the monster men-第12部分

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　played　in　succoring　the　professor；　so　that　it　was　with　a　feeling　of　relief　that　he　saw　the　newcomer　turn　his　attention　toward　those　who　were　rapidly　reducing　the　citadel　of　his　own　existence。

The　two　Dyaks　who　sought　the　trophy　which　nature　had　set　upon　the　Chinaman's　shoulders　were　so　busily　engaged　with　their　victim　that　they　knew　nothing　of　the　presence　of　Number　Thirteen　until　a　mighty　hand　seized　each　by　the　neck　and　they　were　raised　bodily　from　the　floor；　shaken　viciously　for　an　instant；　and　then　hurled　to　the　opposite　end　of　the　room　upon　the　bodies　of　the　two　who　had　preceded　them。

As　Sing　came　to　his　feet　he　found　Professor　Maxon　lying　in　a　pool　of　his　own　blood；　a　great　gash　in　his　forehead。　He　saw　the　white　giant　standing　silently　looking　down　upon　the　old　man。　　Across　the　room　the　four　stunned　Dyaks　were　recovering　consciousness。　　Slowly　and　fearfully　they　regained　their　feet；　and　seeing　that　no　attention　was　being　paid　them；　cast　a　parting；　terrified　look　at　the　mighty　creature　who　had　defeated　them　with　his　bare　hands；　and　slunk　quickly　out　into　the　darkness　of　the　campong。

When　they　caught　up　with　Rajah　Muda　Saffir　near　the　beach；　they　narrated　a　fearful　tale　of　fifty　terrible　white　men　with　whom　they　had　battled　valiantly；　killing　many；　before　they　had　been　compelled　to　retreat　in　the　face　of　terrific　odds。　They　swore　that　even　then　they　had　only　returned　because　the　girl　was　not　in　the　houseotherwise　they　should　have　brought　her　to　their　beloved　master　as　he　had　directed。

Now　Muda　Saffir　believed　nothing　that　they　said；　but　he　was　well　pleased　with　the　great　treasure　which　had　so　unexpectedly　fallen　into　his　hands；　and　he　decided　to　make　quite　sure　of　that　by　transporting　it　to　his　own　land　later　he　could　return　for　the　girl。　　So　the　ten　war　prahus　of　the　Malay　pulled　quietly　out　of　the　little　cove　upon　the　east　side　of　the　island；　and　bending　their　way　toward　the　south　circled　its　southern　extremity　and　bore　away　for　Borneo。

In　the　bungalow　within　the　north　campong　Sing　and　Number　Thirteen　had　lifted　Professor　Maxon　to　his　bed；　and　the　Chinaman　was　engaged　in　bathing　and　bandaging　the　wound　that　had　left　the　older　man　unconscious。　The　white　giant　stood　beside　him　watching　his　every　move。　He　was　trying　to　understand　why　sometimes　men　killed　one　another　and　again　defended　and　nursed。　　He　was　curious　as　to　the　cause　of　his　own　sudden　change　in　sentiment　toward　Professor　Maxon。　　At　last　he　gave　the　problem　up　as　beyond　his　powers　of　solution；　and　at　Sing's　command　set　about　the　task　of　helping　to　nurse　the　man　whom　he　considered　the　author　of　his　unhappiness　and　whom　a　few　short　minutes　before　he　had　come　to　kill。

As　the　two　worked　over　the　stricken　man　their　ears　were　suddenly　assailed　by　a　wild　commotion　from　the　direction　of　the　workshop。　　There　were　sounds　of　battering　upon　wood；　loud　growls　and　roars；　mingled　with　weird　shrieks　and　screams　and　the　strange；　uncanny　gibbering　of　brainless　things。

Sing　looked　quickly　up　at　his　companion。

〃Whallee　mallee？〃　he　asked。

The　giant　did　not　answer。　　An　expression　of　pain　crossed　his　features；　and　he　shudderedbut　not　from　fear。



7

THE　BULL　WHIP


As　von　Horn　and　Virginia　Maxon　walked　slowly　beneath　the　dense　shadows　of　the　jungle　he　again　renewed　his　suit。　It　would　please　him　more　to　have　the　girl　accompany　him　voluntarily　than　to　be　compelled　to　take　her　by　force；　but　take　her　he　would　one　way　or　another；　and　that；　this　very　night；　for　all　the　plans　were　made　and　already　under　way。

〃I　cannot　do　it；　Doctor　von　Horn；〃　she　had　said。　〃No　matter　how　much　danger　I　may　be　in　here　I　cannot　desert　my　father　on　this　lonely　isle　with　only　savage　lascars　and　the　terrible　monsters　of　his　own　creation　surrounding　him。　　Why；　it　would　be　little　short　of　murder　for　us　to　do　such　a　thing。　　I　cannot　see　how　you；　his　most　trusted　lieutenant；　can　even　give　an　instant's　consideration　to　the　idea。

〃And　now　that　you　insist　that　his　mind　is　sorely　affected；　it　is　only　an　added　reason　why　I　must　remain　with　him　to　protect　him　so　far　as　I　am　able；　from　himself　and　his　enemies。〃

Von　Horn　did　not　relish　the　insinuation　in　the　accent　which　the　girl　put　upon　the　last　word。

〃It　is　because　I　love　you　so；　Virginia；〃　he　hastened　to　urge　in　extenuation　of　his　suggested　disloyalty。　〃I　cannot　see　you　sacrificed　to　his　horrible　mania。　You　do　not　realize　the　imminence　of　your　peril。　Tomorrow　Number　Thirteen　was　to　have　come　to　live　beneath　the　same　roof　with　you。　　You　recall　Number　One　whom　the　stranger　killed　as　the　thing　was　bearing　you　away　through　the　jungle？　　Can　you　imagine　sleeping　in　the　same　house　with　such　a　soulless　thing？　　Eating　your　three　meals　a　day　at　the　same　table　with　it？　　And　knowing　all　the　time　that　in　a　few　short　weeks　at　the　most　you　were　destined　to　be　given　to　the　thing　as　its　mate？　　Virginia；　you　must　be　mad　to　consider　for　a　moment　remaining　within　reach　of　such　a　terrible　peril。

〃Come　to　Singapore　with　meit　will　take　but　a　few　daysand　then　we　can　return　with　some　good　medical　man　and　a　couple　of　Europeans；　and　take　your　father　away　from　the　terrible　creatures　he　has　created。　　You　will　be　mine　then　and　safe　from　the　awful　fate　that　now　lies　back　there　in　the　camp　awaiting　you。　　We　can　take　your　father　upon　a　long　trip　where　rest　and　quiet　can　have　an　opportunity　to　restore　his　enfeebled　mentality。　Come；　Virginia！　　Come　with　me　now。　　We　can　go　directly　to　the　Ithaca　and　safety。　　Say　that　you　will　come。〃

The　girl　shook　her　head。

〃I　do　not　love　you；　I　am　afraid；　Doctor　von　Horn；　or　I　should　certainly　be　moved　by　your　appeal。　　If　you　wish　to　bring　help　for　my　father　I　shall　never　cease　to　thank　you　if　you　will　go　to　Singapore　and　fetch　it；　but　it　is　not　necessary　that　I　go。　　My　place　is　here；　near　him。〃

In　the　darkness　the　girl　did　not　see　the　change　that　came　over　the　man's　face；　but　his　next　words　revealed　his　altered　attitude　with　sufficient　exactitude　to　thoroughly　arouse　her　fears。

〃Virginia；〃　he　said；　〃I　love　you；　and　I　intend　to　have　you。　Nothing　on　earth　can　prevent　me。　　When　you　know　me　better　you　will　return　my　love；　but　now　I　must　risk　offending　you　that　I　may　save　you　for　myself　from　the　monstrous　connection　which　your　father　contemplates　for　you。　　If　you　will　not　come　away　from　the　island　with　me　voluntarily　I　consider　it　my　duty　to　take　you　away　by　force。〃

〃You　would　never　do　that；　Doctor　von　Horn！〃　she　exclaimed。

Von　Horn　had　gone　too　far。　　He　cursed　himself　inwardly　for　a　fool。　　Why　the　devil　didn't　that　villain；　Bududreen；　come！　　He　should　have　been　along　to　act　his　part　half　an　hour　before。

〃No；　Virginia；〃　said　the　man；　softly；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃I　could　not　do　that；　though　my　judgment　tells　me　that　I　should　do　it。　　You　shall　remain　here　if　you　insist　and　I　will　be　with　you　to　serve　and　protect　both　you　and　your　father。〃

The　words　were　fair；　but　the　girl　could　not　forget　the　ugly　tone　that　had　tinged　his　preceding　statement。　She　felt　that　she　would　be　glad　when　she　found　herself　safely　within　the　bungalow　once　more。

〃Come；〃　she　said；　〃it　is　late。　　Let　us　return　to　camp。〃

Von　Horn　was　about　to　reply　when　the　war　cries　of　Muda　Saffir's　Dyaks　as　they　rushed　out　upon　Bududreen　and　his　companions　came　to　them　distinctly　through　the　tropic　night。

〃What　was　that？〃　cried　the　girl　in　an　alarmed　tone。

〃God　knows；〃　replied　von　Horn。　　〃Can　it　be　that　our　men　have　mutinied？〃

He　thought　the　six　with　Bududreen　were　carrying　out　their　part　in　a　most　realistic　manner；　and　a　grim　smile　tinged　his　hard　face。

Virginia　Maxon　turned　resolutely　toward　the　camp。

〃I　must　go　back　there　to　my　father；〃　she　said；　〃and　so　must　you。　　Our　place　is　thereGod　give　that　we　be　not　too　late；〃　and　before　von　Horn　could　stop　her　she　turned　and　ran　through　the　darkness　of　the　jungle　in　the　direction　of　the　camp。

Von　Horn　dashed　after　her；　but　so　black　was　the　night　beneath　the　overhanging　trees；　festooned　with　their　dark　myriad　creepers；　that　the　girl　was　out　of　sight　in　an　instant；　and　upon　the　soft　carpet　of　the　rotting　vegetation　her　light　footfalls　gave　no　sound。

The　doctor　made　straight　for　the　camp；　but　Virginia；　unused　to　jungle　trailing　even　by　day；　veered　sharply　to　the　left。　　The　sounds　which　had　guided　her　at　first　soon　died　out；　the　brush　became　thicker；　and　presently　she　realized　that　she　had　no　conception　of　the　direction　of　the　camp。　　Coming　to　a　spot　where　the　trees　were　less　dense；　and　a　little　moonlight　filtered　to　the　ground；　she　paused　to　rest　and　attempt　to　regain　her　bearings。

As　she　stood　listening　for　some　sound　which　might　indicate　the　whereabouts　of　the　camp；　she　detected　the　noise　of　a　body　approaching　through　the　underbrush。　Whether　man　or　beast　she　could　but　conjecture　and　so　she　stood　with　every　nerve　taut　waiting　the　thing　that　floundered　heavily　toward　her。　　She　hoped　it　might　be　von　Horn；　but　the　hideous　war　cries　which　had　apprised　her　of　enemies　at　the　encampment　made　her　fear　that　fate　might　be　directing　the　footsteps　of　one　of　these　upon　her。

Nearer　and　nearer　came　the　sound；　and　the　girl　stood　poised　ready　to　fly　when　the　dark　face　of　Bududreen　suddenly　emerged　into　the　moonlight　beside　her。　With　an　hysterical　cry　of　relief　the　girl　greeted　him。

〃Oh；　Bududreen；〃　she　exclaimed；　〃what　has　happened　at　camp？　Where　is　my　father？　　Is　he　safe？　　Tell　me。〃

The　Malay　could　scarce　believe　the　good　fortune　which　had　befallen　him　so　quickly　following　the　sore　affliction　of　losing　the　treasure。　　His　evil　mind　worked　quickly；　so　that　he　grasped　the　full　possibilities　that　were　his　before　the　girl　had　finished　her　questioning。

〃The　camp　was　attacked　by　Dyaks；　Miss　Maxon；〃　he　replied。　〃Many　of　our　men　were　killed；　but　your　father　escaped　and　has　gone　to　the　ship。　　I　have　been　searching　for　you　and　Doctor　von　Horn。　　Where　is　he？〃

〃He　was　with　me　but　a　moment　ago。　　When　we　heard　the　cries　at　camp　I　hastened　on　to　discover　what　calamity　had　befallen　uswe　became　separated。〃

〃He　will　be　safe；〃　said　Bududreen；　〃for　two　of　my　men　are　waiting　to　guide　you　and　the　doctor　to　the　ship　in　case　you　returned　to　camp　before　I　found　you。　　Come；　we　will　hasten　on　to　the　harbor。　　Your　father　will　be　worried　if　we　are　long　delayed；　and　he　is　anxious　to　make　sail　and　escape　before　the　Dyak