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Chapter 9 - INTO SAVAGE BORNEO

Von Horn cursed the chance that had snatched the girl from him, but he tried to

content himself with the thought that the treasure probably still rested in the

cabin of the Ithaca, where Bududreen was to have deposited it. He wished that

the Dyaks would take themselves off so that he could board the vessel and carry

the chest ashore to bury it against the time that fate should provide a means for

transporting it to Singapore.

In the water below him floated the Ithaca's masts, their grisly burdens still lashed

to their wave swept sides. Bududreen lay there, his contorted features set in a

horrible grimace of death which grinned up at the man he would have cheated, as

though conscious of the fact that the white man would have betrayed him had

the opportunity come, the while he enjoyed in anticipation the other's

disappointment in the loss of both the girl and the treasure.

The tide was rising now, and presently the Ithaca began to float. No sooner was it

apparent that she was free than the Dyaks sprang into the water and swam to

her side. Like monkeys they scrambled aboard, swarming below deck in search,

thought von Horn, of pillage. He prayed that they would not discover the chest.

Presently a half dozen of them leaped overboard and swam to the mass of tangled

spars and rigging which littered the beach. Selecting what they wished they

returned to the vessel, and a few minutes later von Horn was chagrined to see

them stepping a jury mast--he thought the treasure lay in the Ithaca's cabin.

Before dark the vessel moved slowly out of the harbor, setting a course across the

strait in the direction that the war prahus had taken. When it was apparent that

there was no danger that the head hunters would return, the lascar came from

his hiding place, and dancing up and down upon the shore screamed warlike

challenges and taunts at the retreating enemy.

Von Horn also came forth, much to the sailor's surprise, and in silence the two

stood watching the disappearing ship. At length they turned and made their way

up the stream toward camp--there was no longer aught to fear there. Von Horn

wondered if the creatures he had loosed upon Professor Maxon had done their

work before they left, or if they had all turned to mush as had Number Thirteen.

Once at the encampment his questions were answered, for he saw a light in the

bungalow, and as he mounted the steps there were Sing and Professor Maxon

just coming from the living room.

The Monster Men