the monster men-第17部分

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　under　oars　and　sail　toward　the　mouth　of　the　harbor；　and　as　Number　Thirteen　saw　that　the　girl　was　being　borne　away　from　him；　he　shouted　a　command　to　his　misshapen　crew；　and　without　waiting　to　see　if　they　would　follow　him　leaped　into　the　nearer　of　the　two　boats　beneath。

It　was　already　half　filled　with　Dyaks；　some　of　whom　were　hastily　manning　the　oars。　　Others　of　the　head　hunters　were　scrambling　over　the　gunwale。　　In　an　instant　pandemonium　reigned　in　the　little　vessel。　Savage　warriors　sprang　toward　the　tall　figure　towering　above　them。　　Parangs　flashed。　　The　bull　whip　hissed　and　cracked；　and　then　into　the　midst　of　it　all　came　a　horrid　avalanche　of　fearful　and　grotesque　monsters　the　young　giant's　crew　had　followed　at　his　command。

The　battle　in　the　prahu　was　short　and　fierce。　　For　an　instant　the　Dyaks　attempted　to　hold　their　own；　but　in　the　face　of　the　snarling；　rending　horde　that　engulfed　them　terror　got　the　better　of　them　all；　so　that　those　who　were　not　overcome　dived　overboard　and　swam　rapidly　toward　shore。

The　other　prahu　had　not　waited　to　assist　its　companion；　but　before　it　was　entirely　filled　had　gotten　under　way　and　was　now　rapidly　overhauling　the　balance　of　the　fleet。

Von　Horn　had　been　an　excited　witness　to　all　that　had　occurred　upon　the　tranquil　bosom　of　the　little　harbor。　He　had　been　filled　with　astonishment　at　sight　of　the　inhabitants　of　the　court　of　mystery　fighting　under　the　leadership　of　Number　Thirteen；　and　now　he　watched　interestedly　the　outcome　of　the　adventure。

The　sight　of　the　girl　being　borne　away　in　the　prahu　of　the　Malay　rajah　to　a　fate　worse　than　death；　had　roused　in　him　both　keen　regret　and　savage　rage；　but　it　was　the　life　of　ease　that　he　was　losing　that　concerned　him　most。　He　had　felt　so　sure　of　winning　Professor　Maxon's　fortune　through　either　a　forced　or　voluntary　marriage　with　the　girl　that　his　feelings　now　were　as　of　one　whose　rightful　heritage　has　been　foully　wrested　from　him。　　The　thought　of　the　girl's　danger　and　suffering　were　of　but　secondary　consideration　to　him；　for　the　man　was　incapable　of　either　deep　love　or　true　chivalry。

Quite　the　contrary　were　the　emotions　which　urged　on　the　soulless　creature　who　now　found　himself　in　undisputed　possession　of　a　Dyak　war　prahu。　　His　only　thought　was　of　the　girl　being　rapidly　borne　away　across　the　glimmering　waters　of　the　strait。　　He　knew　not　to　what　dangers　she　was　exposed；　or　what　fate　threatened　her。　All　he　knew　was　that　she　had　been　taken　by　force　against　her　will。　　He　had　seen　the　look　of　terror　in　her　eyes；　and　the　dawning　hope　die　out　as　the　boat　that　carried　her　had　turned　rapidly　away　from　the　Ithaca。　His　one　thought　now　was　to　rescue　her　from　her　abductors　and　return　her　to　her　father。　　Of　his　own　reward　or　profit　he　entertained　no　single　thoughtit　was　enough　if　he　could　fight　for　her。　　That　would　be　reward　sufficient。

Neither　Number　Thirteen　nor　any　of　his　crew　had　ever　before　seen　a　boat；　and　outside　of　the　leader　there　was　scarcely　enough　brains　in　the　entire　party　to　render　it　at　all　likely　that　they　could　ever　navigate　it；　but　the　young　man　saw　that　the　other　prahus　were　being　propelled　by　the　long　sticks　which　protruded　from　their　sides；　and　he　also　saw　the　sails　bellying　with　wind；　though　he　had　but　a　vague　conception　of　their　purpose。

For　a　moment　he　stood　watching　the　actions　of　the　men　in　the　nearest　boat；　and　then　he　set　himself　to　the　task　of　placing　his　own　men　at　the　oars　and　instructing　them　in　the　manner　of　wielding　the　unfamiliar　implements。　For　an　hour　he　worked　with　the　brainless　things　that　constituted　his　party。　　They　could　not　seem　to　learn　what　was　required　of　them。　　The　paddles　were　continually　fouling　one　another；　or　being　merely　dipped　into　the　water　and　withdrawn　without　the　faintest　semblance　of　a　stroke　made。

The　tiresome　maneuvering　had　carried　them　about　in　circles　back　and　forth　across　the　harbor；　but　by　it　Number　Thirteen　had　himself　learned　something　of　the　proper　method　of　propelling　and　steering　his　craft。　At　last；　more　through　accident　than　intent；　they　came　opposite　the　mouth　of　the　basin；　and　then　chance　did　for　them　what　days　of　arduous　endeavor　upon　their　part　might　have　failed　to　accomplish。

As　they　hung　wavering　in　the　opening；　the　broad　strait　before　them；　and　their　quarry　fast　diminishing　to　small　specks　upon　the　distant　horizon；　a　vagrant　land　breeze　suddenly　bellied　the　flapping　sail。　　The　prahu　swung　quickly　about　with　nose　pointed　toward　the　sea；　the　sail　filled；　and　the　long；　narrow　craft　shot　out　of　the　harbor　and　sped　on　over　the　dancing　waters　in　the　wake　of　her　sisters。

On　shore　behind　them　the　infuriated　Dyaks　who　had　escaped　to　the　beach　danced　and　shrieked；　von　Horn；　from　his　hiding　place；　looked　on　in　surprised　wonder；　and　Bududreen's　lascar　cursed　the　fate　that　had　left　a　party　of　forty　head　hunters　upon　the　same　small　island　with　him。

Smaller　and　smaller　grew　the　retreating　prahu　as；　straight　as　an　arrow；　she　sped　toward　the　dim　outline　of　verdure　clad　Borneo。



9

INTO　SAVAGE　BORNEO


Von　Horn　cursed　the　chance　that　had　snatched　the　girl　from　him；　but　he　tried　to　content　himself　with　the　thought　that　the　treasure　probably　still　rested　in　the　cabin　of　the　Ithaca；　where　Bududreen　was　to　have　deposited　it。　　He　wished　that　the　Dyaks　would　take　themselves　off　so　that　he　could　board　the　vessel　and　carry　the　chest　ashore　to　bury　it　against　the　time　that　fate　should　provide　a　means　for　transporting　it　to　Singapore。

In　the　water　below　him　floated　the　Ithaca's　masts；　their　grisly　burdens　still　lashed　to　their　wave　swept　sides。　　Bududreen　lay　there；　his　contorted　features　set　in　a　horrible　grimace　of　death　which　grinned　up　at　the　man　he　would　have　cheated；　as　though　conscious　of　the　fact　that　the　white　man　would　have　betrayed　him　had　the　opportunity　come；　the　while　he　enjoyed　in　anticipation　the　other's　disappointment　in　the　loss　of　both　the　girl　and　the　treasure。

The　tide　was　rising　now；　and　presently　the　Ithaca　began　to　float。　　No　sooner　was　it　apparent　that　she　was　free　than　the　Dyaks　sprang　into　the　water　and　swam　to　her　side。　　Like　monkeys　they　scrambled　aboard；　swarming　below　deck　in　search；　thought　von　Horn；　of　pillage。　He　prayed　that　they　would　not　discover　the　chest。

Presently　a　half　dozen　of　them　leaped　overboard　and　swam　to　the　mass　of　tangled　spars　and　rigging　which　littered　the　beach。　　Selecting　what　they　wished　they　returned　to　the　vessel；　and　a　few　minutes　later　von　Horn　was　chagrined　to　see　them　stepping　a　jury　mast　he　thought　the　treasure　lay　in　the　Ithaca's　cabin。

Before　dark　the　vessel　moved　slowly　out　of　the　harbor；　setting　a　course　across　the　strait　in　the　direction　that　the　war　prahus　had　taken。　　When　it　was　apparent　that　there　was　no　danger　that　the　head　hunters　would　return；　the　lascar　came　from　his　hiding　place；　and　dancing　up　and　down　upon　the　shore　screamed　warlike　challenges　and　taunts　at　the　retreating　enemy。

Von　Horn　also　came　forth；　much　to　the　sailor's　surprise；　and　in　silence　the　two　stood　watching　the　disappearing　ship。　　At　length　they　turned　and　made　their　way　up　the　stream　toward　campthere　was　no　longer　aught　to　fear　there。　　Von　Horn　wondered　if　the　creatures　he　had　loosed　upon　Professor　Maxon　had　done　their　work　before　they　left；　or　if　they　had　all　turned　to　mush　as　had　Number　Thirteen。

Once　at　the　encampment　his　questions　were　answered；　for　he　saw　a　light　in　the　bungalow；　and　as　he　mounted　the　steps　there　were　Sing　and　Professor　Maxon　just　coming　from　the　living　room。

〃Von　Horn！〃　exclaimed　the　professor。　　〃You；　then；　are　not　dead；　but　where　is　Virginia？　　Tell　me　that　she　is　safe。〃

〃She　has　been　carried　away〃　was　the　startling　answer。　〃Your　creatures；　under　the　thing　you　wished　to　marry　her　to；　have　taken　her　to　Borneo　with　a　band　of　Malay　and　Dyak　pirates。　　I　was　alone　and　could　do　nothing　to　prevent　them。〃

〃God！〃　moaned　the　old　man。　　〃Why　did　I　not　kill　the　thing　when　it　stood　within　my　power　to　do　so。　　Only　last　night　he　was　here　beside　me；　and　now　it　is　too　late。〃

〃I　warned　you；〃　said　von　Horn；　coldly。

〃I　was　mad；〃　retorted　the　professor。　　〃Could　you　not　see　that　I　was　mad？　　Oh；　why　did　you　not　stop　me？　You　were　sane　enough。　　You　at　least　might　have　forced　me　to　abandon　the　insane　obsession　which　has　overpowered　my　reason　for　all　these　terrible　months。　　I　am　sane　now；　but　it　is　too　latetoo　late。〃

〃Both　you　and　your　daughter　could　only　have　interpreted　any　such　action　on　my　part　as　instigated　by　self…　interest；　for　you　both　knew　that　I　wanted　to　make　her　my　wife；〃　replied　the　other。　　〃My　hands　were　tied。　I　am　sorry　now　that　I　did　not　act；　but　you　can　readily　see　the　position　in　which　I　was　placed。〃

〃Can　nothing　be　done　to　get　her　back？〃　cried　the　father。　〃There　must　be　some　way　to　save　her。　　Do　it　von　Horn；　and　not　only　is　my　daughter　yours　but　my　wealth　as　well　every　thing　that　I　possess　shall　be　yours　if　you　will　but　save　her　from　those　frightful　creatures。〃

〃The　Ithaca　is　gone；　too；〃　replied　the　doctor。　　〃There　is　only　a　small　boat　that　I　hid　in　the　jungle　for　some　such　emergency。　　It　will　carry　us　to　Borneo；　but　what　can　we　four　do　against　five　hundred　pirates　and　the　dozen　monsters　you　have　brought　into　the　world？　No；　Professor　Maxon；　I　fear　there　is　little　hope；　though　I　am　willing　to　give　my　life　in　an　attempt　to　save　Virginia。　　You　will　not　forget　your　promise　should　we　succeed？〃

〃No；　doctor；〃　replied　the　old　man。　　〃I　swear　that　you　shall　have　Virginia　as　your　wife；　and　all　my　property　shall　be　made　over　to　you　if　she　is　rescued。〃

Sing　Lee　had　been　a　silent　listener　to　this　strange　conversation。　　An　odd　look　came　into　his　slant　eyes　as　he　heard　von　Horn　exact　a　confirmation　from　the　professor；　but　what　passed　in　his　shrewd　mind　only　he　could　say。

It　was　too　late　to　attempt　to　make　a　start　that　day　for　Borneo；　as　darkness　had　already　fallen。　　Professor　Maxon　and　von　Horn　walked　over　to　the　workshop　and　the　inner　campong　to　ascertain　what　damage　had　been　done　there。

On　their　return　Sing　was　setting　the　table　on　the　verandah　for　the　evening　meal。　　The　two　men　were　talking；　and　without　making　his　presence　noticeable　the　Chinaman　hovered　about　ever　within　ear　shot。

〃I　cannot　make　it　out；　von　Horn；〃　Professor　Maxon　was　saying。　　〃Not　a　board　broken；　and　the　doors　both　apparently