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！
… Page 139…
THE MONSTER MEN
countenance that you are of the higher type of mankind；〃 she said。
〃I hope that you will never change your opinion of me； Virginia；〃 said
the man； but he knew that there lay before her a severe shock； and before
him a great sorrow when they should come to where her father was and
the girl should learn the truth concerning him。
That he did not himself tell her may be forgiven him； for he had only a
life of misery to look forward to after she should know that he； too； was
equally a soulless monster with the twelve that had preceded him to a
merciful death。 He would have envied them but for the anticipation of
the time that he might be alone with her before she learned the truth。
As he pondered the future there came to him the thought that should
they never find Professor Maxon or von Horn the girl need never know
but that he was a human being。 He need not lose her then； but always be
near her。 The idea grew and with it the mighty temptation to lead Virginia
Maxon far into the jungle； and keep her forever from the sight of men。
And why not？ Had he not saved her where others had failed？ Was she
not； by all that was just and fair； his？
Did he owe any loyalty to either her father or von Horn？ Already he
had saved Professor Maxon's life； so the obligation； if there was any； lay
all against the older man； and three times he had saved Virginia。 He
would be very kind and good to her。 She should be much happier and a
thousand times safer than with those others who were so poorly equipped
to protect her。
As he stood silently gazing out across the jungle beneath them toward
the new sun the girl watched him in a spell of admiration of his strong and
noble face； and his perfect physique。 What would have been her
emotions had she guessed what thoughts were his！ It was she who broke
the silence。
〃Can you find the way to the long…house where my father is？〃 she
asked。
Bulan； startled at the question； looked up from his reverie。 The thing
must be faced； then； sooner than he thought。 How was he to tell her of his
intention？ It occurred to him to sound her firstpossibly she would make
no objection to the plan。
139
… Page 140…
THE MONSTER MEN
〃You are anxious to return？〃 he asked。
〃Why； yes； of course； I am；〃 she replied。 〃My father will be half mad
with apprehension； until he knows that I am safe。 What a strange
question； indeed。〃 Still； however； she did not doubt the motives of her
companion。
〃Suppose we should be unable to find our way to the long…house？〃 he
continued。
〃Oh； don't say such a thing；〃 cried the girl。 〃It would be terrible。 I
should die of misery and fright and loneliness in this awful jungle。 Surely
you can find your way to the river it was but a short march through the
jungle from where we landed to the spot at which you took me away from
that fearful Malay。〃
The girl's words cast a cloud over Bulan's hopes。 The future looked
less roseate with the knowledge that she would be unhappy in the life that
he had been mapping for them。 He was silentthinking。 In his breast a
riot of conflicting emotions were waging the first great battle which was to
point the trend of the man's characterwould the selfish and the base
prevail； or would the noble？
With the thought of losing her his desire for her companionship
became almost a mania。 To return her to her father and von Horn would
be to lose her of that there could be no doubt； for they would not leave
her long in ignorance of his origin。 Then； in addition to being deprived
of her forever； he must suffer the galling mortification of her scorn。
It was a great deal to ask of a fledgling morality that was yet scarcely
cognizant of its untried wings； but even as the man wavered between right
and wrong there crept into his mind the one great and burning question of
his lifehad he a soul？ And he knew that upon his decision of the fate of
Virginia Maxon rested to some extent the true answer to that question； for；
unconsciously； he had worked out his own crude soul hypothesis which
imparted to this invisible entity the power to direct his actions only for
good。 Therefore he reasoned that wickedness presupposed a small and
worthless soul； or the entire lack of one。
That she would hate a soulless creature he accepted as a foregone
conclusion。 He desired her respect； and that fact helped him to his final
140
… Page 141…
THE MONSTER MEN
decision； but the thing that decided him was born of the truly chivalrous
nature he possessedhe wanted Virginia Maxon to be happy； it mattered
not at what cost to him。
The girl had been watching him closely as he stood silently thinking
after her last words。 She did not know the struggle that the calm face hid；
yet she felt that the dragging moments were big with the question of her
fate。
〃Well？〃 she said at length。
〃We must eat first；〃 he replied in a matter…of…fact tone； and not at all as
though he was about to renounce his life's happiness； 〃and then we shall
set out in search of your father。 I shall take you to him； Virginia； if man
can find him。〃
〃I knew that you could；〃 she said； simply； 〃but how my father and I
ever can repay you I do not knowdo you？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Bulan； and there was a sudden rush of fire to his eyes that
kept Virginia Maxon from urging a detailed explanation of just how she
might repay him。
In truth she did not know whether to be angry； or frightened； or glad of
the truth that she read there； or mortified that it had awakened in her a
realization that possibly an analysis of her own interest in this young
stranger might reveal more than she had imagined。
The constraint that suddenly fell upon them was relieved when Bulan
motioned her to follow him back down the trail into the gorge in search of
food。 There they sat together upon a fallen tree beside a tiny rivulet； eating
the fruit that the man gathered。 Often their eyes met as they talked； but
always the girl's fell before the open worship of the man's。
Many were the men who had looked in admiration at Vir