the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第44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！
seen or heard of some of your party。 Mixed with the truth they told us
were strange tales of terrible monsters led by a gigantic white man。〃
〃The imaginings of childish minds；〃 said the professor。 〃However；
why； my dear lieutenant； did you honor me by visiting my island？〃
The officer hesitated a moment before answering； his eyes running
about over the assembly as though in search of someone。
〃Well； Professor Maxon； to be quite frank；〃 he said at length； 〃we
learned at Singapore the personnel of your party； which included a former
naval officer whom we have been seeking for many years。 We came to
your island to arrest this man I refer to Doctor Carl von Horn。〃
When the lieutenant learned of the recent disappearance of the man he
sought； he expressed his determination to push on at once in pursuit； and
as Professor Maxon feared again to remain unprotected in the heart of the
Bornean wilderness his entire party was taken aboard the cutter。
153
… Page 154…
THE MONSTER MEN
A few miles up the river they came upon one of the Dyaks who had
accompanied von Horn； a few hours earlier。 The warrior sat smoking
beside a beached prahu。 When interrogated he explained that von Horn
and the balance of his crew had gone inland； leaving him to guard the boat。
He said that he thought he could guide them to the spot where the white
man might be found。
Professor Maxon and Sing accompanied one of the officers and a
dozen sailors in the wake of the Dyak guide。 Virginia and Bulan remained
in the cutter； as the latter was still too weak to attempt the hard march
through the jungle。 For an hour the party traversed the trail in the wake of
von Horn and his savage companions。 They had come almost to the spot
when their ears were assailed by the weird and blood curdling yells of
native warriors； and a moment later von Horn's escort dashed into view in
full retreat。
At sight of the white men they halted in relief； pointing back in the
direction they had come； and jabbering excitedly in their native tongue。
Warily the party advanced again behind these new guides； but when they
reached the spot they sought； the cause of the Dyaks' panic had fled；
warned； doubtless； by their trained ears of the approach of an enemy。
The sight that met the eyes of the searchers told all of the story that
they needed to know。 A hole had been excavated in the ground； partially
uncovering a heavy chest； and across this chest lay the headless body of
Doctor Carl von Horn。
Lieutenant May turned toward Professor Maxon with a questioning
look。
〃It is he；〃 said the scientist。
〃But the chest？〃 inquired the officer。
〃Mlaxon's tleasure；〃 spoke up Sing Lee。 〃Hornee him tly steal it for
long time。〃 〃Treasure！〃 ejaculated the professor。 〃Bududreen gave up
his life for this。 Rajah Muda Saffir fought and intrigued and murdered
for possession of it！ Poor； misguided von Horn has died for it； and left
his head to wither beneath the rafters of a Dyak long…house！ It is
incredible。〃
〃But； Professor Maxon；〃 said Lieutenant May； 〃men will suffer all
154
… Page 155…
THE MONSTER MEN
these things and more for gold。〃
〃Gold！〃 cried the professor。 〃Why； man； that is a box of books on
biology and eugenics。〃
〃My God！〃 exclaimed May； 〃and von Horn was accredited to be one of
the shrewdest swindlers and adventurers in America！ But come； we may
as well return to the cuttermy men will carry the chest。〃
〃No！〃 exclaimed Professor Maxon with a vehemence the other could
not understand。 〃Let them bury it again where it lies。 It and what it
contains have been the cause of sufficient misery and suffering and crime。
Let it lie where it is in the heart of savage Borneo； and pray to God that no
man ever finds it； and that I shall forget forever that which is in it。〃
On the morning of the third day following the death of von Horn the
New Mexico steamed away from the coast of Borneo。 Upon her deck；
looking back toward the verdure clad hills； stood Virginia and Bulan。
〃Thank heaven；〃 exclaimed the girl fervently； 〃that we are leaving it
behind us forever。〃
〃Amen；〃 replied Bulan； 〃but yet； had it not been for Borneo I might
never have found you。〃
〃We should have met elsewhere then； Bulan；〃 said the girl in a low
voice； 〃for we were made for one another。 No power on earth could have
kept us apart。 In your true guise you would have found meI am sure of
it。〃
〃It is maddening； Virginia；〃 said the man； 〃to be constantly straining
every resource of my memory in futile endeavor to catch and hold one
fleeting clue to my past。 Why； dear； do you realize that I may have been
a fugitive from justice； as was von Horn； a vile criminal perhaps。 It is
awful； Virginia； to contemplate the horrible possibilities of my lost past。〃
〃No； Bulan； you could never have been a criminal；〃 replied the loyal
girl； 〃but there is one possibility that has been haunting me constantly。 It
frightens me just to think of itit is；〃 and the girl lowered her voice as
though she feared to say the thing she dreaded most； 〃it is that you may
have loved anotherthat that you may even be married。〃
Bulan was about to laugh away any such fears when the gravity and
importance of the possibility impressed him quite as fully as it had
155
… Page 156…
THE MONSTER MEN
Virginia。 He saw that it was not at all unlikely that he was already a
married man； and he saw too what the girl now acknowledged； that they
might never wed until the mystery of his past had been cleared away。
〃There is something that gives weight to my fear；〃 continued Virginia；
〃something that I had almost forgotten in the rush and excitement of
events during the past few days。 During your delirium your ravings were；
for the most part； quite incoherent； but there was one name that you
repeated many timesa woman's name； preceded by a number。 It was
‘Nine ninety nine Priscilla。' Maybe she〃
But Virginia got no further。 With a low exclamation of delight Bulan
caught her in his arms。
〃It is all right； dear；〃 he cried。 〃It is all right。 Everything has come
back to me now。 You have given me the clue。 Nine ninety nine
Priscilla is my father's addressNine ninety nine Priscilla Avenue。
〃I am Townsend J。 Harper； Jr。 You have heard of my father。 Every
one has since he commenced consolidating interurban traction companies。
And I'm not married； Virginia； and never have been； but I shall be if this
miserable old mud scow ever reaches Singapore。〃
〃Oh； Bulan；〃 cried the girl； 〃how in the world did you ever happen to
come to that terrible island of ours？〃
〃I came for you； dear；〃 he replied。 〃It is a long story。 After dinner I
will tell you all of it that I can recall。 For the present it must suffice you to
know that I followed you from the railway station at Ithaca half around the
world for a love that had been born from a single glance at your sweet face
as you passed me to enter your Pullman。
〃On my father's yacht I reached your island after trailing you to
Singapore。 It was a long and tedious hunt and we followed many blind
leads； but at last we came off an island upon which natives had told us
such a party as yours was living。 Five of us put off in a boat to explore
that is the last that I can recall。 Sing says he found me alone in a row
boat； a ‘dummy。'〃
Virginia sighed； and crept closer to him。
〃You may be the son of the great Townsend J。 Harper； you have been
the soulless Number Thirteen； but to me you will always be Bulan； for it
156
… Page 157…
