the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第14节
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THE MONSTER MEN
he leave now he would not only refuse but he would take steps to make it
impossible for any of us to leave； even to sinking the Ithaca。 The man is
madquite madBududreen； and we cannot longer jeopardize our own
throats merely to humor his crazy and criminal whims。〃
The Malay was thinking fast； and could von Horn have guessed what
thoughts raced through the tortuous channels of that semi…barbarous brain
he would have wished himself safely housed in the American prison where
he belonged。
〃When do you wish to sail？〃 asked the Malay。
〃Tonight；〃 replied von Horn； and together they matured their plans。
An hour later the second mate with six men disappeared into the jungle
toward the harbor。 They； with the three on watch； were to get the vessel in
readiness for immediate departure。
After the evening meal von Horn sat on the verandah with Virginia
Maxon until the Professor came from the workshop to retire for the night。
As he passed them he stopped for a word with von Horn； taking him aside
out of the girl's hearing。
〃Have you noticed anything peculiar in the actions of Thirteen？〃 asked
the older man。 〃He was sullen and morose this evening； and at times
there was a strange； wild light in his eyes as he looked at me。 Can it be
possible that； after all； his brain is defective？ It would be terrible。 My
work would have gone for naught； for I can see no way in which I can
improve upon him。〃
〃I will go and have a talk with him later；〃 said von Horn； 〃so if you
hear us moving about in the workshop； or even out here in the campong
think nothing of it。 I may take him for a long walk。 It is possible that the
hard study and close confinement to that little building have been too
severe upon his brain and nerves。 A long walk each evening may bring
him around all right。〃
〃Splendidsplendid；〃 replied the professor。 〃You may be quite right。
Do it by all means； my dear doctor；〃 and there was a touch of the old；
friendly； sane tone which had been so long missing； that almost caused
von Horn to feel a trace of compunction for the hideous act of disloyalty
that he was on the verge of perpetrating。
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THE MONSTER MEN
As Professor Maxon entered the house von Horn returned to Virginia
and suggested that they take a short walk outside the campong before
retiring。 The girl readily acquiesced to the plan； and a moment later
found them strolling through the clearing toward the southern end of the
camp。 In the dark shadows of the gateway leading to the men's enclosure
a figure crouched。 The girl did not see it； but as they came opposite it von
Horn coughed twice； and then the two passed on toward the edge of the
jungle
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THE MONSTER MEN
6 TO KILL！
The Rajah Muda Saffir； tiring of the excuses and delays which
Bududreen interposed to postpone the fulfillment of his agreement with
the former； whereby he was to deliver into the hands of the rajah a certain
beautiful maiden； decided at last to act upon his own initiative。 The truth
of the matter was that he had come to suspect the motives of the first mate
of the Ithaca； and not knowing of the great chest attributed them to
Bududreen's desire to possess the girl for himself。
So it was that as the second mate of the Ithaca with his six men waded
down the bed of the little stream toward the harbor and the ship； a fleet of
ten war prahus manned by over five hundred fierce Dyaks and
commanded by Muda Saffir himself； pulled cautiously into the little cove
upon the opposite side of the island； and landed but a quarter of a mile
from camp。
At the same moment von Horn was leading Virginia Maxon farther
and farther from the north campong where resistance； if there was to be
any； would be most likely to occur。 At his superior's cough Bududreen had
signalled silently to the men within the enclosure； and a moment later six
savage lascars crept stealthily to his side。
The moment that von Horn and the girl were entirely concealed by the
darkness； the seven moved cautiously along the shadow of the palisade
toward the north campong。 There was murder in the cowardly hearts of
several of them； and stupidity and lust in the hearts of all。 There was no
single one who would not betray his best friend for a handful of silver； nor
any but was inwardly hoping and scheming to the end that he might alone
possess both the chest and the girl。
It was such a pack of scoundrels that Bududreen led toward the north
campong to bear away the treasure。 In the breast of the leader was the
hope that he had planted enough of superstitious terror in their hearts to
make the sight of the supposed author of their imagined wrongs sufficient
provocation for his murder； for Bududreen was too sly to give the order
for the killing of a white manthe arm of the white man's law was too
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THE MONSTER MEN
longbut he felt that he would rest easier were he to leave the island with
the knowledge that only a dead man remained behind with the secret of his
perfidy。
While these events were transpiring Number Thirteen was pacing
restlessly back and forth the length of the workshop。 But a short time
before he had had his authorthe author of his miserywithin the four
walls of his prison； and yet he had not wreaked the vengeance that was in
his heart。 Twice he had been on the point of springing upon the man； but
both times the other's eyes had met his and something which he was not
able to comprehend had stayed him。 Now that the other had gone and he
was alone contemplation of the hideous wrong that had been done loosed
again the flood gates of his pent rage。
The thought that he had been made by this manmade in the
semblance of a human being； yet denied by the manner of his creation a
place among the lowest of Nature's creaturesfilled him with fury； but it
was not this thought that drove him to the verge of madness。 It was the
knowledge； suggested by von Horn； that Virginia Maxon would look upon
him in horror； as a grotesque and loathsome monstrosity。
He had no standard and no experience whereby he might classify his
sentiments toward this wonderful creature。 All he knew was that his life
would be complete could he be near her alwayssee her and speak with
her daily。 He had thought of her almost constantly since those short；
delicious moments that he had held her in his arms。 Again and again he
experienced in retrospection the exquisite thrill that had run through every
fiber of his being at the sight of her averted eyes and flushed face。 And
the more he let his mind dwell upon the wonderful happiness that was
denied him because of his origin； the greater became his wrath against his
creator。
It was now quite dark without。 The door leading to Professor
Maxon's campong； left unlatched earlier in the evening by von Horn for
sinister motives of his own； was still unbarred through a fatal coincidence
of forgetfulness on the part of the professor。
Number Thirteen approached this door。 He laid his hand upon the
knob。 A moment later he was moving noiselessly across the campong
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toward the house in which Professor Maxon lay peacefully sleeping； while
at the south gate Bududreen and his six cutthroats crept cautiously within
and slunk in the dense shadows of the palisade toward the workshop
where lay the heavy chest of their desire。 At the same instant Muda
Saffir with fifty of his head…hunting Dyaks emerge
