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friends, professor, for we are both actuated by the same desire--the welfare and

happiness of your daughter."

The old man stepped forward and took Bulan's hand. The expression of doubt

and worry had left his face.

"I cannot believe," he said, "that you are other than a gentleman, and if, in my

desire to protect Virginia, I have said aught to wound you I ask your forgiveness."

Bulan responded only with a tighter pressure of the hand.

"And now," said the professor, "let us return to the long-house. I wish to have a

few words in private with you, von Horn," and he turned to face his assistant, but

the man had disappeared.

Where is Doctor von Horn?" exclaimed the scientist, addressing Sing.

"Hornee, him vamoose long time 'go," replied the Chinaman. "He hear all he

likee."

Slowly the little party wound along the jungle trail, and in less than a mile, to

Virginia's infinite surprise, came out upon the river and the long-house that she

and Bulan had searched for in vain.

"And to think," she cried, "that all these awful days we have been almost within

sound of your voices. What strange freak of fate sent you to us today?"

"We had about given up hope," replied her father, "when Sing suggested to me

that we cut across the highlands that separate this valley from the one adjoining

it upon the northeast, where we should strike other tribes and from them glean

some clue to your whereabouts in case your abductors had attempted to carry

you back to the sea by another route. This seemed likely in view of the fact that

we were assured by enemies of Muda Saffir that you were not in his possession,

and that the river we were bound for would lead your captors most quickly out of

the domains of that rascally Malay. You may imagine our surprise, Virginia,

when after proceeding for but a mile we discovered you."

No sooner had the party entered the verandah of the long-house than Professor

Maxon made inquiries for von Horn, only to learn that he had departed up stream

in a prahu with several warriors whom he had engaged to accompany him on a

"hunting expedition," having explained that the white girl had been found and

was being brought to the long-house.

The chief further explained that he had done his best to dissuade the white man

from so rash an act, as he was going directly into the country of the tribe of the

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The Monster Men