the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第33节
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torn and chewed by the bull with which he had fought； and though he had
finally overcome and killed the beast； a female which he had pursued had
eluded him。 In a frenzy of passion and blood lust aroused by his wounds；
disappointment and the taste of warm blood which still smeared his lips
and face； he had been seeking the female when he suddenly stumbled
upon the hapless Sing。
With a roar he grasped the Chinaman as though to break him in two；
but Sing was not at all inclined to give up his life without a struggle； and
Number Ten was quick to learn that no mean muscles moved beneath that
wrinkled； yellow hide。
There could； however； have been but one outcome to the unequal
struggle had Sing not been armed with a revolver； though it was several
seconds before he could bring it into play upon the great thing that shook
and tossed him about as though he had been a rat in the mouth of a terrier。
But suddenly there was the sharp report of a firearm； and another of
Professor Maxon's unhappy experiments sank back into the nothingness
from which he had conjured it。
Then Sing turned his attention to Bulan and his three savage assailants；
but； except for the dead body of a bull ourang outang upon the spot where
he had last seen the four struggling； there was no sign either of the white
man or his antagonists； nor； though he listened attentively； could he catch
the slightest sound within the jungle other than the rustling of the leaves
and the raucous cries of the brilliant birds that flitted among the gorgeous
blooms about him。
For half an hour he searched in every direction； but finally； fearing that
he might become lost in the mazes of the unfamiliar forest he reluctantly
turned his face toward the river and the long…house that sheltered his party。
Here he found Professor Maxon much improvedthe safe return of
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Virginia having acted as a tonic upon him。 The girl and her father sat with
von Horn upon the verandah of the long…house as Sing clambered up the
notched log that led to it from the ground。 At sight of Sing's wrinkled old
face Virginia Maxon sprang to her feet and ran forward to greet him； for
she had been very fond of the shrewd and kindly Chinaman of whom she
had seen so much during the dreary months of her imprisonment within
the campong。
〃Oh； Sing；〃 she cried； 〃where have you been？ We were all so
worried to think that no sooner was one of us rescued than another became
lost。〃
〃Sing takee walk； Linee； las all；〃 said the grinning Chinaman。 〃Velly
glad see Linee black 'gain；〃 and that was all that Sing Lee had to say of the
adventures through which he had just passed； and the strange sights that he
had seen。
Again and again the girl and von Horn narrated the stirring scenes of
the day； the latter being compelled to repeat all that had transpired from
the moment that he had heard Virginia's cry； though it was apparent that he
only consented to speak of his part in her rescue under the most
considerable urging。 Very pretty modesty； thought Sing when he had
heard the doctor's version of the affair。
〃You see；〃 said von Horn； 〃when I reached the spot Number Three； the
brute that you thought was an ape； had just turned you over to Number
Thirteen； or； as the natives now call him； Bulan。 You were then in a faint；
and when I attacked Bulan he dropped you to defend himself。 I had
expected a bitter fight from him after the wild tales the natives have been
telling of his ferocity； but it was soon evident that he is an arrant coward；
for I did not even have to fire my revolver a few thumps with the butt of
it upon his brainless skull sent him howling into the jungle with his pack at
his heels。〃
〃How fortunate it is； my dear doctor；〃 said Professor Maxon； 〃that you
were bright enough to think of trailing the miscreant into the jungle。 But
for that Virginia would still be in his clutches and by this time he would
have been beyond all hope of capture。 How can we ever repay you； dear
friend？〃
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〃That you were generous enough to arrange when we first embarked
upon the search for your daughter；〃 replied von Horn。
〃Just so； just so；〃 said the professor； but a shade of trouble tinged the
expression of his face； and a moment later he arose； saying that he felt
weak and tired and would go to his sleeping room and lie down for a while。
The fact was that Professor Maxon regretted the promise he had made von
Horn relative to his daughter。
Once before he had made plans for her marriage only to regret them
later； he hoped that he had made no mistake this time； but he realized that
it had scarcely been fair to Virginia to promise her to his assistant without
first obtaining her consent。 Yet a promise was a promise； and； again； was
it not true that but for von Horn she would have been dead or worse than
dead in a short time had she not been rescued from the clutches of the
soulless Bulan？ Thus did the old man justify his action； and clinch the
determination that he had before reached to compel Virginia to wed von
Horn should she； from some incomprehensible motive； demur。 Yet he
hoped that the girl would make it easy； by accepting voluntarily the man
who had saved her life。
Left alone； or as he thought alone； with the girl in the growing
shadows of the evening； von Horn thought the moment propitious for
renewing his suit。 He did not consider the natives squatting about them
as of sufficient consequence to consider； since they would not understand
the language in which he addressed Virginia； and in the dusk he failed to
note that Sing squatted with the Dyaks； close behind them。
〃Virginia；〃 he commenced； after an interval of silence； 〃often before
have I broached the subject nearest to my heart； yet never have you given
me much encouragement。 Can you not feel for the man who would gladly
give his life for you； sufficient affection to permit you to make him the
happiest man in the world？ I do not ask for all your love at firstthat will
come later。 Just give me the right to cherish and protect you。 Say that you
will be my wife； Virginia； and we need have no more fears that the strange
vagaries of your father's mind can ever again jeopardize your life or your
happiness as they have in the past。〃
〃I feel that I owe you my life；〃 replied the girl in a quiet voice； 〃and
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while I am now positive that my father has entirely regained his sanity；
and looks with as great abhorrence upon the terrible fate he planned for
me as I myself； I cannot forget the debt of gratitude which belongs to you。
〃At the same time I do not wish to be the means of making you
unhappy； as surely would be the result were I to marry you without love。
Let us wait until I know myself better。 Though you have spoken to me of
the matter before； I realize now that I never have made any effort to
determine whether or not I really can love you。 There is time enough
before we reach civilization； if ever we are fortunate enough to do so at all。
Will you not be as generous as you are brave； and give me a few days
before I must make you a final answer？〃
With Professor Maxon's solemn promise to insure his ultimate success
von Horn was very gentle and gracious in deferring to the girl's wishes。
The girl for her part could not put from her mind the disappointment she
had felt when she discovered that her rescuer was von Horn； and not the
handsome young giant whom she had been positive was in close pursuit of
her abductors。
When Number Thirteen had been mentioned she had always pictured
him as a hideous monster； similar to the creature that had seized her in the
jungle beside the encampment that first day she had seen the mysterious
stranger； of whom she could obtain no information either from her father
or von Horn。 When she had recently insisted that the same man had been
at the head of h
