the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第14章
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Bududreen； the Malay mate was equally harassed by conflicting
desires； though of a different nature； or he had his eye upon the main
chance that was represented to him by the great chest； and also upon the
lesser reward which awaited him upon delivery of the girl to Rajah Muda
Saffir。 The fact that he could find no safe means for accomplishing both
these ends simultaneously was all that had protected either from his
machinations。
The presence of the uncanny creatures of the court of mystery had
become known to the Malay and he used this knowledge as an argument
to foment discord and mutiny in the ignorant and superstitious crew under
his command。 By boring a hole in the partition wall separating their
campong from the inner one he had disclosed to the horrified view of his
men the fearsome brutes harbored so close to them。 The mate； of course；
had no suspicion of the true origin of these monsters； but his knowledge of
the fact that they had not been upon the island when the Ithaca arrived and
that it would have been impossible for them to have landed and reached
the camp without having been seen by himself or some member of his
company； was sufficient evidence to warrant him in attributing their
presence to some supernatural and malignant power。
This explanation the crew embraced willingly； and with it Bududreen's
suggestion that Professor Maxon had power to transform them all into
similar atrocities。 The ball once started gained size and momentum as it
progressed。 The professor's ofttimes strange expression was attributed to
an evil eye； and every ailment suffered by any member of the crew was
blamed upon their employer's Satanic influence。 There was but one
escape from the horrors of such a cursethe death of its author； and when
Bududreen discovered that they had reached this point； and were even
discussing the method of procedure； he added all that was needed to the
dangerously smouldering embers of bloody mutiny by explaining that
should anything happen to the white men he would become sole owner of
their belongings； including the heavy chest； and that the reward of each
member of the crew would be generous。
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Von Horn was really the only stumbling block in Bududreen's path。
With the natural cowardice of the Malay he feared this masterful American
who never moved without a brace of guns slung about his hips； and it was
at just this psychological moment that the doctor played into the hands of
his subordinate； much to the latter's inward elation。
Von Horn had finally despaired of winning Virginia by peaceful court；
and had about decided to resort to force when he was precipitately
confirmed in his decision by a conversation with the girl's father。
He and the professor were talking in the workshop of the remarkable
progress of Number Thirteen toward a complete mastery of English and
the ways and manners of society； in which von Horn had been assisting his
employer to train the young giant。 The breach between the latter and von
Horn had been patched over by Professor Maxon's explanations to
Number Thirteen as soon as the young man was able to comprehendin
the meantime it had been necessary to keep von Horn out of the workshop
except when the giant was confined in his own room off the larger one。
Von Horn had been particularly anxious； for the furtherance of certain
plans he had in mind； to effect a reconciliation with Number Thirteen； to
reach a basis of friendship with the young man； and had left no stone
unturned to accomplish this result。 To this end he had spent considerable
time with Number Thirteen； coaching him in English and in the ethics of
human association。
〃He is progressing splendidly； Doctor；〃 Professor Maxon had said。
〃It will be but a matter of a day or so when I can introduce him to Virginia；
but we must be careful that she has no inkling of his origin until mutual
affection has gained a sure foothold between them。〃
〃And if that should not occur？〃 questioned von Horn。
〃I should prefer that they mated voluntarily；〃 replied the professor； the
strange gleam leaping to his eyes at the suggestion of possible antagonism
to his cherished plan； 〃but if not； then they shall be compelled by the force
of my authoritythey both belong to me； body and soul。〃
〃You will wait for the final consummation of your desires until you
return with them to civilization； I presume；〃 said von Horn。
〃And why？〃 returned the professor。 〃I can wed them here myselfit
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THE MONSTER MEN
would be the surer wayyes； that is what I shall do。〃
It was this determination on the part of Professor Maxon that decided
von Horn to act at once。 Further； it lent a reasonable justification for his
purposed act。
Shortly after their talk the older man left the workshop； and von Horn
took the opportunity to inaugurate the second move of his campaign。
Number Thirteen was sitting near a window which let upon the inner court；
busy with the rudiments of written English。 Von Horn approached him。
〃You are getting along nicely； Jack；〃 he said kindly； looking over the
other's shoulder and using the name which had been adopted at his
suggestion to lend a more human tone to their relations with the nameless
man。
〃Yes；〃 replied the other； looking up with a smile。 〃Professor Maxon
says that in another day or two I may come and live in his own house； and
again meet his beautiful daughter。 It seems almost too good to be true
that I shall actually live under the same roof with her and see her every
daysit at the same table with herand walk with her among the beautiful
trees and flowers that witnessed our first meeting。 I wonder if she will
remember me。 I wonder if she will be as glad to see me again as I shall
be to see her。〃
〃Jack；〃 said von Horn； sadly； 〃I am afraid there is a terrible and
disappointing awakening for you。 It grieves me that it should be so； but it
seems only fair to tell you； what Professor Maxon either does not know or
has forgotten； that his daughter will not look with pleasure upon you when
she learns your origin。
〃You are not as other men。 You are but the accident of a laboratory
experiment。 You have no soul； and the soul is all that raises man above
the beasts。 Jack； poor boy； you are not a human beingyou are not even
a beast。 The world； and Miss Maxon is of the world； will look upon you
as a terrible creature to be shunned a horrible monstrosity far lower in
the scale of creation than the lowest order of brutes。
〃Look；〃 and the man pointed through the window toward the group of
hideous things that wandered aimlessly about the court of mystery。 〃You
are of the same breed as those； you differ from them only in the symmetry
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of your face and features； and the superior development of your brain。
There is no place in the wor
