the monster men(魔鬼一样的人)-第32章
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waters。
It was the slight rocking of the prahu that caused Barunda to look
suddenly about to discover the reason for the disturbance。 For a moment
neither of the men apprehended the girl's absence。 Ninaka was the first
to do so； and it was he who called loudly to the paddlers to bring the boat
to a stop。 Then they dropped down the river with the current； and
paddled about above the gorge for half an hour。
The moment that Virginia Maxon felt the waters close above her head
she struck out beneath the surface for the shore upon the opposite side to
that toward which she had dived into the river。 She knew that if any had
seen her leave the prahu they would naturally expect to intercept her on
her way toward the nearest shore； and so she took this means of outwitting
them； although it meant nearly double the distance to be covered。
After swimming a short distance beneath the surface the girl rose and
looked about her。 Up the river a few yards she caught the
phosphorescent gleam of water upon the prahu's paddles as they brought
her to a sudden stop in obedience to Ninaka's command。 Then she saw
the dark mass of the war…craft drifting down toward her。
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Again she dove and with strong strokes headed for the shore。 The next
time that she rose she was terrified to see the prahu looming close behind
her。 The paddlers were propelling the boat slowly in her direction it
was almost upon her nowthere was a shout from a man in the bowshe
had been seen。
Like a flash she dove once more and； turning； struck out rapidly
straight back beneath the oncoming boat。 When she came to the surface
again it was to find herself as far from shore as she had been when she
first quitted the prahu； but the craft was now circling far below her； and
she set out once again to retrace her way toward the inky mass of shore
line which loomed apparently near and yet； as she knew； was some
considerable distance from her。
As she swam； her mind； filled with the terrors of the night； conjured
recollection of the stories she had heard of the fierce crocodiles which
infest certain of the rivers of Borneo。 Again and again she could have
sworn that she felt some huge； slimy body sweep beneath her in the
mysterious waters of this unknown river。
Behind her she saw the prahu turn back up stream； but now her mind
was suddenly engaged with a new danger； for the girl realized that the
strong current was bearing her down stream more rapidly than she had
imagined。 Already she could hear the increasing roar of the river as it
rushed； wild and tumultuous； through the entrance to the narrow gorge
below her。 How far it was to shore she could not guess； or how far to the
certain death of the swirling waters toward which she was being drawn by
an irresistible force； but of one thing she was certain； her strength was
rapidly waning； and she must reach the bank quickly。
With redoubled energy she struck out in one last mighty effort to reach
the shore。 The tug of the current was strong upon her； like a giant hand
reaching up out of the cruel river to bear her back to death。 She felt her
strength ebbing quicklyher strokes now were feeble and futile。 With a
prayer to her Maker she threw her hands above her head in the last effort
of the drowning swimmer to clutch at even thin air for supportthe current
caught and swirled her downward toward the gorge； and； at the same
instant her fingers touched and closed upon something which swung low
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above the water。
With the last flickering spark of vitality that remained in her poor；
exhausted body Virginia Maxon clung to the frail support that a kind
Providence had thrust into her hands。 How long she hung there she never
knew； but finally a little strength returned to her； and presently she realized
that it was a pendant creeper hanging low from a jungle tree upon the bank
that had saved her from the river's rapacious maw。
Inch by inch she worked herself upward toward the bank； and at last；
weak and panting； sunk exhausted to the cool carpet of grass that grew to
the water's edge。 Almost immediately tired； Nature plunged her into a deep
sleep。 It was daylight when she awoke； dreaming that the tall young
giant had rescued her from a band of demons and was lifting her in his
arms to carry her back to her father。
Through half open lids she saw the sunlight filtering through the leafy
canopy above hershe wondered at the realism of her dream； full
consciousness returned and with it the conviction that she was in truth
being held close by strong arms against a bosom that throbbed to the
beating of a real heart。
With a sudden start she opened her eyes wide to look up into the
hideous face of a giant ourang outang。
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11 〃I AM COMING！〃
The morning following the capture of Virginia Maxon by Muda Saffir；
Professor Maxon； von Horn； Sing Lee and the sole surviving lascar from
the crew of the Ithaca set out across the strait toward the mainland of
Borneo in the small boat which the doctor had secreted in the jungle near
the harbor。 The party was well equipped with firearms and ammunition；
and the bottom of the boat was packed full with provisions and cooking
utensils。 Von Horn had been careful to see that the boat was furnished
with a mast and sail； and now； under a good breeze the party was making
excellent time toward the mysterious land of their destination。
They had scarcely cleared the harbor when they sighted a ship far out
across the strait。 Its erratic movements riveted their attention upon it； and
later； as they drew nearer； they perceived that the strange craft was a good
sized schooner with but a single short mast and tiny sail。 For a minute or
two her sail would belly with the wind and the vessel make headway； then
she would come suddenly about； only to repeat the same tactics a moment
later。 She sailed first this way and then that； losing one minute what she
had gained the minute before。
Von Horn was the first to recognize her。
〃It is the Ithaca；〃 he said； 〃and her Dyak crew are having a devil of a
time managing hershe acts as though she were rudderless。〃
Von Horn ran the small boat within hailing distance of the dismasted
hulk whose side was now lined with waving； gesticulating natives。 They
were peaceful fishermen； they explained； whose prahus had been wrecked
in the recent typhoon。 They had barely escaped with their lives by
clambering aboard this wreck which Allah had been so merciful as to
place directly in their road。 Would the Tuan Besar be so good as to tell
them how to make the big prahu steer？
Von Horn promised to help them on condition that they would guide
him and h
