the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第21章
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straight to the opposite door which let upon the court of mystery。 On a nail
driven into the door frame hung a heavy bull whip。 The doctor took it
down as he raised the strong bar which held the door。 Then he stepped
through into the moonlit inner campongthe bull whip in his right hand； a
revolver in his left。
A half dozen misshapen monsters roved restlessly about the hard
packed earth of the pen。 The noise of the battle in the adjoining
enclosure had aroused them from slumber and awakened in their half
formed brains vague questionings and fears。 At sight of von Horn
several of them rushed for him with menacing growls； but a swift crack of
the bull whip brought them to a sudden realization of the identity of the
intruder； so that they slunk away； muttering and whining in rage。
Von Horn passed quickly to the low shed in which the remainder of the
eleven were sleeping。 With vicious cuts from the stinging lash he lay
about him upon the sleeping things。 Roaring and shrieking in pain and
anger the creatures stumbled to their feet and lumbered awkwardly into
the open。 Two of them turned upon their tormentor； but the burning
weapon on their ill protected flesh sent them staggering back out of reach；
and in another moment all were huddled in the center of the campong。
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As cattle are driven； von Horn drove the miserable creatures toward
the door of the workshop。 At the threshold of the dark interior the
frightened things halted fearfully； and then as von Horn urged them on
from behind with his cruel whip they milled as cattle at the entrance to a
strange corral。
Again and again he urged them for the door； but each time they turned
away； and to escape the whip beat and tore at the wall of the palisade in a
vain effort to batter it from their pathway。 Their roars and shrieks were
almost deafening as von Horn； losing what little remained of his scant
self…control； dashed among them laying to right and left with the stern
whip and the butt of his heavy revolver。
Most of the monsters scattered and turned back into the center of the
enclosure； but three of them were forced through the doorway into the
workshop； from the darkness of which they saw the patch of moonlight
through the open door upon the opposite side。 Toward this they scurried
as von Horn turned back into the court of mystery for the others。
Three more herculean efforts he made before he beat the last of the
creatures through the outer doorway of the workshop into the north
campong。
Among the age old arts of the celestials none is more strangely
inspiring than that of medicine。 Odd herbs and unspeakable things when
properly compounded under a favorable aspect of the heavenly bodies are
potent to achieve miraculous cures； and few are the Chinamen who do not
brew some special concoction of their own devising for the lesser ills
which beset mankind。
Sing was no exception in this respect。 In various queerly shaped；
bamboo covered jars he maintained a supply of tonics； balms and lotions。
His first thought when he had made Professor Maxon comfortable upon
the couch was to fetch his pet nostrum； for there burned strong within his
yellow breast the same powerful yearning to experiment that marks the
greatest of the profession to whose mysteries he aspired。
Though the hideous noises from the inner campong rose threateningly；
the imperturbable Sing left the bungalow and passed across the north
campong to the little lean…to that he had built for himself against the
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THE MONSTER MEN
palisade that separated the north enclosure from the court of mystery。
Here he rummaged about in the dark until he had found the two phials
he sought。 The noise of the monsters upon the opposite side of the
palisade had now assumed the dimensions of pandemonium； and through
it all the Chinaman heard the constant crack that was the sharp voice of the
bull whip。
He had completed his search and was about to return to the bungalow
when the first of the monsters emerged into the north campong from the
workshop。 At the door of his shack Sing Lee drew back to watch； for he
knew that behind them some one was driving these horribly grotesque
creatures from their prison。
One by one they came lumbering into the moonlight until Sing had
counted eleven； and then； after them； came a white man； bull whip and
revolver in hand。 It was von Horn。 The equatorial moon shone full
upon himthere could be no mistake。 The Chinaman saw him turn and
lock the workshop door； saw him cross the campong to the outer gate； saw
him pass through toward the jungle； closing the gate。
Of a sudden there was a sad； low moaning through the surrounding
trees； dense； black clouds obscured the radiant moon； and then with
hideous thunder and vivid flashes of lightning the tempest broke in all its
fury of lashing wind and hurtling deluge。 It was the first great storm of
the breaking up of the monsoon； and under the cover of its darkness Sing
Lee scurried through the monster filled campong to the bungalow。 Within
he found the young man bathing Professor Maxon's head as he had
directed him to do。
〃All gettee out；〃 he said； jerking his thumb in the direction of the court
of mystery。 〃Eleven devils。 Plenty soon come bung'low。 What do？〃
Number Thirteen had seen von Horn's extra bull whip hanging upon a
peg in the living room。 For answer he stepped into that room and took
the weapon down。 Then he returned to the professor's side。
Outside the frightened monsters groped through the blinding rain and
darkness in search of shelter。 Each vivid lightning flash； and bellowing of
booming thunder brought responsive cries of rage and terror from their
hideous lips。 It was Number Twelve who first spied the dim light
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showing through the bungalow's living room window。 With a low
guttural to his companions he started toward the building。 Up the low
steps to the verandah they crept。 Number Twelve peered through the
window。 He saw no one within； but there was warmth and dryness。
His little knowledge and lesser reasoning faculties suggested no
thought of a doorway。 With a blow he shattered the glass of the window。
Then he forced his body through the narrow aperture。 At the same
moment a gust of wind sucking through the broken panes drew open the
door； and as Number Thirteen； warned by the sound of breaking glass；
sprang into the living room he was
