The Monster Men | Page 5

a month, during which time Professor Maxon
was daily engaged in interviewing officials, English residents and a
motley horde of Malays and Chinamen.
Virginia met socially several of the men with whom her father was
engaged but it was only at the last moment that one of them let drop a
hint of the purpose of the month's activity. When Virginia was present
the conversation seemed always deftly guided from the subject of her
father's immediate future, and she was not long in discerning that it was
in no sense through accident that this was true. Thereafter her wounded
pride made easy the task of those who seemed combined to keep her in
ignorance.
It was a Dr. von Horn, who had been oftenest with her father, who gave
her the first intimation of what was forthcoming. Afterward, in
recollecting the conversation, it seemed to Virginia that the young man
had been directed to break the news to her, that her father might be
spared the ordeal. It was evident then that he expected opposition, but
the girl was too loyal to let von Horn know if she felt other than in
harmony with the proposal, and too proud to evince by surprise the fact
that she was not wholly conversant with its every detail.
"You are glad to be leaving Singapore so soon?" he had asked,
although he knew that she had not been advised that an early departure
was planned.
"I am rather looking forward to it," replied Virginia.
"And to a protracted residence on one of the Pamarung Islands?"
continued von Horn.
"Why not?" was her rather non-committal reply, though she had not the
remotest idea of their location.
Von Horn admired her nerve though he rather wished that she would

ask some questions--it was difficult making progress in this way. How
could he explain the plans when she evinced not the slightest sign that
she was not already entirely conversant with them?
"We doubt if the work will be completed under two or three years,"
answered the doctor. "That will be a long time in which to be isolated
upon a savage little speck of land off the larger but no less savage
Borneo. Do you think that your bravery is equal to the demands that
will be made upon it?"
Virginia laughed, nor was there the slightest tremor in its note.
"I am equal to whatever fate my father is equal to," she said, "nor do I
think that a life upon one of these beautiful little islands would be much
of a hardship-- certainly not if it will help to promote the success of his
scientific experiments."
She used the last words on a chance that she might have hit upon the
true reason for the contemplated isolation from civilization. They had
served their purpose too in deceiving von Horn who was now half
convinced that Professor Maxon must have divulged more of their
plans to his daughter than he had led the medical man to believe.
Perceiving her advantage from the expression on the young man's face,
Virginia followed it up in an endeavor to elicit the details.
The result of her effort was the knowledge that on the second day they
were to sail for the Pamarung Islands upon a small schooner which her
father had purchased, with a crew of Malays and lascars, and von Horn,
who had served in the American navy, in command. The precise point
of destination was still undecided--the plan being to search out a
suitable location upon one of the many little islets which dot the
western shore of the Macassar Strait.
Of the many men Virginia had met during the month at Singapore von
Horn had been by far the most interesting and companionable. Such
time as he could find from the many duties which had devolved upon
him in the matter of obtaining and outfitting the schooner, and signing
her two mates and crew of fifteen, had been spent with his employer's

daughter.
The girl was rather glad that he was to be a member of their little
company, for she had found him a much travelled man and an
interesting talker with none of the, to her, disgusting artificialities of
the professional ladies' man. He talked to her as he might have talked to
a man, of the things that interest intelligent people regardless of sex.
There was never any suggestion of familiarity in his manner; nor in his
choice of topics did he ever ignore the fact that she was a young girl.
She had felt entirely at ease in his society from the first evening that
she had met him, and their acquaintance had grown to a very sensible
friendship by the time of the departure of the Ithaca--the rechristened
schooner which was