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Sing Lee was late that night. In fact he did not return from his fruitless quest for

gulls until well after dark, nor would he vouchsafe any explanation of the

consequent lateness of supper. Nor could he be found shortly after the evening

meal when Virginia sought him.

Not until the camp was wrapped in the quiet of slumber did Sing Lee return--

stealthy and mysterious--to creep under cover of a moonless night to the door of

the workshop. How he gained entrance only Sing Lee knows, but a moment later

there was a muffled crash of broken glass within the laboratory, and the

Chinaman had slipped out, relocked the door, and scurried to his nearby shack.

But there was no occasion for his haste--no other ear than his had heard the

sound within the workshop.

It was almost nine the following morning before Professor Maxon and von Horn

entered the laboratory. Scarcely had the older man passed the doorway than he

drew up his hands in horrified consternation. Vat Number Thirteen lay dashed to

the floor--the glass cover was broken to a million pieces--a sticky, brownish

substance covered the matting. Professor Maxon hid his face in his hands.

God!" he cried. "It is all ruined. Three more days would have--"

Look!" cried von Horn. "It is not too soon."

Professor Maxon mustered courage to raise his eyes from his hands, and there he

beheld, seated in a far corner of the room a handsome giant, physically perfect.

The creature looked about him in a dazed, uncomprehending manner. A great

question was writ large upon his intelligent countenance. Professor Maxon

stepped forward and took him by the hand.

"Come," he said, and led him toward a smaller room off the main workshop. The

giant followed docilely, his eyes roving about the room--the pitiful questioning still

upon his handsome features. Von Horn turned toward the campong.

Virginia, deserted by all, even the faithful Sing, who, cheated of his sport on the

preceding day, had again gone to the beach to snare gulls, became restless of the

enforced idleness and solitude. For a time she wandered about the little

compound which had been reserved for the whites, but tiring of this she decided

to extend her stroll beyond the palisade, a thing which she had never before done

unless accompanied by von Horn--a thing both he and her father had cautioned

her against.

What danger can there be?" she thought. "We know that the island is

uninhabited by others than ourselves, and that there are no dangerous beasts.

And, anyway, there is no one now who seems to care what becomes of me,

The Monster Men