the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第32节
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distance aheada cry for help； and it was in the agonized tones of a
woman's voice。
〃I am coming！〃 shouted Bulan； and without another glance at his
mutinous crew he sprang through the line of menacing ourang outangs。
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12 PERFIDY
On the morning that Bulan set out with his three monsters from the
deserted long…house in which they had spent the night； Professor Maxon's
party was speeding up the river； constantly buoyed with hope by the
repeated reports of natives that the white girl had been seen passing in a
war prahu。
In translating this information to Professor Maxon； von Horn
habitually made it appear that the girl was in the hands of Number
Thirteen； or Bulan； as they had now come to call him owing to the natives'
constant use of that name in speaking of the strange； and formidable white
giant who had invaded their land。
At the last long…house below the gorge； the head of which had
witnessed Virginia Maxon's escape from the clutches of Ninaka and
Barunda； the searching party was forced to stop owing to a sudden attack
of fever which had prostrated the professor。 Here they found a woman
who had a strange tale to relate of a remarkable sight she had witnessed
that very morning。
It seemed that she had been straining tapioca in a little stream which
flowed out of the jungle at the rear of the long…house when her attention
was attracted by the crashing of an animal through the bushes a few yards
above her。 As she looked she saw a huge MIAS PAPPAN cross the
stream； bearing in his arms the dead； or unconscious form of a white…
skinned girl with golden hair。
Her description of the MIAS PAPPAN was such as to half convince
von Horn that she might have seen Number Three carrying Virginia
Maxon； although he could not reconcile the idea with the story that the
two Dyaks had told him of losing all of Bulan's monsters in the jungle。
Of course it was possible that they might have made their way over
land to this point； but it seemed scarcely credibleand then； how could
they have come into posession of Virginia Maxon； whom every report
except this last agreed was still in the hands of Ninaka and Barunda。
There was always the possibility that the natives had lied to him； and the
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more he questioned the Dyak woman the more firmly convinced he
became that this was the fact。
The outcome of it was that von Horn finally decided to make an
attempt to follow the trail of the creature that the woman had seen； and
with this plan in view persuaded Muda Saffir to arrange with the chief of
the long…house at which they then were to furnish him with trackers and an
escort of warriors； promising them some splendid heads should they be
successful in overhauling Bulan and his pack。
Professor Maxon was too ill to accompany the expedition； and von
Horn set out alone with his Dyak allies。 For a time after they departed
Sing Lee fretted and fidgeted upon the verandah of the long…house。 He
wholly distrusted von Horn； and from motives of his own finally decided
to follow him。 The trail of the party was plainly discernible； and the
Chinaman had no difficulty in following them； so that they had gone no
great way before he came within hearing distance of them。 Always just far
enough behind to be out of sight； he kept pace with the little column as it
marched through the torrid heat of the morning； until a little after noon he
was startled by the sudden cry of a woman in distress； and the answering
shout of a man。
The voices came from a point in the jungle a little to his right and
behind him； and without waiting for the column to return； or even to
ascertain if they had heard the cries； Sing ran rapidly in the direction of the
alarm。 For a time he saw nothing； but was guided by the snapping of
twigs and the rustling of bushes ahead； where the authors of the
commotion were evidently moving swiftly through the jungle。
Presently a strange sight burst upon his astonished vision。 It was the
hideous Number Three in mad pursuit of a female ourang outang； and an
instant later he saw Number Twelve and Number Ten in battle with two
males； while beyond he heard the voice of a man shouting encouragement
to some one as he dashed through the jungle。 It was in this last event that
Sing's interest centered； for he was sure that he recognized the voice as
that of Bulan； while the first cry for help which he had heard had been in a
woman's voice； and Sing knew that its author could be none other than
Virginia Maxon。
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Those whom he pursued were moving rapidly through the jungle
which was now becoming more and more open； but the Chinaman was no
mean runner； and it was not long before he drew within sight of the object
of his pursuit。
His first glimpse was of Bulan； running swiftly between two huge bull
ourang outangs that snapped and tore at him as he bounded forward
cutting and slashing at his foes with his heavy whip。 Just in front of the
trio was another bull bearing in his arms the unconscious form of Virginia
Maxon who had fainted at the first response to her cry for help。 Sing was
armed with a heavy revolver but he dared not attempt to use it for fear that
he might wound either Bulan or the girl； and so he was forced to remain
but a passive spectator of what ensued。
Bulan； notwithstanding the running battle the two bulls were forcing
upon him； was gaining steadily upon the fleeing ourang outang that was
handicapped by the weight of the fair captive he bore in his huge； hairy
arms。 As they came into a natural clearing in the jungle the fleeing bull
glanced back to see his pursuer almost upon him； and with an angry roar
turned to meet the charge。
In another instant Bulan and the three bulls were rolling and tumbling
about the ground； a mass of flying fur and blood from which rose fierce
and angry roars and growls； while Virginia Maxon lay quietly upon the
sward where her captor had dropped her。
Sing was about to rush forward and pick her up； when he saw von
Horn and his Dyaks leap into the clearing； to which they had been guided
by the sounds of the chase and the encounter。 The doctor halted at the
sight that met his eyesthe prostrate form of the girl and the man battling
with three huge bulls。
Then he gathered up Virginia Maxon； and with a sign to his Dyaks；
who were thoroughly frightened at the mere sight of the white giant of
whom they had heard such terrible stories； turned and hastened back in the
direction from which they had come； leaving the man to what seemed
must be a speedy and horrible death。
Sing Lee was astounded at the perfidy of the act。 To Bulan alone was
due the entire credit of having rescued Professor Maxon's daughter； and
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yet in the very presence of his self…sacrificing loyalty and devotion von
Horn had deserted him without making the least attempt to aid him。 But
the wrinkled old Chinaman was made of different metal； and had started
forward to assist Bulan when a heavy hand suddenly fell upon his shoulder。
Looking around he saw the hideous face of Number Ten snarling into his。
The bloodshot eyes of the monster were flaming with rage。 He had been
torn and chewed by the bull with which he had fought； and though he had
finally overcome and killed the beast； a female which he
