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第33章

the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第33章

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them how to make the big prahu steer? 

    Von Horn promised to help them on condition that they would guide 

him and his party to the stronghold of Rajah Muda Saffir in the heart of 

Borneo。      The   Dyaks   willingly   agreed;   and   von   Horn   worked   his   small 

boat in close under the Ithaca's stern。        Here he found that the rudder had 



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been   all   but   unshipped;   probably   as   the   vessel   was   lifted   over   the   reef 

during   the   storm;   but   a   single   pintle   remaining   in   its   gudgeon。   A  half 

hour's work   was sufficient to   repair the damage;  and   then   the two   boats 

continued their journey toward the mouth of the river up which those they 

sought had passed the night before。 

     Inside the river's mouth an anchorage was found for the Ithaca near the 

very   island   upon   which   the   fierce   battle   between   Number   Thirteen   and 

Muda Saffir's forces had occurred。 From the deck of the larger vessel the 

deserted   prahu   which   had   borne   Bulan   across   the   strait   was   visible;   as 

were   the   bodies   of   the   slain   Dyaks   and   the   misshapen   creatures   of   the 

white giant's forces。 

     In excited tones the head hunters called von Horn's attention to these 

evidences of   conflict;   and the   doctor drew   his boat   up   to   the island   and 

leaped ashore; followed by Professor Maxon and Sing。                     Here they found 

the   dead   bodies   of   the   four   monsters   who   had   fallen   in   an   attempt   to 

rescue their creator's daughter; though little did any there imagine the real 

truth。 

     About     the   corpses    of  the   four  were    the   bodies    of  a  dozen    Dyak 

warriors attesting to the ferocity of the encounter and the savage prowess 

of the unarmed creatures who had sold their poor lives so dearly。 

     〃Evidently they fell out about the possession of the captive;〃 suggested 

von Horn。       〃Let us hope that she did not fall into the clutches of Number 

Thirteen any fate would be better than that。〃 

     〃God   give   that   that   has   not   befallen   her;〃   moaned   Professor   Maxon。 

〃The pirates might but hold her for ransom; but should that soulless fiend 

possess her my prayer is that she found the strength and the means to take 

her own life before he had an opportunity to have his way with her。〃 

     〃Amen;〃 agreed von Horn。 

     Sing Lee said nothing; but in his heart he hoped that Virginia Maxon 

was not in the power of Rajah Muda Saffir。 The brief experience he had 

had   with   Number   Thirteen   during   the   fight   in   the   bungalow   had   rather 

warmed his wrinkled old heart toward the friendless young giant; and he 

was a sufficiently good judge of human nature to be confident that the girl 

would be comparatively safe in his keeping。 



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     It   was   quickly   decided   to   abandon   the   small   boat   and   embark   the 

entire party in the deserted war prahu。 A half hour later saw the strangely 

mixed expedition forging up the river; but not until von Horn had boarded 

the Ithaca and discovered to his dismay  that the chest was not on   board 

her。 

     Far   above   them   on   the   right   bank   Muda   Saffir   still   squatted   in   his 

hiding   place;  for   no   friendly  prahu   or   sampan had   passed his   way  since 

dawn。      His keen eyes roving constantly up and down the long stretch of 

river that was visible from his position finally sighted a war prahu coming 

toward him from down stream。             As it drew closer he recognized it as one 

which had belonged to his own   fleet before his unhappy encounter   with 

the wild white man and his abhorrent pack; and a moment later his heart 

leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several of his men; but who were the 

strangers in the stern; and what was a Chinaman doing perched there upon 

the bow? 

     The   prahu   was   nearly   opposite   him   before   he   recognized   Professor 

Maxon and von Horn as the white men of the little island。                  He wondered 

how   much   they   knew   of   his   part   in   the   raid   upon   their   encampment。 

Bududreen had told him much concerning the doctor; and as Muda Saffir 

recalled the fact that von Horn was anxious to possess himself of both the 

treasure and the girl he guessed that he would be safe in the man's hands 

so long as he could hold out promises of turning one or the other over to 

him; and so; as he was tired of squatting upon the uncomfortable bank and 

was very hungry; he arose and hailed the passing prahu。 

     His men recognized his voice immediately and as they knew nothing 

of   the   defection   of   any   of   their   fellows;   turned   the   boat's   prow   toward 

shore    without    waiting    for  the   command      from    von   Horn。     The    latter; 

fearing treachery; sprang to his feet with raised rifle; but when one of the 

paddlers explained that it was the Rajah Muda Saffir who hailed them and 

that   he   was   alone   von   Horn   permitted   them   to   draw   nearer   the   shore; 

though he continued to stand ready to thwart any attempted treachery and 

warned both the professor and Sing to be on guard。 

     As the prahu's nose touched the bank Muda Saffir stepped aboard and 

with     many     protestations    of   gratitude    explained     that   he   had    fallen 



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overboard   from   his   own   prahu   the   night   before   and   that   evidently   his 

followers thought   him  drowned;   since none  of his   boats   had  returned   to 

search for him。        Scarcely had the Malay seated himself before von Horn 

began questioning him in the rajah's native tongue; not a word of which 

was intelligible to Professor Maxon。             Sing; however; was as familiar with 

it as was von Horn。 

     〃Where are the girl and the treasure?〃 he asked。 

     〃What   girl;   Tuan   Besar?〃   inquired   the   wily   Malay   innocently。   〃And 

what treasure?       The white man speaks in riddles。〃 

     〃Come;       come;〃     cried   von    Horn    impatiently。      〃Let     us   have    no 

foolishness。      You know perfectly well what I mean it will go far better 

with    you    if  we   work    together    as  friends。    I  want    the   girlif  she   is 

unharmedand I will divide the treasure with you if you will help me to 

obtain them; otherwise you shall have no part of either。 What do you say? 

Shall we be friends or enemies?〃 

     〃The   girl   and   the   treasure   were   both   stolen   from   me   by   a   rascally 

panglima;   Ninaka;〃   said   Muda   Saffir;   seeing   that   it   would   be   as   well   to 

simulate   friendship   for   the   white   man   for   the   time   being   at   leastthere 

would   always   be   an   opportunity   to   use   a   kris   upon   him   in   the   remote 

fastness of the interior to which Muda Saffir would lead them。 

     〃What became of the white man who led the strange monsters?〃 asked 

von Horn。 

     〃He killed many of my men; and the last I saw of him he was pushing 

up the river after the girl and the treasure;〃 replied the Malay。 

     〃If   another   should   ask   you;〃   continued   von   Horn   with   a   meaningful 

glance toward Professor Maxon; 〃it will be well to say that the girl was 

stolen   by   this   white   giant   and   that   you   suffered   defeat   in   an   attempt   to 

rescue her because of your friendship for us。 Do you understand?〃 

     Muda   Saffir   nodded。       Here   was   a   man   after   

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