the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第31章
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great chest for two； Ninaka。 Let us be friends。 Together we can divide it；
otherwise neither of us will get any of it。 What do you say； Ninaka？〃
The panglima scowled。 He did not relish the idea of sharing his prize；
but he was shrewd enough to realize that Barunda possessed the power to
rob him of it all； so at last he acquiesced； though with poor grace。
Bulan had stood near during this conversation； unable； of course； to
understand a single word of the native tongue。
〃What does the man say？〃 he asked Barunda。 〃Has he seen anything
of the prahu bearing the girl？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the Dyak。 〃He says that two hours ago such a war
prahu passed on its way up riverhe saw the white girl plainly。 Also he
knows whither they are bound； and how； by crossing through the jungle on
foot； you may intercept them at their next stop。〃
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Bulan； suspecting no treachery； was all anxiety to be off at once。
Barunda suggested that in case of some possible emergency causing the
quarry to return down the river it would be well to have a force remain at
the long…house to intercept them。 He volunteered to undertake the
command of this party。 Ninaka； he said； would furnish guides to escort
Bulan and his men through the jungle to the point at which they might
expect to find Muda Saffir。
And so； with the girl he sought lying within fifty feet of him； Bulan
started off through the jungle with two of Ninaka's Dyaks as guides
guides who had been well instructed by their panglima as to their duties。
Twisting and turning through the dense maze of underbrush and close…
growing； lofty trees the little party of eight plunged farther and farther into
the bewildering labyrinth。
For hours the tiresome march was continued； until at last the guides
halted； apparently to consult each other as to the proper direction。 By
signs they made known to Bulan that they did not agree upon the right
course to pursue from there on； and that they had decided that it would be
best for each to advance a little way in the direction he thought the right
one while Bulan and his five creatures remained where they were。
〃We will go but a little way；〃 said the spokesman； 〃and then we shall
return and lead you in the proper direction。〃
Bulan saw no harm in this； and without a shade of suspicion sat down
upon a fallen tree and watched his two guides disappear into the jungle in
opposite directions。 Once out of sight of the white man the two turned
back and met a short distance in the rear of the party they had desertedin
another moment they were headed for the long…house from which they had
started。
It was fully an hour thereafter that doubts began to enter Bulan's head；
and as the day dragged on he came to realize that he and his weird pack
were alone and lost in the heart of a strange and tangled web of tropical
jungle。
No sooner had Bulan and his party disappeared in the jungle than
Barunda and Ninaka made haste to embark with the chest and the girl and
push rapidly on up the river toward the wild and inaccessible regions of
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THE MONSTER MEN
the interior。 Virginia Maxon's strong hope of succor had been gradually
waning as no sign of the rescue party appeared as the day wore on。
Somewhere behind her upon the broad river she was sure a long； narrow
native prahu was being urged forward in pursuit； and that in command of
it was the young giant who was now never for a moment absent from her
thoughts。
For hours she strained her eyes over the stern of the craft that was
bearing her deeper and deeper into the wild heart of fierce Borneo。 On
either shore they occasionally passed a native long…house； and the girl
could not help but wonder at the quiet and peace which reigned over these
little settlements。 It was as though they were passing along a beaten
highway in the center of a civilized community； and yet she knew that the
men who lolled upon the verandahs； puffing indolently upon their
cigarettes or chewing betel nut； were all head hunters； and that along the
verandah rafters above them hung the grisly trophies of their prowess。
Yet as she glanced from them to her new captors she could not but feel
that she would prefer captivity in one of the settlements they were passing…
…there at least she might find an opportunity to communicate with her
father； or be discovered by the rescue party as it came up the river。 The
idea grew upon her as the day advanced until she spent the time in
watching furtively for some means of escape should they but touch the
shore momentarily； and though they halted twice her captors were too
watchful to permit her the slightest opportunity for putting her plan into
action。
Barunda and Ninaka urged their men on； with brief rests； all day； nor
did they halt even after night had closed down upon the river。 On； on the
swift prahu sped up the winding channel which had now dwindled to a
narrow stream； at intervals rushing strongly between rocky walls with a
current that tested the strength of the strong； brown paddlers。
Long…houses had become more and more infrequent until for some
time now no sign of human habitation had been visible。 The jungle
undergrowth was scantier and the spaces between the boles of the forest
trees more open。 Virginia Maxon was almost frantic with despair as the
utter helplessness of her position grew upon her。 Each stroke of those
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slender paddles was driving her farther and farther from friends； or the
possibility of rescue。 Night had fallen； dark and impenetrable； and with it
had come the haunting fears that creep in when the sun has deserted his
guardian post。
Barunda and Ninaka were whispering together in low gutturals； and to
the girl's distorted and fear excited imagination it seemed possible that she
alone must be the subject of their plotting。 The prahu was gliding
through a stretch of comparatively quiet and placid water where the stream
spread out into a little basin just above a narrow gorge through which they
had just forced their way by dint of the most laborious exertions on the
part of the crew。
Virginia watched the two men near her furtively。 They were deeply
engrossed in their conversation。 Neither was looking in her direction。
The backs of the paddlers were all toward her。 Stealthily she rose to a
stooping position at the boat's side。 For a moment she paused； and then；
almost noiselessly； dove overboard and disappeared beneath the black
waters。
It was the slight rocking of the prahu that caused Barunda to look
suddenly about to discover the reason f
