the monster men-第12章
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d the soul is all that raises man above the beasts。 Jack； poor boy； you are not a human beingyou are not even a beast。 The world； and Miss Maxon is of the world； will look upon you as a terrible creature to be shunned a horrible monstrosity far lower in the scale of creation than the lowest order of brutes。
〃Look；〃 and the man pointed through the window toward the group of hideous things that wandered aimlessly about the court of mystery。 〃You are of the same breed as those； you differ from them only in the symmetry of your face and features； and the superior development of your brain。 There is no place in the world for them； nor for you。
〃I am sorry that it is so。 I am sorry that I should have to be the one to tell you； but it is better that you know it now from a friend than that you meet the bitter truth when you least expected it； and possibly from the lips of one like Miss Maxon for whom you might have formed a hopeless affection。〃
As von Horn spoke the expression on the young man's face became more and more hopeless； and when he had ceased he dropped his head into his open palms； sitting quiet and motionless as a carven statue。 No sob shook his great frame； there was no outward indication of the terrible grief that racked him inwardlyonly in the pose was utter dejection and hopelessness。
The older man could not repress a cold smileit had had more effect than he had hoped。
〃Don't take it too hard； my boy；〃 he continued。 〃The world is wide。 It would be easy to find a thousand places where your antecedents would be neither known nor questioned。 You might be very happy elsewhere and there a hundred thousand girls as beautiful and sweet as Virginia Maxonremember that you have never seen another； so you can scarcely judge。〃
〃Why did he ever bring me into the world？〃 exclaimed the young man suddenly。 〃It was wickedwicked terribly cruel and wicked。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said von Horn quickly； seeing another possibility that would make his future plans immeasurably easier。 〃It was wicked； and it is still more wicked to continue the work and bring still other unfortunate creatures into the world to be the butt and plaything of cruel fate。〃
〃He intends to do that？〃 asked the youth。
〃Unless he is stopped；〃 replied von Horn。
〃He must be stopped；〃 cried the other。 〃Even if it were necessary to kill him。〃
Von Horn was quite satisfied with the turn events had taken。 He shrugged his shoulders and turned on his heel toward the outer campong。
〃If he had wronged me as he has you； and those others；〃 with a gesture toward the court of mystery； 〃I should not be long in reaching a decision。〃 And with that he passed out； leaving the door unlatched。
Von Horn went straight to the south campong and sought out Bududreen。 Motioning the Malay to follow him they walked across the clearing and entered the jungle out of sight and hearing of the camp。 Sing； hanging clothes in the north end of the clearing saw them depart； and wondered a little。
〃Bududreen；〃 said von Horn； when the two had reached a safe distance from the enclosures； 〃there is no need of mincing matterssomething must be done at once。 I do not know how much you know of the work that Professor Maxon has been engaged in since we reached this island； but it has been hellish enough and it must go no further。 You have seen the creatures in the campong next to yours？〃
〃I have seen；〃 replied Bududreen； with a shudder。
〃Professor Maxon intends to wed one of these to his daughter；〃 von Horn continued。 〃She loves me and we wish to escapecan I rely on you and your men to aid us？ There is a chest in the workshop which we must take along too； and I can assure you that you all will be well rewarded for your work。 We intend merely to leave Professor Maxon here with the creatures he has created。〃
Bududreen could scarce repress a smileit was indeed too splendid to be true。
〃It will be perilous work； Captain；〃 he answered。 〃We should all be hanged were we caught。〃
〃There will be no danger of that； Bududreen； for there will be no one to divulge our secret。〃
〃There will be the Professor Maxon；〃 urged the Malay。 〃Some day he will escape from the island； and then we shall all hang。〃
〃He will never escape；〃 replied von Horn； 〃his own creatures will see to that。 They are already commencing to realize the horrible crime he has committed against them； and when once they are fully aroused there will be no safety for any of us。 If you wish to leave the island at all it will be best for you to accept my proposal and leave while your head yet remains upon your shoulders。 Were we to suggest to the professor that he leave now he would not only refuse but he would take steps to make it impossible for any of us to leave； even to sinking the Ithaca。 The man is madquite madBududreen； and we cannot longer jeopardize our own throats merely to humor his crazy and criminal whims。〃
The Malay was thinking fast； and could von Horn have guessed what thoughts raced through the tortuous channels of that semi…barbarous brain he would have wished himself safely housed in the American prison where he belonged。
〃When do you wish to sail？〃 asked the Malay。
〃Tonight；〃 replied von Horn； and together they matured their plans。 An hour later the second mate with six men disappeared into the jungle toward the harbor。 They； with the three on watch； were to get the vessel in readiness for immediate departure。
After the evening meal von Horn sat on the verandah with Virginia Maxon until the Professor came from the workshop to retire for the night。 As he passed them he stopped for a word with von Horn； taking him aside out of the girl's hearing。
〃Have you noticed anything peculiar in the actions of Thirteen？〃 asked the older man。 〃He was sullen and morose this evening； and at times there was a strange； wild light in his eyes as he looked at me。 Can it be possible that； after all； his brain is defective？ It would be terrible。 My work would have gone for naught； for I can see no way in which I can improve upon him。〃
〃I will go and have a talk with him later；〃 said von Horn； 〃so if you hear us moving about in the workshop； or even out here in the campong think nothing of it。 I may take him for a long walk。 It is possible that the hard study and close confinement to that little building have been too severe upon his brain and nerves。 A long walk each evening may bring him around all right。〃
〃Splendidsplendid；〃 replied the professor。 〃You may be quite right。 Do it by all means； my dear doctor；〃 and there was a touch of the old； friendly； sane tone which had been so long missing； that almost caused von Horn to feel a trace of compunction for the hideous act of disloyalty that he was on the verge of perpetrating。
As Professor Maxon entered the house von Horn returned to Virginia and suggested that they take a short walk outside the campong before retiring。 The girl readily acquiesced to the plan； and a moment later found them strolling through the clearing toward the southern end of the camp。 In the dark shadows of the gateway leading to the men's enclosure a figure crouched。 The girl did not see it； but as they came opposite it von Horn coughed twice； and then the two passed on toward the edge of the jungle。
6
TO KILL！
The Rajah Muda Saffir； tiring of the excuses and delays which Bududreen interposed to postpone the fulfillment of his agreement with the former； whereby he was to deliver into the hands of the rajah a certain beautiful maiden； decided at last to act upon his own initiative。 The truth of the matter was that he had come to suspect the motives of the first mate of the Ithaca； and not knowing of the great chest attributed them to Bududreen's desire to possess the girl for himself。
So it was that as the second mate of the Ithaca with his six men waded down the bed of the little stream toward the harbor and the ship； a fleet of ten war prahus manned by over five hundred fierce Dyaks and commanded by Muda Saffir himself； pulled cautiously into the little cove upon the opposite side of the island； and landed but a quarter of a mile from camp。
At the same moment von Horn was leading Virginia Maxon farther and farther fro
