按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
to push their way rapidly through the water to the very side of the ship。
Here they found difficulty in reaching the deck； but in a moment
Number Thirteen had solved the problem by requiring one of the taller of
his crew to stand close in by the ship while the others clambered upon his
shoulders and from there to the Ithaca's deck。
Number Thirteen was the first to pull himself over the vessel's side；
and as he did so he saw some half dozen Dyaks preparing to quit her upon
the opposite side。 They were the last of the boarding partythe girl was
nowhere in sight。 Without waiting for his men the young giant sprang
across the deck。 His one thought was to find Virginia Maxon。
At the sound of his approach the Dyak turned； and at the sight of a
pajama clad white man armed only with a long whip they emitted savage
cries of anticipation； counting the handsome trophy upon the white one's
shoulders as already theirs。 Number Thirteen would have paid no
attention whatever to them had they not molested him； for he wished only
to reach the girl's side as quickly as possible； but in another moment he
found himself confronted by a half dozen dancing wild men； brandishing
wicked looking parangs； and crying tauntingly。
Up went the great bull whip； and without abating his speed a particle
the man leaped into the midst of the wicked blades that menaced him。
Right and left with the quickness of thought the heavy lash fell upon heads；
shoulders and sword arms。 There was no chance to wield a blade in the
face of that terrific onslaught； for the whip fell； not with the ordinary force
of a man…held lash； but with all the stupendous power of those giant
78
… Page 79…
THE MONSTER MEN
shoulders and arms behind it。
A single blow felled the foremost head hunter； breaking his shoulder
and biting into the flesh and bone as a heavy sword bites。 Again and
again the merciless leather fell； while in the boats below Muda Saffir and
his men shouted loud cries of encouragement to their companions on the
ship； and a wide…eyed girl in the stern of Muda Saffir's own prahu looked
on in terror； hope and admiration at the man of her own race whom she
felt was battling against all these odds for her alone。
Virginia Maxon recognized her champion instantly as he who had
fought for her and saved her once before； from the hideous creature of her
father's experiments。 With hands tight pressed against her bosom the girl
leaned forward； tense with excitement； watching every move of the lithe；
giant figure； as； silhouetted against the brazen tropic sky； it towered above
the dancing； shrieking head hunters who writhed beneath the awful lash。
Muda Saffir saw that the battle was going against his men； and it filled
him with anger。 Turning to one of his headmen he ordered two more
boatloads of warriors to the Ithaca's deck。 As they were rushing to obey
their leader's command there was a respite in the fighting on the ship； for
the three who had not fallen beneath the bull whip had leaped overboard to
escape the fate which had overtaken their comrades。
As the reinforcements started to scale the vessel's side Number
Thirteen's searching eyes found the girl in Muda Saffir's prahu； where it
lay a little off from the Ithaca； and as the first of the enemy clambered
over the rail she saw a smile of encouragement light the clear cut features
of the man above her。 Virginia Maxon sent back an answering smilea
smile that filled the young giant's heart with pride and happiness such a
smile as brave men have been content to fight and die for since woman
first learned the art of smiling。
Number Thirteen could have beaten back many of the reinforcing
party before they reached the deck； but he did not care to do so。 In the
spontaneous ethics of the man there seemed no place for an unfair
advantage over an enemy； and added to this was his newly acquired love
of battle； so he was content to wait until his foes stood on an even footing
with him before he engaged them。 But they never came within reach of his
79
… Page 80…
THE MONSTER MEN
ready lash。 Instead； as they came above the ship's side they paused； wide…
eyed and terror stricken； and with cries of fear and consternation dropped
precipitately back into the sea； shouting warnings to those who were about
to scale the hull。
Muda Saffir arose in his prahu cursing and reviling the frightened
Dyaks。 He did not know the cause of their alarm； but presently he saw it
behind the giant upon the Ithaca's deck eleven horrible monstrosities
lumbering forward； snarling and growling； to their leader's side。
At the sight his own dark countenance went ashen； and with trembling
lips he ordered his oarsmen to pull for the open sea。 The girl； too； saw
the frightful creatures that surrounded the man upon the deck。 She thought
that they were about to attack him； and gave a little cry of warning； but in
another instant she realized that they were his companions； for with him
they rushed to the side of the ship to stand for a moment looking down
upon the struggling Dyaks in the water below。
Two prahus lay directly beneath them； and into these the head hunters
were scrambling。 The balance of the flotilla was now making rapid
headway under oars and sail toward the mouth of the harbor； and as
Number Thirteen saw that the girl was being borne away from him； he
shouted a command to his misshapen crew； and without waiting to see if
they would follow him leaped into the nearer of the two boats beneath。
It was already half filled with Dyaks； some of whom were hastily
manning the oars。 Others of the head hunters were scrambling over the
gunwale。 In an instant pandemonium reigned in the little vessel。 Savage
warriors sprang toward the tall figure towering above them。 Parangs
flashed。 The bull whip hissed and cracked； and then into the midst of it
all came a horrid avalanche of fearful and grotesque monsters the young
giant's crew had followed at his command。
The battle in the prahu was short and fierce。 For an instant the Dyaks
attempted to hold their own； but in the face of the snarling； rending horde
t