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！
campong。
The riddle was too deep for hershe could not solve it； and then her
thoughts were interrupted by the thin； brown hand of Rajah Muda Saffir as
it encircled her waist and drew her toward him。 Upon the evil lips were
hot words of passion。 The girl wrenched herself from the man's embrace；
and； with a little scream of terror； sprang to her feet； and as Muda Saffir
arose to grasp her again she struck him full in the face with one small；
clenched fist。
91
… Page 92…
THE MONSTER MEN
Directly behind the Malay lay the heavy chest of Professor Maxon。
As the man stepped backward to recover his equilibrium both feet struck
the obstacle。 For an instant he tottered with wildly waving arms in an
endeavor to regain his lost balance； then； with a curse upon his lips； he
lunged across the box and over the side of the prahu into the dark waters
of the river。
92
… Page 93…
THE MONSTER MEN
10 DESPERATE CHANCE
The great chest in the bottom of Rajah Muda Saffir's prahu had
awakened in other hearts as well as his； blind greed and avarice； so that as
it had been the indirect cause of his disaster it now proved the incentive to
another to turn the mishap to his own profit； and to the final undoing of the
Malay。
The panglima Ninaka of the Signana Dyaks who manned Muda
Saffir's war prahu saw his chief disappear beneath the swift waters of the
river； but the word of command that would have sent the boat hurriedly
back to pick up the swimmer was not given。 Instead a lusty cry for
greater speed ahead urged the sinuous muscles gliding beneath the sleek
brown hides； and when Muda Saffir rose to the surface with a cry for help
upon his lips Ninaka shouted back to him in derision； consigning his
carcass to the belly of the nearest crocodile。
In futile rage Muda Saffir called down the most terrible curses of Allah
and his Prophet upon the head of Ninaka and his progeny to the fifth
generation； and upon the shades of his forefathers； and upon the grim
skulls which hung from the rafters of his long…house。 Then he turned and
swam rapidly toward the shore。
Ninaka； now in possession of both the chest and the girl； was rich
indeed； but with Muda Saffir dead he scarce knew to whom he could
dispose of the white girl for a price that would make it worth while to be
burdened with the danger and responsibility of retaining her。 He had had
some experience of white men in the past and knew that dire were the
punishments meted to those who wronged the white man's women。 All
through the remainder of the long night Ninaka pondered the question
deeply。 At last he turned to Virginia。
〃Why does the big white man who leads the ourang outangs follow
us？〃 he asked。 〃Is it the chest he desires； or you？〃
〃It is certainly not the chest；〃 replied the girl。 〃He wishes to take me
back to my father； that is all。 If you will return me to him you may keep
the chest； if that is what you wish。〃
93
… Page 94…
THE MONSTER MEN
Ninaka looked at her quizzically for a moment。 Evidently then she was
of some value。 Possibly should he retain her he could wring a handsome
ransom from the white man。 He would wait and see； it were always an
easy matter to rid himself of her should circumstances require。 The river
was there； deep； dark and silent； and he could place the responsibility for
her loss upon Muda Saffir。
Shortly after day break Ninaka beached his prahu before the long…
house of a peaceful river tribe。 The chest he hid in the underbrush close
by his boat； and with the girl ascended the notched log that led to the
verandah of the structure； which； stretching away for three hundred yards
upon its tall piles； resembled a huge centipede。
The dwellers in the long…house extended every courtesy to Ninaka and
his crew。 At the former's request Virginia was hidden away in a dark
sleeping closet in one of the windowless living rooms which opened along
the verandah for the full length of the house。 Here a native girl brought her
food and water； sitting； while she ate； in rapt contemplation of the white
skin and golden hair of the strange female。
At about the time that Ninaka pulled his prahu upon the beach before
the long…house； Muda Saffir from the safety of the concealing underbrush
upon the shore saw a familiar war prahu forging rapidly up the stream。
As it approached him he was about to call aloud to those who manned it；
for in the bow he saw a number of his own men； but a second glance as
the boat came opposite him caused him to alter his intention and drop
further into the engulfing verdure； for behind his men squatted five of the
terrible monsters that had wrought such havoc with his expedition； and in
the stern he saw his own Barunda in friendly converse with the mad white
man who had led them。
As the boat disappeared about a bend in the river Rajah Muda Saffir
arose； shaking his fist in the direction it had vanished and； cursing anew
and volubly； damned each separate hair in the heads of the faithless
Barunda and the traitorous Ninaka。 Then he resumed his watch for the
friendly prahu； or smaller sampan which he knew time would eventually
bring from up or down the river to his rescue； for who of the surrounding
natives would dare refuse succor to the powerful Rajah of Sakkan！
94
… Page 95…
THE MONSTER MEN
At the long…house which harbored Ninaka and his crew； Barunda and
Bulan stopped with theirs to obtain food and rest。 The quick eye of the
Dyak chieftain recognized the prahu of Rajah Muda Saffir where it lay
upon the beach； but he said nothing to his white companion of what it
auguredit might be well to discover how the land lay before he
committed himself too deeply to either faction。
At the top of the notched log he was met by Ninaka； who； with horror…
wide eyes； looked down upon the fearsome monstrosities that lumbered
awkwardly up the rude ladder in the wake of the agile Dyaks and the
young white giant。
〃What does it mean？〃 whispered the panglima to Barunda。
〃These are now my friends；〃 replied Barunda。 〃Where is Muda
Saffir？〃
Ninaka jerked his thumb toward the river。 〃Some crocodile has feasted
well；〃 he said significantly。 Barunda smiled。
〃And the girl？〃 he continued。 〃And the treasure？〃
Ninaka's eyes narrowed。 〃They are safe；〃 he answered。
〃The white man wants the girl；〃 remarked Barunda。 〃He does not
suspect that you are one of Muda Saffir's people。 If he guessed that you
knew the whereabouts of the girl he would torture the truth from you and
then kill you。 He does not care for the treasure。 There is enough in that
great chest for two； Nin