the monster men-第30部分

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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　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？〃

〃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　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。　　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　right。　It　would　be　wicked。　　I　am　not　a　human　being。　　I　am　only　a　soulless　monster。　　You　cannot　mate　with　such　as　I。　You　must　go　away　with　your　father。　　Soon　you　will　forget　me。〃

〃Never；　Bulan！〃　cried　the　girl；　determinedly。

The　man　was　about　to　attempt　to　dissuade　her；　when　Sing　interrupted。

〃You　keepee　still；　Bulan；〃　he　said。　　〃You　wait　till　Sing　tellee。　You　no　mlonster。　　Mlaxon　he　no　makee　you。　　Sing　he　find　you　in　low　bloat　jus'　outsidee　cove。　　You　dummy。　　No　know　nothing。　No　know　namee。　　No　know　where　comee　from。　　No　talkee。

〃Sing　he　jes'　hearee　Mlaxon　tellee　Hornee　'bout　Nlumber　Thlirteen。　　How　he　makee　him　for　Linee。　　Makee　Linee　mally　him。　　Sing　he　know　what　kindee　fleaks　Mlaxon　makee。　Linee　always　good　to　old　Sing。　　Sing　he　been　peeking　thlu　clack　in　wallee。　　See　blig　vlat　where　Thlirteen　growing。

〃Sing　he　takee　you　to　Sing's　shackee　that　night。　Hide　you　till　evlybody　sleep。　　Then　he　sneak　you　in　workee　shop。　　Kickee　over　vlat。　　Leaves　you。　Nex'　mlorning　Mlaxon　makee　blig　hulabaloo。　Dance　up　and　downee。　Whoop！　　Thlirteen　clome　too　soonee；　but　allight；　him　finee；　perfec'　man。　　Whoop！

〃Anyway；　you　heap　better　for　Linee　than　one　Mlaxon's　fleaks；〃　he　concluded；　turning　toward　Bulan。

〃You　are　lying；　you　yellow　devil；〃　cried　von　Horn。

The　Chinaman　turned　his　shrewd；　slant　eyes　malevolently　upon　the　doctor。

〃Sing　lies？〃　he　hissed。　　〃Mabbeso　Sing　lies　when　he　ask　what　for　you　glet　Bludleen　steal　tleasure。　But　Lajah　Saffir　he　come　and　spoil　it　all　while　you　tly　glet　Linee　to　the　shipSing　knows。

〃Then　you　tellee　Mlaxon　Thlirteen　steal　Linee。　You　lie　then　and　you　knew　you　lie。　　You　lie　again　when　Thlirteen　savee　Linee　flom　Oulang　Outang　you　say　you　savee　Linee。

〃Then　you　make　bad　talkee　with　Lajah　Saffir　at　long…house。　Sing　hear　you　all　timee。　　You　tly　getee　tleasure　away　from　Dlyaks　for　your　self。　　Then〃

〃Stop！〃　roared　von　Horn。　　〃Stop！　　You　lying　yellow　sneak；　before　I　put　a　bullet　in　you。〃

〃Both　of　you　may　stop　now；〃　said　Professor　Maxon　authoritatively。　　〃There　have　been　charges　made　here　that　cannot　go　unnoticed。　　Can　you　prove　these　things　Sing？〃　he　asked　turning　to　the　Chinaman。

〃I　plove　much　by　Bludleen's　lascar。　　Bludleen　tell　him　all　'bout　Hornee。　　I　plove　some　more　by　Dyak　chief　at　long…house。　　He　knows　lots。　　Lajah　Saffir　tell　him。　It　all　tlue；　Mlaxon。〃

〃And　it　is　true　about　this　manthe　thing　that　you　have　tol