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ir belongings； including the heavy chest； and that the reward of each member of the crew would be generous。
Von Horn was really the only stumbling block in Bududreen's path。 With the natural cowardice of the Malay he feared this masterful American who never moved without a brace of guns slung about his hips； and it was at just this psychological moment that the doctor played into the hands of his subordinate； much to the latter's inward elation。
Von Horn had finally despaired of winning Virginia by peaceful court； and had about decided to resort to force when he was precipitately confirmed in his decision by a conversation with the girl's father。
He and the professor were talking in the workshop of the remarkable progress of Number Thirteen toward a complete mastery of English and the ways and manners of society； in which von Horn had been assisting his employer to train the young giant。 The breach between the latter and von Horn had been patched over by Professor Maxon's explanations to Number Thirteen as soon as the young man was able to comprehendin the meantime it had been necessary to keep von Horn out of the workshop except when the giant was confined in his own room off the larger one。
Von Horn had been particularly anxious； for the furtherance of certain plans he had in mind； to effect a reconciliation with Number Thirteen； to reach a basis of friendship with the young man； and had left no stone unturned to accomplish this result。 To this end he had spent considerable time with Number Thirteen； coaching him in English and in the ethics of human association。
〃He is progressing splendidly； Doctor；〃 Professor Maxon had said。 〃It will be but a matter of a day or so when I can introduce him to Virginia； but we must be careful that she has no inkling of his origin until mutual affection has gained a sure foothold between them。〃
〃And if that should not occur？〃 questioned von Horn。
〃I should prefer that they mated voluntarily；〃 replied the professor； the strange gleam leaping to his eyes at the suggestion of possible antagonism to his cherished plan； 〃but if not； then they shall be compelled by the force of my authoritythey both belong to me； body and soul。〃
〃You will wait for the final consummation of your desires until you return with them to civilization； I presume；〃 said von Horn。
〃And why？〃 returned the professor。 〃I can wed them here myselfit would be the surer wayyes； that is what I shall do。〃
It was this determination on the part of Professor Maxon that decided von Horn to act at once。 Further； it lent a reasonable justification for his purposed act。
Shortly after their talk the older man left the workshop； and von Horn took the opportunity to inaugurate the second move of his campaign。 Number Thirteen was sitting near a window which let upon the inner court； busy with the rudiments of written English。 Von Horn approached him。
〃You are getting along nicely； Jack；〃 he said kindly； looking over the other's shoulder and using the name which had been adopted at his suggestion to lend a more human tone to their relations with the nameless man。
〃Yes；〃 replied the other； looking up with a smile。 〃Professor Maxon says that in another day or two I may come and live in his own house； and again meet his beautiful daughter。 It seems almost too good to be true that I shall actually live under the same roof with her and see her every daysit at the same table with herand walk with her among the beautiful trees and flowers that witnessed our first meeting。 I wonder if she will remember me。 I wonder if she will be as glad to see me again as I shall be to see her。〃
〃Jack；〃 said von Horn； sadly； 〃I am afraid there is a terrible and disappointing awakening for you。 It grieves me that it should be so； but it seems only fair to tell you； what Professor Maxon either does not know or has forgotten； that his daughter will not look with pleasure upon you when she learns your origin。
〃You are not as other men。 You are but the accident of a laboratory experiment。 You have no soul； and the soul is all that raises man above the beasts。 Jack； poor boy； you are not a human beingyou are not even a beast。 The world； and Miss Maxon is of the world； will look upon you as a terrible creature to be shunned a horrible monstrosity far lower in the scale of creation than the lowest order of brutes。
〃Look；〃 and the man pointed through the window toward the group of hideous things that wandered aimlessly about the court of mystery。 〃You are of the same breed as those； you differ from them only in the symmetry of your face and features； and the superior development of your brain。 There is no place in the world for them； nor for you。
〃I am sorry that it is so。 I am sorry that I should have to be the one to tell you； but it is better that you know it now from a friend than that you meet the bitter truth when you least expected it； and possibly from the lips of one like Miss Maxon for whom you might have formed a hopeless affection。〃
As von Horn spoke the expression on the young man's face became more and more hopeless； and when he had ceased he dropped his head into his open palms； sitting quiet and motionless as a carven statue。 No sob shook his great frame； there was no outward indication of the terrible grief that racked him inwardlyonly in the pose was utter dejection and hopelessness。
The older man could not repress a cold smileit had had more effect than he had hoped。
〃Don't take it too hard； my boy；〃 he continued。 〃The world is wide。 It would be easy to find a thousand places where your antecedents would be neither known nor questioned。 You might be very happy elsewhere and there a hundred thousand girls as beautiful and sweet as Virginia Maxonremember that you have never seen another； so you can scarcely judge。〃
〃Why did he ever bring me into the world？〃 exclaimed the young man suddenly。 〃It was wickedwicked terribly cruel and wicked。〃
〃I agree with you；〃 said von Horn quickly； seeing another possibility that would make his future plans immeasurably easier。 〃It was wicked； and it is still more wicked to continue the work and bring still other unfortunate creatures into the world to be the butt and plaything of cruel fate。〃
〃He intends to do that？〃 asked the youth。
〃Unless he is stopped；〃 replied von Horn。
〃He must be stopped；〃 cried the other。 〃Even if it were necessary to kill him。〃
Von Horn was quite satisfied with the turn events had taken。 He shrugged his shoulders and turned on his heel toward the outer campong。
〃If he had wronged me as he has you； and those others；〃 with a gesture toward the court of mystery； 〃I should not be long in reaching a decision。〃 And with that he passed out； leaving the door unlatched。
Von Horn went straight to the south campong and sought out Bududreen。 Motioning the Malay to follow him they walked across the clearing and entered the jungle out of sight and hearing of the camp。 Sing； hanging clothes in the north end of the clearing saw them depart； and wondered a little。
〃Bududreen；〃 said von Horn； when the two had reached a safe distance from the enclosures； 〃there is no need of mincing matterssomething must be don