the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第25节
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that he could not have known through experience。〃
〃But his object？〃 asked the professor。
〃That is simple；〃 returned von Horn。 〃You have held out hopes to
him that soon he should come to live under your roof with Virginia。 The
creature has been madly infatuated with her ever since the day he took her
from Number One； and you have encouraged his infatuation until
yesterday。 Then you regained your sanity and put him in his rightful
place。 What is the result？ Denied the easy prey he expected he
immediately decided to take it by force； and with that end in view； and
taking advantage of the series of remarkable circumstances which played
into his hands； he liberated his fellows； and with them hastened to the
beach in search of Virginia and in hopes of being able to fly with her upon
the Ithaca。 There he met the Malay pirates； and together they formed an
alliance under terms of which Number Thirteen is to have the girl； and the
pirates the chest in return for transporting him and his crew to Borneo。
Why it is all perfectly simple and logical； Professor Maxon； do you not see
it now？〃
〃You may be right； doctor；〃 answered the old man。 〃But it is idle to
conjecture。 Tomorrow we can be up and doing； so let us get what sleep
we can tonight。 We shall need all our energies if we are to save my poor；
dear girl； from the clutches of that horrid； soulless thing。〃
At the very moment that he spoke the object of his contumely was
entering the dark mouth of a broad river that flowed from out of the heart
of savage Borneo。 In the prahu with him his eleven hideous companions
now bent to their paddles with slightly increased efficiency。 Before them
the leader saw a fire blazing upon a tiny island in the center of the stream。
Toward this they turned their silent way。 Grimly the war prahu with its
frightful freight nosed closer to the bank。
At last Number Thirteen made out the figures of men about the fire；
and as they came still closer he was sure that they were members of the
very party he had been pursuing across the broad waters for hours。 The
prahus were drawn up upon the bank and the warriors were preparing to
eat。
Just as the young giants' prahu came within the circle of firelight a
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swarthy Malay approached the fire； dragging a white girl roughly by the
arm。 No more was needed to convince Number Thirteen of the identity
of the party。 With a low command to his fellows he urged them to
redoubled speed。 At the same instant a Dyak warrior caught sight of the
approaching boat as it sped into the full glare of the light。
At sight of the occupants the head hunters scattered for their own
prahus。 The frightful aspect of the enemy turned their savage hearts to
water； leaving no fight in their ordinarily warlike souls。
So quickly they moved that as the pursuing prahu touched the bank all
the nearer boats had been launched； and the remaining pirates were
scurrying across the little island for those which lay upon the opposite side。
Among these was the Malay who guarded the girl； but he had not been
quick enough to prevent Virginia Maxon recognizing the stalwart figure
standing in the bow of the oncoming craft。
As he dragged her away toward the prahu of Muda Saffir she cried out
to the strange white man who seemed her self…appointed protector。
〃Help！ Help！〃 she called。 〃This way！ Across the island！〃 And
then the brown hand of her jailer closed over her mouth。 Like a tigress she
fought to free herself； or to detain her captor until the rescue party should
catch up with them； but the scoundrel was muscled like a bull； and when
the girl held back he lifted her across his shoulder and broke into a run。
Rajah Muda Saffir had no stomach for a fight himself； but he was
loathe to lose the prize he had but just won； and seeing that his men were
panic…stricken he saw no alternative but to rally them for a brief stand that
would give the little moment required to slip away in his own prahu with
the girl。
Calling aloud for those around him to come to his support he halted
fifty yards from his boat just as Number Thirteen with his fierce； brainless
horde swept up from the opposite side of the island in the wake of him
who bore Virginia Maxon。 The old rajah succeeded in gathering some
fifty warriors about him from the crews of the two boats which lay near
his。 His own men he hastened to their posts in his prahu that they might
be ready to pull swiftly away the moment that he and the captive were
aboard。
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THE MONSTER MEN
The Dyak warriors presented an awe inspiring spectacle in the fitful
light of the nearby camp fire。 The ferocity of their fierce faces was
accentuated by the upturned； bristling tiger cat's teeth which protruded
from every ear； while the long feathers of the Argus pheasant waving from
their war…caps； the brilliant colors of their war…coats trimmed with the
black and white feathers of the hornbill； and the strange devices upon their
gaudy shields but added to the savagery of their appearance as they danced
and howled； menacing and intimidating； in the path of the charging foe。
A single backward glance was all that Virginia Maxon found it
possible to throw in the direction of the rescue party； and in that she saw a
sight that lived forever in her memory。 At the head of his hideous；
misshapen pack sprang the stalwart young giant straight into the heart of
the flashing parangs of the howling savages。 To right and left fell the
mighty bull whip cutting down men with all the force and dispatch of a
steel saber。 The Dyaks； encouraged by the presence of Muda Saffir in their
rear； held their ground； and the infuriated； brainless things that followed
the wielder of the bull whip threw themselves upon the head hunters with
beating hands and rending fangs。
Number Ten wrested a parang from an adversary； and acting upon his
example the other creatures were not long in arming themselves in a
similar manner。 Cutting and jabbing they hewed their way through the
solid ranks of the enemy； until Muda Saffir； seeing that defeat was
inevitable turned and fled toward his prahu。
Four of his creatures lay dead as the last of the Dyaks turned to escape
from the mad white man who faced naked steel with only a rawhide whip。
In panic the head hunters made a wild dash for the two remaining prahus；
for Muda Saffir had succeeded in getting away from the island in safety。
Number Thirteen reached the water's edge but a moment after the
prow of the rajah's craft had cleared the shore and was swinging up stream
under the vigorous strokes of its fifty oarsmen。 For an instant he stood
poised upon the bank as though to spring after the retreating prahu； but the
knowledge that he could not swim held him backit was useless to throw
away his life when the need of it was so great if Virginia Maxon was to be
saved。
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Turning to the other prahus he saw that one was already launched； but
that the crew of the other was engaged in a desperate battle with the seven
remaining members of his crew for possession of the boat。 Leaping
among the combatants he urged his fellows aboard the prahu which was
already half filled with Dyaks。 Then he shoved the boat out into the river；
jumping aboard himself as its prow cleared the gravelly beach。
For several minutes that long； hollowed log was a veritable floating
hell of savage； screaming men locked in deadly battle。 The sharp
parangs of the head hunters were no match for the superhuman muscles of
the creatures that battered them about； now lifting one high above his
fellows and
