the monster men-第15部分

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at　the　deck　and　went　overboard　carrying　every　thing　with　them　amid　shrieks　and　cries　of　terror　that　were　drowned　and　choked　by　the　wild　tumult　of　the　night。

Twice　the　girl　felt　the　ship　strike　upon　the　reef；　then　a　great　wave　caught　and　carried　her　high　into　the　air；　dropping　her　with　a　nauseating　lunge　which　seemed　to　the　imprisoned　girl　to　be　carrying　the　ship　to　the　very　bottom　of　the　ocean。　　With　closed　eyes　she　clung　in　silent　prayer　beside　her　berth　waiting　for　the　moment　that　would　bring　the　engulfing　waters　and　oblivion　praying　that　the　end　might　come　speedily　and　release　her　from　the　torture　of　nervous　apprehension　that　had　terrorized　her　for　what　seemed　an　eternity。

After　the　last；　long　dive　the　Ithaca　righted　herself　laboriously；　wallowing　drunkenly；　but　apparently　upon　an　even　keel　in　less　turbulent　waters。　　One　long　minute　dragged　after　another；　yet　no　suffocating　deluge　poured　in　upon　the　girl；　and　presently　she　realized　that　the　ship　had；　at　least　temporarily；　weathered　the　awful　buffeting　of　the　savage　elements。　　Now　she　felt　but　a　gentle　roll；　though　the　wild　turmoil　of　the　storm　still　came　to　her　ears　through　the　heavy　planking　of　the　Ithaca's　hull。

For　a　long　hour　she　lay　wondering　what　fate　had　overtaken　the　vessel　and　whither　she　had　been　driven；　and　then；　with　a　gentle　grinding　sound；　the　ship　stopped；　swung　around；　and　finally　came　to　rest　with　a　slight　list　to　starboard。　　The　wind　howled　about　her；　the　torrential　rain　beat　loudly　upon　her；　but　except　for　a　slight　rocking　the　ship　lay　quiet。

Hours　passed　with　no　other　sounds　than　those　of　the　rapidly　waning　tempest。　　The　girl　heard　no　signs　of　life　upon　the　ship。　　Her　curiosity　became　more　and　more　keenly　aroused。　　She　had　that　indefinable；　intuitive　feeling　that　she　was　utterly　alone　upon　the　vessel；　and　at　length；　unable　to　endure　the　inaction　and　uncertainty　longer；　made　her　way　to　the　companion　ladder　where　for　half　an　hour　she　futilely　attempted　to　remove　the　hatch。

As　she　worked　she　failed　to　hear　the　scraping　of　naked　bodies　clambering　over　the　ship's　side；　or　the　padding　of　unshod　feet　upon　the　deck　above　her。　　She　was　about　to　give　up　her　work　at　the　hatch　when　the　heavy　wooden　cover　suddenly　commenced　to　move　above　her　as　though　actuated　by　some　supernatural　power。　　Fascinated；　the　girl　stood　gazing　in　wide…eyed　astonishment　as　one　end　of　the　hatch　rose　higher　and　higher　until　a　little　patch　of　blue　sky　revealed　the　fact　that　morning　had　come。　　Then　the　cover　slid　suddenly　back　and　Virginia　Maxon　found　herself　looking　into　a　savage　and　terrible　face。

The　dark　skin　was　creased　in　fierce　wrinkles　about　the　eyes　and　mouth。　　Gleaming　tiger　cat's　teeth　curved　upward　from　holes　pierced　to　receive　them　in　the　upper　half　of　each　ear。　　The　slit　ear　lobes　supported　heavy　rings　whose　weight　had　stretched　the　skin　until　the　long　loop　rested　upon　the　brown　shoulders。　　The　filed　and　blackened　teeth　behind　the　loose　lips　added　the　last　touch　of　hideousness　to　this　terrible　countenance。

Nor　was　this　all。　　A　score　of　equally　ferocious　faces　peered　down　from　behind　the　foremost。　　With　a　little　scream　Virginia　Maxon　sprang　back　to　the　lower　deck　and　ran　toward　her　stateroom。　　Behind　her　she　heard　the　commotion　of　many　men　descending　the　companionway。


As　Number　Thirteen　came　into　the　campong　after　quitting　the　bungalow　his　heart　was　a　chaos　of　conflicting　emotions。　　His　little　world　had　been　wiped　out。　His　creatorthe　man　whom　he　thought　his　only　friend　and　benefactorhad　suddenly　turned　against　him。　The　beautiful　creature　he　worshipped　was　either　lost　or　dead；　Sing　had　said　so。　　He　was　nothing　but　a　miserable　THING。　　There　was　no　place　in　the　world　for　him；　and　even　should　he　again　find　Virginia　Maxon；　he　had　von　Horn's　word　for　it　that　she　would　shrink　from　him　and　loathe　him　even　more　than　another。

With　no　plans　and　no　hopes　he　walked　aimlessly　through　the　blinding　rain；　oblivious　of　it　and　of　the　vivid　lightning　and　deafening　thunder。　　The　palisade　at　length　brought　him　to　a　sudden　stop。　　Mechanically　he　squatted　on　his　haunches　with　his　back　against　it；　and　there；　in　the　midst　of　the　fury　of　the　storm　he　conquered　the　tempest　that　raged　in　his　own　breast。　The　murder　that　rose　again　and　again　in　his　untaught　heart　he　forced　back　by　thoughts　of　the　sweet；　pure　face　of　the　girl　whose　image　he　had　set　up　in　the　inner　temple　of　his　being；　as　a　gentle；　guiding　divinity。

〃He　made　me　without　a　soul；〃　he　repeated　over　and　over　again　to　himself；　〃but　I　have　found　a　soulshe　shall　be　my　soul。　　Von　Horn　could　not　explain　to　me　what　a　soul　is。　　He　does　not　know。　　None　of　them　knows。　　I　am　wiser　than　all　the　rest；　for　I　have　learned　what　a　soul　is。　Eyes　cannot　see　itfingers　cannot　feel　it；　but　he　who　possess　it　knows　that　it　is　there　for　it　fills　his　whole　breast　with　a　great；　wonderful　love　and　worship　for　something　infinitely　finer　than　man's　dull　senses　can　gauge　something　that　guides　him　into　paths　far　above　the　plain　of　soulless　beasts　and　bestial　men。

〃Let　those　who　will　say　that　I　have　no　soul；　for　I　am　satisfied　with　the　soul　I　have　found。　　It　would　never　permit　me　to　inflict　on　others　the　terrible　wrong　that　Professor　Maxon　has　inflicted　on　meyet　he　never　doubts　his　own　possession　of　a　soul。　　It　would　not　allow　me　to　revel　in　the　coarse　brutalities　of　von　Hornand　I　am　sure　that　von　Horn　thinks　he　has　a　soul。　And　if　the　savage　men　who　came　tonight　to　kill　have　souls；　then　I　am　glad　that　my　soul　is　after　my　own　choosingI　would　not　care　for　one　like　theirs。〃

The　sudden　equatorial　dawn　found　the　man　still　musing。　The　storm　had　ceased　and　as　the　daylight　brought　the　surroundings　to　view　Number　Thirteen　became　aware　that　he　was　not　alone　in　the　campong。　　All　about　him　lay　the　eleven　terrible　men　whom　he　had　driven　from　the　bungalow　the　previous　night。　　The　sight　of　them　brought　a　realization　of　new　responsibilities。　　To　leave　them　here　in　the　campong　would　mean　the　immediate　death　of　Professor　Maxon　and　the　Chinaman。　　To　turn　them　into　the　jungle　might　mean　a　similar　fate　for　Virginia　Maxon　were　she　wandering　about　in　search　of　the　encampment　Number　Thirteen　could　not　believe　that　she　was　dead。　It　seemed　too　monstrous　to　believe　that　he　should　never　see　her　again；　and　he　knew　so　little　of　death　that　it　was　impossible　for　him　to　realize　that　that　beautiful　creature　ever　could　cease　to　be　filled　with　the　vivacity　of　life。

The　young　man　had　determined　to　leave　the　camp　himself　partly　on　account　of　the　cruel　words　Professor　Maxon　had　hurled　at　him　the　night　before；　but　principally　in　order　that　he　might　search　for　the　lost　girl。　Of　course　he　had　not　the　remotest　idea　where　to　look　for　her；　but　as　von　Horn　had　explained　that　they　were　upon　a　small　island　he　felt　reasonably　sure　that　he　should　find　her　in　time。

As　he　looked　at　the　sleeping　monsters　near　him　he　determined　that　the　only　solution　of　his　problem　was　to　take　them　all　with　him。　　Number　Twelve　lay　closest　to　him；　and　stepping　to　his　side　he　nudged　him　with　the　butt　of　the　bull　whip　he　still　carried。　The　creature　opened　his　dull　eyes。

〃Get　up；〃　said　Number　Thirteen。

Number　Twelve　rose；　looking　askance　at　the　bull　whip。

〃We　are　not　wanted　here；〃　said　Number　Thirteen。　〃I　am　going　away　and　you　are　all　going　with　me。　　We　shall　find　a　place　where　we　may　live　in　peace　and　freedom。　Are　you　not　tired　of　always　being　penned　up？〃

〃Yes；〃　replied　Number　Twelve；　still　looking　at　the　whip。

〃You　need　not　fear　the　whip；〃　said　the　young　man。　〃I　shall　not　use　it　on　those　who　make　no　trouble。　Wake　the　others　and　tell　them　what　I　have　said。　All　must　come　with　methose　who　refuse　shall　feel　the　whip。〃

Number　Twelve　did　as　he　was　bid。　　The　creatures　mumbled　among　themselves　for　a　few　minutes。　　Finally　Number　Thirteen　cracked　his　long　whip　to　attract　their　attention。

〃Come！〃　he　said。

Nine　of　them　shuffled　after　him　as　he　turned　toward　the　outer　gateonly　Number　Ten　and　Number　Three　held　back。　The　young　man　walked　quickly　to　where　they　stood　eyeing　him　sullenly。　　The　others　halted　to　watchready　to　spring　upon　their　new　master　should　the　tide　of　the　impending　battle　turn　against　him。　　The　two　mutineers　backed　away　snarling；　their　hideous　features　distorted　in　rage。

〃Come！〃　repeated　Number　Thirteen。

〃We　will　stay　here；〃　growled　Number　Ten。　　〃We　have　not　yet　finished　with　Maxon。〃

A　loop　in　the　butt　of　the　bull　whip　was　about　the　young　man's　wrist。　　Dropping　the　weapon　from　his　hand　it　still　dangled　by　the　loop。　　At　the　same　instant　he　launched　himself　at　the　throat　of　Number　Ten；　for　he　realized　that　a　decisive　victory　now　without　the　aid　of　the　weapon　they　all　feared　would　make　the　balance　of　his　work　easier。

The　brute　met　the　charge　with　lowered　head　and　outstretched　hands；　and　in　another　second　they　were　locked　in　a　clinch；　tearing　at　one　another　like　two　great　gorillas。　　For　a　moment　Number　Three　stood　watching　the　battle；　and　then　he　too　sprang　in　to　aid　his　fellow　mutineer。　　Number　Thirteen　was　striking　heavy　blows　with　his　giant　hands　upon　the　face　and　head　of　his　antagonist；　while　the　long；　uneven　fangs　of　the　latter　had　found　his　breast　and　neck　a　half　dozen　times。　Blood　covered　them　both。　　Number　Three　threw　his　enormous　weight　into　the　conflict　with　the　frenzy　of　a　mad　bull。

Again　and　again　he　got　a　hold　upon　the　young　giant's　throat　only　to　be　shaken　loose　by　the　mighty　muscles。　The　excitement　of　the　conflict　was　telling　upon　the　malformed　minds　of　the　spectators。　　Presently　one　who　was　almost　brainless；　acting　upon　the　impulse　of　suggestion；　leaped　in　among　the　fighters；　striking　and　biting　at　Number　Thirteen。　It　was　all　that　was　neededanother　second　found　the　whole　monstrous　crew　upon　the　single　man。

His　mighty　strength　availed　him　but　little　in　the　unequal　conflicteleven　to　one　were　too　great　odds　even　for　those　powerful　thews。　　His　great　advantage　lay　in　his　superior　intelligence；　but　even　this　seemed　futile　in　the　face　of　the　enormous　weight　of　numbers　that　opposed　him。　　Time　and　again　he　had　almost　shaken　himself　free　only　to　fall　once　moredragged　down　by　hairy　arms　about　his　legs。

Hither　and　thither　about　the　campong　the　battle　raged　until　the　fighting　mass　rolled　against　the　palisade；　and　here；　at　last；　with　his　back　to　the　structure；　Number　Thirteen　regain