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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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THE MONSTER MEN
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 with the man who
choked him with one hand and rained mighty and merciless blows upon
his face and head with the other。
His captive sank to the ground； too weak from the effects of nervous
shock to escape； and with horror… filled eyes watched the two who battled
over her。 She saw that her would…be rescuer was young and strong
featuredall together a very fine specimen of manhood； and to her great
wonderment it was soon apparent that he was no unequal match for the
great mountain of muscle that he fought。
Both tore and struck and clawed and bit in the frenzy of mad；
untutored strife； rolling about on the soft carpet of the jungle almost
noiselessly except for their heavy breathing and an occasional beast…like
snarl from Number One。 For several minutes they fought thus until the
younger man succeeded in getting both hands upon the throat of his
adversary； and then； choking relentlessly； he raised the brute with him
from the ground and rushed him fiercely backward against the stem of a
tree。 Again and again he hurled the monstrous thing upon the unyielding
wood； until at last it hung helpless and inert in his clutches； then he cast it
from him； and without another glance at it turned toward the girl。
Here was a problem indeed。 Now that he had won her； what was he
to do with her？ He was but an adult child； with the brain and brawn of a
man； and the ignorance and inexperience of the new…born。 And so he
acted as a child acts； in imitation of what it has seen others do。 The brute
had been carrying the lovely creature； therefore that must be the thing for
him to do； and so he stooped and gathered Virginia Maxon in his great
arms。 She tried to tell him that she could walk after a moment's rest； but
it was soon evident that he did not understand her； as a puzzled expression
came to his face and he did not put her down as she asked。 Instead he
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stood irresolute for a time； and then moved slowly through the jungle。
By chance his direction was toward the camp； and this fact so relieved the
girl's mind that presently she was far from loath to remain quietly in his
arms。
After a moment she gained courage to look up into his face。 She
thought that she never had seen so marvellously clean cut features； 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
no