the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第22节
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among the fighters； striking and biting at Number Thirteen。 It was all that
was neededanother second found the whole monstrous crew upon the
single man。
His mighty strength availed him but little in the unequal conflict
eleven to one were too great odds even for those powerful thews。 His
great advantage lay in his superior intelligence； but even this seemed futile
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in the face of the enormous weight of numbers that opposed him。 Time
and again he had almost shaken himself free only to fall once more
dragged down by hairy arms about his legs。
Hither and thither about the campong the battle raged until the fighting
mass rolled against the palisade； and here； at last； with his back to the
structure； Number Thirteen regained his feet； and with the heavy stock of
the bull whip beat off； for a moment； those nearest him。 All were winded；
but when those who were left of the eleven original antagonists drew back
to regain their breath； the young giant gave them no respite； but leaped
among them with the long lash they had such good reason to hate and fear。
The result was as his higher intelligence had foreseen the creatures
scattered to escape the fury of the lash and a moment later he had them at
his mercy。 About the campong lay four who had felt the full force of his
heavy fist； while not one but bore some mark of the battle。
Not a moment did he give them to recuperate after he had scattered
them before he rounded them up once more near the outer gatebut now
they were docile and submissive。 In pairs he ordered them to lift their
unconscious comrades to their shoulders and bear them into the jungle； for
Number Thirteen was setting out into the world with his grim tribe in
search of his lady love。
Once well within the jungle they halted to eat of the more familiar fruit
which had always formed the greater bulk of their sustenance。 Thus
refreshed； they set out once more after the leader who wandered aimlessly
beneath the shade of the tall jungle trees amidst the gorgeous tropic
blooms and gay； songless birds and of the twelve only the leader saw the
beauties that surrounded them or felt the strange； mysterious influence of
the untracked world they trod。 Chance took them toward the west until
presently they emerged upon the harbor's edge； where from the matted
jungle they overlooked for the first time the waters of the little bay and the
broader expanse of strait beyond； until their eyes rested at last upon the
blurred lines of distant Borneo。
From other vantage points at the jungle's border two other watchers
looked out upon the scene。 One was the lascar whom von Horn had sent
down to the Ithaca the night before but who had reached the harbor after
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THE MONSTER MEN
she sailed。 The other was von Horn himself。 And both were looking
out upon the dismantled wreck of the Ithaca where it lay in the sand near
the harbor's southern edge。
Neither ventured forth from his place of concealment； for beyond the
Ithaca ten prahus were pulling gracefully into the quiet waters of the basin。
Rajah Muda Saffir； caught by the hurricane the preceding night as he
had been about to beat across to Borneo； had scurried for shelter within
one of the many tiny coves which indent the island's entire coast。 It
happened that his haven of refuge was but a short distance south of the
harbor in which he knew the Ithaca to be moored； and in the morning he
decided to pay that vessel a visit in the hope that he might learn something
of advantage about the girl from one of her lascar crew。
The wily Malay had long refrained from pillaging the Ithaca for fear
such an act might militate against the larger villainy he purposed
perpetrating against her white owner； but when he rounded the point and
came in sight of the stranded wreck he put all such thoughts from him and
made straight for the helpless hulk to glean whatever of salvage might yet
remain within her battered hull。
The old rascal had little thought of the priceless treasure hidden
beneath the Ithaca's clean swept deck as he ordered his savage henchmen
up her sides while he lay back upon his sleeping mat beneath the canopy
which protected his vice…regal head from the blistering tropic sun。
Number Thirteen watched the wild head hunters with keenest interest
as they clambered aboard the vessel。 With von Horn he saw the evident
amazement which followed the opening of the hatch； though neither
guessed its cause。 He saw the haste with which a half dozen of the
warriors leaped down the companionway and heard their savage shouts as
they pursued their quarry within the bowels of the ship。
A few minutes later they emerged dragging a woman with them。 Von
Horn and Number Thirteen recognized the girl simultaneously； but the
doctor； though he ground his teeth in futile rage； knew that he was helpless
to avert the tragedy。 Number Thirteen neither knew nor cared。
〃Come！〃 he called to his grotesque horde。 〃Kill the men and save the
girlthe one with the golden hair；〃 he added as the sudden realization
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came to him that none of these creatures ever had seen a woman before。
Then he dashed from the shelter of the jungle； across the beach and into
the water； his fearful pack at his heels。
The Ithaca lay now in about five feet of water； and the war prahus of
Muda Saffir rode upon her seaward side； so that those who manned them
did not see the twelve who splashed through the water from land。 Never
before had any of the rescuers seen a larger body of water than the little
stream which wound through their campong； but accidents and
experiments in that had taught them the danger of submerging their heads。
They could not swim； but all were large and strong； so that they were able
to push their way rapidly through the water to the very side of the ship。
Here they found difficulty in reaching the deck； but in a moment
Number Thirteen had solved the problem by requiring one of the taller of
his crew to stand close in by the ship while the others clambered upon his
shoulders and from there to the Ithaca's deck。
Number Thirteen was the first to pull himself over the vessel's side；
and as he did so he saw some half dozen Dyaks preparing to quit her upon
the opposite side。 They were the last of the boarding partythe girl was
nowhere in sight。 Without waiting for his men the young giant sprang
across the deck。 His one thought was to find Virginia Maxon。
At the sound of his approach the Dyak turned； and at the sight of a
pajama clad white man armed only with a long whip they emitted savage
cries of anticipation； counting the handsome trophy upon the white one's
shoulders as already theirs。 Number Thirteen would have paid no
attention whatever to them had they not molested him； for he wished only
to reach the girl's side as quickly as possible； but in another moment he
found himself confronted by a half dozen dancing wild men； brandishing
wicked looking parangs； and crying tauntingly。
Up went the great bull whip； and without abating his speed a particle
the man leaped into the midst of the wicked blades that menaced him。
Right and left with the quickness of thought the heavy lash fell upon heads；
shoulders and sword arms。 There was no chance to wield a blade in the
face of that terrific onslaught； for the whip fell； not with the ordinary force
of a man…held lash； but with all the stupendous power of those giant
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shoulders and arms behind it。
A single blow felled the foremost head hunter； breaking his sh
