the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第30节
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of the defection of any of their fellows； turned the boat's prow toward
shore without waiting for the command from von Horn。 The latter；
fearing treachery； sprang to his feet with raised rifle； but when one of the
paddlers explained that it was the Rajah Muda Saffir who hailed them and
that he was alone von Horn permitted them to draw nearer the shore；
though he continued to stand ready to thwart any attempted treachery and
warned both the professor and Sing to be on guard。
As the prahu's nose touched the bank Muda Saffir stepped aboard and
with many protestations of gratitude explained that he had fallen
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overboard from his own prahu the night before and that evidently his
followers thought him drowned； since none of his boats had returned to
search for him。 Scarcely had the Malay seated himself before von Horn
began questioning him in the rajah's native tongue； not a word of which
was intelligible to Professor Maxon。 Sing； however； was as familiar with
it as was von Horn。
〃Where are the girl and the treasure？〃 he asked。
〃What girl； Tuan Besar？〃 inquired the wily Malay innocently。 〃And
what treasure？ The white man speaks in riddles。〃
〃Come； come；〃 cried von Horn impatiently。 〃Let us have no
foolishness。 You know perfectly well what I mean it will go far better
with you if we work together as friends。 I want the girlif she is
unharmedand I will divide the treasure with you if you will help me to
obtain them； otherwise you shall have no part of either。 What do you say？
Shall we be friends or enemies？〃
〃The girl and the treasure were both stolen from me by a rascally
panglima； Ninaka；〃 said Muda Saffir； seeing that it would be as well to
simulate friendship for the white man for the time being at leastthere
would always be an opportunity to use a kris upon him in the remote
fastness of the interior to which Muda Saffir would lead them。
〃What became of the white man who led the strange monsters？〃 asked
von Horn。
〃He killed many of my men； and the last I saw of him he was pushing
up the river after the girl and the treasure；〃 replied the Malay。
〃If another should ask you；〃 continued von Horn with a meaningful
glance toward Professor Maxon； 〃it will be well to say that the girl was
stolen by this white giant and that you suffered defeat in an attempt to
rescue her because of your friendship for us。 Do you understand？〃
Muda Saffir nodded。 Here was a man after his own heart； which
loved intrigue and duplicity。 Evidently he would be a good ally in
wreaking vengeance upon the white giant who had caused all his
discomfiture afterward there was always the kris if the other should
become inconvenient。
At the long…house at which Barunda and Ninaka had halted； Muda
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Saffir learned all that had transpired； his informants being the two Dyaks
who had led Bulan and his pack into the jungle。 He imparted the
information to von Horn and both men were delighted that thus their most
formidable enemy had been disposed of。 It would be but a question of time
before the inexperienced creatures perished in the dense forest that they
ever could retrace their steps to the river was most unlikely； and the
chances were that one by one they would be dispatched by head hunters
while they slept。
Again the party embarked； reinforced by the two Dyaks who were
only too glad to renew their allegiance to Muda Saffir while he was
backed by the guns of the white men。 On and on they paddled up the
river； gleaning from the dwellers in the various long…houses information of
the passing of the two prahus with Barunda； Ninaka； and the white girl。
Professor Maxon was impatient to hear every detail that von Horn
obtained from Muda Saffir and the various Dyaks that were interviewed at
the first long…house and along the stretch of river they covered。 The
doctor told him that Number Thirteen still had Virginia and was fleeing up
the river in a swift prahu。 He enlarged upon the valor shown by Muda
Saffir and his men in their noble attempt to rescue his daughter； and
through it all Sing Lee sat with half closed eyes； apparently oblivious to all
that passed before him。 What were the workings of that intricate celestial
brain none can say。
Far in the interior of the jungle Bulan and his five monsters stumbled
on in an effort to find the river。 Had they known it they were moving
parallel with the stream； but a few miles from it。 At times it wound in
wide detours close to the path of the lost creatures； and again it circled far
away from them。
As they travelled they subsisted upon the fruits with which they had
become familiar upon the island of their creation。 They suffered greatly
for lack of water； but finally stumbled upon a small stream at which they
filled their parched stomachs。 Here it occurred to Bulan that it would be
wise to follow the little river； since they could be no more completely lost
than they now were no matter where it should lead them； and it would at
least insure them plenty of fresh water。
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As they proceeded down the bank of the stream it grew in size until
presently it became a fair sized river； and Bulan had hopes that it might
indeed prove the stream that they had ascended from the ocean and that
soon he would meet with the prahus and possibly find Virginia Maxon
herself。 The strenuous march of the six through the jungle had torn their
light cotton garments into shreds so that they were all practically naked；
while their bodies were scratched and bleeding from countless wounds
inflicted by sharp thorns and tangled brambles through which they had
forced their way。
Bulan still carried his heavy bull whip while his five companions were
armed with the parangs they had taken from the Dyaks they had
overpowered upon the island at the mouth of the river。 It was upon this
strange and remarkable company that the sharp eyes of a score of river
Dyaks peered through the foliage。 The head hunters had been engaged in
collecting camphor crystals when their quick ears caught the noisy passage
of the six while yet at a considerable distance； and with ready parangs the
savages crept stealthily toward the sound of the advancing party。
At first they were terror stricken at the hideous visages of five of the
creatures they beheld； but when they saw how few their numbers； and how
poorly armed they were； as well as the awkwardness with which they
carried their parangs； denoting their unfamiliarity with the weapons； they
took heart and prepared to ambush them。
What prizes those terrible heads would be when properly dried and
decorated！ The savages fairly trembled in anticipation of the commotion
they would cause in the precincts of their long…house when they returned
with six such magnificent trophies。
Their victims came blundering on through the dense jungle to where
the twenty sleek brown warriors lay in wait for them。 Bulan was in the
lead； and close behind him in single file lumbered his awkward crew。
Suddenly there was a chorus of savage cries close beside him and
simultaneously he found himself in the midst of twenty cutting； slashing
parangs。 Like lightning his bull whip flew into action； and to the
astonished warriors it was as though a score of men were upon them in the
person of this mighty white giant。 Following the example of their leader
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