the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第36节
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each have the finest rifles that the white man makes； with ammunition
enough to last you a year。 All I ask is that you guide me within sight of the
party that pursues Ninaka； then you may leave me and tell no one what
you have done； nor will I tell any。 What say you？〃 The two natives
consulted together in low tones。 At last they drew nearer the shore。
〃Will you give us each a bracelet of brass as well as the rifles？〃 asked
the spokesman。
Von Horn hesitated。 He knew the native nature well。 To have
acquiesced too readily would have been to have invited still further
demands from them。
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〃Only the rifles and ammunition；〃 he said at last； 〃unless you succeed
in keeping the knowledge of my presence from both Barunda's uncle and
Muda Saffir。 If you do that you shall have the bracelets also。〃
The prow of the sampan touched the bank。
〃Come！〃 said one of the warriors。
Von Horn stepped aboard。 He was armed only with a brace of Colts；
and he was going into the heart of the wild country of the head hunters； to
pit his wits against those of the wily Muda Saffir。 His guides were two
savage head hunting warriors of a pirate crew from whom he hoped to
steal what they considered a fabulously rich treasure。 Whatever sins
might be laid to the door of the doctor； there could be no question but that
he was a very brave man！
Von Horn's rash adventure had been suggested by the hope that he
might； by bribing some of the natives with Barunda's uncle； make way
with the treasure before Muda Saffir arrived to claim it； or； failing that；
learn its exact whereabouts that he might return for it with an adequate
force later。 That he was taking his life in his hands he well knew； but so
great was the man's cupidity that he reckoned no risk too great for the
acquirement of a fortune。
The two Dyaks； paddling in silence up the dark river； proceeded for
nearly three hours before they drew in to the bank and dragged the sampan
up into the bushes。 Then they set out upon a narrow trail into the jungle。 It
so happened that after travelling for several miles they inadvertently took
another path than that followed by the party under Barunda's uncle； so that
they passed the latter without being aware of it； going nearly half a mile to
the right of where the trailers camped a short distance from the bivouac of
Ninaka。
In the dead of night Ninaka and his party had crawled away under the
very noses of the avengers； taking the chest with them； and by chance von
Horn and the two Dyaks cut back into the main trail along the river almost
at the very point that Ninaka halted to bury the treasure。
And so it was that Bulan was not the only one who watched the hiding
of the chest。
When Ninaka had disappeared down the river trail Bulan lay
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speculating upon the strange actions he had witnessed。 He wondered why
the men should dig a hole in the midst of the jungle to hide away the box
which he had so often seen in Professor Maxon's workshop。 It occurred to
him that it might be well to remember just where the thing was buried； so
that he could lead the professor to it should he ever see the old man again。
As he lay thus； half dozing； his attention was attracted by a stealthy
rustling in the bushes nearby； and as he watched he was dumbfounded to
see von Horn creep out into the moonlight。 A moment later the man was
followed by two Dyaks。 The three stood conversing in low tones；
pointing repeatedly at the spot where the chest lay hidden。 Bulan could
understand but little of their conversation； but it was evident that von Horn
was urging some proposition to which the warriors demurred。
Suddenly； without an instant's warning； von Horn drew his gun；
wheeled； and fired point…blank； first at one of his companions； then at the
other。 Both men fell in their tracks； and scarcely had the pungent odor of
the powder smoke reached Bulan's nostrils ere the white man had plunged
into the jungle and disappeared。
Failing in his attempt to undermine the loyalty of the two Dyaks von
Horn had chosen the only other way to keep the knowledge of the
whereabouts of the chest from Barunda's uncle and Muda Saffir； and now
his principal interest in life was to escape the vengeance of the head
hunters and return to the long…house before his absence should be
detected。
There he could form a party of natives and set out to regain the chest
after Muda Saffir and Barunda's uncle had given up the quest。 That
suspicion should fall on him seemed scarcely credible since the only men
who knew that he had left the long…house that night lay dead upon the very
spot where the treasure reposed。
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14 MAN OR MONSTER？
When Muda Saffir turned from the two Dyaks who had brought him
news of the treasure he hastened to the long…house and arousing the chief
of the tribe who domiciled there explained that necessity required that the
rajah have at once two war prahus fully manned。 Now the power of the
crafty old Malay extended from one end of this great river on which the
long…house lay to the other； and though not all the tribes admitted
allegiance to him； yet there were few who would not furnish him with men
and boats when he required them； for his piratical cruises carried him
often up and down the stream； and with his savage horde it was possible
for him to wreak summary and terrible vengeance upon those who
opposed him。
When he had explained his wishes to the chief； the latter； though at
heart hating and fearing Muda Saffir； dared not refuse； but to a second
proposition he offered strong opposition until the rajah threatened to wipe
out his entire tribe should he not accede to his demands。
The thing which the chief demurred to had occurred to Muda Saffir
even as he walked back from the river after conversing with the two Dyak
messengers。 The thought of regaining the treasure； the while he
administered punishment to the traitorous Ninaka； filled his soul with
savage happiness。 Now if he could but once more possess himself of the
girl！ And why not？ There was only the sick old man； a Chinaman and
von Horn to prevent it； and the chances were that they all were asleep。
So he explained to the chief the plan that had so suddenly sprung to his
wicked mind。
〃Three men with parangs may easily quiet the old man； his assistant
and the Chinaman；〃 he said； 〃and then we can take the girl along with us。〃
The chief refused at first； point…blank； to be a party to any such
proceedings。 He knew what had happened to the Sakkaran Dyaks after
they had murdered a party of Englishmen； and he did not purpose laying
himself and his tribe open to the vengeance of the white men who came in
many boats and with countless guns and cannon to take a terrible toll for
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every drop of white blood spilled。
So it was that Muda Saffir was forced to compromise； and be satisfied
with the chief's assistance in abducting the girl； for it was not so difficult a
matter to convince the head hunter that she really had belonged to the
rajah； and that she had been stolen from him by the old man and the doctor。
Virginia slept in a room with three Dyak women。 It was to this apartment
that the chief finally consented to dispatch two of his warriors。 The men
crept noiselessly within the pitch dark interior until they came to the
sleeping form of one of the Dyak women。 Cautiously they awoke her。
〃Where is the white girl？〃 asked one of the men in a low
