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Many were the men who had looked in admiration at Virginia Maxon
in the past； but never； she felt； with eyes so clean and brave and honest。
There was no guile or evil in them； and because of it she wondered all the
more that she could not face them。
〃What a wonderful soul those eyes portray；〃 she thought； 〃and how
perfectly they assure the safety of my life and honor while their owner is
near me。〃
And the man thought： 〃Would that I owned a soul that I might aspire
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THE MONSTER MEN
to live always near heralways to protect her。〃
When they had eaten the two set out once more in search of the river；
and the confidence that is born of ignorance was theirs； so that beyond
each succeeding tangled barrier of vines and creepers they looked to see
the swirling stream that would lead them to the girl's father。
On and on they trudged； the man often carrying the girl across the
rougher obstacles and through the little streams that crossed their path；
until at last came noon； and yet no sign of the river they sought。 The
combined jungle craft of the two had been insufficient either to trace the
way that they had come； or point the general direction of the river。
As the afternoon drew to a close Virginia Maxon commenced to lose
heartshe was confident that they were lost。 Bulan made no pretence of
knowing the way； the most that he would say being that eventually they
must come to the river。 As a matter…of…fact had it not been for the girl's
evident concern he would have been glad to know that they were
irretrievably lost； but for her sake his efforts to find the river were
conscientious。
When at last night closed down upon them the girl was； at heart； terror
stricken； but she hid her true state from the man； because she knew that
their plight was no fault of his。 The strange and uncanny noises of the
jungle night filled her with the most dreadful forebodings； and when a
cold； drizzling rain set in upon them her cup of misery was full。
Bulan rigged a rude shelter for her； making her lie down beneath it；
and then he removed his Dyak war…coat and threw it over her； but it was
hours before her exhausted body overpowered her nervous fright and won
a fitful and restless slumber。 Several times Virginia became obsessed
with the idea that Bulan had left her alone there in the jungle； but when
she called his name he answered from close beside her shelter。
She thought that he had reared another for himself nearby； but even the
thought that he might sleep filled her with dread； yet she would not call to
him again； since she knew that he needed his rest even more than she。
And all the night Bulan stood close beside the woman he had learned to
love stood almost naked in the chill night air and the cold rain； lest some
savage man or beast creep out of the darkness after her while he slept。
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The next day with its night； and the next； and the next were but
repetitions of the first。 It had become an agony of suffering for the man
to fight off sleep longer。 The girl read part of the truth in his heavy eyes
and worn face； and tried to force him to take needed rest； but she did not
guess that he had not slept for four days and nights。
At last abused Nature succumbed to the terrific strain that had been put
upon her； and the giant constitution of the man went down before the cold
and the wet； weakened and impoverished by loss of sleep and insufficient
food； for through the last two days he had been able to find but little； and
that little he had given to the girl； telling her that he had eaten his fill while
he gathered hers。
It was on the fifth morning； when Virginia awoke； that she found
Bulan rolling and tossing upon the wet ground before her shelter； delirious
with fever。 At the sight of the mighty figure reduced to pitiable
inefficiency and weakness； despite the knowledge that her protector could
no longer protect； the fear of the jungle faded from the heart of the young
girlshe was no more a weak and trembling daughter of an effete
civilization。 Instead she was a lioness； watching over and protecting her
sick mate。 The analogy did not occur to her； but something else did as
she saw the flushed face and fever wracked body of the man whose appeal
to her she would have thought purely physical had she given the subject
any analytic consideration； and as a realization of his utter helplessness
came to her she bent over him and kissed first his forehead and then his
lips。
〃What a noble and unselfish love yours has been；〃 she murmured。
〃You have even tried to hide it that my position might be the easier to bear；
and now that it may be too late I learn that I love youthat I have always
loved you。 Oh； Bulan； my Bulan； what a cruel fate that permitted us to
find one another only to die together！〃
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16 SING SPEAKS
For a week Professor Maxon with von Horn and Sing sought for
Virginia。 They could get no help from the natives of the long…house； who
feared the vengeance of Muda Saffir should he learn that they had aided
the white men upon his trail。
And always as the three hunted through the jungle and up and down
the river there lurked ever near a handful of the men of the tribe of the two
whom von Horn had murdered； waiting for the chance that would give
them revenge and the heads of the three they followed。 They feared the
guns of the white men too much to venture an open attack； and at night the
quarry never abated their watchfulness； so that days dragged on； and still
the three continued their hopeless quest unconscious of the relentless foe
that dogged their footsteps。
Von Horn was always searching for an opportunity to enlist the aid of
the friendly natives in an effort to regain the chest； but so far he had found
none who would agree to accompany him even in consideration of a large
share of the booty。 It was the treasure alone which kept him to the search
for Virginia Maxon； and he made it a point to direct