the monster men-第3章

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shore　followed　by　loud　yelling；　and　the　girl　turned　to　see　her　father　and　von　Horn　pulling　rapidly　toward　the　Ithaca。



2

THE　HEAVY　CHEST


Virginia　and　Sing　were　compelled　to　narrate　the　adventure　of　the　afternoon　a　dozen　times。　　The　Chinaman　was　at　a　loss　to　understand　what　had　deterred　the　pirates　at　the　very　threshold　of　victory。　　Von　Horn　thought　that　they　had　seen　the　reinforcements　embarking　from　the　shore；　but　Sing　explained　that　that　was　impossible　since　the　Ithaca　had　been　directly　between　them　and　the　point　at　which　the　returning　crew　had　entered　the　boats。

Virginia　was　positive　that　her　fusillade　had　frightened　them　into　a　hasty　retreat；　but　again　Sing　discouraged　any　such　idea　when　he　pointed　to　the　fact　that　another　instant　would　have　carried　the　prahu　close　to　the　Ithaca's　side　and　out　of　the　machine　gun's　radius　of　action。

The　old　Chinaman　was　positive　that　the　pirates　had　some　ulterior　motive　for　simulating　defeat；　and　his　long　years　of　experience　upon　pirate　infested　waters　gave　weight　to　his　opinion。　　The　weak　spot　in　his　argument　was　his　inability　to　suggest　a　reasonable　motive。　　And　so　it　was　that　for　a　long　time　they　were　left　to　futile　conjecture　as　to　the　action　that　had　saved　them　from　a　bloody　encounter　with　these　bloodthirsty　sea　wolves。

For　a　week　the　men　were　busy　constructing　the　new　camp；　but　never　again　was　Virginia　left　without　a　sufficient　guard　for　her　protection。　　Von　Horn　was　always　needed　at　the　work；　for　to　him　had　fallen　the　entire　direction　of　matters　of　importance　that　were　at　all　of　a　practical　nature。　　Professor　Maxon　wished　to　watch　the　building　of　the　houses　and　the　stockade；　that　he　might　offer　such　suggestions　as　he　thought　necessary；　and　again　the　girl　noticed　her　father's　comparative　indifference　to　her　welfare。

She　had　been　shocked　at　his　apathy　at　the　time　of　the　pirate　attack；　and　chagrined　that　it　should　have　been　necessary　for　von　Horn　to　have　insisted　upon　a　proper　guard　being　left　with　her　thereafter。

The　nearer　the　approach　of　the　time　when　he　might　enter　again　upon　those　experiments　which　had　now　been　neglected　for　the　better　part　of　a　year　the　more　self　absorbed　and　moody　became　the　professor。　　At　times　he　was　scarcely　civil　to　those　about　him；　and　never　now　did　he　have　a　pleasant　word　or　a　caress　for　the　daughter　who　had　been　his　whole　life　but　a　few　short　months　before。

It　often　seemed　to　Virginia　when　she　caught　her　father's　eyes　upon　her　that　there　was　a　gleam　of　dislike　in　them；　as　though　he　would　have　been　glad　to　have　been　rid　of　her　that　she　might　not　in　any　way　embarrass　or　interfere　with　his　work。

The　camp　was　at　last　completed；　and　on　a　Saturday　afternoon　all　the　heavier　articles　from　the　ship　had　been　transported　to　it。　　On　the　following　Monday　the　balance　of　the　goods　was　to　be　sent　on　shore　and　the　party　were　to　transfer　their　residence　to　their　new　quarters。

Late　Sunday　afternoon　a　small　native　boat　was　seen　rounding　the　point　at　the　harbor's　southern　extremity；　and　after　a　few　minutes　it　drew　alongside　the　Ithaca。　There　were　but　three　men　in　ittwo　Dyaks　and　a　Malay。　The　latter　was　a　tall；　well　built　man　of　middle　age；　of　a　sullen　and　degraded　countenance。　　His　garmenture　was　that　of　the　ordinary　Malay　boatman；　but　there　was　that　in　his　mien　and　his　attitude　toward　his　companions　which　belied　his　lowly　habiliments。

In　answer　to　von　Horn's　hail　the　man　asked　if　he　might　come　aboard　and　trade；　but　once　on　the　deck　it　developed　that　he　had　not　brought　nothing　wherewith　to　trade。　He　seemed　not　the　slightest　disconcerted　by　this　discovery；　stating　that　he　would　bring　such　articles　as　they　wished　when　he　had　learned　what　their　requirements　were。

The　ubiquitous　Sing　was　on　hand　during　the　interview；　but　from　his　expressionless　face　none　might　guess　what　was　passing　through　the　tortuous　channels　of　his　Oriental　mind。　　The　Malay　had　been　aboard　nearly　half　an　hour　talking　with　von　Horn　when　the　mate；　Bududreen；　came　on　deck；　and　it　was　Sing　alone　who　noted　the　quickly　concealed　flash　of　recognition　which　passed　between　the　two　Malays。

The　Chinaman　also　saw　the　gleam　that　shot　into　the　visitor's　eye　as　Virginia　emerged　from　the　cabin；　but　by　no　word　or　voluntary　outward　sign　did　the　man　indicate　that　he　had　even　noticed　her。　　Shortly　afterward　he　left；　promising　to　return　with　provisions　the　following　day。　But　it　was　to　be　months　before　they　again　saw　him。

That　evening　as　Sing　was　serving　Virginia's　supper　he　asked　her　if　she　had　recognized　their　visitor　of　the　afternoon。

〃Why　no；　Sing；〃　she　replied；　〃I　never　saw　him　before。〃

〃Sh！〃　admonished　the　celestial。　　〃No　talkee　so　strong；　wallee　have　ear　all　same　labbit。〃

〃What　do　you　mean；　Sing？〃　asked　the　girl　in　a　low　voice。　〃How　perfectly　weird　and　mysterious　you　are。　Why　you　make　the　cold　chills　run　up　my　spine；〃　she　ended；　laughing。　　But　Sing　did　not　return　her　smile　as　was　his　custom。

〃You　no　lememba　tallee　Lajah　stand　up　wavee　lite　clothee　in　plilate　boat；　ah？〃　he　urged。

〃Oh；　Sing；〃　she　cried；　〃I　do　indeed！　　But　unless　you　had　reminded　me　I　should　never　have　thought　to　connect　him　with　our　visitor　of　todaythey　do　look　very　much　alike；　don't　they？〃

〃Lookeelike！　　Ugh；　they　all　samee　one　man。　　Sing　know。　You　lookee　out；　Linee；〃　which　was　the　closest　that　Sing　had　ever　been　able　to　come　to　pronouncing　Virginia。

〃Why　should　I　look　out？　　He　doesn't　want　me；〃　said　the　girl；　laughingly。

〃Don't　you　bee　too　damee　sure　'bout　lat；　Linee；〃　was　Sing's　inelegant　but　convincing　reply；　as　he　turned　toward　his　galley。

The　following　morning　the　party；　with　the　exception　of　three　Malays　who　were　left　to　guard　the　Ithaca；　set　out　for　the　new　camp。　　The　journey　was　up　the　bed　of　the　small　stream　which　emptied　into　the　harbor；　so　that　although　fifteen　men　had　passed　back　and　forth　through　the　jungle　from　the　beach　to　the　camp　every　day　for　two　weeks；　there　was　no　sign　that　human　foot　had　ever　crossed　the　narrow　strip　of　sand　that　lay　between　the　dense　foliage　and　the　harbor。

The　gravel　bottom　of　the　rivulet　made　fairly　good　walking；　and　as　Virginia　was　borne　in　a　litter　between　two　powerful　lascars　it　was　not　even　necessary　that　she　wet　her　feet　in　the　ascent　of　the　stream　to　the　camp。　The　distance　was　short；　the　center　of　the　camp　being　but　a　mile　from　the　harbor；　and　less　than　half　a　mile　from　the　opposite　shore　of　the　island　which　was　but　two　miles　at　its　greatest　breadth；　and　two　and　a　quarter　at　its　greatest　length。

At　the　camp　Virginia　found　that　a　neat　clearing　had　been　made　upon　a　little　tableland；　a　palisade　built　about　it；　and　divided　into　three　parts；　the　most　northerly　of　which　contained　a　small　house　for　herself　and　her　father；　another　for　von　Horn；　and　a　common　cooking　and　eating　house　over　which　Sing　was　to　preside。

The　enclosure　at　the　far　end　of　the　palisade　was　for　the　Malay　and　lascar　crew　and　there　also　were　quarters　for　Bududreen　and　the　Malay　second　mate。　　The　center　enclosure　contained　Professor　Maxon's　workshop。　　This　compartment　of　the　enclosure　Virginia　was　not　invited　to　inspect；　but　as　members　of　the　crew　carried　in　the　two　great　chests　which　the　professor　had　left　upon　the　Ithaca　until　the　last　moment；　Virginia　caught　a　glimpse　of　the　two　buildings　that　had　been　erected　within　this　central　spacea　small；　square　house　which　was　quite　evidently　her　father's　laboratory；　and　a　long；　low　thatched　shed　divided　into　several　compartments；　each　containing　a　rude　bunk。　　She　wondered　for　whom　they　could　be　intended。　　Quarters　for　all　the　party　had　already　been　arranged　for　elsewhere；　nor；　thought　she；　would　her　father　wish　to　house　any　in　such　close　proximity　to　his　workshop；　where　he　would　desire　absolute　quiet　and　freedom　from　interruption。　　The　discovery　perplexed　her　not　a　little；　but　so　changed　were　her　relations　with　her　father　that　she　would　not　question　him　upon　this　or　any　other　subject。

As　the　two　chests　were　being　carried　into　the　central　campong；　Sing；　who　was　standing　near　Virginia；　called　her　attention　to　the　fact　that　Bududreen　was　one　of　those　who　staggered　beneath　the　weight　of　the　heavier　burden。

〃Bludleen；　him　mate。　　Why　workee　alsame　lascar　boy？　　Eh？〃　But　Virginia　could　give　no　reason。

〃I　am　afraid　you　don't　like　Bududreen；　Sing；〃　she　said。　〃Has　he　ever　harmed　you　in　any　way？〃

〃Him？　　No；　him　no　hurt　Sing。　　Sing　poor；〃　with　which　more　or　less　enigmatical　rejoinder　the　Chinaman　returned　to　his　work。　　But　he　muttered　much　to　himself　the　balance　of　the　day；　for　Sing　knew　that　a　chest　that　strained　four　men　in　the　carrying　could　contain　but　one　thing；　and　he　knew　that　Bududreen　was　as　wise　in　such　matters　as　he。

For　a　couple　of　months　the　life　of　the　little　hidden　camp　went　on　peacefully　and　without　exciting　incident。　The　Malay　and　lascar　crew　divided　their　time　between　watch　duty　on　board　the　Ithaca；　policing　the　camp；　and　cultivating　a　little　patch　of　clearing　just　south　of　their　own　campong。

There　was　a　small　bay　on　the　island's　east　coast；　only　a　quarter　of　a　mile　from　camp；　in　which　oysters　were　found；　and　one　of　the　Ithaca's　boats　was　brought　around　to　this　side　of　the　island　for　fishing。　　Bududreen　often　accompanied　these　expeditions；　and　on　several　occasions　the　lynx…eyed　Sing　had　seen　him　returning　to　camp　long　after　the　others　had　retired　for　the　night。

Professor　Maxon　scarcely　ever　left　the　central　enclosure。　　For　days　and　nights　at　a　time　Virginia　never　saw　him；　his　meals　being　passed　in　to　him　by　Sing　through　a　small　trap　door　that　had　been　cut　in　the　partition　wall　of　the　〃court　of　mystery〃　as　von　Horn　had　christened　the　section　of　the　camp　devoted　to　the　professor's　experimentations。

Von　Horn　himself　was　often　with　his　employer　as　he　enjoyed　the　latter's　complete　confidence；　and　owing　to　his　early　medical　training　was　well　fitted　to　act　as　a　competent　assistant；　but　he　was　often　barred　from　the　workshop；　and　at　such　times　was　much　with　Virginia。

The　two　took　long　walks　through　the　untouched　jungle；　exploring　their　little　island；　and　never　failing　to　find　some　new　and　wonderful　proof　of　Nature's　creative　power　among　its　flora　and　fauna。

〃What　a　marvellous　thing　is　creation；〃　exclaimed　Virginia　as　she　and　von　Horn　paused　one　day　to　admire　a　tropical　bird　of　unusually　brilliant　plumage。　〃How　insignificant　is　man's　greatest　achievement　beside　the　least　of　Nature's　works。〃

〃And　yet；〃　replied　von　Horn；　〃man　shall　find　Nature's　secret　some　day。　　What　a　glorious　accomplishment　for　him　who　first　succeeds。　　Can　you　imagine　a　more　glorious　consummation　of　a　man's　life　workyour　father's；　for　example？〃

The　girl　looked　at　von　Horn　closely。

〃Dr。　von　Horn；〃　she　said；　〃pride　has　restrained　me　from　asking　what　was　evidently　intended　that　I　should　not　know。　　For　years　my　father　has　been　interested　in　an　endeavor　to　solve　the　mystery　of　lifethat　he　would　ever　attempt　to　utilize　the　secret　should　he　have　been　so　fortunate　as　to　discover　it　had　never　occurred　to　me。　　I　mean　that　he　should　try　to　usurp　the　functions　of　the　Creator　I　could　never　have　believed；　but　my　knowledge　of　him；　coupled　with　what　you　have　said；　and　the　extreme　lengths　to　which　he　has　gone　to　maintain　absolute　secrecy　for　his　present　experiments　can　only　lead　to　one　inference；　and　that；　that　his　present　work；　if　successful；　would　have　results