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so good as to tell them how to make the big prahu steer？
Von Horn promised to help them on condition that they would guide him and his party to the stronghold of Rajah Muda Saffir in the heart of Borneo。 The Dyaks willingly agreed； and von Horn worked his small boat in close under the Ithaca's stern。 Here he found that the rudder had been all but unshipped； probably as the vessel was lifted over the reef during the storm； but a single pintle remaining in its gudgeon。 A half hour's work was sufficient to repair the damage； and then the two boats continued their journey toward the mouth of the river up which those they sought had passed the night before。
Inside the river's mouth an anchorage was found for the Ithaca near the very island upon which the fierce battle between Number Thirteen and Muda Saffir's forces had occurred。 From the deck of the larger vessel the deserted prahu which had borne Bulan across the strait was visible； as were the bodies of the slain Dyaks and the misshapen creatures of the white giant's forces。
In excited tones the head hunters called von Horn's attention to these evidences of conflict； and the doctor drew his boat up to the island and leaped ashore； followed by Professor Maxon and Sing。 Here they found the dead bodies of the four monsters who had fallen in an attempt to rescue their creator's daughter； though little did any there imagine the real truth。
About the corpses of the four were the bodies of a dozen Dyak warriors attesting to the ferocity of the encounter and the savage prowess of the unarmed creatures who had sold their poor lives so dearly。
〃Evidently they fell out about the possession of the captive；〃 suggested von Horn。 〃Let us hope that she did not fall into the clutches of Number Thirteen any fate would be better than that。〃
〃God give that that has not befallen her；〃 moaned Professor Maxon。 〃The pirates might but hold her for ransom； but should that soulless fiend possess her my prayer is that she found the strength and the means to take her own life before he had an opportunity to have his way with her。〃
〃Amen；〃 agreed von Horn。
Sing Lee said nothing； but in his heart he hoped that Virginia Maxon was not in the power of Rajah Muda Saffir。 The brief experience he had had with Number Thirteen during the fight in the bungalow had rather warmed his wrinkled old heart toward the friendless young giant； and he was a sufficiently good judge of human nature to be confident that the girl would be comparatively safe in his keeping。
It was quickly decided to abandon the small boat and embark the entire party in the deserted war prahu。 A half hour later saw the strangely mixed expedition forging up the river； but not until von Horn had boarded the Ithaca and discovered to his dismay that the chest was not on board her。
Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir still squatted in his hiding place； for no friendly prahu or sampan had passed his way since dawn。 His keen eyes roving constantly up and down the long stretch of river that was visible from his position finally sighted a war prahu coming toward him from down stream。 As it drew closer he recognized it as one which had belonged to his own fleet before his unhappy encounter with the wild white man and his abhorrent pack； and a moment later his heart leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several of his men； but who were the strangers in the stern； and what was a Chinaman doing perched there upon the bow？
The prahu was nearly opposite him before he recognized Professor Maxon and von Horn as the white men of the little island。 He wondered how much they knew of his part in the raid upon their encampment。 Bududreen had told him much concerning the doctor； and as Muda Saffir recalled the fact that von Horn was anxious to possess himself of both the treasure and the girl he guessed that he would be safe in the man's hands so long as he could hold out promises of turning one or the other over to him； and so； as he was tired of squatting upon the uncomfortable bank and was very hungry； he arose and hailed the passing prahu。
His men recognized his voice immediately and as they knew nothing of the defection of any of their fellows； turned the boat's prow toward shore without waiting for the command from von Horn。 The latter； fearing treachery； sprang to his feet with raised rifle； but when one of the paddlers explained that it was the Rajah Muda Saffir who hailed them and that he was alone von Horn permitted them to draw nearer the shore； though he continued to stand ready to thwart any attempted treachery and warned both the professor and Sing to be on guard。
As the prahu's nose touched the bank Muda Saffir stepped aboard and with many protestations of gratitude explained that he had fallen overboard from his own prahu the night before and that evidently his followers thought him drowned； since none of his boats had returned to search for him。 Scarcely had the Malay seated himself before von Horn began questioning him in the rajah's native tongue； not a word of which was intelligible to Professor Maxon。 Sing； however； was as familiar with it as was von Horn。
〃Where are the girl and the treasure？〃 he asked。
〃What girl； Tuan Besar？〃 inquired the wily Malay innocently。 〃And what treasure？ The white man speaks in riddles。〃
〃Come； come；〃 cried von Horn impatiently。 〃Let us have no foolishness。 You know perfectly well what I mean it will go far better with you if we work together as friends。 I want the girlif she is unharmedand I will divide the treasure with you if you will help me to obtain them； otherwise you shall have no part of either。 What do you say？ Shall we be friends or enemies？〃
〃The girl and the treasure were both stolen from me by a rascally panglima； Ninaka；〃 said Muda Saffir； seeing that it would be as well to simulate friendship for the white man for the time being at leastthere would always be an opportunity to use a kris upon him in the remote fastness of the interior to which Muda Saffir would lead them。
〃What became of the white man who led the strange monsters？〃 asked von Horn。
〃He killed many of my men； and the last I saw of him he was pushing up the river after the girl and the treasure；〃 replied the Malay。
〃If another should ask you；〃 continued von Horn with a meaningful glance toward Professor Maxon； 〃it will be well to say that the girl was stolen by this white giant and that you suffered defeat in an attempt to rescue her because of your friendship for us。 Do you understand？〃
Muda Saffir nodded。 Here was a man after his own heart； which loved intrigue and duplicity。 Evidently he would be a good ally in wreaking vengeance upon the white giant who had caused all his discomfiture afterward there was always the kris if the other should become inconvenient。
At the long…house at which Barunda and Ninaka had halted； Muda Saffir learned all that had transpired； his informants being the two Dyaks who had led Bulan and his pack into the jungle。 He imparted the information to von Horn and both men were delighted that thus their most formidable enemy had been disposed of。 It would be but a question of time before the inexperienced creatures perished in