the monster men-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


d　the　rattle　of　the　anchor　chain　about　the　capstan。　　She　wondered　if　von　Horn　could　be　on　board　too。　　It　seemed　remarkable　that　all　should　have　reached　the　Ithaca　so　quickly；　and　equally　strange　that　none　of　her　own　people　were　on　deck　to　welcome　her；　or　to　command　the　vessel。

To　her　chagrin　she　found　her　father's　cabin　empty；　and　a　moment's　hurried　investigation　disclosed　the　fact　that　von　Horn's　was　unoccupied　as　well。　　Now　her　doubts　turned　quickly　to　fears；　and　with　a　little　gasp　of　dismay　at　the　grim　possibilities　which　surged　through　her　imagination　she　ran　quickly　to　the　companionway；　but　above　her　she　saw　that　the　hatch　was　down；　and　when　she　reached　the　top　that　it　was　fastened。　　Futilely　she　beat　upon　the　heavy　planks　with　her　delicate　hands；　calling　aloud　to　Bududreen　to　release　her；　but　there　was　no　reply；　and　with　the　realization　of　the　hopelessness　of　her　position　she　dropped　back　to　the　deck；　and　returned　to　her　stateroom。　　Here　she　locked　and　barricaded　the　door　as　best　she　could；　and　throwing　herself　upon　the　berth　awaited　in　dry…eyed　terror　the　next　blow　that　fate　held　in　store　for　her。　

Shortly　after　von　Horn　became　separated　from　Virginia　he　collided　with　the　fleeing　lascar　who　had　escaped　the　parangs　of　Muda　Saffir's　head　hunters　at　the　same　time　as　had　Bududreen。　　So　terror　stricken　was　the　fellow　that　he　had　thrown　away　his　weapons　in　the　panic　of　flight；　which　was　all　that　saved　von　Horn　from　death　at　the　hands　of　the　fear　crazed　man。　　To　him；　in　the　extremity　of　his　fright；　every　man　was　an　enemy；　and　the　doctor　had　a　tough　scuffle　with　him　before　he　could　impress　upon　the　fellow　that　he　was　a　friend。

From　him　von　Horn　obtained　an　incoherent　account　of　the　attack；　together　with　the　statement　that　he　was　the　only　person　in　camp　that　escaped；　all　the　others　having　been　cut　down　by　the　savage　horde　that　overwhelmed　them。　It　was　with　difficulty　that　von　Horn　persuaded　the　man　to　return　with　him　to　the　campong；　but　finally；　he　consented　to　do　so　when　the　doctor　with　drawn　revolver；　presented　death　as　the　only　alternative。

Together　they　cautiously　crept　back　toward　the　palisade；　not　knowing　at　what　moment　they　might　come　upon　the　savage　enemy　that　had　wrought　such　havoc　among　their　forces；　for　von　Horn　believed　the　lascar's　story　that　all　had　perished。　His　only　motive　for　returning　lay　in　his　desire　to　prevent　Virginia　Maxon　falling　into　the　hands　of　the　Dyaks；　or；　failing　that；　rescuing　her　from　their　clutches。

Whatever　faults　and　vices　were　Carl　von　Horn's　cowardice　was　not　one　of　them；　and　it　was　without　an　instant's　hesitation　that　he　had　elected　to　return　to　succor　the　girl　he　believed　to　have　returned　to　camp；　although　he　entertained　no　scruples　regarding　the　further　pursuit　of　his　dishonorable　intentions　toward　her；　should　he　succeed　in　saving　her　from　her　other　enemies。

As　the　two　approached　the　campong　quiet　seemed　to　have　again　fallen　about　the　scene　of　the　recent　alarm。　Muda　Saffir　had　passed　on　toward　the　cove　with　the　heavy　chest；　and　the　scrimmage　in　the　bungalow　was　over。　But　von　Horn　did　not　abate　his　watchfulness　as　he　stole　silently　within　the　precincts　of　the　north　campong；　and；　hugging　the　denser　shadows　of　the　palisade；　crept　toward　the　house。

The　dim　light　in　the　living　room　drew　him　to　one　of　the　windows　which　overlooked　the　verandah。　　A　glance　within　howed　him　Sing　and　Number　Thirteen　bending　over　the　body　of　Professor　Maxon。　　He　noted　the　handsome　face　and　perfect　figure　of　the　young　giant。　　He　saw　the　bodies　of　the　dead　lascars　and　Dyaks。　　Then　he　saw　Sing　and　the　young　man　lift　Professor　Maxon　tenderly　in　their　arms　and　bear　him　to　his　own　room。

A　sudden　wave　of　jealous　rage　swept　through　the　man's　vicious　brain。　　He　saw　that　the　soulless　thing　within　was　endowed　with　a　kindlier　and　more　noble　nature　than　he　himself　possessed。　　He　had　planted　the　seed　of　hatred　and　revenge　within　his　untutored　heart　without　avail；　for　he　read　in　the　dead　bodies　of　Bududreen's　men　and　the　two　Dyaks　the　story　of　Number　Thirteen's　defense　of　the　man　von　Horn　had　hoped　he　would　kill。

Von　Horn　was　quite　sure　now　that　Virginia　Maxon　was　not　within　the　campong。　　Either　she　had　become　confused　and　lost　in　the　jungle　after　she　left　him；　or　had　fallen　into　the　hands　of　the　wild　horde　that　had　attacked　the　camp。　　Convinced　of　this；　there　was　no　obstacle　to　thwart　the　sudden　plan　which　entered　his　malign　brain。　With　a　single　act　he　could　rid　himself　of　the　man　whom　he　had　come　to　look　upon　as　a　rival；　whose　physical　beauty　aroused　his　envy　and　jealousy；　he　could　remove；　in　the　person　of　Professor　Maxon；　the　parental　obstacle　which　might　either　prevent　his　obtaining　the　girl；　or　make　serious　trouble　for　him　in　case　he　took　her　by　force；　and　at　the　same　time　he　could　transfer　to　the　girl's　possession　the　fortune　which　was　now　her　father'sand　he　could　accomplish　it　all　without　tainting　his　own　hands　with　the　blood　of　his　victims。

As　the　full　possibilities　of　his　devilish　scheme　unfolded　before　his　mind's　eye　a　grim　smile　curled　his　straight；　thin　lips　at　the　thought　of　the　fate　which　it　entailed　for　the　creator　of　the　hideous　monsters　of　the　court　of　mystery。

As　he　turned　away　from　the　bungalow　his　eye　fell　upon　the　trembling　lascar　who　had　accompanied　him　to　the　edge　of　the　verandah。　　He　must　be　rid　of　the　fellow　in　some　wayno　eye　must　see　him　perpetrate　the　deed　he　had　in　mind。　　A　solution　quickly　occurred　to　him。

〃Hasten　to　the　harbor；〃　he　said　to　the　man　in　a　low　voice；　〃and　tell　those　on　board　the　ship　that　I　shall　join　them　presently。　　Have　all　in　readiness　to　sail。　I　wish　to　fetch　some　of　my　belongingsall　within　the　bungalow　are　dead。〃

No　command　could　have　better　suited　the　sailor。　Without　a　word　he　turned　and　fled　toward　the　jungle。　Von　Horn　walked　quickly　to　the　workshop。　　The　door　hung　open。　　Through　the　dark　interior　he　strode　straight　to　the　opposite　door　which　let　upon　the　court　of　mystery。　On　a　nail　driven　into　the　door　frame　hung　a　heavy　bull　whip。　The　doctor　took　it　down　as　he　raised　the　strong　bar　which　held　the　door。　　Then　he　stepped　through　into　the　moonlit　inner　campongthe　bull　whip　in　his　right　hand；　a　revolver　in　his　left。

A　half　dozen　misshapen　monsters　roved　restlessly　about　the　hard　packed　earth　of　the　pen。　　The　noise　of　the　battle　in　the　adjoining　enclosure　had　aroused　them　from　slumber　and　awakened　in　their　half　formed　brains　vague　questionings　and　fears。　　At　sight　of　von　Horn　several　of　them　rushed　for　him　with　menacing　growls；　but　a　swift　crack　of　the　bull　whip　brought　them　to　a　sudden　realization　of　the　identity　of　the　intruder；　so　that　they　slunk　away；　muttering　and　whining　in　rage。

Von　Horn　passed　quickly　to　the　low　shed　in　which　the　remainder　of　the　eleven　were　sleeping。　　With　vicious　cuts　from　the　stinging　lash　he　lay　about　him　upon　the　sleeping　things。　　Roaring　and　shrieking　in　pain　and　anger　the　creatures　stumbled　to　their　feet　and　lumbered　awkwardly　into　the　open。　　Two　of　them　turned　upon　their　tormentor；　but　the　burning　weapon　on　their　ill　protected　flesh　sent　them　staggering　back　out　of　reach；　and　in　another　moment　all　were　huddled　in　the　center　of　the　campong。

As　cattle　are　driven；　von　Horn　drove　the　miserable　creatures　toward　the　door　of　the　workshop。　　At　the　threshold　of　the　dark　interior　the　frightened　things　halted　fearfully；　and　then　as　von　Horn　urged　them　on　from　behind　with　his　cruel　whip　they　milled　as　cattle　at　the　entrance　to　a　strange　corral。

Again　and　again　he　urged　them　for　the　door；　but　each　time　they　turned　away；　and　to　escape　the　whip　beat　and　tore　at　the　wall　of　the　palisade　in　a　vain　effort　to　batter　it　from　their　pathway。　　Their　roars　and　shrieks　were　almost　deafening　as　von　Horn；　losing　what　little　remained　of　his　scant　self…control；　dashed　among　them　laying　to　right　and　left　with　the　stern　whip　and　the　butt　of　his　heavy　revolver。

Most　of　the　monsters　scattered　and　turned　back　into　the　center　of　the　enclosure；　but　three　of　them　were　forced　through　the　doorway　into　the　workshop；　from　the　darkness　of　which　they　saw　the　patch　of　moonlight　through　the　open　door　upon　the　opposite　side。　　Toward　this　they　scurried　as　von　Horn　turned　back　into　the　court　of　mystery　for　the　others。

Three　more　herculean　efforts　he　made　before　he　beat　the　last　of　the　creatures　through　the　outer　doorway　of　the　workshop　into　the　north　campong。


Among　the　age　old　arts　of　the　celestials　none　is　more　strangely　inspiring　than　that　of　medicine。　　Odd　herbs　and　unspeakable　things　when　properly　compounded　under　a　favorable　aspect　of　the　heavenly　bodies　are　potent　to　achieve　miraculous　cures；　and　few　are　the　Chinamen　who　do　not　brew　some　special　concoction　of　their　own　devising　for　the　lesser　ills　which　beset　mankind。

Sing　was　no　exception　in　this　respect。　　In　various　queerly　shaped；　bamboo　covered　jars　he　maintained　a　supply　of　tonics；　balms　and　lotions。　　His　first　thought　when　he　had　made　Professor　Maxon　comfortable　upon　the　couch　was　to　fetch　his　pet　nostrum；　for　there　burned　strong　within　his　yellow　breast　the　same　powerful　yearning　to　experiment　that　marks　the　greatest　of　the　profession　to　whose　mysteries　he　aspired。

Though　the　hideous　noises　from　the　inner　campong　rose　threateningly；　the　imperturbable　Sing　left　the　bungalow　and　passed　across　the　north　campong　to　the　little　lean…to　that　he　had　built　for　himself　against　the　palisade　that　separated　the　north　enclosure　from　the　court　of　mystery。

Here　he　rummaged　about　in　the　dark　until　he　had　found　the　two　phials　he　sought。　　The　noise　of　the　monsters　upon　the　opposite　side　of　the　palisade　had　now　assumed　the　dimensions　of　pandemonium；　and　through　it　all　the　Chinaman　heard　the　constant　crack　that　was　the　sharp　voice　of　the　bull　whip。

He　had　completed　his　search　and　was　about　to　return　to　the　bungalow　when　the　first　of　the　monsters　emerged　into　the　north　campong　from　the　workshop。　　At　the　door　of　his　shack　Sing　Lee　drew　back　to　watch；　for　he　knew　that　behind　them　some　one　was　driving　these　horribly　grotesque　creatures　from　their　prison。

One　by　one　they　came　lumbering　into　the　moonlight　until　Sing　had　counted　eleven；　and　then；　after　them；　came　a　white　man；　bull　whip　and　revolver　in　hand。　　It　was　von　Horn。　　The　equatorial　moon　shone　full　upon　himthere　could　be　no　mistake。　　The　Chinaman　saw　him　turn　and　lock　the　workshop　door；　saw　him　cross　the　campong　to　the　outer　gate；　saw　him　pass　through　toward　the　jungle；　closing　the　gate。

Of　a　sudden　there　was　a　sad；　low　moaning　through　the　surrounding　trees；　dense；　black　clouds　obscured　the　radiant　moon；　and　then　with　hideous　thunder　and　vivid　flashes　of　lightning　the　tempest　broke　in　all　its　fury　of　lashing　wind　and　hurtling　deluge。　　It　was　the　first　great　storm　of　the　breaking　up　of　the　monsoon；　and　under　the　cover　of　its　darkness　Sing　Lee　scurried　through　the　monster　filled　campong　to　the　bungalow。　Within　he　found　the　young　man　bathing　Professor　Maxon's　head　as　he　had　directed　him　to　do。

〃All　gettee　out；〃　he　said；　jerking　his　thumb　in　the　direction　of　the　court　of　mystery。　　〃Eleven　devils。　Plenty　soon　come　bung'low。　　What　do？〃

Number　Thirteen　had　seen　von　Horn's　extra　bull　whip　hanging　upon　a　peg　in　the　living　room。　　For　answer　he　stepped　into　that　room　and　took　the　weapon　down。　Then　he　returned　to　the　professor's　side。

Outside　the　fri