the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第37节
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〃Where is the white girl？〃 asked one of the men in a low whisper。
〃Muda Saffir has sent us for her。 Tell her that her father is very sick and
wants her； but do not mention Muda Saffir's name lest she might not
come。〃
The whispering awakened Virginia and she lay wondering what the
cause of the midnight conference might be； for she recognized that one of
the speakers was a man； and there had been no man in the apartment when
she had gone to sleep earlier in the night。
Presently she heard some one approach her； and a moment later a
woman's voice addressed her； but she could not understand enough of the
native tongue to make out precisely the message the speaker wished to
convey。 The words 〃father；〃 〃sick；〃 and 〃come；〃 however she finally
understood after several repetitions； for she had picked up a smattering of
the Dyak language during her enforced association with the natives。
The moment that the possibilities suggested by these few words
dawned upon her； she sprang to her feet and followed the woman toward
the door of the apartment。 Immediately without the two warriors stood
upon the verandah awaiting their victim； and as Virginia passed through
the doorway she was seized roughly from either side； a heavy hand was
clapped over her mouth； and before she could make even an effort to rebel
she had been dragged to the end of the verandah； down the notched log to
the ground and a moment later found herself in a war prahu which was
immediately pushed into the stream。
Since Virginia had come to the long…house after her rescue from the
ourang outangs； supposedly by von Horn； Rajah Muda Saffir had kept
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THE MONSTER MEN
very much out of sight； for he knew that should the girl see him she would
recognize him as the man who had stolen her from the Ithaca。 So it came
as a mighty shock to the girl when she heard the hated tones of the man
whom she had knocked overboard from the prahu two nights before； and
realized that the bestial Malay sat close beside her； and that she was again
in his power。 She looked now for no mercy； nor could she hope to again
escape him so easily as she had before； and so she sat with bowed head in
the bottom of the swiftly moving craft； buried in anguished thoughts；
hopeless and miserable。
Along the stretch of black river that the prahu and her consort covered
that night Virginia Maxon saw no living thing other than a single figure in
a small sampan which hugged the shadows of the shore as the two larger
boats met and passed it； nor answered their hail。
Where von Horn and his two Dyak guides had landed； Muda Saffir's
force disembarked and plunged into the jungle。 Rapidly they hastened
along the well known trail toward the point designated by the two
messengers； to come upon the spot almost simultaneously with the party
under Barunda's uncle； who； startled by the two shots several hours
previously； had been cautiously searching through the jungle for an
explanation of them。
They had gone warily for fear that they might stumble upon Ninaka's
party before Muda Saffir arrived with reinforcements； and but just now
had they discovered the prostrate forms of their two companions。 One was
dead； but the other was still conscious and had just sufficient vitality left
after the coming of his fellows to whisper that they had been treacherously
shot by the younger white man who had been at the long…house where they
had found Muda Saffirthen the fellow expired without having an
opportunity to divulge the secret hiding place of the treasure； over the top
of which his body lay。
Now Bulan had been an interested witness of all that transpired。 At
first he had been inclined to come out of his hiding place and follow von
Horn； but so much had already occurred beneath the branches of the great
tree where the chest lay hidden that he decided to wait until morning at
least； for he was sure that he had by no means seen the last of the drama
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THE MONSTER MEN
which surrounded the heavy box。 This belief was strengthened by the
haste displayed by both Ninaka and von Horn to escape the neighborhood
as quickly as possible； as though they feared that they might be
apprehended should they delay even for a moment。
Number Three and Number Twelve still slept； not having been aroused
even by the shots fired by von Horn。 Bulan himself had dozed after the
departure of the doctor； but the advent of Barunda's uncle with his
followers had awakened him； and now he lay wide eyed and alert as the
second party； under Muda Saffir； came into view when they left the jungle
trail and entered the clearing。
His interest in either party was but passive until he saw the khaki
blouse； short skirt and trim leggins of the captive walking between two of
the Dyaks of Muda Saffir's company。 At the same instant he recognized
the evil features of the rajah as those of the man who had directed the
abduction of Virginia Maxon from the wrecked Ithaca。
Like a great cat Bulan drew himself cautiously to all fours every
nerve and muscle taut with the excitement of the moment。 Before him he
saw a hundred and fifty ferocious Borneo head hunters； armed with
parangs； spears and sumpitans。 At his back slept two almost brainless
creatureshis sole support against the awful odds he must face before he
could hope to succor the divinity whose image was enshrined in his brave
and simple heart。
The muscles stood out upon his giant forearm as he gripped the stock
of his bull whip。 He believed that he was going to his death； for mighty
as were his thews he knew that in the face of the horde they would avail
him little； yet he saw no other way than to sit supinely by while the girl
went to her doom； and that he could not do。 He nudged Number Twelve。
〃Silence！〃 he whispered； and 〃Come！ The girl is here。 We must save her。
Kill the men；〃 and the same to the hairy and terrible Number Three。
Both the creatures awoke and rose to their hands and knees without
noise that could be heard above the chattering of the natives； who had
crowded forward to view the dead bodies of von Horn's victims。 Silently
Bulan came to his feet； the two monsters at his back rising and pressing
close behind him。 Along the denser shadows the three crept to a position in
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the rear of the natives。 The girl's guards had stepped forward with the
others to join in the discussion that followed the dying statement of the
murdered warrior； leaving her upon the outer fringe of the crowd。
For an instant a sudden hope of escape sprang to Virginia Maxon's
mindthere was none between her and the jungle through which they had
just passed。 Though unknown dangers lurked in the black and uncanny
depths of the dismal forest； would not death in any form be far preferable
to the hideous fate which awaited her in the person of the bestial Malay
pirate？
She had turned to take the first step toward freedom when three figures
emerged from the wall of darkness behind her。 She saw the war…caps；
shields； and war… coats； and her heart sank。 Here were others of the
rajah's partystragglers who had come just in time to thwart her plans。
How large these men wereshe never had seen a native of such giant
proportions； and now they had come quite close to her； and as the
foremost stooped to speak to her she shrank back in fear。 Then； to her
surprise； she heard in whispered English； 〃Come quietly； while they are
not looking。〃
She thought the voice familiar； but could not place it； though her heart
whispered that it might bel
