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her alone upon the boat without a single European companionsomething
that he would never have thought of doing a few months before。
As she sat speculating on the strange change which had come over her
father her eyes had wandered aimlessly along the harbor's entrance； the
low reef that protected it from the sea； and the point of land to the south；
that projected far out into the strait like a gigantic index finger pointing
toward the mainland； the foliage covered heights of which were just
visible above the western horizon。
Presently her attention was arrested by a tossing speck far out upon the
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THE MONSTER MEN
rolling bosom of the strait。 For some time the girl watched the object
until at length it resolved itself into a boat moving head on toward the
island。 Later she saw that it was long and low； propelled by a single sail
and many oars； and that it carried quite a company。
Thinking it but a native trading boat； so many of which ply the
southern seas； Virginia viewed its approach with but idle curiosity。 When
it had come to within half a mile of the anchorage of the Ithaca； and was
about to enter the mouth of the harbor Sing Lee's eyes chanced to fall
upon it。 On the instant the old Chinaman was electrified into sudden and
astounding action。
〃Klick！ Klick！〃 he cried； running toward Virginia。 〃Go b'low； klick。〃
〃Why should I go below； Sing？〃 queried the girl； amazed by the
demeanor of the cook。
〃Klick！ Klick！〃 he urged grasping her by the armhalf leading； half
dragging her toward the companion…way。 〃Plilates！ Mlalay plilates
Dyak plilates。〃
〃Pirates！〃 gasped Virginia。 〃Oh Sing； what can we do？〃
〃You go b'low。 Mebbyso Sing flighten 'em。 Shoot cannon。 Bling
help。 Maxon come klick。 Bling men。 Chase'm 'way；〃 explained the
Chinaman。 〃But plilates see 'em pletty white girl；〃 he shrugged his
shoulders and shook his head dubiously； 〃then old Sing no can flighten 'em
'way。〃
The girl shuddered； and crouching close behind Sing hurried below。
A moment later she heard the boom of the old brass six pounder which for
many years had graced the Ithaca's stern。 In the bow Professor Maxon
had mounted a modern machine gun； but this was quite beyond Sing's
simple gunnery。 The Chinaman had not taken the time to sight the
ancient weapon carefully； but a gleeful smile lit his wrinkled； yellow face
as he saw the splash of the ball where it struck the water almost at the side
of the prahu。
Sing realized that the boat might contain friendly natives； but he had
cruised these waters too many years to take chances。 Better kill a hundred
friends； he thought； than be captured by a single pirate。
At the shot the prahu slowed up； and a volley of musketry from her
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THE MONSTER MEN
crew satisfied Sing that he had made no mistake in classifying her。 Her
fire fell short as did the ball from the small cannon mounted in her bow。
Virginia was watching the prahu from one of the cabin ports。 She
saw the momentary hesitation and confusion which followed Sing's first
shot； and then to her dismay she saw the rowers bend to their oars again
and the prahu move swiftly in the direction of the Ithaca。
It was apparent that the pirates had perceived the almost defenseless
condition of the schooner。 In a few minutes they would be swarming the
deck； for poor old Sing would be entirely helpless to repel them。 If Dr。
von Horn were only there； thought the distracted girl。 With the machine
gun alone he might keep them off。
At the thought of the machine gun a sudden resolve gripped her。
Why not man it herself？ Von Horn had explained its mechanism to her in
detail； and on one occasion had allowed her to operate it on the voyage
from Singapore。 With the thought came action。 Running to the
magazine she snatched up a feed…belt； and in another moment was on deck
beside the astonished Sing。
The pirates were skimming rapidly across the smooth waters of the
harbor； answering Sing's harmless shots with yells of derision and wild；
savage war cries。 There were； perhaps； fifty Dyaks and Malaysfierce；
barbaric men； mostly naked to the waist； or with war… coats of brilliant
colors。 The savage headdress of the Dyaks； the long； narrow； decorated
shields； the flashing blades of parang and kris sent a shudder through the
girl； so close they seemed beneath the schooner's side。
〃What do？ What do？〃 cried Sing in consternation。 〃Go b'low。
Klick！〃 But before he had finished his exhortation Virginia was racing
toward the bow where the machine gun was mounted。 Tearing the cover
from it she swung the muzzle toward the pirate prahu； which by now was
nearly within range above the vessel's side a moment more and she
would be too close to use the weapon upon the pirates。
Virginia was quick to perceive the necessity for haste； while the pirates
at the same instant realized the menace of the new danger which
confronted them。 A score of muskets belched forth their missiles at the
fearless girl behind the scant shield of the machine gun。 Leaden pellets
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THE MONSTER MEN
rained heavily upon her protection； or whizzed threateningly about her
head and then she got the gun into action。
At the rate of fifty a minute； a stream of projectiles tore into the bow
of the prahu when suddenly a richly garbed Malay in the stern rose to his
feet waving a white cloth upon the point of his kris。 It was the Rajah
Muda Saffirhe had seen the girl's face and at the sight of it the blood lust
in his breast had been supplanted by another。
At sight of the emblem of peace Virginia ceased firing。 She saw the
tall Malay issue a few commands； the oarsmen bent to their work； the
prahu came about； making off toward