the monster men-第19节

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　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what　was　required　of　them。　　The　paddles　were　continually　fouling　one　another；　or　being　merely　dipped　into　the　water　and　withdrawn　without　the　faintest　semblance　of　a　stroke　made。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　opened　intentionally　by　someone　familiar　with　locks　and　bolts。　　Who　could　have　done　it？〃

〃You　forget　Number　Thirteen；〃　suggested　the　doctor。

〃But　the　chest！〃　expostulated　the　other。　　〃What　in　the　world　would　he　want　of　that　enormous　and　heavy　chest？〃

〃He　might　have　thought　that　it　contained　treasure；〃　hazarded　von　Horn；　in　an　innocent　tone　of　voice。

〃Bosh；　my　dear　man；〃　replied　Professor　Maxon。　　〃He　knew　nothing　of　treasures；　or　money；　or　the　need　or　value　of　either。　I　tell　you　the　workshop　was　opened；　and　the　inner　campong　as　well　by　some　one　who　knew　the　value　of　money　and　wanted　that　chest；　but　why　they　should　have　released　the　creatures　from　the　inner　enclosure　is　beyond　me。〃

〃And　I　tell　you　Professor　Maxon　that　it　could　have　been　none　other　than　Number　Thirteen；〃　insisted　von　Horn。　〃Did　I　not　myself　see　him　leading　his　eleven　monsters　as　easily　as　a　captain　commands　his　company？　　The　fellow　is　brighter　than　we　have　imagined。　　He　has　learned　much　from　us　both；　he　has　reasoned；　and　he　has　s