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第20章

the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第20章

小说: the monster men(魔鬼一样的人) 字数: 每页4000字

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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 



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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 



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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 showed 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。 



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     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 

driv

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