The Monster Men | Page 8

Sing were compelled to narrate the adventure of the
afternoon a dozen times. The Chinaman was at a loss to understand

what had deterred the pirates at the very threshold of victory. Von Horn
thought that they had seen the reinforcements embarking from the
shore, but Sing explained that that was impossible since the Ithaca had
been directly between them and the point at which the returning crew
had entered the boats.
Virginia was positive that her fusillade had frightened them into a hasty
retreat, but again Sing discouraged any such idea when he pointed to
the fact that another instant would have carried the prahu close to the
Ithaca's side and out of the machine gun's radius of action.
The old Chinaman was positive that the pirates had some ulterior
motive for simulating defeat, and his long years of experience upon
pirate infested waters gave weight to his opinion. The weak spot in his
argument was his inability to suggest a reasonable motive. And so it
was that for a long time they were left to futile conjecture as to the
action that had saved them from a bloody encounter with these
bloodthirsty sea wolves.
For a week the men were busy constructing the new camp, but never
again was Virginia left without a sufficient guard for her protection.
Von Horn was always needed at the work, for to him had fallen the
entire direction of matters of importance that were at all of a practical
nature. Professor Maxon wished to watch the building of the houses
and the stockade, that he might offer such suggestions as he thought
necessary, and again the girl noticed her father's comparative
indifference to her welfare.
She had been shocked at his apathy at the time of the pirate attack, and
chagrined that it should have been necessary for von Horn to have
insisted upon a proper guard being left with her thereafter.
The nearer the approach of the time when he might enter again upon
those experiments which had now been neglected for the better part of
a year the more self absorbed and moody became the professor. At
times he was scarcely civil to those about him, and never now did he
have a pleasant word or a caress for the daughter who had been his
whole life but a few short months before.

It often seemed to Virginia when she caught her father's eyes upon her
that there was a gleam of dislike in them, as though he would have
been glad to have been rid of her that she might not in any way
embarrass or interfere with his work.
The camp was at last completed, and on a Saturday afternoon all the
heavier articles from the ship had been transported to it. On the
following Monday the balance of the goods was to be sent on shore and
the party were to transfer their residence to their new quarters.
Late Sunday afternoon a small native boat was seen rounding the point
at the harbor's southern extremity, and after a few minutes it drew
alongside the Ithaca. There were but three men in it--two Dyaks and a
Malay. The latter was a tall, well built man of middle age, of a sullen
and degraded countenance. His garmenture was that of the ordinary
Malay boatman, but there was that in his mien and his attitude toward
his companions which belied his lowly habiliments.
In answer to von Horn's hail the man asked if he might come aboard
and trade; but once on the deck it developed that he had not brought
nothing wherewith to trade. He seemed not the slightest disconcerted
by this discovery, stating that he would bring such articles as they
wished when he had learned what their requirements were.
The ubiquitous Sing was on hand during the interview, but from his
expressionless face none might guess what was passing through the
tortuous channels of his Oriental mind. The Malay had been aboard
nearly half an hour talking with von Horn when the mate, Bududreen,
came on deck, and it was Sing alone who noted the quickly concealed
flash of recognition which passed between the two Malays.
The Chinaman also saw the gleam that shot into the visitor's eye as
Virginia emerged from the cabin, but by no word or voluntary outward
sign did the man indicate that he had even noticed her. Shortly
afterward he left, promising to return with provisions the following day.
But it was to be months before they again saw him.
That evening as Sing was serving Virginia's supper he asked her if she

had recognized their visitor of the afternoon.
"Why no, Sing," she replied, "I never saw him before."
"Sh!" admonished the celestial. "No talkee so strong, wallee have ear
all same labbit."
"What