the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第9节
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corpse； while the white hair and pink eyes denoted the absence of pigment；
a characteristic of albinos。
One eye was fully twice the diameter of the other； and an inch above
the horizontal plane of its tiny mate。 The nose was but a gaping orifice
above a deformed and twisted mouth。 The thing was chinless； and its
small； foreheadless head surrounded its colossal body like a cannon ball
on a hill top。 One arm was at least twelve inches longer than its mate；
which was itself long in proportion to the torso； while the legs； similarly
mismated and terminating in huge； flat feet that protruded laterally； caused
the thing to lurch fearfully from side to side as it lumbered toward the girl。
A sudden grimace lighted the frightful face as the grotesque eyes fell
upon this new creature。 Number One had never before seen a woman；
but the sight of this one awoke in the unplumbed depths of his soulless
breast a great desire to lay his hands upon her。 She was very beautiful。
Number One wished to have her for his very own； nor would it be a
difficult matter； so fragile was she； to gather her up in those great； brute
arms and carry her deep into the jungle far out of hearing of the bull…whip
man and the cold； frowning one who was continually measuring and
weighing Number One and his companions； the while he scrutinized them
with those strange； glittering eyes that frightened one even more than the
cruel lash of the bull whip。
Number One lurched forward； his arms outstretched toward the horror
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stricken girl。 Virginia tried to cry out againshe tried to turn and run； but
the horror of her impending fate and the terror that those awful features
induced left her paralyzed and helpless。
The thing was almost upon her now。 The mouth was wide in a
hideous attempt to smile。 The great hands would grasp her in another
secondand then there was a sudden crashing of the underbrush behind
her； a yellow； wrinkled face and a flying pig…tail shot past her； and the
brave old Sing Lee grappled with the mighty monster that threatened her。
The battle was shortshort and terrible。 The valiant Chinaman
sought the ashen throat of his antagonist； but his wiry； sinewy muscles
were as reeds beneath the force of that inhuman power that opposed them。
Holding the girl at arm's length in one hand； Number One tore the battling
Chinaman from him with the other； and lifting him bodily above his head；
hurled him stunned and bleeding against the bole of a giant buttress tree。
Then lifting Virginia in his arms once more he dived into the impenetrable
mazes of the jungle that lined the more open pathway between the beach
and camp。
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THE MONSTER MEN
4 A NEW FACE
As Professor Maxon and von Horn rushed from the workshop to their
own campong； they neglected； in their haste； to lock the door between； and
for the first time since the camp was completed it stood unlatched and ajar。
The professor had been engaged in taking careful measurements of the
head of his latest experiment； the while he coached the young man in the
first rudiments of spoken language； and now the subject of his labors
found himself suddenly deserted and alone。 He had not yet been without
the four walls of the workshop； as the professor had wished to keep him
from association with the grotesque results of his earlier experiments； and
now a natural curiosity tempted him to approach the door through which
his creator and the man with the bull whip had so suddenly disappeared。
He saw before him a great walled enclosure roofed by a lofty azure
dome； and beyond the walls the tops of green trees swaying gently in the
soft breezes。 His nostrils tasted the incense of fresh earth and growing
things。 For the first time he felt the breath of Nature； free and unconfined；
upon his brow。
He drew his giant frame to its full height and drank in the freedom and
the sweetness of it all； filling his great lungs to their fullest； and with the
first taste he learned to hate the close and stuffy confines of his prison。
His virgin mind was filled with wonder at the wealth of new
impressions which surged to his brain through every sense。 He longed
for more； and the open gateway of the campong was a scarce needed
invitation to pass to the wide world beyond。 With the free and easy tread
of utter unconsciousness of self； he passed across the enclosure and
stepped out into the clearing which lay between the palisade and the
jungle。
Ah； here was a still more beautiful world！ The green leaves nodded
to him； and at their invitation he came and the jungle reached out its
million arms to embrace him。 Now before him； behind； on either side
there was naught but glorious green beauty shot with splashes of gorgeous
color that made him gasp in wonderment。
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Brilliant birds rose from amidst it all； skimming hither and thither
above his headhe thought that the flowers and the birds were the same；
and when he reached out and plucked a blossom； tenderly； he wondered
that it did not flutter in his hand。 On and on he walked； but slowly； for he
must not miss a single sight in the strange and wonderful place； and then；
of a sudden； the quiet beauty of the scene was harshly broken by the
crashing of a monster through the underbrush。
Number Thirteen was standing in a little open place in the jungle when
the discordant note first fell upon his ears； and as he turned his head in the
direction of the sound he was startled at the hideous aspect of the thing
which broke through the foliage before him。
What a horrid creature！ But on the same instant his eyes fell upon
another borne in the arms of the terrible one。 This one was differentvery
different； soft and beautiful and white。 He wondered what it all meant；
for everything was strange and new to him； but when he saw the eyes of
the lovely one upon him； and her arms outstretched toward him； though he
did not understand the words upon her lips； he knew that she was in
distress。 Something told him that it was the ugly thing that carried her
that was the author of her suffering。
Virginia Maxon had been half unconscious from fright when she
suddenly saw a white man； clothed in coarse； white； native pajamas；
confronting her and the misshapen beast that was bearing her away to
what frightful fate she could but conjecture。
At the sight of the man her voice returned with returning hope； and she
reached her arms toward him； calling upon him to save her。 Although he
did not respond she thought that he understood for he sprang toward them
before her appeal was scarce uttered。
As before； when Sing had threatened to filch his new possession from
him； Number One held the girl with one hand while he met the attack of
this new assailant with the other； but here was very different metal than
had succumbed to him before。
It is true that Number Thirteen knew nothing whatever of personal
combat； but Number One had but little advantage of him in the matter of
experience； while the former was equipped with great natural intelligence
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as well as steel muscles no whit less powerful than his deformed
predecessor。
So it was that the awful giant found his single hand helpless to cope
with the strength of his foeman； and in a brief instant felt powerful fingers
clutching at his throat。 Still reluctant to surrender his hold upon his prize；
he beat futilely at the face of his enemy； but at last the agony of choking
compelled him to drop the girl and grapple madly w
