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now assumed the dimensions of pandemonium, and through it all the Chinaman

heard the constant crack that was the sharp voice of the bull whip.

He had completed his search and was about to return to the bungalow when the

first of the monsters emerged into the north campong from the workshop. At the

door of his shack Sing Lee drew back to watch, for he knew that behind them

some one was driving these horribly grotesque creatures from their prison.

One by one they came lumbering into the moonlight until Sing had counted

eleven, and then, after them, came a white man, bull whip and revolver in hand.

It was von Horn. The equatorial moon shone full upon him--there could be no

mistake. The Chinaman saw him turn and lock the workshop door; saw him

cross the campong to the outer gate; saw him pass through toward the jungle,

closing the gate.

Of a sudden there was a sad, low moaning through the surrounding trees; dense,

black clouds obscured the radiant moon; and then with hideous thunder and

vivid flashes of lightning the tempest broke in all its fury of lashing wind and

hurtling deluge. It was the first great storm of the breaking up of the monsoon,

and under the cover of its darkness Sing Lee scurried through the monster filled

campong to the bungalow. Within he found the young man bathing Professor

Maxon's head as he had directed him to do.

"All gettee out," he said, jerking his thumb in the direction of the court of

mystery. "Eleven devils. Plenty soon come bung'low. What do?"

Number Thirteen had seen von Horn's extra bull whip hanging upon a peg in the

living room. For answer he stepped into that room and took the weapon down.

Then he returned to the professor's side.

Outside the frightened monsters groped through the blinding rain and darkness

in search of shelter. Each vivid lightning flash, and bellowing of booming thunder

brought responsive cries of rage and terror from their hideous lips. It was

Number Twelve who first spied the dim light showing through the bungalow's

living room window. With a low guttural to his companions he started toward the

building. Up the low steps to the verandah they crept. Number Twelve peered

through the window. He saw no one within, but there was warmth and dryness.

His little knowledge and lesser reasoning faculties suggested no thought of a

doorway. With a blow he shattered the glass of the window. Then he forced his

body through the narrow aperture. At the same moment a gust of wind sucking

through the broken panes drew open the door, and as Number Thirteen, warned

by the sound of breaking glass, sprang into the living room he was confronted by

the entire horde of misshapen beings.

The Monster Men