the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第24节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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。
82
… Page 83…
THE MONSTER MEN
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
83
… Page 84…
THE MONSTER MEN
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
84
… Page 85…
THE MONSTER MEN
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 shrewdly guessed many things
85
… Page 86…
THE MONSTER MEN
that he could not have known through experience。〃
〃But his object？〃 asked the pr
