the monster men-第4部分

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〃Bludleen；　him　mate。　　Why　workee　alsame　lascar　boy？　　Eh？〃　But　Virginia　could　give　no　reason。

〃I　am　afraid　you　don't　like　Bududreen；　Sing；〃　she　said。　〃Has　he　ever　harmed　you　in　any　way？〃

〃Him？　　No；　him　no　hurt　Sing。　　Sing　poor；〃　with　which　more　or　less　enigmatical　rejoinder　the　Chinaman　returned　to　his　work。　　But　he　muttered　much　to　himself　the　balance　of　the　day；　for　Sing　knew　that　a　chest　that　strained　four　men　in　the　carrying　could　contain　but　one　thing；　and　he　knew　that　Bududreen　was　as　wise　in　such　matters　as　he。

For　a　couple　of　months　the　life　of　the　little　hidden　camp　went　on　peacefully　and　without　exciting　incident。　The　Malay　and　lascar　crew　divided　their　time　between　watch　duty　on　board　the　Ithaca；　policing　the　camp；　and　cultivating　a　little　patch　of　clearing　just　south　of　their　own　campong。

There　was　a　small　bay　on　the　island's　east　coast；　only　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　camp；　in　which　oysters　were　found；　and　one　of　the　Ithaca's　boats　was　brought　around　to　this　side　of　the　island　for　fishing。　　Bududreen　often　accompanied　these　expeditions；　and　on　several　occasions　the　lynx…eyed　Sing　had　seen　him　returning　to　camp　long　after　the　others　had　retired　for　the　night。

Professor　Maxon　scarcely　ever　left　the　central　enclosure。　　For　days　and　nights　at　a　time　Virginia　never　saw　him；　his　meals　being　passed　in　to　him　by　Sing　through　a　small　trap　door　that　had　been　cut　in　the　partition　wall　of　the　〃court　of　mystery〃　as　von　Horn　had　christened　the　section　of　the　camp　devoted　to　the　professor's　experimentations。

Von　Horn　himself　was　often　with　his　employer　as　he　enjoyed　the　latter's　complete　confidence；　and　owing　to　his　early　medical　training　was　well　fitted　to　act　as　a　competent　assistant；　but　he　was　often　barred　from　the　workshop；　and　at　such　times　was　much　with　Virginia。

The　two　took　long　walks　through　the　untouched　jungle；　exploring　their　little　island；　and　never　failing　to　find　some　new　and　wonderful　proof　of　Nature's　creative　power　among　its　flora　and　fauna。

〃What　a　marvellous　thing　is　creation；〃　exclaimed　Virginia　as　she　and　von　Horn　paused　one　day　to　admire　a　tropical　bird　of　unusually　brilliant　plumage。　〃How　insignificant　is　man's　greatest　achievement　beside　the　least　of　Nature's　works。〃

〃And　yet；〃　replied　von　Horn；　〃man　shall　find　Nature's　secret　some　day。　　What　a　glorious　accomplishment　for　him　who　first　succeeds。　　Can　you　imagine　a　more　glorious　consummation　of　a　man's　life　workyour　father's；　for　example？〃

The　girl　looked　at　von　Horn　closely。

〃Dr。　von　Horn；〃　she　said；　〃pride　has　restrained　me　from　asking　what　was　evidently　intended　that　I　should　not　know。　　For　years　my　father　has　been　interested　in　an　endeavor　to　solve　the　mystery　of　lifethat　he　would　ever　attempt　to　utilize　the　secret　should　he　have　been　so　fortunate　as　to　discover　it　had　never　occurred　to　me。　　I　mean　that　he　should　try　to　usurp　the　functions　of　the　Creator　I　could　never　have　believed；　but　my　knowledge　of　him；　coupled　with　what　you　have　said；　and　the　extreme　lengths　to　which　he　has　gone　to　maintain　absolute　secrecy　for　his　present　experiments　can　only　lead　to　one　inference；　and　that；　that　his　present　work；　if　successful；　would　have　results　that　would　not　be　countenanced　by　civilized　society　or　government。　Am　I　right？〃

Von　Horn　had　attempted　to　sound　the　girl　that　he　might；　if　possible；　discover　her　attitude　toward　the　work　in　which　her　father　and　he　were　engaged。　　He　had　succeeded　beyond　his　hopes；　for　he　had　not　intended　that　she　should　guess　so　much　of　the　truth　as　she　had。　　Should　her　interest　in　the　work　have　proved　favorable　it　had　been　his　intention　to　acquaint　her　fully　with　the　marvellous　success　which　already　had　attended　their　experiments；　and　to　explain　their　hopes　and　plans　for　the　future；　for　he　had　seen　how　her　father's　attitude　had　hurt　her　and　hoped　to　profit　himself　by　reposing　in　her　the　trust　and　confidence　that　her　father　denied　her。

And　so　it　was　that　her　direct　question　left　him　floundering　in　a　sea　of　embarrassment；　for　to　tell　her　the　truth　now　would　gain　him　no　favor　in　her　eyes；　while　it　certainly　would　lay　him　open　to　the　suspicion　and　distrust　of　her　father　should　he　learn　of　it。

〃I　cannot　answer　your　question；　Miss　Maxon；〃　he　said；　finally；　〃for　your　father's　strictest　injunction　has　been　that　I　divulge　to　no　one　the　slightest　happening　within　the　court　of　mystery。　　Remember　that　I　am　in　your　father's　employ；　and　that　no　matter　what　my　personal　convictions　may　be　regarding　the　work　he　has　been　doing　I　may　only　act　with　loyalty　to　his　lightest　command　while　I　remain　upon　his　payroll。　　That　you　are　here；〃　he　added；　〃is　my　excuse　for　continuing　my　connection　with　certain　things　of　which　my　conscience　does　not　approve。〃

The　girl　glanced　at　him　quickly。　　She　did　not　fully　understand　the　motive　for　his　final　avowal；　and　a　sudden　intuition　kept　her　from　questioning　him。　　She　had　learned　to　look　upon　von　Horn　as　a　very　pleasant　companion　and　a　good　friendshe　was　not　quite　certain　that　she　would　care　for　any　change　in　their　relations；　but　his　remark　had　sowed　the　seed　of　a　new　thought　in　her　mind　as　he　had　intended　that　it　should。

When　von　Horn　returned　to　the　court　of　mystery；　he　narrated　to　Professor　Maxon　the　gist　of　his　conversation　with　Virginia；　wishing　to　forestall　anything　which　the　girl　might　say　to　her　father　that　would　give　him　an　impression　that　von　Horn　had　been　talking　more　than　he　should。　　Professor　Maxon　listened　to　the　narration　in　silence。　　When　von　Horn　had　finished；　he　cautioned　him　against　divulging　to　Virginia　anything　that　took　place　within　the　inner　campong。

〃She　is　only　a　child；〃　he　said；　〃and　would　not　understand　the　importance　of　the　work　we　are　doing。　All　that　she　would　be　able　to　see　is　the　immediate　moral　effect　of　these　experiments　upon　the　subjects　themselvesshe　would　not　look　into　the　future　and　appreciate　the　immense　advantage　to　mankind　that　must　accrue　from　a　successful　termination　of　our　research。　The　future　of　the　world　will　be　assured　when　once　we　have　demonstrated　the　possibility　of　the　chemical　production　of　a　perfect　race。〃

〃Number　One；　for　example；〃　suggested　von　Horn。

Professor　Maxon　glanced　at　him　sharply。

〃Levity；　Doctor；　is　entirely　out　of　place　in　the　contemplation　of　the　magnificent　work　I　have　already　accomplished；〃　said　the　professor　tartly。　　〃I　admit　that　Number　One　leaves　much　to　be　desiredmuch　to　be　desired；　but　Number　Two　shows　a　marked　advance　along　certain　lines；　and　I　am　sure　that　tomorrow　will　divulge　in　experiment　Number　Three　such　strides　as　will　forever　silence　any　propensity　toward　scoffing　which　you　may　now　entertain。〃

〃Forgive　me；　Professor；〃　von　Horn　hastened　to　urge。　〃I　did　not　intend　to　deride　the　wonderful　discoveries　which　you　have　made；　but　it　is　only　natural　that　we　should　both　realize　that　Number　One　is　not　beautiful。　To　one　another　we　may　say　what　we　would　not　think　of　suggesting　to　outsiders。〃

Professor　Maxon　was　mollified　by　this　apology；　and　turned　to　resume　his　watch　beside　a　large；　coffin…shaped　vat。　　For　a　while　von　Horn　was　silent。　There　was　that　upon　his　mind　which　he　had　wished　to　discuss　with　his　employer　since　months　ago；　but　the　moment　had　never　arrived　which　seemed　at　all　propitious；　nor　did　it　appear　likely　ever　to　arrive。　　So　the　doctor　decided　to　broach　the　subject　now；　as　being　psychologically　as　favorable　a　time　as　any。

〃Your　daughter　is　far　from　happy；　Professor；〃　he　said；　〃nor　do　I　feel　that；　surrounded　as　we　are　by　semi…savage　men；　she　is　entirely　safe。〃

Professor　Maxon　looked　up　from　his　vigil　by　the　vat；　eyeing　von　Horn　closely。

〃Well？〃　he　asked。

〃It　seemed　to　me　that　had　I　a　closer　relationship　I　might　better　assist　in　adding　to　her　happiness　and　safetyin　short；　Professor；　I　should　like　your　permission　to　ask　Virginia　to　marry　me。〃

There　had　been　no　indication　in　von　Horn's　attitude　toward　the　girl　that　he　loved　her。　　That　she　was　beautiful　and　intelligent　could　not　be　denied；　and　so　it　was　small　wonder　that　she　might　appeal　strongly　to　any　man；　but　von　Horn　was　quite　evidently　not　of　the　marrying　type。　　For　years　he　had　roved　the　world　in　search　of　adventure　and　excitement。　　Just　why　he　had　left　America　and　his　high　place　in　the　navy　he　never　had　divulged；　nor　why　it　was　that　for　seven　years　he　had　not　set　his　foot　upon　ground　which　lay　beneath　the　authority　of　Uncle　Sam。

Sing　Lee　who　stood　just　without　the　trap　door　through　which　he　was　about　to　pass　Professor　Maxon's　evening　meal　to　him　could　not　be　blamed　for　overhearing　the　conversation；　though　it　may　have　been　culpable　in　him　in　making　no　effort　to　divulge　his　presence；　and　possibly　equally　unpraiseworthy；　as　well　as　lacking　in　romance；　to　attribute　the　doctor's　avowal　to　his　knowledge　of　the　heavy　chest。

As　Professor　Maxon　eyed　the　man　before　replying　to　his　abrupt　request；　von　Horn　noted　a　strange　and　sudden　light　in　the　older　man's　eyesa　something　which　he　never　before　had　seen　there　and　which　caused　an　uncomfortable　sensation　to　creep　over　hima　manner　of　bristling　that　was　akin　either　to　fear　or　horror；　von　Horn　could　not　tell　which。

Then　the　professor　arose　from　his　seat　and　came　very　close　to　the　younger　man；　until　his　face　was　only　a　few　inches　from　von　Horn's。

〃Doctor；〃　he　whispered　in　a　strange；　tense　voice；　〃you　are　mad。　　You　do　not　know　what　you　ask。　　Virginia　is　not　for　such　as　you。　　Tell　me　that　she　does　not　know　of　your　feelings　toward　her。　　Tell　me　that　she　does　not　reciprocate　your　love。　　Tell　me　the　truth；　man。〃　Professor　Maxon　seized　von　Horn　roughly　by　both　shoulders；　his　glittering　eyes　glaring　terribly　into　the　other's。

〃I　have　never　spoken　to　her　of　love；　Professor；〃　replied　von　Horn　quietly；　〃nor　do　I　know　what　her　sentiments　toward　me　may　be。　　Nor　do　I　understand；　sir；　what　objections　you　may　have　to　meI　am　of　a　very　old　and　noble　family。〃　　His　tone　was　haughty　but　respectful。

Professor　Maxon　released　his　hold　upon　his　assistant；　breathing　a　sigh　of　relief。

〃I　am　glad；〃　he　said；　〃that　it　has　gone　no　further；　for　it　must　not　be。　　I　have　other；　nobler　aspirations　for　my　daughter。　She　must　wed　a　perfect　mannone　such　now　exists。　It　remains　for　me　to　bring　forth　the　ideal　mate　for　her　nor　is　the　time　far　distant。　　A　few　more　weeks　and　we　shall　see　such　a　being　as　I　have　long　drea