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第24章

the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第24章

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then I am glad that my soul is after my own choosingI would not care for 

one like theirs。〃 

     The   sudden   equatorial   dawn   found   the   man   still   musing。   The   storm 



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had ceased and as the daylight brought the surroundings to view Number 

Thirteen became aware that he was not alone in the campong。                     All about 

him lay the eleven terrible men whom he had driven from the bungalow 

the   previous    night。    The    sight   of  them   brought     a  realization   of  new 

responsibilities。      To   leave   them   here   in   the   campong   would   mean   the 

immediate death   of   Professor Maxon   and the   Chinaman。               To   turn them 

into   the   jungle   might   mean   a   similar   fate   for   Virginia   Maxon   were   she 

wandering   about   in   search   of   the   encampment   Number Thirteen   could 

not believe that she was dead。 It seemed too monstrous to believe that he 

should   never   see   her   again;   and   he   knew   so   little   of   death   that   it   was 

impossible for him to realize that that beautiful creature ever could cease 

to be filled with the vivacity of life。 

     The young man had determined to leave the camp himself partly on 

account of the cruel words Professor Maxon had hurled at him the night 

before; but principally in order   that he might search   for the lost girl。  Of 

course he had not the remotest idea where to look for her; but as von Horn 

had explained that they were upon a small island he felt reasonably sure 

that he should find her in time。 

     As he looked at the sleeping monsters near him he determined that the 

only   solution   of   his   problem   was   to   take   them   all   with   him。 Number 

Twelve lay closest to him; and stepping to his side he nudged him with the 

butt of the bull whip he still carried。 The creature opened his dull eyes。 

     〃Get up;〃 said Number Thirteen。 

     Number Twelve rose; looking askance at the bull whip。 

     〃We are   not   wanted   here;〃 said Number Thirteen。   〃I   am  going   away 

and you are all going with me。           We shall find a place where we may live 

in peace and freedom。 Are you not tired of always being penned up?〃 

     〃Yes;〃 replied Number Twelve; still looking at the whip。 

     〃You need not fear the whip;〃 said the young man。 〃I shall not use it on 

those who make no trouble。 Wake the others and tell them what I have said。 

All must come with methose who refuse shall feel the whip。〃 

     Number Twelve   did as he   was bid。           The creatures   mumbled   among 

themselves for a few minutes。           Finally Number Thirteen cracked his long 

whip to attract their attention。 



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     〃Come!〃 he said。 

     Nine of them shuffled after him as he turned toward the outer gate 

only Number Ten and Number Three held back。 The young man walked 

quickly   to   where   they   stood   eyeing   him   sullenly。   The   others   halted   to 

watchready       to  spring   upon   their   new   master    should    the  tide  of  the 

impending       battle  turn   against   him。   The     two   mutineers    backed     away 

snarling; their hideous features distorted in rage。 

     〃Come!〃 repeated Number Thirteen。 

     〃We will stay here;〃 growled Number Ten。               〃We have not yet finished 

with Maxon。〃 

     A loop in the butt of the bull whip was about the young man's wrist。 

Dropping the weapon from his hand it still dangled by the loop。                    At the 

same   instant   he   launched   himself   at   the   throat   of   Number   Ten;   for   he 

realized that a decisive victory now without the aid of the weapon they all 

feared would make the balance of his work easier。 

     The brute met the charge with lowered head and outstretched hands; 

and in another second they were locked in a clinch; tearing at one another 

like two great gorillas。       For a moment Number Three stood watching the 

battle;   and   then   he   too   sprang   in   to   aid   his   fellow   mutineer。 Number 

Thirteen was striking heavy blows with his giant hands upon the face and 

head of his antagonist; while the long; uneven fangs of the latter had found 

his   breast   and    neck   a  half   dozen    times。   Blood    covered     them    both。 

Number Three threw his enormous weight into the conflict with the frenzy 

of a mad bull。 

     Again and again he got a hold upon the young giant's throat only to be 

shaken loose by the mighty muscles。 The excitement of the conflict was 

telling upon the malformed minds of the spectators。                 Presently one who 

was   almost   brainless;   acting   upon   the   impulse   of   suggestion;   leaped   in 

among the fighters; striking and biting at Number Thirteen。 It was all that 

was   neededanother   second   found   the   whole   monstrous   crew   upon   the 

single man。 

     His   mighty   strength   availed   him   but   little   in   the   unequal   conflict 

eleven   to   one   were  too   great   odds   even   for   those   powerful   thews。  His 

great advantage lay in his superior intelligence; but even this seemed futile 



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                                      THE MONSTER MEN 



in the face of the enormous weight of numbers that opposed him。                        Time 

and   again   he   had   almost   shaken   himself   free   only   to   fall   once   more 

dragged down by hairy arms about his legs。 

     Hither and thither about the campong the battle raged until the fighting 

mass   rolled   against   the   palisade;   and   here;   at   last;   with   his   back   to   the 

structure; Number Thirteen regained his feet; and with the heavy stock of 

the bull whip beat off; for a moment; those nearest him。                All were winded; 

but when those who were left of the eleven original antagonists drew back 

to   regain   their   breath;   the   young   giant   gave   them  no   respite;   but   leaped 

among them with the long lash they had such good reason to hate and fear。 

     The result was as his higher intelligence had foreseen the creatures 

scattered to escape the fury of the lash and a moment later he had them at 

his mercy。      About the campong lay four who had felt the full force of his 

heavy fist; while not one but bore some mark of the battle。 

     Not   a   moment   did   he   give   them  to   recuperate   after   he had   scattered 

them before he rounded them up once more near the outer gatebut now 

they   were   docile   and   submissive。   In   pairs   he   ordered   them   to   lift   their 

unconscious comrades to their shoulders and bear them into the jungle; for 

Number   Thirteen   was   setting   out   into   the   world   with   his   grim   tribe   in 

search of his lady love。 

     Once well within the jungle they halted to eat of the more familiar fruit 

which   had   always   formed   the   greater   bulk   of   their   sustenance。        Thus 

refreshed; they set out once more after the leader who wandered aimlessly 

beneath      the  shade    of  the  tall  jungle   trees   amidst    the  gorgeous     tropic 

blooms and gay; songless birds and of the twelve only the leader saw the 

beauties that surrounded them or felt the strange; mysterious influence of 

the untracked world they trod。            Chance took them toward the west until 

presently   they   emerged   upon   the   harbor's   edge;   where   from   the   matted 

jungle they overlooked for the first time the waters of the little bay and the 

broader expanse   of strait   beyond; until   their eyes   rested   at last upon  the 

blurred lines of distant Borneo。 


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