the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第23节
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shoulders and arms behind it。
A single blow felled the foremost head hunter； breaking his shoulder
and biting into the flesh and bone as a heavy sword bites。 Again and
again the merciless leather fell； while in the boats below Muda Saffir and
his men shouted loud cries of encouragement to their companions on the
ship； and a wide…eyed girl in the stern of Muda Saffir's own prahu looked
on in terror； hope and admiration at the man of her own race whom she
felt was battling against all these odds for her alone。
Virginia Maxon recognized her champion instantly as he who had
fought for her and saved her once before； from the hideous creature of her
father's experiments。 With hands tight pressed against her bosom the girl
leaned forward； tense with excitement； watching every move of the lithe；
giant figure； as； silhouetted against the brazen tropic sky； it towered above
the dancing； shrieking head hunters who writhed beneath the awful lash。
Muda Saffir saw that the battle was going against his men； and it filled
him with anger。 Turning to one of his headmen he ordered two more
boatloads of warriors to the Ithaca's deck。 As they were rushing to obey
their leader's command there was a respite in the fighting on the ship； for
the three who had not fallen beneath the bull whip had leaped overboard to
escape the fate which had overtaken their comrades。
As the reinforcements started to scale the vessel's side Number
Thirteen's searching eyes found the girl in Muda Saffir's prahu； where it
lay a little off from the Ithaca； and as the first of the enemy clambered
over the rail she saw a smile of encouragement light the clear cut features
of the man above her。 Virginia Maxon sent back an answering smilea
smile that filled the young giant's heart with pride and happiness such a
smile as brave men have been content to fight and die for since woman
first learned the art of smiling。
Number Thirteen could have beaten back many of the reinforcing
party before they reached the deck； but he did not care to do so。 In the
spontaneous ethics of the man there seemed no place for an unfair
advantage over an enemy； and added to this was his newly acquired love
of battle； so he was content to wait until his foes stood on an even footing
with him before he engaged them。 But they never came within reach of his
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ready lash。 Instead； as they came above the ship's side they paused； wide…
eyed and terror stricken； and with cries of fear and consternation dropped
precipitately back into the sea； shouting warnings to those who were about
to scale the hull。
Muda Saffir arose in his prahu cursing and reviling the frightened
Dyaks。 He did not know the cause of their alarm； but presently he saw it
behind the giant upon the Ithaca's deck eleven horrible monstrosities
lumbering forward； snarling and growling； to their leader's side。
At the sight his own dark countenance went ashen； and with trembling
lips he ordered his oarsmen to pull for the open sea。 The girl； too； saw
the frightful creatures that surrounded the man upon the deck。 She thought
that they were about to attack him； and gave a little cry of warning； but in
another instant she realized that they were his companions； for with him
they rushed to the side of the ship to stand for a moment looking down
upon the struggling Dyaks in the water below。
Two prahus lay directly beneath them； and into these the head hunters
were scrambling。 The balance of the flotilla was now making rapid
headway under oars and sail toward the mouth of the harbor； and as
Number Thirteen saw that the girl was being borne away from him； he
shouted a command to his misshapen crew； and without waiting to see if
they would follow him leaped into the nearer of the two boats beneath。
It was already half filled with Dyaks； some of whom were hastily
manning the oars。 Others of the head hunters were scrambling over the
gunwale。 In an instant pandemonium reigned in the little vessel。 Savage
warriors sprang toward the tall figure towering above them。 Parangs
flashed。 The bull whip hissed and cracked； and then into the midst of it
all came a horrid avalanche of fearful and grotesque monsters the young
giant's crew had followed at his command。
The battle in the prahu was short and fierce。 For an instant the Dyaks
attempted to hold their own； but in the face of the snarling； rending horde
that engulfed them terror got the better of them all； so that those who were
not overcome dived overboard and swam rapidly toward shore。
The other prahu had not waited to assist its companion； but before it
was entirely filled had gotten under way and was now rapidly overhauling
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the balance of the fleet。
Von Horn had been an excited witness to all that had occurred upon
the tranquil bosom of the little harbor。 He had been filled with
astonishment at sight of the inhabitants of the court of mystery fighting
under the leadership of Number Thirteen； and now he watched interestedly
the outcome of the adventure。
The sight of the girl being borne away in the prahu of the Malay rajah
to a fate worse than death； had roused in him both keen regret and savage
rage； but it was the life of ease that he was losing that concerned him most。
He had felt so sure of winning Professor Maxon's fortune through either a
forced or voluntary marriage with the girl that his feelings now were as of
one whose rightful heritage has been foully wrested from him。 The
thought of the girl's danger and suffering were of but secondary
consideration to him； for the man was incapable of either deep love or true
chivalry。
Quite the contrary were the emotions which urged on the soulless
creature who now found himself in undisputed possession of a Dyak war
prahu。 His only thought was of the girl being rapidly borne away across
the glimmering waters of the strait。 He knew not to what dangers she
was exposed； or what fate threatened her。 All he knew was that she had
been taken by force against her will。 He had seen the look of terror in
her eyes； and the dawning hope die out as the boat that carried her had
turned rapidly away from the Ithaca。 His one thought now was to rescue
her from her abductors and return her to her father。 Of his own reward or
profit he entertained no single thoughtit was enough if he could fight for
her。 That would be reward sufficient。
Neither Number Thirteen nor any of his crew had ever before seen a
boat； and outside of the leader there was scarcely enough brains in the
entire party to render it at all likely that they could ever navigate it； but the
young man saw that the other prahus were being propelled by the long
sticks which protruded from their sides； and he also saw the sails bellying
with wind； though he had but a vague conception of their purpose。
For a moment he stood watching the actions of the men in the nearest
boat； and then he set himself to the task of placing his own men at the oars
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and instructing them in the manner of wielding the unfamiliar implements。
For an hour he worked with the brainless things that constituted his party。
They could not seem to learn what was required of them。 The paddles
were continually fouling one another； or being merely dipped into the
water and withdrawn without the faintest semblance of a stroke made。
The tiresome maneuvering had carried them about in circles back and
forth across the harbor； but by it Number Thirteen had himself learned
something of the proper method of propelling and steering his craft。 At last；
more through accident than intent； they came opposite the mouth of the
basin； and then chance did for them what days of arduous endeavor upon
their part might have failed to accomplish。
