www.freeclassicebooks.com

You may be right, doctor," answered the old man. "But it is idle to conjecture.

Tomorrow we can be up and doing, so let us get what sleep we can tonight. We

shall need all our energies if we are to save my poor, dear girl, from the clutches

of that horrid, soulless thing."

At the very moment that he spoke the object of his contumely was entering the

dark mouth of a broad river that flowed from out of the heart of savage Borneo.

In the prahu with him his eleven hideous companions now bent to their paddles

with slightly increased efficiency. Before them the leader saw a fire blazing upon

a tiny island in the center of the stream. Toward this they turned their silent

way. Grimly the war prahu with its frightful freight nosed closer to the bank.

At last Number Thirteen made out the figures of men about the fire, and as they

came still closer he was sure that they were members of the very party he had

been pursuing across the broad waters for hours. The prahus were drawn up

upon the bank and the warriors were preparing to eat.

Just as the young giants' prahu came within the circle of firelight a swarthy

Malay approached the fire, dragging a white girl roughly by the arm. No more

was needed to convince Number Thirteen of the identity of the party. With a low

command to his fellows he urged them to redoubled speed. At the same instant a

Dyak warrior caught sight of the approaching boat as it sped into the full glare of

the light.

At sight of the occupants the head hunters scattered for their own prahus. The

frightful aspect of the enemy turned their savage hearts to water, leaving no fight

in their ordinarily warlike souls.

So quickly they moved that as the pursuing prahu touched the bank all the

nearer boats had been launched, and the remaining pirates were scurrying across

the little island for those which lay upon the opposite side. Among these was the

Malay who guarded the girl, but he had not been quick enough to prevent

Virginia Maxon recognizing the stalwart figure standing in the bow of the

oncoming craft.

As he dragged her away toward the prahu of Muda Saffir she cried out to the

strange white man who seemed her self-appointed protector.

Help! Help!" she called. "This way! Across the island!" And then the brown

hand of her jailer closed over her mouth. Like a tigress she fought to free herself,

or to detain her captor until the rescue party should catch up with them, but the

scoundrel was muscled like a bull, and when the girl held back he lifted her

across his shoulder and broke into a run.

The Monster Men