the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第11节
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must have been a creature of superhuman strength。 What could it have
been！ It was impossible that any of the Malays or lascars could have
done the thing； and there were no other creatures； brute or human； upon
the island large enough to have coped even for an instant with the
ferocious brutality of the dead monster； except von Horn's brain came to
a sudden halt at the thought。 Could it be？ There seemed no other
explanation。 Virginia Maxon had been rescued from one soulless
monstrosity to fall into the hands of another equally irresponsible and
terrifying。
Others then must have escaped from the campong。 Von Horn loosened
his guns in their holsters； and took a fresh grip upon his bull whip as he
urged Sing forward upon the trail。 He wondered which one it was； but
not once did it occur to him that the latest result of Professor Maxon's
experiments could be the rescuer of Virginia Maxon。 In his mind he
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THE MONSTER MEN
could see only the repulsive features of one of the others。
Quite unexpectedly they came upon the two； and with a shout von
Horn leaped forward； his bull whip upraised。 Number Thirteen turned in
surprise at the cry； and sensing a new danger for her who lay in his arms；
he set her gently upon the ground behind him and advanced to meet his
assailant。
〃Out of the way； youmonstrosity；〃 cried von Horn。 〃If you have
harmed Miss Maxon I'll put a bullet in your heart！〃
Number Thirteen did not understand the words that the other addressed
to him but he interpreted the man's actions as menacing； not to himself；
but to the creature he now considered his particular charge； and so he met
the advancing man； more to keep him from the girl than to offer him
bodily injury for he recognized him as one of the two who had greeted his
first dawning consciousness。
Von Horn； possibly intentionally； misinterpreted the other's motive；
and raising his bull whip struck Number Thirteen a vicious cut across the
face； at the same time levelling his revolver point blank at the broad beast。
But before ever he could pull the trigger an avalanche of muscle was upon
him； and he went down to the rotting vegetation of the jungle with five
sinewy fingers at his throat。
His revolver exploded harmlessly in the air； and then another hand
wrenched it from him and hurled it far into the underbrush。 Number
Thirteen knew nothing of the danger of firearms； but the noise had startled
him and his experience with the stinging cut of the bull whip convinced
him that this other was some sort of instrument of torture of which it
would be as well to deprive his antagonist。
Virginia Maxon looked on in horror as she realized that her rescuer
was quickly choking Dr。 von Horn to death。 With a little cry she sprang to
her feet and ran toward them； just as her father emerged from the
underbrush through which he had been struggling in the trail of the agile
Chinaman and von Horn。 Placing her hand upon the great wrist of the
giant she tried to drag his fingers from von Horn's throat； pleading
meanwhile with both voice and eyes for the life of the man she thought
loved her。
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THE MONSTER MEN
Again Number Thirteen translated the intent without understanding the
words； and releasing von Horn permitted him to rise。 With a bound he
was upon his feet and at the same instant brought his other gun from his
side and levelled it upon the man who had released him； but as his finger
tightened upon the trigger Virginia Maxon sprang between them and
grasping von Horn's wrist deflected the muzzle of the gun just as the
cartridge exploded。 Simultaneously Professor Maxon sprang from his
grasp and hurled him back with the superhuman strength of a maniac。
〃Fool！〃 he cried。 〃What would you do？ Kill；〃 and then of a
sudden he realized his daughter's presence and the necessity for keeping
the origin of the young giant from her knowledge。
〃I am surprised at you； Dr。 von Horn；〃 he continued in a more level
voice。 〃You must indeed have forgotten yourself to thus attack a stranger
upon our island until you know whether he be friend or foe。 Come！
Escort my daughter to the camp； while I make the proper apologies to this
gentleman。〃 As he saw that both Virginia and von Horn hesitated； he
repeated his command in a peremptory tone； adding； 〃Quick； now； do as I
bid you。〃
The moment had given von Horn an opportunity to regain his self…
control； and realizing as well as did his employer； but from another motive；
the necessity of keeping the truth from the girl； he took her arm and led
her gently from the scene。 At Professor Maxon's direction Sing
accompanied them。
Now in Number Thirteen's brief career he had known no other
authority than Professor Maxon's； and so it was that when his master laid a
hand upon his wrist he remained beside him while another walked away
with the lovely creature he had thought his very own。
Until after dark the professor kept the young man hidden in the jungle；
and then； safe from detection； led him back to the laboratory。
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5 TREASON
On their return to camp after her rescue Virginia talked a great deal to
von Horn about the young giant who had rescued her； until the man feared
that she was more interested in him than seemed good for his own plans。
He had now cast from him the last vestige of his loyalty for his
employer； and thus freed had determined to use every means within his
power to win Professor Maxon's daughter； and with her the heritage of
wealth which he knew would be hers should her father； through some
unforeseen mishap； meet death before he could return to civilization and
alter his will； a contingency which von Horn knew he might have to
consider should he marry the girl against her father's wishes； and thus
thwart the crazed man's mad； but no less dear project。
He realized that first he must let the girl fully understand the grave
peril in which she stood； and turn her hope of protection from her father to
himself。 He imagined that the initial step in undermining Virginia's
confidence in her father would be to narrate every detail of the weird
experiments which Professor Maxon had brought to such successful issues
during their residence upon the island。
The girl's own questioning gave him the lead he needed。
〃Where could that horrid creature have come from that set upon me in
the jungle and nearly killed poor Sing？〃 she asked。
For a moment von Horn was silent； in well simulated hesitancy to
reply to her query。
〃I cannot tell you； Miss Maxon；〃 he said sadly； 〃how much I should
hate to be the one to ignore your father's commands； and enlighten you
upon this and other subjects which lie nearer to your personal welfare than
you can possibly guess； but I feel that after the horrors of this day duty
demands that I must lay all before youyou cannot again be exposed to
the horrors from which you were rescued only by a miracle。〃
〃I cannot imagine what you hint at； Dr。 von Horn；〃 said Virginia； 〃but
if to explain to me will necessitate betraying my father's confidence I
prefer that you remain silent。〃
〃You do not understand；〃 broke in the man； 〃you cannot guess the
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THE MONSTER MEN
horrors that I have seen upon this island； or the worse horrors that are to
come。 Could you dream of what lies i
