rushed close and pushing the girl aside pressed the muzzle
of his gun to Bulan's temple； but an avalanche of wrinkled； yellow skin
was upon him before he could pull the trigger a second time； and Sing had
hurled him back a dozen feet and snatched his weapon。
Moaning and sobbing Virginia threw herself upon the body of the man
she loved； while Professor Maxon hurried to her side to drag her away
from the soulless thing for whom he had once intended her。
Like a tigress the girl turned upon the two white men。
〃You are murderers；〃 she cried。 〃Cowardly murderers。 Weak and
exhausted by fever he could not combat you； and so you have robbed the
world of one of the noblest men that God ever created。〃
〃Hush！〃 cried Professor Maxon。 〃Hush； child； you do not know what
146
… Page 147…
THE MONSTER MEN
you say。 The thing was a monster a soulless monster。〃
At the words the girl looked up quickly at her father； a faint realization
of his meaning striking her like a blow in the face。
〃What do you mean？〃 she whispered。 〃Who was he？〃
It was von Horn who answered。
〃No god created that；〃 he said； with a contemptuous glance at the still
body of the man at their feet。 〃He was one of the creatures of your father's
mad experimentsthe soulless thing for whose arms his insane obsession
doomed you。 The thing at your feet； Virginia； was Number Thirteen。〃
With a piteous little moan the girl turned back toward the body of the
young giant。 A faltering step she took toward it； and then to the horror of
her father she sank upon her knees beside it and lifting the man's head in
her arms covered the face with kisses。
〃Virginia！〃 cried the professor。 〃Are you mad； child？〃
〃I am not mad；〃 she moaned； 〃not yet。 I love him。 Man or monster； it
would have been all the same to me； for I loved him。〃
Her father turned away； burying his face in his hands。
〃God！〃 he muttered。 〃What an awful punishment you have visited
upon me for the sin of the thing I did。〃
The silence which followed was broken by Sing who had kneeled
opposite Virginia upon the other side of Bulan； where he was feeling the
giant's wrists and pressing his ear close above his heart。
〃Do'n cly； Linee；〃 said the kindly old Chinaman。 〃Him no dlead。〃
Then； as he poured a pinch of brownish powder into the man's mouth from
a tiny sack he had brought forth from the depths of one of his sleeves：
〃Him no mlonster either； Linee。 Him white man； alsame Mlaxon。 Sing
know。〃
The girl looked up at him in gratitude。
〃He is not dead； Sing？ He will live？〃 she cried。 〃I don't care about
anything else； Sing； if you will only make him live。〃
〃Him live。 Gettem lilee flesh wounds。 Las all。〃
〃What do you mean by saying that he is not a monster？〃 demanded
von Horn。
〃You waitee； you dam flool；〃 cried Sing。 〃I tellee lot more I know。
147
… Page 148…
THE MONSTER MEN
You waitee I flixee him； and then； by God； I flixee you。〃
Von Horn took a menacing step toward the Chinaman； his face black
with wrath； but Professor Maxon interposed。
〃This has gone quite far enough； Doctor von Horn；〃 he said。 〃It may
be that we acted hastily。 I do not know； of course； what Sing means； but I
intend to find out。 He has been very faithful to us； and deserves every
consideration。〃
Von Horn stepped back； still scowling。 Sing poured a little water
between Bulan's lips； and then asked Professor Maxon for his brandy flask。
With the first few drops of the fiery liquid the giant's eyelids moved； and a
moment later he raised them and looked about him。
The first face he saw was Virginia's。 It was full of love and
compassion。
〃They have not told you yet？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 she replied。 〃They have told me； but it makes no difference。
You have given me the right to say it； Bulan； and I do say it now again；
before them all I love you； and that is all there is that makes any
difference。〃
A look of happiness lighted his face momentarily； only to fade as
quickly as it had come。
〃No； Virginia；〃 he said； sadly； 〃it would not be ri
