the monster men-第27章

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Bulan　rigged　a　rude　shelter　for　her；　making　her　lie　down　beneath　it；　and　then　he　removed　his　Dyak　war…coat　and　threw　it　over　her；　but　it　was　hours　before　her　exhausted　body　overpowered　her　nervous　fright　and　won　a　fitful　and　restless　slumber。　　Several　times　Virginia　became　obsessed　with　the　idea　that　Bulan　had　left　her　alone　there　in　the　jungle；　but　when　she　called　his　name　he　answered　from　close　beside　her　shelter。

She　thought　that　he　had　reared　another　for　himself　nearby；　but　even　the　thought　that　he　might　sleep　filled　her　with　dread；　yet　she　would　not　call　to　him　again；　since　she　knew　that　he　needed　his　rest　even　more　than　she。　　And　all　the　night　Bulan　stood　close　beside　the　woman　he　had　learned　to　love　stood　almost　naked　in　the　chill　night　air　and　the　cold　rain；　lest　some　savage　man　or　beast　creep　out　of　the　darkness　after　her　while　he　slept。

The　next　day　with　its　night；　and　the　next；　and　the　next　were　but　repetitions　of　the　first。　　It　had　become　an　agony　of　suffering　for　the　man　to　fight　off　sleep　longer。　The　girl　read　part　of　the　truth　in　his　heavy　eyes　and　worn　face；　and　tried　to　force　him　to　take　needed　rest；　but　she　did　not　guess　that　he　had　not　slept　for　four　days　and　nights。

At　last　abused　Nature　succumbed　to　the　terrific　strain　that　had　been　put　upon　her；　and　the　giant　constitution　of　the　man　went　down　before　the　cold　and　the　wet；　weakened　and　impoverished　by　loss　of　sleep　and　insufficient　food；　for　through　the　last　two　days　he　had　been　able　to　find　but　little；　and　that　little　he　had　given　to　the　girl；　telling　her　that　he　had　eaten　his　fill　while　he　gathered　hers。

It　was　on　the　fifth　morning；　when　Virginia　awoke；　that　she　found　Bulan　rolling　and　tossing　upon　the　wet　ground　before　her　shelter；　delirious　with　fever。　　At　the　sight　of　the　mighty　figure　reduced　to　pitiable　inefficiency　and　weakness；　despite　the　knowledge　that　her　protector　could　no　longer　protect；　the　fear　of　the　jungle　faded　from　the　heart　of　the　young　girlshe　was　no　more　a　weak　and　trembling　daughter　of　an　effete　civilization。　Instead　she　was　a　lioness；　watching　over　and　protecting　her　sick　mate。　　The　analogy　did　not　occur　to　her；　but　something　else　did　as　she　saw　the　flushed　face　and　fever　wracked　body　of　the　man　whose　appeal　to　her　she　would　have　thought　purely　physical　had　she　given　the　subject　any　analytic　consideration；　and　as　a　realization　of　his　utter　helplessness　came　to　her　she　bent　over　him　and　kissed　first　his　forehead　and　then　his　lips。

〃What　a　noble　and　unselfish　love　yours　has　been；〃　she　murmured。　　〃You　have　even　tried　to　hide　it　that　my　position　might　be　the　easier　to　bear；　and　now　that　it　may　be　too　late　I　learn　that　I　love　youthat　I　have　always　loved　you。　　Oh；　Bulan；　my　Bulan；　what　a　cruel　fate　that　permitted　us　to　find　one　another　only　to　die　together！〃



16

SING　SPEAKS


For　a　week　Professor　Maxon　with　von　Horn　and　Sing　sought　for　Virginia。　　They　could　get　no　help　from　the　natives　of　the　long…house；　who　feared　the　vengeance　of　Muda　Saffir　should　he　learn　that　they　had　aided　the　white　men　upon　his　trail。

And　always　as　the　three　hunted　through　the　jungle　and　up　and　down　the　river　there　lurked　ever　near　a　handful　of　the　men　of　the　tribe　of　the　two　whom　von　Horn　had　murdered；　waiting　for　the　chance　that　would　give　them　revenge　and　the　heads　of　the　three　they　followed。　They　feared　the　guns　of　the　white　men　too　much　to　venture　an　open　attack；　and　at　night　the　quarry　never　abated　their　watchfulness；　so　that　days　dragged　on；　and　still　the　three　continued　their　hopeless　quest　unconscious　of　the　relentless　foe　that　dogged　their　footsteps。

Von　Horn　was　always　searching　for　an　opportunity　to　enlist　the　aid　of　the　friendly　natives　in　an　effort　to　regain　the　chest；　but　so　far　he　had　found　none　who　would　agree　to　accompany　him　even　in　consideration　of　a　large　share　of　the　booty。　　It　was　the　treasure　alone　which　kept　him　to　the　search　for　Virginia　Maxon；　and　he　made　it　a　point　to　direct　the　hunt　always　in　the　vicinity　of　the　spot　where　it　was　buried；　for　a　great　fear　consumed　him　that　Ninaka　might　return　and　claim　it　before　he　had　a　chance　to　make　away　with　it。

Three　times　during　the　week　they　returned　and　slept　at　the　long…house；　hoping　each　time　to　learn　that　the　natives　had　received　some　news　of　her　they　sought；　through　the　wonderful　channels　of　communication　that　seemed　always　open　across　the　trackless　jungle　and　up　and　down　the　savage；　lonely　rivers。

For　two　days　Bulan　lay　raving　in　the　delirium　of　fever；　while　the　delicate　girl；　unused　to　hardship　and　exposure；　watched　over　him　and　nursed　him　with　the　loving　tenderness　and　care　of　a　young　mother　with　her　first　born。

For　the　most　part　the　young　giant's　ravings　were　inarticulate；　but　now　and　then　Virginia　heard　her　name　linked　with　words　of　reverence　and　worship。　The　man　fought　again　the　recent　battles　he　had　passed　through；　and　again　suffered　the　long　night　watches　beside　the　sleeping　girl　who　filled　his　heart。　　Then　it　was　that　she　learned　the　truth　of　his　self…sacrificing　devotion。　The　thing　that　puzzled　her　most　was　the　repetition　of　a　number　and　a　name　which　ran　through　all　his　delirium　〃Nine　ninety　nine　Priscilla。〃

She　could　make　neither　head　nor　tail　of　it；　nor　was　there　another　word　to　give　a　clue　to　its　meaning；　so　at　last　from　constant　repetition　it　became　a　commonplace　and　she　gave　it　no　further　thought。

The　girl　had　given　up　hope　that　Bulan　ever　could　recover；　so　weak　and　emaciated　had　he　become；　and　when　the　fever　finally　left　him　quite　suddenly　she　was　positive　that　it　was　the　beginning　of　the　end。　It　was　on　the　morning　of　the　seventh　day　since　they　had　commenced　their　wandering　in　search　of　the　long…house　that；　as　she　sat　watching　him；　she　saw　his　eyes　resting　upon　her　face　with　a　look　of　recognition。

Gently　she　took　his　hand；　and　at　the　act　he　smiled　at　her　very　weakly。

〃You　are　better；　Bulan；〃　she　said。　　〃You　have　been　very　sick；　but　now　you　shall　soon　be　well　again。〃

She　did　not　believe　her　own　words；　yet　the　mere　saying　of　them　gave　her　renewed　hope。

〃Yes；〃　replied　the　man。　　〃I　shall　soon　be　well　again。　How　long　have　I　been　like　this？〃

〃For　two　days；〃　she　replied。

〃And　you　have　watched　over　me　alone　in　the　jungle　for　two　days？〃　he　asked　incredulously。

〃Had　it　been　for　life；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃it　would　scarce　have　repaid　the　debt　I　owe　you。〃

For　a　long　time　he　lay　looking　up　into　her　eyes　longingly；　wistfully。

〃I　wish　that　it　had　been　for　life；〃　he　said。

At　first　she　did　not　quite　realize　what　he　meant；　but　presently　the　tired　and　hopeless　expression　of　his　eyes　brought　to　her　a　sudden　knowledge　of　his　meaning。

〃Oh；　Bulan；〃　she　cried；　〃you　must　not　say　that。　Why　should　you　wish　to　die？〃

〃Because　I　love　you；　Virginia；〃　he　replied。　〃And　because；　when　you　know　what　I　am；　you　will　hate　and　loathe　me。〃

On　the　girl's　lips　was　an　avowal　of　her　own　love；　but　as　she　bent　closer　to　whisper　the　words　in　his　ear　there　came　the　sound　of　men　crashing　through　the　jungle；　and　as　she　turned　to　face　the　peril　that　she　thought　approaching；　von　Horn　sprang　into　view；　while　directly　behind　him　came　her　father　and　Sing　Lee。

Bulan　saw　them　at　the　same　instant；　and　as　Virginia　ran　forward　to　greet　her　father　he　staggered　weakly　to　his　feet。　Von　Horn　was　the　first　to　see　the　young　giant；　and　with　an　oath　sprang　toward　him；　drawing　his　revolver　as　he　came。

〃You　beast；〃　he　cried。　　〃We　have　caught　you　at　last。〃

At　the　words　Virginia　turned　back　toward　Bulan　with　a　little　scream　of　warning　and　of　horror。　Professor　Maxon　was　behind　her。

〃Shoot　the　monster；　von　Horn；〃　he　ordered。　〃Do　not　let　him　escape。〃

Bulan　drew　himself　to　his　full　height；　and　though　he　wavered　from　weakness；　yet　he　towered　mighty　and　magnificent　above　the　evil　faced　man　who　menaced　him。

〃Shoot！〃　he　said　calmly。　　〃Death　cannot　come　too　soon　now。〃

At　the　same　instant　von　Horn　pulled　the　trigger。　The　giant's　head　fell　back；　he　staggered；　whirled　about；　and　crumpled　to　the　earth　just　as　Virginia　Maxon's　arms　closed　about　him。

Von　Horn　rushed　close　and　pushing　the　girl　aside　pressed　the　muzzle　of　his　gun　to　Bulan's　temple；　but　an　avalanche　of　wrinkled；　yellow　skin　was　upon　him　before　he　could　pull　the　trigger　a　second　time；　and　Sing　had　hurled　him　back　a　dozen　feet　and　snatched　his　weapon。

Moaning　and　sobbing　Virginia　threw　herself　upon　the　body　of　the　man　she　loved；　while　Professor　Maxon　hurried　to　her　side　to　drag　her　away　from　the　soulless　thing　for　whom　he　had　once　intended　her。

Like　a　tigress　the　girl　turned　upon　the　two　white　men。

〃You　are　murderers；〃　she　cried。　　〃Cowardly　murderers。　Weak　and　exhausted　by　fever　he　could　not　combat　you；　and　so　you　have　robbed　the　world　of　one　of　the　noblest　men　that　God　ever　created。〃

〃Hush！〃　cried　Professor　Maxon。　　〃Hush；　child；　you　do　not　know　what　you　say。　　The　thing　was　a　monster　a　soulless　monster。〃

At　the　words　the　girl　looked　up　quickly　at　her　father；　a　faint　realization　of　his　meaning　striking　her　like　a　blow　in　the　face。

〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　whispered。　　〃Who　was　he？〃

It　was　von　Horn　who　answered。

〃No　god　created　that；〃　he　said；　with　a　contemptuous　glance　at　the　still　body　of　the　man　at　their　feet。　〃He　was　one　of　the　creatures　of　your　father's　mad　experimentsthe　soulless　thing　for　whose　arms　his　insane　obsession　doomed　you。　　The　thing　at　your　feet；　Virginia；　was　Number　Thirteen。〃

With　a　piteous　little　moan　the　girl　turned　back　toward　the　body　of　the　young　giant。　　A　faltering　step　she　took　toward　it；　and　then　to　the　horror　of　her　father　she　sank　upon　her　knees　beside　it　and　lifting　the　man's　head　in　her　arms　covered　the　face　with　kisses。

〃Virginia！〃　cried　the　professor。　　〃Are　you　mad；　child？〃

〃I　am　not　mad；〃　she　moaned；　〃not　yet。　　I　love　him。　Man　or　monster；　it　would　have　been　all　the　same　to　me；　for　I　loved　him。〃

Her　father　turned　away；　burying　his　face　in　his　hands。

〃God！〃　he　muttered。　　〃What　an　awful　punishment　you　have　visited　upon　me　for　the　sin　of　the　thing　I　did。〃

The　silence　which　followed　was　broken　by　Sing　who　had　kneeled　opposite　Virginia　upon　the　other　side　of　Bulan；　where　he　was　feeling　the　giant's　wrists　and　pressing　his　ear　close　above　his　heart。

〃Do'n　cly；　Linee；〃　said　the　kindly　old　Chinaman。　〃Him　no　dlead。〃　　Then；　as　he　poured　a　pinch　of　brownish　powder　into　the　man's　mouth　from　a　tiny　sack　he　had　brought　forth　from　the　depths　of　one　of　his　sleeves：　〃Him　no　mlonster　either；　Linee。　　Him　white　man；　alsame　Mlaxon。　　Sing　know。〃

The　girl　looked　up　at　him　in　gratitude。

〃He　is　not　dead；　Sing？　　He　will　live？〃　she　cried。　〃I　don't　care　about　anything　else；　Sing；　if　you　will　only　make　him　live。〃

〃Him　live。　　Gettem　lilee　flesh　wounds。　　Las　all。〃

〃What　do　you　mean　by　saying　that　he　is　not　a　monster？〃　demanded　von　Horn。

〃You　waitee；　you　dam　flool；〃　cried　Sing。　　〃I　tellee　lot　more　I　know。　　You　waitee　I　flixee　him；　and　then；　by　God；　I　flixee　you。〃

Von　Horn　took　a　menacing　step　toward　the　Chinaman；　his　face　black　with　wrath；　but　Professor　Maxon　interposed。

〃This　has　gone　quite　far　enough；　Doctor　von　Horn；〃　he　said。　〃It　may　be　that　we　acted　hastily。　　I　do　not　know；　of　course；　what　Sing　means；　but　I　intend　to　find　out。　　He　has　been　very　faithful　to　us；　and　deserves　every　consideration。〃

Von　Horn　stepped　back；　still　scowling。　　Si