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Von Horn!" exclaimed the professor. "You, then, are not dead; but where is

Virginia? Tell me that she is safe."

She has been carried away," was the startling answer. "Your creatures, under

the thing you wished to marry her to, have taken her to Borneo with a band of

Malay and Dyak pirates. I was alone and could do nothing to prevent them."

God!" moaned the old man. "Why did I not kill the thing when it stood within my

power to do so. Only last night he was here beside me, and now it is too late."

"I warned you," said von Horn, coldly.

I was mad," retorted the professor. "Could you not see that I was mad? Oh, why

did you not stop me? You were sane enough. You at least might have forced me

to abandon the insane obsession which has overpowered my reason for all these

terrible months. I am sane now, but it is too late--too late."

Both you and your daughter could only have interpreted any such action on my

part as instigated by self-interest, for you both knew that I wanted to make her

my wife," replied the other. "My hands were tied. I am sorry now that I did not

act, but you can readily see the position in which I was placed."

Can nothing be done to get her back?" cried the father. "There must be some

way to save her. Do it von Horn, and not only is my daughter yours but my

wealth as well--every thing that I possess shall be yours if you will but save her

from those frightful creatures."

"The Ithaca is gone, too," replied the doctor. "There is only a small boat that I hid

in the jungle for some such emergency. It will carry us to Borneo, but what can

we four do against five hundred pirates and the dozen monsters you have brought

into the world? No, Professor Maxon, I fear there is little hope, though I am

willing to give my life in an attempt to save Virginia. You will not forget your

promise should we succeed?"

"No, doctor," replied the old man. "I swear that you shall have Virginia as your

wife, and all my property shall be made over to you if she is rescued."

Sing Lee had been a silent listener to this strange conversation. An odd look

came into his slant eyes as he heard von Horn exact a confirmation from the

professor, but what passed in his shrewd mind only he could say.

It was too late to attempt to make a start that day for Borneo, as darkness had

already fallen. Professor Maxon and von Horn walked over to the workshop and

the inner campong to ascertain what damage had been done there.

The Monster Men