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not do that； though my judgment tells me that I should do it。 You shall
remain here if you insist and I will be with you to serve and protect both
you and your father。〃
The words were fair； but the girl could not forget the ugly tone that had
tinged his preceding statement。 She felt that she would be glad when she
found herself safely within the bungalow once more。
〃Come；〃 she said； 〃it is late。 Let us return to camp。〃
Von Horn was about to reply when the war cries of Muda Saffir's
Dyaks as they rushed out upon Bududreen and his companions came to
them distinctly through the tropic night。
〃What was that？〃 cried the girl in an alarmed tone。
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〃God knows；〃 replied von Horn。 〃Can it be that our men have
mutinied？〃
He thought the six with Bududreen were carrying out their part in a
most realistic manner； and a grim smile tinged his hard face。
Virginia Maxon turned resolutely toward the camp。
〃I must go back there to my father；〃 she said； 〃and so must you。 Our
place is thereGod give that we be not too late；〃 and before von Horn
could stop her she turned and ran through the darkness of the jungle in the
direction of the camp。
Von Horn dashed after her； but so black was the night beneath the
overhanging trees； festooned with their dark myriad creepers； that the girl
was out of sight in an instant； and upon the soft carpet of the rotting
vegetation her light footfalls gave no sound。
The doctor made straight for the camp； but Virginia； unused to jungle
trailing even by day； veered sharply to the left。 The sounds which had
guided her at first soon died out； the brush became thicker； and presently
she realized that she had no conception of the direction of the camp。
Coming to a spot where the trees were less dense； and a little moonlight
filtered to the ground； she paused to rest and attempt to regain her
bearings。
As she stood listening for some sound which might indicate the
whereabouts of the camp； she detected the noise of a body approaching
through the underbrush。 Whether man or beast she could but conjecture
and so she stood with every nerve taut waiting the thing that floundered
heavily toward her。 She hoped it might be von Horn； but the hideous war
cries which had apprised her of enemies at the encampment made her fear
that fate might be directing the footsteps of one of these upon her。
Nearer and nearer came the sound； and the girl stood poised ready to
fly when the dark face of Bududreen suddenly emerged into the moonlight
beside her。 With an hysterical cry of relief the girl greeted him。
〃Oh； Bududreen；〃 she exclaimed； 〃what has happened at camp？ Where
is my father？ Is he safe？ Tell me。〃
The Malay could scarce believe the good fortune which had befallen
him so quickly following the sore affliction of losing the treasure。 His
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evil mind worked quickly； so that he grasped the full possibilities that
were his before the girl had finished her questioning。
〃The camp was attacked by Dyaks； Miss Maxon；〃 he replied。 〃Many
of our men were killed； but your father escaped and has gone to the ship。
I have been searching for you and Doctor von Horn。 Where is he？〃
〃He was with me but a moment ago。 When we heard the cries at
camp I hastened on to discover what calamity had befallen uswe became
separated。〃
〃He will be safe；〃 said Bududreen； 〃for two of my men are waiting to
guide you and the doctor to the ship in case you returned to camp before I
found you。 Come； we will hasten on to the harbor。 Your father will be
worried if we are long delayed； and he is anxious to make sail and escape
before the Dyaks discover the location of the Ithaca。〃
The man's story seemed plausible enough to Virginia； although she
could not repress a little pang of regret that her father had been willing to
go on to the harbor before he knew her fate。 However； she explained that
by her belief that his mind was unbalanced through constant application to
his weird obsession。
Without demur； then； she turned and accompanied the rascally Malay
toward the harbor。 At the bank of the little stream which led down to the
Ithaca's berth the man lifted her to his shoulder and thus bore her the
balance of the way to the beach。 Here two of his men were awaiting him
in one of the ship's boats； and without words they embarked and pulled for
the vessel。
Once on board Virginia started immediately for her father's cabin。 As
she crossed the deck she noticed that the ship was ready to sail； and even
as she descended the companionway she heard the rattle of the anchor
chain about the capstan。 She wondered if von Horn could be on board
too。 It seemed remarkable that all should have reached the Ithaca so
quickly； and equally strange that none of her own people were on deck to
welcome her； or to command the vessel。
To her chagrin she found her father's cabin empty； and a moment's
hurried investigation disclosed the fact that von Horn's was unoccupied as
well。 Now her doubts turned quickly to fears； and with a little gasp of
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dismay at the grim possibilities which surged through her imagination she
ran quickly to the companionway； but above her she saw that the hatch
was down； and when she reached the top that it was fastened。 Futilely
she beat upon the heavy planks with her delicate hands； calling aloud to
Bududreen to release her； but there was no reply； and with the realization
of the hopelessness of her position she dropped back to the deck； and
returned to her stateroom。 Here she locked and barricaded the door as
best she could； and throwing herself upon the berth awaited in dry…eyed
terror the next blow that fate held in store for her。
Shortly after von Horn became separated from Virginia he collided
with the fleeing