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would be comparatively safe in his keeping。
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It was quickly decided to abandon the small boat and embark the
entire party in the deserted war prahu。 A half hour later saw the strangely
mixed expedition forging up the river； but not until von Horn had boarded
the Ithaca and discovered to his dismay that the chest was not on board
her。
Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir still squatted in his
hiding place； for no friendly prahu or sampan had passed his way since
dawn。 His keen eyes roving constantly up and down the long stretch of
river that was visible from his position finally sighted a war prahu coming
toward him from down stream。 As it drew closer he recognized it as one
which had belonged to his own fleet before his unhappy encounter with
the wild white man and his abhorrent pack； and a moment later his heart
leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several of his men； but who were the
strangers in the stern； and what was a Chinaman doing perched there upon
the bow？
The prahu was nearly opposite him before he recognized Professor
Maxon and von Horn as the white men of the little island。 He wondered
how much they knew of his part in the raid upon their encampment。
Bududreen had told him much concerning the doctor； and as Muda Saffir
recalled the fact that von Horn was anxious to possess himself of both the
treasure and the girl he guessed that he would be safe in the man's hands
so long as he could hold out promises of turning one or the other over to
him； and so； as he was tired of squatting upon the uncomfortable bank and
was very hungry； he arose and hailed the passing prahu。
His men recognized his voice immediately and as they knew nothing
of the defection of any of their fellows； turned the boat's prow toward
shore without waiting for the command from von Horn。 The latter；
fearing treachery； sprang to his feet with raised rifle； but when one of the
paddlers explained that it was the Rajah Muda Saffir who hailed them and
that he was alone von Horn permitted them to draw nearer the shore；
though he continued to stand ready to thwart any attempted treachery and
warned both the professor and Sing to be on guard。
As the prahu's nose touched the bank Muda Saffir stepped aboard and
with many protestations of gratitude explained that he had fallen
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THE MONSTER MEN
overboard from his own prahu the night before and that evidently his
followers thought him drowned； since none of his boats had returned to
search for him。 Scarcely had the Malay seated himself before von Horn
began questioning him in the rajah's native tongue； not a word of which
was intelligible to Professor Maxon。 Sing； however； was as familiar with
it as was von Horn。
〃Where are the girl and the treasure？〃 he asked。
〃What girl； Tuan Besar？〃 inquired the wily Malay innocently。 〃And
what treasure？ The white man speaks in riddles。〃
〃Come； come；〃 cried von Horn impatiently。 〃Let us have no
foolishness。 You know perfectly well what I mean it will go far better
with you if we work together as friends。 I want the girlif she is
unharmedand I will divide the treasure with you if you will help me to
obtain them； otherwise you shall have no part of either。 What do you say？
Shall we be friends or enemies？〃
〃The girl and the treasure were both stolen from me by a rascally
panglima； Ninaka；〃 said Muda Saffir； seeing that it would be as well to
simulate friendship for the white man for the time being at leastthere
would always be an opportunity to use a kris upon him in the remote
fastness of the interior to which Muda Saffir would lead them。
〃What became of the white man who led the strange monsters？〃 asked
von Horn。
〃He killed many of my men； and the last I saw of him he was pushing
up the river after the girl and the treasure；〃 replied the Malay。
〃If another should ask you；〃 continued von Horn with a meaningful
glance toward Professor Maxon； 〃it will be well to say that the girl was
stolen by this white giant and that you suffered defeat in an attempt to
rescue her because of your friendship for us。 Do you understand？〃
Muda Saffir nodded。 Here was a man after his own heart； which
loved intrigue and duplicity。 Evidently he would be a good ally in
wreaking vengeance upon the white giant who had caused all his
discomfiture afterward there was always the kris if the other should
become inconvenient。
At the long…house at which Barunda and Ninaka had halted； Muda
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THE MONSTER MEN
Saffir learned all that had transpired； his informants being the two Dyaks
who had led Bulan and his pack into the jungle。 He imparted the
information to von Horn and both men were delighted that thus their most
formidable enemy had been disposed of。 It would be but a question of time
before the inexperienced creatures perished in the dense forest that they
ever could retrace their steps to the river was most unlikely； and the
chances were that one by one they would be dispatched by head hunters
while they slept。
Again the party embarked； reinforced by the two Dyaks who were
only too glad to renew their allegiance to Muda Saffir while he was
backed by the guns of the white men。 On and on they paddled up the
river； gleaning from the dwellers in the various long…houses information of
the passing of the two prahus with Barunda； Ninaka； and the white girl。
Professor Maxon was impatient to hear every detail that von Horn
obtained from Muda Saffir and the various Dyaks that were interviewed at
the first long…house and along the stretch of river they covered。 The
doctor told him that Number Thirteen still had Virginia and was fleeing up
the river in a swift prahu。 He enlarged upon the valor shown by M