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eir requirements。
It was uninhabited； fertile and possessed a clear； sweet brook which had its source in a cold spring in the higher land at the island's center。 Here it was that the Ithaca came to anchor in a little harbor； while her crew under von Horn； and the Malay first mate； Bududreen； accompanied Professor Maxon in search of a suitable location for a permanent camp。
The cook； a harmless old Chinaman； and Virginia were left in sole possession of the Ithaca。
Two hours after the departure of the men into the jungle Virginia heard the fall of axes on timber and knew that the site of her future home had been chosen and the work of clearing begun。 She sat musing on the strange freak which had prompted her father to bury them in this savage corner of the globe； and as she pondered there came a wistful expression to her eyes； and an unwonted sadness drooped the corners of her mouth。
Of a sudden she realized how wide had become the gulf between them now。 So imperceptibly had it grown since those three horrid days in Ithaca just prior to their departure for what was to have been but a few months' cruise that she had not until now comprehended that the old relations of open； good…fellowship had gone； possibly forever。
Had she needed proof of the truth of her sad discovery it had been enough to point to the single fact that her father had brought her here to this little island without making the slightest attempt to explain the nature of his expedition。 She had gleaned enough from von Horn to understand that some important scientific experiments were to be undertaken； but what their nature she could not imagine； for she had not the slightest conception of the success that had crowned her father's last experiment at Ithaca； although she had for years known of his keen interest in the subject。
The girl became aware also of other subtle changes in her father。 He had long since ceased to be the jovial； carefree companion who had shared with her her every girlish joy and sorrow and in whom she had confided both the trivial and momentous secrets of her childhood。 He had become not exactly morose； but rather moody and absorbed； so that she had of late never found an opportunity for the cozy chats that had formerly meant so much to them both。 There had been too； recently； a strange lack of consideration for herself that had wounded her more than she had imagined。 Today there had been a glaring example of it in his having left her alone upon the boat without a single European companionsomething that he would never have thought of doing a few months before。
As she sat speculating on the strange change which had come over her father her eyes had wandered aimlessly along the harbor's entrance； the low reef that protected it from the sea； and the point of land to the south； that projected far out into the strait like a gigantic index finger pointing toward the mainland； the foliage covered heights of which were just visible above the western horizon。
Presently her attention was arrested by a tossing speck far out upon the rolling bosom of the strait。 For some time the girl watched the object until at length it resolved itself into a boat moving head on toward the island。 Later she saw that it was long and low； propelled by a single sail and many oars； and that it carried quite a company。
Thinking it but a native trading boat； so many of which ply the southern seas； Virginia viewed its approach with but idle curiosity。 When it had come to within half a mile of the anchorage of the Ithaca； and was about to enter the mouth of the harbor Sing Lee's eyes chanced to fall upon it。 On the instant the old Chinaman was electrified into sudden and astounding action。
〃Klick！ Klick！〃 he cried； running toward Virginia。 〃Go b'low； klick。〃
〃Why should I go below； Sing？〃 queried the girl； amazed by the demeanor of the cook。
〃Klick！ Klick！〃 he urged grasping her by the armhalf leading； half dragging her toward the companion…way。 〃Plilates！ Mlalay plilatesDyak plilates。〃
〃Pirates！〃 gasped Virginia。 〃Oh Sing； what can we do？〃
〃You go b'low。 Mebbyso Sing flighten 'em。 Shoot cannon。 Bling help。 Maxon come klick。 Bling men。 Chase'm 'way；〃 explained the Chinaman。 〃But plilates see 'em pletty white girl；〃 he shrugged his shoulders and shook his head dubiously； 〃then old Sing no can flighten 'em 'way。〃
The girl shuddered； and crouching close behind Sing hurried below。 A moment later she heard the boom of the old brass six pounder which for many years had graced the Ithaca's stern。 In the bow Professor Maxon had mounted a modern machine gun； but this was quite beyond Sing's simple gunnery。 The Chinaman had not taken the time to sight the ancient weapon carefully； but a gleeful smile lit his wrinkled； yellow face as he saw the splash of the ball where it struck the water almost at the side of the prahu。
Sing realized that the boat might contain friendly natives； but he had cruised these waters too many years to take chances。 Better kill a hundred friends； he thought； than be captured by a single pirate。
At the shot the prahu slowed up； and a volley of musketry from her crew satisfied Sing that he had made no mistake in classifying her。 Her fire fell short as did the ball from the small cannon mounted in her bow。
Virginia was watching the prahu from one of the cabin ports。 She saw the momentary hesitation and confusion which followed Sing's first shot； and then to her dismay she saw the rowers bend to their oars again and the prahu move swiftly in the direction of the Ithaca。
It was apparent that the pirates had perceived the almost defenseless condition of the schooner。 In a few minutes they would be swarming the deck； for poor old Sing would be entirely helpless to repel them。 If Dr。 von Horn were only there； thought the distracted girl。 With the machine gun alone he might keep them off。
At the thought of the machine gun a sudden resolve gripped her。 Why not man it herself？ Von Horn had explained its mechanism to her in detail； and on one occasion had allowed her to operate it on the voyage from Singapore。 With the thought came action。 Running to the magazine she snatched up a feed…belt； and in another moment was on deck beside the astonished Sing。
The pirates were skimming rapidly across the smooth waters of the harbor； answering Sing's harmless shots with yells of derision and wild； savage war cries。 There were； perhaps； fifty Dyaks and Malaysfierce； barbaric men； mostly naked to the waist； or with war… coats of brilliant colors。 The savage headdress of the Dyaks； the long； narrow； decorated shields； the flashing blades of parang and kris sent a shudder through the girl； so close they seemed beneath the schooner's side。
〃What do？ What do？〃 cried Sing in consternation。 〃Go b'low。 Klick！〃 But before he had finished his exhortation Virginia was racing toward the bow where the machine gun was mounted。 Tearing the cover from it she swung the muzzle toward the pirate prahu； which by now was nearly within range above the vessel's side a moment more and she would be too close to use the weapon upon the pirates。
Virginia was quick to perceive the necessity for haste； while the