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！
Gunung Tebor； where he carried on a thriving trade with pirates。
But presently it became apparent that he had not so easily escaped the
fruits of his villainy as he had supposed； for upon the evening of the first
day the rear of his little column was attacked by some of Barunda's
warriors who had forged ahead of their fellows； with the result that the
head of Ninaka's brother went to increase the prestige and glory of the
house of the enemy。
Ninaka was panic…stricken； since he knew that hampered as he was by
the heavy chest he could neither fight nor run to advantage。 And so；
upon a dark night near the head waters of the river he sought； he buried the
treasure at the foot of a mighty buttress tree； and with his parang made
certain cabalistic signs upon the bole whereby he might identify the spot
when it was safe to return and disinter his booty。 Then； with his men； he
hastened down the stream until they reached the head of prahu navigation
where they stole a craft and paddled swiftly on toward the sea。
When the three bull ourang outangs closed upon Bulan he felt no fear
as to the outcome of the battle； for never in his experience had he coped
119
… Page 120…
THE MONSTER MEN
with any muscles that his own mighty thews could not overcome。 But as
the battle continued he realized that there might be a limit to the number of
antagonists which he could successfully withstand； since he could scarcely
hope with but two hands to reach the throats of three enemies； or ward off
the blows and clutches of six powerful hands； or the gnashing of three sets
of savage fangs。
When the truth dawned upon him that he was being killed the instinct
of self…preservation was born in him。 The ferocity with which he had
fought before paled into insignificance beside the mad fury with which he
now attacked the three terrible creatures upon him。 Shaking himself like a
great lion he freed his arms for a moment from the clinging embrace of his
foemen； and seizing the neck of the nearest in his mighty clutch wrenched
the head completely around。
There was one awful shriek from the tortured brute the vertebrae
parted with a snap； and Bulan's antagonists were reduced to two。
Lunging and struggling the three combatants stumbled farther and farther
into the jungle beyond the clearing。 With mighty blows the man buffeted
the beasts to right and left； but ever they returned in bestial rage to renew
the encounter。 Bulan was weakening rapidly under the terrific strain to
which he had been subjected； and from loss of the blood which flowed
from his wounds； yet he was slowly mastering the foaming brutes； who
themselves were torn and bleeding and exhausted。 Weaker and weaker
became the struggles of them all； when a sudden misstep sent Bulan
stumbling headforemost against the stem of a tree； where； stunned； he sank
unconscious； at the mercy of the relentless bulls。
They had already sprung upon the prostrate form of their victim to
finish what the accident had commenced； when the loud report of Sing's
revolver smote upon their startled ears as the Chinaman's bullet buried
itself in the heart of Number Ten。 Never had the ourang outangs heard
the sound of a firearm； and the noise； seemingly in such close proximity；
filled them with such terror that on the instant they forgot all else than this
new and startling fear； and with headlong haste leaped away into the
jungle； leaving Bulan lying where he had fallen。
So it was that though Sing passed within a few paces of the
120
… Page 121…
THE MONSTER MEN
unconscious man he neither saw nor heard aught of him or his antagonists。
When Bulan returned to consciousness the day was drawing to a close。
He was stiff and sore and weak。 His head ached horribly。 He thought that
he must indeed be dying； for how could one who suffered so revive？ But
at last he managed to stagger to his feet； and finally to reach the stream
along which he had been travelling earlier in the day。 Here he quenched
his thirst and bathed his wounds； and as darkness came he lay down to
sleep upon a bed of matted grasses。
The next morning found him refreshed and in considerably less pain；
for the powers of recuperation which belonged to his perfect health and
mighty physique had already worked an almost miraculous transformation
in him。 While he was hunting in the jungle for his breakfast he came
suddenly upon Number Three and Number Twelve similarly employed。
At sight of him the two creatures started to run away； but he called to them
reassuringly and they returned。 On closer inspection Bulan saw that both
were covered with terrible wounds； and after questioning them learned
that they had fared almost as badly at the hands of the ourang outangs as
had he。
〃Even the beasts loathe us；〃 exclaimed Number Twelve。 〃What are we
to do？〃
〃Leave the beasts alone； as I told you；〃 replied Bulan。
〃Human beings hate us also；〃 persisted Number Twelve。
〃Then let us live by ourselves；〃 suggested Number Three。
〃We hate each other；〃 retorted the pessimistic Number Twelve。 〃There
is no place for us in the world； and no companionship。 We are but soulless
things。〃
〃Stop！〃 cried Bulan。 〃I am not a soulless thing。 I am a man； and
within me is as fine and pure a soul as any man may own；〃 and to his
mind's eye came the vision of a fair face surmounted by a mass of loosely
waving； golden hair； but the brainless ones could not understand and only
shook their heads as they resumed their feeding and forgot the subject。
When the three had satisfied the cravings of their appetites two of
them were for lying down to sleep until it should be time to feed again； but
Bulan； once more master； would not permit it； and forced them to
121
… Page 122…
THE MONSTER MEN
accompany him in his seemingly futile search for the girl who had
disappeared so mysteriously after he had rescued her from the ourang