the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第21节
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heavy wooden cover suddenly commenced to move above her as though
actuated by some supernatural power。 Fascinated； the girl stood gazing
in wide…eyed astonishment as one end of the hatch rose higher and higher
until a little patch of blue sky revealed the fact that morning had come。
Then the cover slid suddenly back and Virginia Maxon found herself
looking into a savage and terrible face。
The dark skin was creased in fierce wrinkles about the eyes and mouth。
Gleaming tiger cat's teeth curved upward from holes pierced to receive
them in the upper half of each ear。 The slit ear lobes supported heavy
rings whose weight had stretched the skin until the long loop rested upon
the brown shoulders。 The filed and blackened teeth behind the loose lips
added the last touch of hideousness to this terrible countenance。
Nor was this all。 A score of equally ferocious faces peered down
from behind the foremost。 With a little scream Virginia Maxon sprang
back to the lower deck and ran toward her stateroom。 Behind her she
heard the commotion of many men descending the companionway。
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THE MONSTER MEN
As Number Thirteen came into the campong after quitting the
bungalow his heart was a chaos of conflicting emotions。 His little world
had been wiped out。 His creatorthe man whom he thought his only friend
and benefactorhad suddenly turned against him。 The beautiful creature
he worshipped was either lost or dead； Sing had said so。 He was nothing
but a miserable THING。 There was no place in the world for him； and
even should he again find Virginia Maxon； he had von Horn's word for it
that she would shrink from him and loathe him even more than another。
With no plans and no hopes he walked aimlessly through the blinding
rain； oblivious of it and of the vivid lightning and deafening thunder。
The palisade at length brought him to a sudden stop。 Mechanically he
squatted on his haunches with his back against it； and there； in the midst of
the fury of the storm he conquered the tempest that raged in his own breast。
The murder that rose again and again in his untaught heart he forced back
by thoughts of the sweet； pure face of the girl whose image he had set up
in the inner temple of his being； as a gentle； guiding divinity。
〃He made me without a soul；〃 he repeated over and over again to
himself； 〃but I have found a soulshe shall be my soul。 Von Horn could
not explain to me what a soul is。 He does not know。 None of them
knows。 I am wiser than all the rest； for I have learned what a soul is。
Eyes cannot see itfingers cannot feel it； but he who possess it knows that
it is there for it fills his whole breast with a great； wonderful love and
worship for something infinitely finer than man's dull senses can gauge
something that guides him into paths far above the plain of soulless beasts
and bestial men。
〃Let those who will say that I have no soul； for I am satisfied with the
soul I have found。 It would never permit me to inflict on others the
terrible wrong that Professor Maxon has inflicted on meyet he never
doubts his own possession of a soul。 It would not allow me to revel in
the coarse brutalities of von Hornand I am sure that von Horn thinks he
has a soul。 And if the savage men who came tonight to kill have souls；
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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THE MONSTER MEN
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 N
