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！
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
34
… Page 35…
THE MONSTER MEN
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
35
… Page 36…
THE MONSTER MEN
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 r