the monster men-第7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！


eatures；　or　a　more　high　and　noble　countenance；　and　she　wondered　how　it　was　that　this　white　man　was　upon　the　island　and　she　not　have　known　it。　　Possibly　he　was　a　new　arrivalhis　presence　unguessed　even　by　her　father。　　That　he　was　neither　English　nor　American　was　evident　from　the　fact　that　he　could　not　understand　her　native　tongue。　　Who　could　he　be！　What　was　he　doing　upon　their　island！

As　she　watched　his　face　he　suddenly　turned　his　eyes　down　upon　her；　and　as　she　looked　hurriedly　away　she　was　furious　with　herself　as　she　felt　a　crimson　flush　mantle　her　cheek。　　The　man　only　half　sensed；　in　a　vague　sort　of　way；　the　meaning　of　the　tell　tale　color　and　the　quickly　averted　eyes；　but　he　became　suddenly　aware　of　the　pressure　of　her　delicate　body　against　his；　as　he　had　not　been　before。　　Now　he　kept　his　eyes　upon　her　face　as　he　walked；　and　a　new　emotion　filled　his　breast。　He　did　not　understand　it；　but　it　was　very　pleasant；　and　he　knew　that　it　was　because　of　the　radiant　thing　that　he　carried　in　his　arms。

The　scream　that　had　startled　von　Horn　and　Professor　Maxon　led　them　along　the　trail　toward　the　east　coast　of　the　island；　and　about　halfway　of　the　distance　they　stumbled　upon　the　dazed　and　bloody　Sing　just　as　he　was　on　the　point　of　regaining　consciousness。

〃For　God's　sake；　Sing；　what　is　the　matter？〃　cried　von　Horn。　〃Where　is　Miss　Maxon？〃

〃Big　blute；　he　catchem　Linee。　　Tly　kill　Sing。　　Head　hit　tlee。　No　see　any　more。　　Wakee　upall　glone；〃　moaned　the　Chinaman　as　he　tried　to　gain　his　feet。

〃Which　way　did　he　take　her？〃　urged　von　Horn。

Sing's　quick　eyes　scanned　the　surrounding　jungle；　and　in　a　moment；　staggering　to　his　feet；　he　cried；　〃Look　see；　klick！　　Foot　plint！〃　and　ran；　weak　and　reeling　drunkenly；　along　the　broad　trail　made　by　the　giant　creature　and　its　prey。

Von　Horn　and　Professor　Maxon　followed　closely　in　Sing's　wake；　the　younger　man　horrified　by　the　terrible　possibilities　that　obtruded　themselves　into　his　imagination　despite　his　every　effort　to　assure　himself　that　no　harm　could　come　to　Virginia　Maxon　before　they　reached　her。　　The　girl's　father　had　not　spoken　since　they　discovered　that　she　was　missing　from　the　campong；　but　his　face　was　white　and　drawn；　his　eyes　wide　and　glassy　as　those　of　one　whose　mind　is　on　the　verge　of　madness　from　a　great　nervous　shock。

The　trail　of　the　creature　was　bewilderingly　erratic。　A　dozen　paces　straight　through　the　underbrush；　then　a　sharp　turn　at　right　angles　for　no　apparent　reason；　only　to　veer　again　suddenly　in　a　new　direction！　　Thus；　turning　and　twisting；　the　tortuous　way　led　them　toward　the　south　end　of　the　island；　until　Sing；　who　was　in　advance；　gave　a　sharp　cry　of　surprise。

〃Klick！　　Look　see！〃　he　cried　excitedly。　　〃Blig　blute　dead　vely　muchee　dead。〃

Von　Horn　rushed　forward　to　where　the　Chinaman　was　leaning　over　the　body　of　Number　One。　　Sure　enough；　the　great　brute　lay　motionless；　its　horrid　face　even　more　hideous　in　death　than　in　life；　if　it　were　possible。　The　face　was　black；　the　tongue　protruded；　the　skin　was　bruised　from　the　heavy　fists　of　his　assailant　and　the　thick　skull　crushed　and　splintered　from　terrific　impact　with　the　tree。

Professor　Maxon　leaned　over　von　Horn's　shoulder。　〃Ah；　poor　Number　One；〃　he　sighed；　〃that　you　should　have　come　to　such　an　untimely　endmy　child；　my　child。〃

Von　Horn　looked　at　him；　a　tinge　of　compassion　in　his　rather　hard　face。　　It　touched　the　man　that　his　employer　was　at　last　shocked　from　the　obsession　of　his　work　to　a　realization　of　the　love　and　duty　he　owed　his　daughter；　he　thought　that　the　professor's　last　words　referred　to　Virginia。

〃Though　there　are　twelve　more；〃　continued　Professor　Maxon；　〃you　were　my　first　born　son　and　I　loved　you　most；　dear　child。〃

The　younger　man　was　horrified。

〃My　God；　Professor！〃　he　cried。　　〃Are　you　mad？　　Can　you　call　this　thing　‘child'　and　mourn　over　it　when　you　do　not　yet　know　the　fate　of　your　own　daughter？〃

Professor　Maxon　looked　up　sadly。　　〃You　do　not　understand；　Dr。　von　Horn；〃　he　replied　coldly；　〃and　you　will　oblige　me；　in　the　future；　by　not　again　referring　to　the　offspring　of　my　labors　as　‘things。'〃

With　an　ugly　look　upon　his　face　von　Horn　turned　his　back　upon　the　older　manwhat　little　feeling　of　loyalty　and　affection　he　had　ever　felt　for　him　gone　forever。　Sing　was　looking　about　for　evidences　of　the　cause　of　Number　One's　death　and　the　probable　direction　in　which　Virginia　Maxon　had　disappeared。

〃What　on　earth　could　have　killed　this　enormous　brute；　Sing？　Have　you　any　idea？〃　asked　von　Horn。

The　Chinaman　shook　his　head。

〃No　savvy；〃　he　replied。　　〃Blig　flight。　　Look　see；〃　and　he　pointed　to　the　torn　and　trampled　turf；　the　broken　bushes；　and　to　one　or　two　small　trees　that　had　been　snapped　off　by　the　impact　of　the　two　mighty　bodies　that　had　struggled　back　and　forth　about　the　little　clearing。

〃This　way；〃　cried　Sing　presently；　and　started　off　once　more　into　the　brush；　but　this　time　in　a　northwesterly　direction；　toward　camp。

In　silence　the　three　men　followed　the　new　trail；　all　puzzled　beyond　measure　to　account　for　the　death　of　Number　One　at　the　hands　of　what　must　have　been　a　creature　of　superhuman　strength。　　What　could　it　have　been！　　It　was　impossible　that　any　of　the　Malays　or　lascars　could　have　done　the　thing；　and　there　were　no　other　creatures；　brute　or　human；　upon　the　island　large　enough　to　have　coped　even　for　an　instant　with　the　ferocious　brutality　of　the　dead　monster；　except　von　Horn's　brain　came　to　a　sudden　halt　at　the　thought。　Could　it　be？　　There　seemed　no　other　explanation。　Virginia　Maxon　had　been　rescued　from　one　soulless　monstrosity　to　fall　into　the　hands　of　another　equally　irresponsible　and　terrifying。

Others　then　must　have　escaped　from　the　campong。　Von　Horn　loosened　his　guns　in　their　holsters；　and　took　a　fresh　grip　upon　his　bull　whip　as　he　urged　Sing　forward　upon　the　trail。　　He　wondered　which　one　it　was；　but　not　once　did　it　occur　to　him　that　the　latest　result　of　Professor　Maxon's　experiments　could　be　the　rescuer　of　Virginia　Maxon。　　In　his　mind　he　could　see　only　the　repulsive　features　of　one　of　the　others。

Quite　unexpectedly　they　came　upon　the　two；　and　with　a　shout　von　Horn　leaped　forward；　his　bull　whip　upraised。　Number　Thirteen　turned　in　surprise　at　the　cry；　and　sensing　a　new　danger　for　her　who　lay　in　his　arms；　he　set　her　gently　upon　the　ground　behind　him　and　advanced　to　meet　his　assailant。

〃Out　of　the　way；　youmonstrosity；〃　cried　von　Horn。　〃If　you　have　harmed　Miss　Maxon　I'll　put　a　bullet　in　your　heart！〃

Number　Thirteen　did　not　understand　the　words　that　the　other　addressed　to　him　but　he　interpreted　the　man's　actions　as　menacing；　not　to　himself；　but　to　the　creature　he　now　considered　his　particular　charge；　and　so　he　met　the　advancing　man；　more　to　keep　him　from　the　girl　than　to　offer　him　bodily　injury　for　he　recognized　him　as　one　of　the　two　who　had　greeted　his　first　dawning　consciousness。

Von　Horn；　possibly　intentionally；　misinterpreted　the　other's　motive；　and　raising　his　bull　whip　struck　Number　Thirteen　a　vicious　cut　across　the　face；　at　the　same　time　levelling　his　revolver　point　blank　at　the　broad　beast。　But　before　ever　he　could　pull　the　trigger　an　avalanche　of　muscle　was　upon　him；　and　he　went　down　to　the　rotting　vegetation　of　the　jungle　with　five　sinewy　fingers　at　his　throat。

His　revolver　exploded　harmlessly　in　the　air；　and　then　another　hand　wrenched　it　from　him　and　hurled　it　far　into　the　underbrush。　　Number　Thirteen　knew　nothing　of　the　danger　of　firearms；　but　the　noise　had　startled　him　and　his　experience　with　the　stinging　cut　of　the　bull　whip　convinced　him　that　this　other　was　some　sort　of　instrument　of　torture　of　which　it　would　be　as　well　to　deprive　his　antagonist。

Virginia　Maxon　looked　on　in　horror　as　she　realized　that　her　rescuer　was　quickly　choking　Dr。　von　Horn　to　death。　With　a　little　cry　she　sprang　to　her　feet　and　ran　toward　them；　just　as　her　father　emerged　from　the　underbrush　through　which　he　had　been　struggling　in　the　trail　of　the　agile　Chinaman　and　von　Horn。　　Placing　her　hand　upon　the　great　wrist　of　the　giant　she　tried　to　drag　his　fingers　from　von　Horn's　throat；　pleading　meanwhile　with　both　voice　and　eyes　for　the　life　of　the　man　she　thought　loved　her。

Again　Number　Thirteen　translated　the　intent　without　understanding　the　words；　and　releasing　von　Horn　permitted　him　to　rise。　　With　a　bound　he　was　upon　his　feet　and　at　the　same　instant　brought　his　other　gun　from　his　side　and　levelled　it　upon　the　man　who　had　released　him；　but　as　his　finger　tightened　upon　the　trigger　Virginia　Maxon　sprang　between　them　and　grasping　von　Horn's　wrist　deflected　the　muzzle　of　the　gun　just　as　the　cartridge　exploded。　Simultaneously　Professor　Maxon　sprang　from　his　grasp　and　hurled　him　back　with　the　superhuman　strength　of　a　maniac。

〃Fool！〃　he　cried。　　〃What　would　you　do？　　Kill；〃　and　then　of　a　sudden　he　realized　his　daughter's　presence　and　the　necessity　for　keeping　the　origin　of　the　young　giant　from　her　knowledge。

〃I　am　surprised　at　you；　Dr。　von　Horn；〃　he　continued　in　a　more　level　voice。　　〃You　must　indeed　have　forgotten　yourself　to　thus　attack　a　stranger　upon　our　island　until　you　know　whether　he　be　friend　or　foe。　　Come！　Escort　my　daughter　to　the　camp；　while　I　make　the　proper　apologies　to　this　gentleman。〃　　As　he　saw　that　both　Virginia　and　von　Horn　hesitated；　he　repeated　his　command　in　a　peremptory　tone；　adding；　〃Quick；　now；　do　as　I　bid　you。〃

The　moment　had　given　von　Horn　an　opportunity　to　regain　his　self…control；　and　realizing　as　well　as　did　his　employer；　but　from　another　motive；　the　necessity　of　keeping　the　truth　from　the　girl；　he　took　her　arm　and　led　her　gently　from　the　scene。　At　Professor　Maxon's　direction　Sing　accompanied　them。

Now　in　Number　Thirteen's　brief　career　he　had　known　no　other　authority　than　Professor　Maxon's；　and　so　it　was　that　when　his　master　laid　a　hand　upon　his　wrist　he　remained　beside　him　while　another　walked　away　with　the　lovely　creature　he　had　thought　his　very　own。

Until　after　dark　the　professor　kept　the　young　man　hidden　in　the　jungle；　and　then；　safe　from　detection；　led　him　back　to　the　laboratory。



5

TREASON


On　their　return　to　camp　after　her　rescue　Virginia　talked　a　great　deal　to　von　Horn　about　the　young　giant　who　had　rescued　her；　until　the　man　feared　that　she　was　more　interested　in　him　than　seemed　good　for　his　own　plans。

He　had　now　cast　from　him　the　last　vestige　of　his　loyalty　for　his　employer；　and　thus　freed　had　determined　to　use　every　means　within　his　power　to　win　Professor　Maxon's　daughter；　and　with　her　the　heritage　of　wealth　which　he　knew　would　be　hers　should　her　father；　through　some　unforeseen　mishap；　meet　death　before　he　could　return　to　civilization　and　alter　his　will；　a　contingency　which　von　Horn　knew　he　might　have　to　consider　should　he　marry　the　girl　against　her　father's　wishes；　and　thus　thwart　the　crazed　man's　mad；　but　no　less　dear　project。

He　realized　that　first　he　must　let　the　girl　fully　understand　the　grave　peril　in　which　she　stood；　and　turn　her　hope　of　protection　from　her　father　to　himself。　He　imagined　that　the　initial　step　in　undermining　Virginia's　confidence　in　her　father　would　be　to　narrate　every　detail　of　the　weird　experiments　which　Professor　Maxon　had　brought　to　such　successful　issues　during　their　residence　upon　the　island。

The　girl's　own　questioning　gave　him　the　lead　he　needed。

〃Where　could　that　horrid　creature　have　come　from　that　s