the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第34节
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or von Horn。 When she had recently insisted that the same man had been
at the head of her father's creatures in an attempt to rescue her； both von
Horn and Professor Maxon scoffed at the idea； until at last she was
convinced that the fright and the firelight had conspired to conjure in her
brain the likeness of one who was linked by memory to another time of
danger and despair。
Virginia could not understand why it was that the face of the stranger
persisted in obtruding itself in her memory。 That the man was unusually
good looking was undeniable； but she had known many good looking men；
nor was she especially impressionable to mere superficial beauty。 No
words had passed between them on the occasion of their first meeting； so
it could have been nothing that he said which caused the memory of him
to cling so tenaciously in her mind。
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What was it then？ Was it the memory of the moments that she had
lain in his strong armswas it the shadow of the sweet； warm glow that
had suffused her as his eyes had caught hers upon his face？
The thing was tantalizingit was annoying。 The girl blushed in
mortification at the very thought that she could cling so resolutely to the
memory of a total stranger； andstill greater humiliationlong in the
secret depths of her soul to see him again。
She was angry with herself； but the more she tried to forget the young
giant who had come into her life for so brief an instant； the more she
speculated upon his identity and the strange fate that had brought him to
their little； savage island only to snatch him away again as mysteriously as
he had come； the less was the approval with which she looked upon the
suit of Doctor von Horn。
Von Horn had left her； and strolled down to the river。 Finally Virginia
arose to seek the crude couch which had been spread for her in one of the
sleeping rooms of the long…house。 As she passed a group of natives
squatted nearby one of the number arose and approached her； and as she
halted； half in fright； a low voice whispered：
〃Lookee out； Linee； dloctor Hornee velly bad man。〃
〃Why； Sing！〃 exclaimed Virginia。 〃What in the world do you mean
by saying such a thing as that？〃
〃Never mind； Linee； you always good to old Sing。 Sing no likee see
you sadee。 Dloctor Hornee velly bad man； las allee；〃 and without
another word the Chinaman turned and walked away。
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13 BURIED TREASURE
After the escape of the girl Barunda and Ninaka had fallen out over
that affair and the division of the treasure； with the result that the panglima
had slipped a knife between the ribs of his companion and dropped the
body overboard。
Barunda's followers； however； had been highly enraged at the act； and
in the ensuing battle which they waged for revenge of their murdered chief
Ninaka and his crew had been forced to take to the shore and hide in the
jungle。
With difficulty they had saved the chest and dragged it after them into
the mazes of the underbrush。 Finally； however； they succeeded in
eluding the angry enemy； and took up their march through the interior for
the head of a river which would lead them to the sea by another route； it
being Ninaka's intention to dispose of the contents of the chest as quickly
as possible through the assistance of a rascally Malay who dwelt at
Gunung Tebor； where he carried on a thriving trade with pirates。
But presently it became apparent that he had not so easily escaped the
fruits of his villainy as he had supposed； for upon the evening of the first
day the rear of his little column was attacked by some of Barunda's
warriors who had forged ahead of their fellows； with the result that the
head of Ninaka's brother went to increase the prestige and glory of the
house of the enemy。
Ninaka was panic…stricken； since he knew that hampered as he was by
the heavy chest he could neither fight nor run to advantage。 And so；
upon a dark night near the head waters of the river he sought； he buried the
treasure at the foot of a mighty buttress tree； and with his parang made
certain cabalistic signs upon the bole whereby he might identify the spot
when it was safe to return and disinter his booty。 Then； with his men； he
hastened down the stream until they reached the head of prahu navigation
where they stole a craft and paddled swiftly on toward the sea。
When the three bull ourang outangs closed upon Bulan he felt no fear
as to the outcome of the battle； for never in his experience had he coped
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with any muscles that his own mighty thews could not overcome。 But as
the battle continued he realized that there might be a limit to the number of
antagonists which he could successfully withstand； since he could scarcely
hope with but two hands to reach the throats of three enemies； or ward off
the blows and clutches of six powerful hands； or the gnashing of three sets
of savage fangs。
When the truth dawned upon him that he was being killed the instinct
of self…preservation was born in him。 The ferocity with which he had
fought before paled into insignificance beside the mad fury with which he
now attacked the three terrible creatures upon him。 Shaking himself like a
great lion he freed his arms for a moment from the clinging embrace of his
foemen； and seizing the neck of the nearest in his mighty clutch wrenched
the head completely around。
There was one awful shriek from the tortured brute the vertebrae
parted with a snap； and Bulan's antagonists were reduced to two。
Lunging and struggling the three combatants stumbled farther and farther
into the jungle beyond the clearing。 With mighty blows the man buffeted
the beasts to right and left； but ever they returned in bestial rage to renew
the encounter。 Bulan was weakening rapidly under the terrific strain to
which he had been subjected； and from loss of the blood which flowed
from his wounds； yet he was slowly mastering the foaming brutes； who
themselves were torn and bleeding and exhausted。 Weaker and weaker
became the struggles of them all； when a sudden misstep sent Bulan
stumbling headforemost against the stem of a tree； where； stunned； he sank
unconscious； at the mercy of the relentless bulls。
They had already sprung upon the prostrate form of their victim to
finish what the accident had commenced； when the loud report of Sing's
revolver smote upon their startled ears as the Chinaman's bullet buried
itself in the heart of Number Ten。 Never had the ourang outangs heard
the sound of a firearm； and the noise； seemingly in such close proximity；
filled them with such terror that on the instant they forgot all else than this
new and startling fear； and with headlong haste leaped away into the
jungle； leaving Bulan lying where he had fallen。
So it was that though Sing passed within a few paces of the
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unconscious man he neither saw nor heard aught of him or his antagonists。
When Bulan returned to consciousness the day was drawing to a close。
He was stiff and sore and weak。 His head ached horribly。 He thought that
he must indeed be dying； for how could one who suffered so revive？ But
at last he managed to stagger to his feet； and finally to reach the stream
along which he had been travelling earlier in the day。 Here he quenched
his thirst and bathed his wounds； and as darkness came he lay down to
sleep upon a bed of matted grasses。
The next morning found him refreshed and in considerably less pain；
for the powers of recuperation which belonged to his perfect health and
mighty physique had already worked an almost miraculous transformati
