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Chapter 3 - BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
One day, about two weeks later, von Horn and the professor were occupied
closely with their work in the court of mystery. Developments were coming in
riotous confusion. A recent startling discovery bade fare to simplify and expedite
the work far beyond the fondest dreams of the scientist.
Von Horn's interest in the marvellous results that had been obtained was little
short of the professor's--but he foresaw a very different outcome of it all, and by
day never moved without a gun at either hip, and by night both of them were
beside him.
Sing Lee, the noonday meal having been disposed of, set forth with rod, string
and bait to snare gulls upon the beach. He moved quietly through the jungle, his
sharp eyes and ears always alert for anything that might savor of the unusual,
and so it was that he saw the two men upon the beach, while they did not see
him at all.
They were Bududreen and the same tall Malay whom Sing had seen twice before--
once in splendid raiment and commanding the pirate prahu, and again as a
simple boatman come to the Ithaca to trade, but without the goods to carry out
his professed intentions.
The two squatted on the beach at the edge of the jungle a short distance above
the point at which Sing had been about to emerge when he discovered them, so
that it was but the work of a moment or two for the Chinaman to creep stealthily
through the dense underbrush to a point directly above them and not three yards
from where they conversed in low tones--yet sufficiently loud that Sing missed
not a word.
"I tell you, Bududreen, that it will be quite safe," the tall Malay was saying. "You
yourself tell me that none knows of the whereabouts of these white men, and if
they do not return your word will be accepted as to their fate. Your reward will be
great if you bring the girl to me, and if you doubt the loyalty of any of your own
people a kris will silence them as effectually as it will silence the white men."
"It is not fear of the white men, oh, Rajah Muda Saffir, that deters me," said
Bududreen, "but how shall I know that after I have come to your country with the
girl I shall not myself be set upon and silenced with a golden kris--there be many
that will be jealous of the great service I have done for the mighty rajah."
Muda Saffir knew perfectly well that Bududreen had but diplomatically expressed
a fear as to his own royal trustworthiness, but it did not anger him, since the
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