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forces had occurred. From the deck of the larger vessel the deserted prahu which

had borne Bulan across the strait was visible, as were the bodies of the slain

Dyaks and the misshapen creatures of the white giant's forces.

In excited tones the head hunters called von Horn's attention to these evidences

of conflict, and the doctor drew his boat up to the island and leaped ashore,

followed by Professor Maxon and Sing. Here they found the dead bodies of the

four monsters who had fallen in an attempt to rescue their creator's daughter,

though little did any there imagine the real truth.

About the corpses of the four were the bodies of a dozen Dyak warriors attesting

to the ferocity of the encounter and the savage prowess of the unarmed creatures

who had sold their poor lives so dearly.

Evidently they fell out about the possession of the captive," suggested von Horn.

Let us hope that she did not fall into the clutches of Number Thirteen--any fate

would be better than that."

God give that that has not befallen her," moaned Professor Maxon. "The pirates

might but hold her for ransom, but should that soulless fiend possess her my

prayer is that she found the strength and the means to take her own life before

he had an opportunity to have his way with her."

"Amen," agreed von Horn.

Sing Lee said nothing, but in his heart he hoped that Virginia Maxon was not in

the power of Rajah Muda Saffir. The brief experience he had had with Number

Thirteen during the fight in the bungalow had rather warmed his wrinkled old

heart toward the friendless young giant, and he was a sufficiently good judge of

human nature to be confident that the girl would be comparatively safe in his

keeping.

It was quickly decided to abandon the small boat and embark the entire party in

the deserted war prahu. A half hour later saw the strangely mixed expedition

forging up the river, but not until von Horn had boarded the Ithaca and

discovered to his dismay that the chest was not on board her.

Far above them on the right bank Muda Saffir still squatted in his hiding place,

for no friendly prahu or sampan had passed his way since dawn. His keen eyes

roving constantly up and down the long stretch of river that was visible from his

position finally sighted a war prahu coming toward him from down stream. As it

drew closer he recognized it as one which had belonged to his own fleet before his

unhappy encounter with the wild white man and his abhorrent pack, and a

moment later his heart leaped as he saw the familiar faces of several of his men;

The Monster Men