the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第4节
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confronted them。 A score of muskets belched forth their missiles at the
fearless girl behind the scant shield of the machine gun。 Leaden pellets
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THE MONSTER MEN
rained heavily upon her protection； or whizzed threateningly about her
head and then she got the gun into action。
At the rate of fifty a minute； a stream of projectiles tore into the bow
of the prahu when suddenly a richly garbed Malay in the stern rose to his
feet waving a white cloth upon the point of his kris。 It was the Rajah
Muda Saffirhe had seen the girl's face and at the sight of it the blood lust
in his breast had been supplanted by another。
At sight of the emblem of peace Virginia ceased firing。 She saw the
tall Malay issue a few commands； the oarsmen bent to their work； the
prahu came about； making off toward the harbor's entrance。 At the same
moment there was a shot from the shore followed by loud yelling； and the
girl turned to see her father and von Horn pulling rapidly toward the
Ithaca。
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THE MONSTER MEN
2 THE HEAVY CHEST
Virginia and Sing were compelled to narrate the adventure of the
afternoon a dozen times。 The Chinaman was at a loss to understand what
had deterred the pirates at the very threshold of victory。 Von Horn
thought that they had seen the reinforcements embarking from the shore；
but Sing explained that that was impossible since the Ithaca had been
directly between them and the point at which the returning crew had
entered the boats。
Virginia was positive that her fusillade had frightened them into a
hasty retreat； but again Sing discouraged any such idea when he pointed to
the fact that another instant would have carried the prahu close to the
Ithaca's side and out of the machine gun's radius of action。
The old Chinaman was positive that the pirates had some ulterior
motive for simulating defeat； and his long years of experience upon pirate
infested waters gave weight to his opinion。 The weak spot in his
argument was his inability to suggest a reasonable motive。 And so it was
that for a long time they were left to futile conjecture as to the action that
had saved them from a bloody encounter with these bloodthirsty sea
wolves。
For a week the men were busy constructing the new camp； but never
again was Virginia left without a sufficient guard for her protection。 Von
Horn was always needed at the work； for to him had fallen the entire
direction of matters of importance that were at all of a practical nature。
Professor Maxon wished to watch the building of the houses and the
stockade； that he might offer such suggestions as he thought necessary；
and again the girl noticed her father's comparative indifference to her
welfare。
She had been shocked at his apathy at the time of the pirate attack； and
chagrined that it should have been necessary for von Horn to have insisted
upon a proper guard being left with her thereafter。
The nearer the approach of the time when he might enter again upon
those experiments which had now been neglected for the better part of a
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THE MONSTER MEN
year the more self absorbed and moody became the professor。 At times
he was scarcely civil to those about him； and never now did he have a
pleasant word or a caress for the daughter who had been his whole life but
a few short months before。
It often seemed to Virginia when she caught her father's eyes upon her
that there was a gleam of dislike in them； as though he would have been
glad to have been rid of her that she might not in any way embarrass or
interfere with his work。
The camp was at last completed； and on a Saturday afternoon all the
heavier articles from the ship had been transported to it。 On the
following Monday the balance of the goods was to be sent on shore and
the party were to transfer their residence to their new quarters。
Late Sunday afternoon a small native boat was seen rounding the point
at the harbor's southern extremity； and after a few minutes it drew
alongside the Ithaca。 There were but three men in ittwo Dyaks and a
Malay。 The latter was a tall； well built man of middle age； of a sullen and
degraded countenance。 His garmenture was that of the ordinary Malay
boatman； but there was that in his mien and his attitude toward his
companions which belied his lowly habiliments。
In answer to von Horn's hail the man asked if he might come aboard
and trade； but once on the deck it developed that he had not brought
nothing wherewith to trade。 He seemed not the slightest disconcerted by
this discovery； stating that he would bring such articles as they wished
when he had learned what their requirements were。
The ubiquitous Sing was on hand during the interview； but from his
expressionless face none might guess what was passing through the
tortuous channels of his Oriental mind。 The Malay had been aboard
nearly half an hour talking with von Horn when the mate； Bududreen；
came on deck； and it was Sing alone who noted the quickly concealed
flash of recognition which passed between the two Malays。
The Chinaman also saw the gleam that shot into the visitor's eye as
Virginia emerged from the cabin； but by no word or voluntary outward
sign did the man indicate that he had even noticed her。 Shortly afterward
he left； promising to return with provisions the following day。 But it was
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to be months before they again saw him。
That evening as Sing was serving Virginia's supper he asked her if she
had recognized their visitor of the afternoon。
〃Why no； Sing；〃 she replied； 〃I never saw him before。〃
〃Sh！〃 admonished the celestial。 〃No talkee so strong； wallee have ear
all same labbit。〃
〃What do you mean； Sing？〃 asked the girl in a low voice。 〃How
perfectly weird and mysterious you are。 Why you make the cold chills run
up my spine；〃 she ended； laughing。 But Sing did not return her smile as
was his custom。
〃You no lememba tallee Lajah stand up wavee lite clothee in plilate
boat； ah？〃 he urged。
〃Oh； Sing；〃 she cried； 〃I do indeed！ But unless you had reminded me
I should never have thought to connect him with our visitor of todaythey
do look very much alike； don't they？〃
〃Lookeelike！ Ugh； they all samee one man。 Sing know。 You lookee
out； Linee；〃 which was the closest that Sing had ever been able to come to
pronouncing Virginia。
〃Why should I look out？ He doesn't want me；〃 said the girl；
laughingly。
〃Don't you bee too damee sure 'bout lat； Linee；〃 was Sing's inelegant
but convincing reply； as he turned toward his galley。
The following morning the party； with the exception of three Malays
who were left to guard the Ithaca； set out for the new camp。 The journey
was up the bed of the small stream which emptied into the harbor； so that
although fifteen men had passed back and forth through the jungle from
the beach to the camp every day for two weeks； there was no sign that
human foot had ever crossed the narrow strip of sand that lay between the
dense foliage and the harbor。
The gravel bottom of the rivulet made fairly good walking； and as
Virginia was borne in a litter between two powerful lascars it was not even
necessary that she wet her feet in the ascent of the stream to the camp。 The
distance was short； the center of the camp bei
