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orce later。 That he was taking his life in his hands he well knew； but so great was the man's cupidity that he reckoned no risk too great for the acquirement of a fortune。
The two Dyaks； paddling in silence up the dark river； proceeded for nearly three hours before they drew in to the bank and dragged the sampan up into the bushes。 Then they set out upon a narrow trail into the jungle。 It so happened that after travelling for several miles they inadvertently took another path than that followed by the party under Barunda's uncle； so that they passed the latter without being aware of it； going nearly half a mile to the right of where the trailers camped a short distance from the bivouac of Ninaka。
In the dead of night Ninaka and his party had crawled away under the very noses of the avengers； taking the chest with them； and by chance von Horn and the two Dyaks cut back into the main trail along the river almost at the very point that Ninaka halted to bury the treasure。
And so it was that Bulan was not the only one who watched the hiding of the chest。
When Ninaka had disappeared down the river trail Bulan lay speculating upon the strange actions he had witnessed。 He wondered why the men should dig a hole in the midst of the jungle to hide away the box which he had so often seen in Professor Maxon's workshop。 It occurred to him that it might be well to remember just where the thing was buried； so that he could lead the professor to it should he ever see the old man again。 As he lay thus； half dozing； his attention was attracted by a stealthy rustling in the bushes nearby； and as he watched he was dumbfounded to see von Horn creep out into the moonlight。 A moment later the man was followed by two Dyaks。 The three stood conversing in low tones； pointing repeatedly at the spot where the chest lay hidden。 Bulan could understand but little of their conversation； but it was evident that von Horn was urging some proposition to which the warriors demurred。
Suddenly； without an instant's warning； von Horn drew his gun； wheeled； and fired point…blank； first at one of his companions； then at the other。 Both men fell in their tracks； and scarcely had the pungent odor of the powder smoke reached Bulan's nostrils ere the white man had plunged into the jungle and disappeared。
Failing in his attempt to undermine the loyalty of the two Dyaks von Horn had chosen the only other way to keep the knowledge of the whereabouts of the chest from Barunda's uncle and Muda Saffir； and now his principal interest in life was to escape the vengeance of the head hunters and return to the long…house before his absence should be detected。
There he could form a party of natives and set out to regain the chest after Muda Saffir and Barunda's uncle had given up the quest。 That suspicion should fall on him seemed scarcely credible since the only men who knew that he had left the long…house that night lay dead upon the very spot where the treasure reposed。
14
MAN OR MONSTER？
When Muda Saffir turned from the two Dyaks who had brought him news of the treasure he hastened to the long…house and arousing the chief of the tribe who domiciled there explained that necessity required that the rajah have at once two war prahus fully manned。 Now the power of the crafty old Malay extended from one end of this great river on which the long…house lay to the other； and though not all the tribes admitted allegiance to him； yet there were few who would not furnish him with men and boats when he required them； for his piratical cruises carried him often up and down the stream； and with his savage horde it was possible for him to wreak summary and terrible vengeance upon those who opposed him。
When he had explained his wishes to the chief； the latter； though at heart hating and fearing Muda Saffir； dared not refuse； but to a second proposition he offered strong opposition until the rajah threatened to wipe out his entire tribe should he not accede to his demands。
The thing which the chief demurred to had occurred to Muda Saffir even as he walked back from the river after conversing with the two Dyak messengers。 The thought of regaining the treasure； the while he administered punishment to the traitorous Ninaka； filled his soul with savage happiness。 Now if he could but once more possess himself of the girl！ And why not？ There was only the sick old man； a Chinaman and von Horn to prevent it； and the chances were that they all were asleep。
So he explained to the chief the plan that had so suddenly sprung to his wicked mind。
〃Three men with parangs may easily quiet the old man； his assistant and the Chinaman；〃 he said； 〃and then we can take the girl along with us。〃
The chief refused at first； point…blank； to be a party to any such proceedings。 He knew what had happened to the Sakkaran Dyaks after they had murdered a party of Englishmen； and he did not purpose laying himself and his tribe open to the vengeance of the white men who came in many boats and with countless guns and cannon to take a terrible toll for every drop of white blood spilled。
So it was that Muda Saffir was forced to compromise； and be satisfied with the chief's assistance in abducting the girl； for it was not so difficult a matter to convince the head hunter that she really had belonged to the rajah； and that she had been stolen from him by the old man and the doctor。
Virginia slept in a room with three Dyak women。 It was to this apartment that the chief finally consented to dispatch two of his warriors。 The men crept noiselessly within the pitch dark interior until they came to the sleeping form of one of the Dyak women。 Cautiously they awoke her。
〃Where is the white girl？〃 asked one of the men in a low whisper。 〃Muda Saffir has sent us for her。 Tell her that her father is very sick and wants her； but do not mention Muda Saffir's name lest she might not come。〃
The whispering awakened Virginia and she lay wondering what the cause of the midnight conference might be； for she recognized that one of the speakers was a man； and there had been no man in the apartment when she had gone to sleep earlier in the night。
Presently she heard some one approach her； and a moment later a woman's voice addressed her； but she could not understand enough of the native tongue to make out precisely the message the speaker wished to convey。 The words 〃father；〃 〃sick；〃 and 〃come；〃 however she finally understood after several repetitions； for she had picked up a smattering of the Dyak language during her enforced association with the natives。
The moment that the possibilities suggested by these few words dawned upon her； she sprang to her feet and followed the woman toward the door of the apartment。 Immediately without the two warriors stood upon the verandah awaiting their victim； and as Virginia passed through the doorway she was seized roughly from either side； a heavy hand was clapped over her mouth； and before she could make even an effort to rebel she had been dragged to the end of the verandah； down the notched log to the ground and a moment later found herself in a war prahu which was immediately pushed into the stream。
Since Virginia had come to the long