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The thought that he had been made by this manmade in the semblance of a human being； yet denied by the manner of his creation a place among the lowest of Nature's creaturesfilled him with fury； but it was not this thought that drove him to the verge of madness。 It was the knowledge； suggested by von Horn； that Virginia Maxon would look upon him in horror； as a grotesque and loathsome monstrosity。
He had no standard and no experience whereby he might classify his sentiments toward this wonderful creature。 All he knew was that his life would be complete could he be near her alwayssee her and speak with her daily。 He had thought of her almost constantly since those short； delicious moments that he had held her in his arms。 Again and again he experienced in retrospection the exquisite thrill that had run through every fiber of his being at the sight of her averted eyes and flushed face。 And the more he let his mind dwell upon the wonderful happiness that was denied him because of his origin； the greater became his wrath against his creator。
It was now quite dark without。 The door leading to Professor Maxon's campong； left unlatched earlier in the evening by von Horn for sinister motives of his own； was still unbarred through a fatal coincidence of forgetfulness on the part of the professor。
Number Thirteen approached this door。 He laid his hand upon the knob。 A moment later he was moving noiselessly across the campong toward the house in which Professor Maxon lay peacefully sleeping； while at the south gate Bududreen and his six cutthroats crept cautiously within and slunk in the dense shadows of the palisade toward the workshop where lay the heavy chest of their desire。 At the same instant Muda Saffir with fifty of his head…hunting Dyaks emerged from the jungle east of the camp； bent on discovering the whereabouts of the girl the Malay sought and bearing her away to his savage court far within the jungle fastness of his Bornean principality。
Number Thirteen reached the verandah of the house and peered through the window into the living room； where an oil lamp； turned low； dimly lighted the interior； which he saw was unoccupied。 Going to the door he pushed it open and entered the apartment。 All was still within。 He listened intently for some slight sound which might lead him to the victim he sought； or warn him from the apartment of the girl or that of von Hornhis business was with Professor Maxon。 He did not wish to disturb the others whom he believed to be sleeping somewhere within the structurea low； rambling bungalow of eight rooms。
Cautiously he approached one of the four doors which opened from the living room。 Gently he turned the knob and pushed the door ajar。 The interior of the apartment beyond was in inky darkness； but Number Thirteen's greatest fear was that he might have stumbled upon the sleeping room of Virginia Maxon； and that if she were to discover him there； not only would she be frightened； but her cries would alarm the other inmates of the dwelling。
The thought of the horror that his presence would arouse within her； the knowledge that she would look upon him as a terrifying monstrosity； added new fuel to the fires of hate that raged in his bosom against the man who had created him。 With clenched fists； and tight set jaws the great； soulless giant moved across the dark chamber with the stealthy noiselessness of a tiger。 Feeling before him with hands and feet he made the circuit of the room before he reached the bed。
Scarce breathing he leaned over and groped across the covers with his fingers in search of his preythe bed was empty。 With the discovery came a sudden nervous reaction that sent him into a cold sweat。 Weakly； he seated himself upon the edge of the bed。 Had his fingers found the throat of Professor Maxon beneath the coverlet they would never have released their hold until life had forever left the body of the scientist； but now that the highest tide of the young man's hatred had come and gone he found himself for the first time assailed by doubts。
Suddenly he recalled the fact that the man whose life he sought was the father of the beautiful creature he adored。 Perhaps she loved him and would be unhappy were he taken away from her。 Number Thirteen did not know； of course； but the idea obtruded itself； and had sufficient weight to cause him to remain seated upon the edge of the bed meditating upon the act he contemplated。 He had by no means given up the idea of killing Professor Maxon； but now there were doubts and obstacles which had not been manifest before。
His standards of right and wrong were but half formed； from the brief attempts of Professor Maxon and von Horn to inculcate proper moral perceptions in a mind entirely devoid of hereditary inclinations toward either good or bad； but he realized one thing most perfectlythat to be a soulless thing was to be damned in the estimation of Virginia Maxon； and it now occurred to him that to kill her father would be the act of a soulless being。 It was this thought more than another that caused him to pause in the pursuit of his revenge； since he knew that the act he contemplated would brand him the very thing he was； yet wished not to be。
At length； however； he slowly comprehended that no act of his would change the hideous fact of his origin； that nothing would make him acceptable in her eyes； and with a shake of his head he arose and stepped toward the living room to continue his search for the professor。
In the workshop Bududreen and his men had easily located the chest。 Dragging it into the north campong the Malay was about to congratulate himself upon the ease with which the theft had been accomplished when one of his fellows declared his intention of going to the house for the purpose of dispatching Professor Maxon； lest the influence of his evil eye should overtake them with some terrible curse when the loss of the chest should be discovered。
While this met fully with Bududreen's plans he urged the man against any such act that he might have witnesses to prove that he not only had no hand in the crime； but had exerted his authority to prevent it； but when two of the men separated themselves from the party and crept toward the bungalow no force was interposed to stop them。
The moon had risen now； so that from the dark shadows of the palisade Muda Saffir and his savages watched the party with Bududreen squatting about the heavy chest； and saw the two who crept toward the house。 To Muda Saffir's evil mind there was but one explanation。 Bududreen had discovered a rich treasure； and having stolen that had dispatched two of his men to bring him the girl also。
Rajah Muda Saffir was furious。 In subdued whispers he sent a half dozen of his Dyaks back beneath the shadow of the palisade to the opposite side of the bungalow where they were to enter the building； killing all within except the girl； whom they were to carry straight to the beach and the war prahus。
Then with the balance of his horde he crept alone in the darkness until opposite Bududreen and the watchers about the chest。 Just as the two who crept toward the bungalow reached it； Muda Saffir gave the word for the attack upon the Mal