the monster men-第16章

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er　will　be　worried　if　we　are　long　delayed；　and　he　is　anxious　to　make　sail　and　escape　before　the　Dyaks　discover　the　location　of　the　Ithaca。〃

The　man's　story　seemed　plausible　enough　to　Virginia；　although　she　could　not　repress　a　little　pang　of　regret　that　her　father　had　been　willing　to　go　on　to　the　harbor　before　he　knew　her　fate。　　However；　she　explained　that　by　her　belief　that　his　mind　was　unbalanced　through　constant　application　to　his　weird　obsession。

Without　demur；　then；　she　turned　and　accompanied　the　rascally　Malay　toward　the　harbor。　　At　the　bank　of　the　little　stream　which　led　down　to　the　Ithaca's　berth　the　man　lifted　her　to　his　shoulder　and　thus　bore　her　the　balance　of　the　way　to　the　beach。　　Here　two　of　his　men　were　awaiting　him　in　one　of　the　ship's　boats；　and　without　words　they　embarked　and　pulled　for　the　vessel。

Once　on　board　Virginia　started　immediately　for　her　father's　cabin。　　As　she　crossed　the　deck　she　noticed　that　the　ship　was　ready　to　sail；　and　even　as　she　descended　the　companionway　she　heard　the　rattle　of　the　anchor　chain　about　the　capstan。　　She　wondered　if　von　Horn　could　be　on　board　too。　　It　seemed　remarkable　that　all　should　have　reached　the　Ithaca　so　quickly；　and　equally　strange　that　none　of　her　own　people　were　on　deck　to　welcome　her；　or　to　command　the　vessel。

To　her　chagrin　she　found　her　father's　cabin　empty；　and　a　moment's　hurried　investigation　disclosed　the　fact　that　von　Horn's　was　unoccupied　as　well。　　Now　her　doubts　turned　quickly　to　fears；　and　with　a　little　gasp　of　dismay　at　the　grim　possibilities　which　surged　through　her　imagination　she　ran　quickly　to　the　companionway；　but　above　her　she　saw　that　the　hatch　was　down；　and　when　she　reached　the　top　that　it　was　fastened。　　Futilely　she　beat　upon　the　heavy　planks　with　her　delicate　hands；　calling　aloud　to　Bududreen　to　release　her；　but　there　was　no　reply；　and　with　the　realization　of　the　hopelessness　of　her　position　she　dropped　back　to　the　deck；　and　returned　to　her　stateroom。　　Here　she　locked　and　barricaded　the　door　as　best　she　could；　and　throwing　herself　upon　the　berth　awaited　in　dry…eyed　terror　the　next　blow　that　fate　held　in　store　for　her。　

Shortly　after　von　Horn　became　separated　from　Virginia　he　collided　with　the　fleeing　lascar　who　had　escaped　the　parangs　of　Muda　Saffir's　head　hunters　at　the　same　time　as　had　Bududreen。　　So　terror　stricken　was　the　fellow　that　he　had　thrown　away　his　weapons　in　the　panic　of　flight；　which　was　all　that　saved　von　Horn　from　death　at　the　hands　of　the　fear　crazed　man。　　To　him；　in　the　extremity　of　his　fright；　every　man　was　an　enemy；　and　the　doctor　had　a　tough　scuffle　with　him　before　he　could　impress　upon　the　fellow　that　he　was　a　friend。

From　him　von　Horn　obtained　an　incoherent　account　of　the　attack；　together　with　the　statement　that　he　was　the　only　person　in　camp　that　escaped；　all　the　others　having　been　cut　down　by　the　savage　horde　that　overwhelmed　them。　It　was　with　difficulty　that　von　Horn　persuaded　the　man　to　return　with　him　to　the　campong；　but　finally；　he　consented　to　do　so　when　the　doctor　with　drawn　revolver；　presented　death　as　the　only　alternative。

Together　they　cautiously　crept　back　toward　the　palisade；　not　knowing　at　what　moment　they　might　come　upon　the　savage　enemy　that　had　wrought　such　havoc　among　their　forces；　for　von　Horn　believed　the　lascar's　story　that　all　had　perished。　His　only　motive　for　returning　lay　in　his　desire　to　prevent　Virginia　Maxon　falling　into　the　hands　of　the　Dyaks；　or；　failing　that；　rescuing　her　from　their　clutches。

Whatever　faults　and　vices　were　Carl　von　Horn's　cowardice　was　not　one　of　them；　and　it　was　without　an　instant's　hesitation　that　he　had　elected　to　return　to　succor　the　girl　he　believed　to　have　returned　to　camp；　although　he　entertained　no　scruples　regarding　the　further　pursuit　of　his　dishonorable　intentions　toward　her；　should　he　succeed　in　saving　her　from　her　other　enemies。

As　the　two　approached　the　campong　quiet　seemed　to　have　again　fallen　about　the　scene　of　the　recent　alarm。　Muda　Saffir　had　passed　on　toward　the　cove　with　the　heavy　chest；　and　the　scrimmage　in　the　bungalow　was　over。　But　von　Horn　did　not　abate　his　watchfulness　as　he　stole　silently　within　the　precincts　of　the　north　campong；　and；　hugging　the　denser　shadows　of　the　palisade；　crept　toward　the　house。

The　dim　light　in　the　living　room　drew　him　to　one　of　the　windows　which　overlooked　the　verandah。　　A　glance　within　howed　him　Sing　and　Number　Thirteen　bending　over　the　body　of　Professor　Maxon。　　He　noted　the　handsome　face　and　perfect　figure　of　the　young　giant。　　He　saw　the　bodies　of　the　dead　lascars　and　Dyaks。　　Then　he　saw　Sing　and　the　young　man　lift　Professor　Maxon　tenderly　in　their　arms　and　bear　him　to　his　own　room。

A　sudden　wave　of　jealous　rage　swept　through　the　man's　vicious　brain。　　He　saw　that　the　soulless　thing　within　was　endowed　with　a　kindlier　and　more　noble　nature　than　he　himself　possessed。　　He　had　planted　the　seed　of　hatred　and　revenge　within　his　untutored　heart　without　avail；　for　he　read　in　the　dead　bodies　of　Bududreen's　men　and　the　two　Dyaks　the　story　of　Number　Thirteen's　defense　of　the　man　von　Horn　had　hoped　he　would　kill。

Von　Horn　was　quite　sure　now　that　Virginia　Maxon　was　not　within　the　campong。　　Either　she　had　become　confused　and　lost　in　the　jungle　after　she　left　him；　or　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　wild　horde　that　had　attacked　the　camp。　　Convinced　of　this；　there　was　no　obstacle　to　thwart　the　sudden　plan　which　entered　his　malign　brain。　With　a　single　act　he　could　rid　himself　of　the　man　whom　he　had　come　to　look　upon　as　a　rival；　whose　physical　beauty　aroused　his　envy　and　jealousy；　he　could　remove；　in　the　person　of　Professor　Maxon；　the　parental　obstacle　which　might　either　prevent　his　obtaining　the　girl；　or　make　serious　trouble　for　him　in　case　he　took　her　by　force；　and　at　the　same　time　he　could　transfer　to　the　girl's　possession　the　fortune　which　was　now　her　father'sand　he　could　accomplish　it　all　without　tainting　his　own　hands　with　the　blood　of　his　victims。

As　the　full　possibilities　of　his　devilish　scheme　unfolded　before　his　mind's　eye　a　grim　smile　curled　his　straight；　thin　lips　at　the　thought　of　the　fate　which　it　entailed　for　the　creator　of　the　hideous　monsters　of　the　court　of　mystery。

As　he　turned　away　from　the　bungalow　his　eye　fell　upon　the　trembling　lascar　who　had　accompanied　him　to　the　edge　of　the　verandah。　　He　must　be　rid　of　the　fellow　in　some　wayno　eye　must　see　him　perpetrate　the　deed　he　had　in　mind。　　A　solution　quickly　occurred　to　him。

〃Hasten　to　the　harbor；〃　he　said　to　the　man　in　a　low　voice；　〃and　tell　those　on　board　the　ship　that　I　shall　join　them　presently。　　Have　all　in　readiness　to　sail。　I　wish　to　fetch　some　of　my　belongingsall　within　the　bungalow　are　dead。〃

No　command　could　have　better　suited　the　sailor。　Without　a　word　he　turned　and　fled　toward　the　jungle。　Von　Horn　walked　quickly　to　the　workshop。　　The　door　hung　open。　　Through　the　dark　interior　he　strode　straight　to　the　opposite　door　which　let　upon　the　court　of　mystery。　On　a　nail　driven　into　the　door　frame　hung　a　heavy　bull　whip。　The　doctor　took　it　down　as　he　raised　the　strong　bar　which　held　the　door。　　Then　he　stepped　through　into　the　moonlit　inner　campongthe　bull　whip　in　his　right　hand；　a　revolver　in　his　left。

A　half　dozen　misshapen　monsters　roved　restlessly　about　the　hard　packed　earth　of　the　pen。　　The　noise　of　the　battle　in　the　adjoining　enclosure　had　aroused　them　from　slumber　and　awakened　in　their　half　formed　brains　vague　questionings　and　fears。　　At　sight　of　von　Horn　several　of　them　rushed　for　him　with　menacing　growls；　but　a　swift　crack　of　the　bull　whip　brought　them　to　a　sudden　realization　of　the　identity　of　the　intruder；　so　that　they　slunk　away；　muttering　and　whining　in　rage。

Von　Horn　passed　quickly　to　the　low　shed　in　which　the　remainder　of　the　eleven　were　sleeping。　　With　vicious　cuts　from　the　stinging　lash　he　lay　about　him　upon　the　sleeping　things。　　Roaring　and　shrieking　in　pain　and　anger　the　creatures　stumbled　to　their　feet　and　lumbered　awkwardly　into　the　open。　　Two　of　them　turned　upon　their　tormentor；　but　the　burning　weapon　on　their　ill　protected　flesh　sent　them　staggering　back　out　of　reach；　and　in　another　moment　all　were　huddled　in　the　center　of　the　campong。

As　cattle　are　driven；　von　Horn　drove　the　miserable　creatures　toward　th