the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第35节
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mighty physique had already worked an almost miraculous transformation
in him。 While he was hunting in the jungle for his breakfast he came
suddenly upon Number Three and Number Twelve similarly employed。
At sight of him the two creatures started to run away； but he called to them
reassuringly and they returned。 On closer inspection Bulan saw that both
were covered with terrible wounds； and after questioning them learned
that they had fared almost as badly at the hands of the ourang outangs as
had he。
〃Even the beasts loathe us；〃 exclaimed Number Twelve。 〃What are we
to do？〃
〃Leave the beasts alone； as I told you；〃 replied Bulan。
〃Human beings hate us also；〃 persisted Number Twelve。
〃Then let us live by ourselves；〃 suggested Number Three。
〃We hate each other；〃 retorted the pessimistic Number Twelve。 〃There
is no place for us in the world； and no companionship。 We are but soulless
things。〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Bulan。 〃I am not a soulless thing。 I am a man； and
within me is as fine and pure a soul as any man may own；〃 and to his
mind's eye came the vision of a fair face surmounted by a mass of loosely
waving； golden hair； but the brainless ones could not understand and only
shook their heads as they resumed their feeding and forgot the subject。
When the three had satisfied the cravings of their appetites two of
them were for lying down to sleep until it should be time to feed again； but
Bulan； once more master； would not permit it； and forced them to
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accompany him in his seemingly futile search for the girl who had
disappeared so mysteriously after he had rescued her from the ourang
outangs。
Both Number Twelve and Number Three had assured him that the
beasts had not recaptured her； for they had seen the entire band flee madly
through the jungle after hearing the report of the single shot which had so
terrorized Bulan's antagonists。 Bulan did not know what to make of this
occurrence which he had not himself heard； the shot having come after he
had lost consciousness at the foot of the tree； but from the description of
the noise given him by Number Twelve he felt sure that it must have been
the report of a gun； and hoped that it betokened the presence of Virginia
Maxon's friends； and that she was now safe in their keeping。
Nevertheless he did not relinquish his determination to continue his
search for her； since it was quite possible that the gun had been fired by a
native； many of whom possessed firearms。 His first concern was for the
girl's welfare； which spoke eloquently for the chivalry of his character； and
though he wished to see her for the pleasure that it would give him； the
hope of serving her was ever the first consideration in his mind。
He was now confident that he was following the wrong direction； and
with the intention in view of discovering the tracks of the party which had
rescued or captured Virginia after he had been forced to relinquish her； he
set out in a totally new direction away from the river。 His small woodcraft
and little experience in travelling resulted in his becoming completely
confused； so that instead of returning to the spot where he had last seen the
girl； as he wished to do； he bore far to the northeast of the place； and
missed entirely the path which von Horn and his Dyaks had taken from the
long…house into the jungle and back。
All that day he urged his reluctant companions on through the fearful
heat of the tropics until； almost exhausted； they halted at dusk upon the
bank of a river； where they filled their stomachs with cooling draughts；
and after eating lay down to sleep。 It was quite dark when Bulan was
aroused by the sound of something approaching from up the river； and as
he lay listening he presently heard the subdued voices of men conversing
in whispers。 He recognized the language as that of the Dyaks； though he
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could interpret nothing which they said。
Presently he saw a dozen warriors emerge into a little patch of
moonlight。 They bore a huge chest among them which they deposited
within a few paces of where Bulan lay。 Then they commenced to dig in the
soft earth with their spears and parangs until they had excavated a shallow
pit。 Into this they lowered the chest； covering it over with earth and
sprinkling dead grass； twigs and leaves above it； that it might present to a
searcher no sign that the ground had recently been disturbed。 The
balance of the loose earth which would not go back into the pit was
thrown into the river。
When all had been made to appear as it was before； one of the warriors
made several cuts and scratches upon the stem of a tree which grew above
the spot where the chest was buried； then they hastened on in silence past
Bulan and down the river。
As von Horn stood by the river's bank after his conversation with
Virginia； he saw a small sampan approaching from up stream。 In it he
made out two natives； and the stealthiness of their approach caused him to
withdraw into the shadow of a large prahu which was beached close to
where he had been standing。
When the men had come close to the landing one of them gave a low
signal； and presently a native came down from the long…house。
〃Who is it comes by night？〃 he asked。 〃And what want you？〃
〃News has just reached us that Muda Saffir is alive；〃 replied one of the
men in the boat； 〃and that he sleeps this night in your long…house。 Is it
true？〃
〃Yes；〃 answered the man on shore。 〃What do you wish of the Rajah
Muda Saffir？〃
〃We are men of his company and we have news for him；〃 returned the
speaker in the sampan。 〃Tell him that we must speak to him at once。〃
The native on shore returned to the long…house without replying。 Von
Horn wondered what the important news for Muda Saffir might be； and so
he remained as he had been； concealed behind the prahu。
Presently the old Malay came down to the water's edge very warily
thoughand asked the men whom they might be。 When they had given
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their names he seemed relieved。
〃Ninaka；〃 they said； 〃has murdered Barunda who was taking the
rajah's treasure up to the rajah's strongholdthe treasure which Ninaka had
stolen after trying to murder the rajah and which Barunda had recaptured。
Now Ninaka； after murdering Barunda； set off through the jungle toward
the river which leads to Gunung Tebor； and Barunda's uncle followed him
with what few men he had with him； but he sent us down river to try and
find you； master； and beg of you to come with many men and overtake
Ninaka and punish him。〃
Muda Saffir thought for a moment。
〃Hasten back to the uncle of Barunda and tell him that as soon as I can
gather the warriors I shall come and punish Ninaka。 I have another
treasure here which I must not lose； but I can arrange that it will still be
here when I return for it； and then Barunda's uncle can come back with me
to assist me if assistance is needed。 Also； be sure to tell Barunda's uncle
never to lose sight of the treasure；〃 and Muda Saffir turned and hastened
back to the long…house。
As the men in the sampan headed the boat's bow up stream again； von
Horn ran along the jungle trail beside the river and abreast of the paddlers。
When he thought that they were out of hearing of the long…house he hailed
the two。 In startled surprise the men ceased paddling。
〃Who are you and what do you want？〃 asked one。
〃I am the man to whom the chest belongs；〃 replied von Horn。 〃If you
will take me to Barunda's uncle before Muda Saffir reaches him you shall
each have the finest rifles that the white man makes； with ammunition
enough to last you a year。 All I ask is that
