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sumpitans. At his back slept two almost brainless creatures--his sole support

against the awful odds he must face before he could hope to succor the divinity

whose image was enshrined in his brave and simple heart.

The muscles stood out upon his giant forearm as he gripped the stock of his bull

whip. He believed that he was going to his death, for mighty as were his thews he

knew that in the face of the horde they would avail him little, yet he saw no other

way than to sit supinely by while the girl went to her doom, and that he could not

do. He nudged Number Twelve. "Silence!" he whispered, and "Come! The girl is

here. We must save her. Kill the men," and the same to the hairy and terrible

Number Three.

Both the creatures awoke and rose to their hands and knees without noise that

could be heard above the chattering of the natives, who had crowded forward to

view the dead bodies of von Horn's victims. Silently Bulan came to his feet, the

two monsters at his back rising and pressing close behind him. Along the denser

shadows the three crept to a position in the rear of the natives. The girl's guards

had stepped forward with the others to join in the discussion that followed the

dying statement of the murdered warrior, leaving her upon the outer fringe of the

crowd.

For an instant a sudden hope of escape sprang to Virginia Maxon's mind--there

was none between her and the jungle through which they had just passed.

Though unknown dangers lurked in the black and uncanny depths of the dismal

forest, would not death in any form be far preferable to the hideous fate which

awaited her in the person of the bestial Malay pirate?

She had turned to take the first step toward freedom when three figures emerged

from the wall of darkness behind her. She saw the war-caps, shields, and war-

coats, and her heart sank. Here were others of the rajah's party--stragglers who

had come just in time to thwart her plans. How large these men were--she never

had seen a native of such giant proportions; and now they had come quite close

to her, and as the foremost stooped to speak to her she shrank back in fear.

Then, to her surprise, she heard in whispered English; "Come quietly, while they

are not looking."

She thought the voice familiar, but could not place it, though her heart whispered

that it might belong to the young stranger of her dreams. He reached out and

took her hand and together they turned and walked quickly toward the jungle,

followed by the two who had accompanied him.

Scarcely had they covered half the distance before one of the Dyaks whose duty it

had been to guard the girl discovered that she was gone. With a cry he alarmed

115

The Monster Men