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attempted to hold their own； but in the face of the snarling； rending horde
that engulfed them terror got the better of them all； so that those who were
not overcome dived overboard and swam rapidly toward shore。
The other prahu had not waited to assist its companion； but before it
was entirely filled had gotten under way and was now rapidly overhauling
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THE MONSTER MEN
the balance of the fleet。
Von Horn had been an excited witness to all that had occurred upon
the tranquil bosom of the little harbor。 He had been filled with
astonishment at sight of the inhabitants of the court of mystery fighting
under the leadership of Number Thirteen； and now he watched interestedly
the outcome of the adventure。
The sight of the girl being borne away in the prahu of the Malay rajah
to a fate worse than death； had roused in him both keen regret and savage
rage； but it was the life of ease that he was losing that concerned him most。
He had felt so sure of winning Professor Maxon's fortune through either a
forced or voluntary marriage with the girl that his feelings now were as of
one whose rightful heritage has been foully wrested from him。 The
thought of the girl's danger and suffering were of but secondary
consideration to him； for the man was incapable of either deep love or true
chivalry。
Quite the contrary were the emotions which urged on the soulless
creature who now found himself in undisputed possession of a Dyak war
prahu。 His only thought was of the girl being rapidly borne away across
the glimmering waters of the strait。 He knew not to what dangers she
was exposed； or what fate threatened her。 All he knew was that she had
been taken by force against her will。 He had seen the look of terror in
her eyes； and the dawning hope die out as the boat that carried her had
turned rapidly away from the Ithaca。 His one thought now was to rescue
her from her abductors and return her to her father。 Of his own reward or
profit he entertained no single thoughtit was enough if he could fight for
her。 That would be reward sufficient。
Neither Number Thirteen nor any of his crew had ever before seen a
boat； and outside of the leader there was scarcely enough brains in the
entire party to render it at all likely that they could ever navigate it； but the
young man saw that the other prahus were being propelled by the long
sticks which protruded from their sides； and he also saw the sails bellying
with wind； though he had but a vague conception of their purpose。
For a moment he stood watching the actions of the men in the nearest
boat； and then he set himself to the task of placing his own men at the oars
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THE MONSTER MEN
and instructing them in the manner of wielding the unfamiliar implements。
For an hour he worked with the brainless things that constituted his party。
They could not seem to learn what was required of them。 The paddles
were continually fouling one another； or being merely dipped into the
water and withdrawn without the faintest semblance of a stroke made。
The tiresome maneuvering had carried them about in circles back and
forth across the harbor； but by it Number Thirteen had himself learned
something of the proper method of propelling and steering his craft。 At last；
more through accident than intent； they came opposite the mouth of the
basin； and then chance did for them what days of arduous endeavor upon
their part might have failed to accomplish。
As they hung wavering in the opening； the broad strait before them；
and their quarry fast diminishing to small specks upon the distant horizon；
a vagrant land breeze suddenly bellied the flapping sail。 The prahu
swung quickly about with nose pointed toward the sea； the sail filled； and
the long； narrow craft shot out of the harbor and sped on over the dancing
waters in the wake of her sisters。
On shore behind them the infuriated Dyaks who had escaped to the
beach danced and shrieked； von Horn； from his hiding place； looked on in
surprised wonder； and Bududreen's lascar cursed the fate that had left a
party of forty head hunters upon the same small island with him。
Smaller and smaller grew the retreating prahu as； straight as an arrow；
she sped toward the dim outline of verdure clad Borneo。
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THE MONSTER MEN
9 INTO SAVAGE BORNEO
Von Horn cursed the chance that had snatched the girl from him； but
he tried to content himself with the thought that the treasure probably still
rested in the cabin of the Ithaca； where Bududreen was to have deposited it。
He wished that the Dyaks would take themselves off so that he could
board the vessel and carry the chest ashore to bury it against the time that
fate should provide a means for transporting it to Singapore。
In the water below him floated the Ithaca's masts； their grisly burdens
still lashed to their wave swept sides。 Bududreen lay there； his contorted
features set in a horrible grimace of death which grinned up at the man he
would have cheated； as though conscious of the fact that the white man
would have betrayed him had the opportunity come； the while he enjoyed
in anticipation the other's disappointment in the loss of both the girl and
the treasure。
The tide was rising now； and presently the Ithaca began to float。 No
sooner was it apparent that she was free than the Dyaks sprang into the
water and swam to her side。 Like monkeys they scrambled aboard；
swarming below deck in search； thought von Horn； of pillage。 He prayed
that they would not discover the chest。
Presently a half dozen of them leaped overboard and swam to the mass
of tangled spars and rigging which littered the beach。 Selecting what
they wished they returned to the vessel； and a few minutes later von Horn
was chagrined to see them stepping a jury mast he thought the treasure
lay in the Ithaca's cabin。
Before dark the vessel moved slowly out of the harbor； setting a course
across the strait in the direction that the war prahus had taken。 When it
was apparent that there was