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Horn's throat, pleading meanwhile with both voice and eyes for the life of the man

she thought loved her.

Again Number Thirteen translated the intent without understanding the words,

and releasing von Horn permitted him to rise. With a bound he was upon his feet

and at the same instant brought his other gun from his side and levelled it upon

the man who had released him; but as his finger tightened upon the trigger

Virginia Maxon sprang between them and grasping von Horn's wrist deflected the

muzzle of the gun just as the cartridge exploded. Simultaneously Professor

Maxon sprang from his grasp and hurled him back with the superhuman

strength of a maniac.

"Fool!" he cried. "What would you do? Kill--," and then of a sudden he realized

his daughter's presence and the necessity for keeping the origin of the young

giant from her knowledge.

"I am surprised at you, Dr. von Horn," he continued in a more level voice. "You

must indeed have forgotten yourself to thus attack a stranger upon our island

until you know whether he be friend or foe. Come! Escort my daughter to the

camp, while I make the proper apologies to this gentleman." As he saw that both

Virginia and von Horn hesitated, he repeated his command in a peremptory tone,

adding; "Quick, now; do as I bid you."

The moment had given von Horn an opportunity to regain his self-control, and

realizing as well as did his employer, but from another motive, the necessity of

keeping the truth from the girl, he took her arm and led her gently from the

scene. At Professor Maxon's direction Sing accompanied them.

Now in Number Thirteen's brief career he had known no other authority than

Professor Maxon's, and so it was that when his master laid a hand upon his wrist

he remained beside him while another walked away with the lovely creature he

had thought his very own.

Until after dark the professor kept the young man hidden in the jungle, and then,

safe from detection, led him back to the laboratory.

The Monster Men