the monster men-第3节

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〃Pirates！〃　gasped　Virginia。　　〃Oh　Sing；　what　can　we　do？〃

〃You　go　b'low。　　Mebbyso　Sing　flighten　'em。　　Shoot　cannon。　　Bling　help。　　Maxon　come　klick。　　Bling　men。　Chase'm　'way；〃　explained　the　Chinaman。　　〃But　plilates　see　'em　pletty　white　girl；〃　he　shrugged　his　shoulders　and　shook　his　head　dubiously；　〃then　old　Sing　no　can　flighten　'em　'way。〃

The　girl　shuddered；　and　crouching　close　behind　Sing　hurried　below。　　A　moment　later　she　heard　the　boom　of　the　old　brass　six　pounder　which　for　many　years　had　graced　the　Ithaca's　stern。　　In　the　bow　Professor　Maxon　had　mounted　a　modern　machine　gun；　but　this　was　quite　beyond　Sing's　simple　gunnery。　　The　Chinaman　had　not　taken　the　time　to　sight　the　ancient　weapon　carefully；　but　a　gleeful　smile　lit　his　wrinkled；　yellow　face　as　he　saw　the　splash　of　the　ball　where　it　struck　the　water　almost　at　the　side　of　the　prahu。

Sing　realized　that　the　boat　might　contain　friendly　natives；　but　he　had　cruised　these　waters　too　many　years　to　take　chances。　Better　kill　a　hundred　friends；　he　thought；　than　be　captured　by　a　single　pirate。

At　the　shot　the　prahu　slowed　up；　and　a　volley　of　musketry　from　her　crew　satisfied　Sing　that　he　had　made　no　mistake　in　classifying　her。　　Her　fire　fell　short　as　did　the　ball　from　the　small　cannon　mounted　in　her　bow。

Virginia　was　watching　the　prahu　from　one　of　the　cabin　ports。　　She　saw　the　momentary　hesitation　and　confusion　which　followed　Sing's　first　shot；　and　then　to　her　dismay　she　saw　the　rowers　bend　to　their　oars　again　and　the　prahu　move　swiftly　in　the　direction　of　the　Ithaca。

It　was　apparent　that　the　pirates　had　perceived　the　almost　defenseless　condition　of　the　schooner。　　In　a　few　minutes　they　would　be　swarming　the　deck；　for　poor　old　Sing　would　be　entirely　helpless　to　repel　them。　　If　Dr。　von　Horn　were　only　there；　thought　the　distracted　girl。　With　the　machine　gun　alone　he　might　keep　them　off。

At　the　thought　of　the　machine　gun　a　sudden　resolve　gripped　her。　　Why　not　man　it　herself？　　Von　Horn　had　explained　its　mechanism　to　her　in　detail；　and　on　one　occasion　had　allowed　her　to　operate　it　on　the　voyage　from　Singapore。　　With　the　thought　came　action。　　Running　to　the　magazine　she　snatched　up　a　feed…belt；　and　in　another　moment　was　on　deck　beside　the　astonished　Sing。

The　pirates　were　skimming　rapidly　across　the　smooth　waters　of　the　harbor；　answering　Sing's　harmless　shots　with　yells　of　derision　and　wild；　savage　war　cries。　There　were；　perhaps；　fifty　Dyaks　and　Malaysfierce；　barbaric　men；　mostly　naked　to　the　waist；　or　with　war…　coats　of　brilliant　colors。　　The　savage　headdress　of　the　Dyaks；　the　long；　narrow；　decorated　shields；　the　flashing　blades　of　parang　and　kris　sent　a　shudder　through　the　girl；　so　close　they　seemed　beneath　the　schooner's　side。

〃What　do？　　What　do？〃　cried　Sing　in　consternation。　〃Go　b'low。　　Klick！〃　　But　before　he　had　finished　his　exhortation　Virginia　was　racing　toward　the　bow　where　the　machine　gun　was　mounted。　　Tearing　the　cover　from　it　she　swung　the　muzzle　toward　the　pirate　prahu；　which　by　now　was　nearly　within　range　above　the　vessel's　side　a　moment　more　and　she　would　be　too　close　to　use　the　weapon　upon　the　pirates。

Virginia　was　quick　to　perceive　the　necessity　for　haste；　while　the　pirates　at　the　same　instant　realized　the　menace　of　the　new　danger　which　confronted　them。　　A　score　of　muskets　belched　forth　their　missiles　at　the　fearless　girl　behind　the　scant　shield　of　the　machine　gun。　　Leaden　pellets　rained　heavily　upon　her　protection；　or　whizzed　threateningly　about　her　head　and　then　she　got　the　gun　into　action。

At　the　rate　of　fifty　a　minute；　a　stream　of　projectiles　tore　into　the　bow　of　the　prahu　when　suddenly　a　richly　garbed　Malay　in　the　stern　rose　to　his　feet　waving　a　white　cloth　upon　the　point　of　his　kris。　　It　was　the　Rajah　Muda　Saffirhe　had　seen　the　girl's　face　and　at　the　sight　of　it　the　blood　lust　in　his　breast　had　been　supplanted　by　another。

At　sight　of　the　emblem　of　peace　Virginia　ceased　firing。　She　saw　the　tall　Malay　issue　a　few　commands；　the　oarsmen　bent　to　their　work；　the　prahu　came　about；　making　off　toward　the　harbor's　entrance。　　At　the　same　moment　there　was　a　shot　from　the　shore　followed　by　loud　yelling；　and　the　girl　turned　to　see　her　father　and　von　Horn　pulling　rapidly　toward　the　Ithaca。



2

THE　HEAVY　CHEST


Virginia　and　Sing　were　compelled　to　narrate　the　adventure　of　the　afternoon　a　dozen　times。　　The　Chinaman　was　at　a　loss　to　understand　what　had　deterred　the　pirates　at　the　very　threshold　of　victory。　　Von　Horn　thought　that　they　had　seen　the　reinforcements　embarking　from　the　shore；　but　Sing　explained　that　that　was　impossible　since　the　Ithaca　had　been　directly　between　them　and　the　point　at　which　the　returning　crew　had　entered　the　boats。

Virginia　was　positive　that　her　fusillade　had　frightened　them　into　a　hasty　retreat；　but　again　Sing　discouraged　any　such　idea　when　he　pointed　to　the　fact　that　another　instant　would　have　carried　the　prahu　close　to　the　Ithaca's　side　and　out　of　the　machine　gun's　radius　of　action。

The　old　Chinaman　was　positive　that　the　pirates　had　some　ulterior　motive　for　simulating　defeat；　and　his　long　years　of　experience　upon　pirate　infested　waters　gave　weight　to　his　opinion。　　The　weak　spot　in　his　argument　was　his　inability　to　suggest　a　reasonable　motive。　　And　so　it　was　that　for　a　long　time　they　were　left　to　futile　conjecture　as　to　the　action　that　had　saved　them　from　a　bloody　encounter　with　these　bloodthirsty　sea　wolves。

For　a　week　the　men　were　busy　constructing　the　new　camp；　but　never　again　was　Virginia　left　without　a　sufficient　guard　for　her　protection。　　Von　Horn　was　always　needed　at　the　work；　for　to　him　had　fallen　the　entire　direction　of　matters　of　importance　that　were　at　all　of　a　practical　nature。　　Professor　Maxon　wished　to　watch　the　building　of　the　houses　and　the　stockade；　that　he　might　offer　such　suggestions　as　he　thought　necessary；　and　again　the　girl　noticed　her　father's　comparative　indifference　to　her　welfare。

She　had　been　shocked　at　his　apathy　at　the　time　of　the　pirate　attack；　and　chagrined　that　it　should　have　been　necessary　for　von　Horn　to　have　insisted　upon　a　proper　guard　being　left　with　her　thereafter。

The　nearer　the　approach　of　the　time　when　he　might　enter　again　upon　those　experiments　which　had　now　been　neglected　for　the　better　part　of　a　year　the　more　self　absorbed　and　moody　became　the　professor。　　At　times　he　was　scarcely　civil　to　those　about　him；　and　never　now　did　he　have　a　pleasant　word　or　a　caress　for　the　daughter　who　had　been　his　whole　life　but　a　few　short　months　before。

It　often　seemed　to　Virginia　when　she　caught　her　father's　eyes　upon　her　that　there　was　a　gleam　of　dislike　in　them；　as　though　he　would　have　been　glad　to　have　been　rid　of　her　that　she　might　not　in　any　way　embarrass　or　interfere　with　his　work。

The　camp　was　at　last　completed；　and　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　all　the　heavier　articles　from　the　ship　had　been　transported　to　it。　　On　the　following　Monday　the　balance　of　the　goods　was　to　be　sent　on　shore　and　the　party　were　to　transfer　their　residence　to　their　new　quarters。

Late　Sunday　afternoon　a　small　native　boat　was　seen　rounding　the　point　at　the　harbor's　southern　extremity；　and　after　a　few　minutes　it　drew　alongside　the　Ithaca。　There　were　but　three　men　in　ittwo　Dyaks　and　a　Malay。　The　latter　was　a　tall；　well　built　man　of　middle　age；　of　a　sullen　and　degraded　countenance。　　His　garmenture　was　that　of　the　ordinary　Malay　boatman；　but　there　was　that　in　his　mien　and　his　attitude　toward　his　companions　which　belied　his　lowly　habiliments。

In　answer　to　von　Horn's　hail　the　man　asked　if　he　might　come　aboard　and　trade；　but　once　on　the　deck　it　developed　that　he　had　not　brought　nothing　wherewith　to　trade。　He　seemed　not　the　slightest　disconcerted　by　this　discovery；　stating　that　he　would　bring　such　articles　as　they　wished　when　he　had　learned　what　their　requirements　were。

The　ubiquitous　Sing　was　on　hand　during　the　interview；　but　from　his　expressionless　face　none　might　guess　what　was　passing　through　the　tortuous　channels　of　his　Oriental　mind。　　The　Malay　had　been　aboard　nearly　half　an　hour　talking　with　von　Horn　when　the　mate；　Bududreen；　came　on　deck；　and　it　was　Sing　alone　who　noted　the　quickly　concealed　flash　of　recognition　which　passed　between　the　two　Malays。

The　Chinaman　also　saw　the　gleam　that　shot　into　the　visitor's　eye　as　Virginia　emerged　from　the　cabin；　but　by　no　word　or　voluntary　outward　sign　did　the　man　indicate　that　he　had　even　noticed　her。　　Shortly　afterward　he　left；　promising　to　return　with　provisions　the　following　day。　But　it　was　to　be　months　before　they　again　saw　him。

That　evening　as　Sing　was　serving　Virginia's　supper　he　asked　her　if　she　had　recognized　their　visitor　of　the　afternoon。

〃Why　no；　Sing；〃　she　replied；　〃I　never　saw　him　before。〃

〃Sh！〃　admonished　the　celestial。　　〃No　talkee　so　strong；　wallee　have　ear　all　same　labbit。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Sing？〃　asked　the　girl　in　a　low　voice。　〃How　perfectly　weird　and　mysterious　you　are。　Why　you　make　the　cold　chills　run　up　my　spine；〃　she　ended；　laughing。　　But　Sing　did　not　return　her　smile　as　was　his　custom。

〃You　no　lememba　tallee　Lajah　stand　up　wavee　lite　clothee　in　plilate　boat；　ah？〃　he　urged。

〃Oh；　Sing；〃　she　cried；　〃I　do　indeed！　　But　unless　you　had　reminded　me　I　should　never　have　thought　to　connect　him　with　our　visitor　of　todaythey　do　l