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And I," said Number Ten.

And I," echoed Number Twelve. "At last we have found our own, let us all go

with them and live with them, far away from the men who would beat us with

great whips, and cut us with their sharp swords."

"They are not human beings," exclaimed Bulan. "We cannot live with them."

"Neither are we human beings," retorted Number Twelve. "Has not von Horn told

us so many times?"

If I am not now a human being," replied Bulan, "I intend to be one, and so I shall

act as a human being should act. I shall not go to live with savage beasts, nor

shall you. Come with me as I tell you, or you shall again taste the bull whip."

"We shall do as we please," growled Number Ten, baring his fangs. "You are not

our master. We have followed you as long as we intend to. We are tired of forever

walking, walking, walking through the bushes that tear our flesh and hurt us.

Go and be a human being if you think you can, but do not longer interfere with

us or we shall kill you," and he looked first at Number Three and then at Number

Twelve for approval of his ultimatum.

Number Three nodded his grotesque and hideous head--he was so covered with

long black hair that he more nearly resembled an ourang outang than a human

being. Number Twelve looked doubtful.

"I think Number Ten is right," he said at last. "We are not human. We have no

souls. We are things. And while you, Bulan, are beautiful, yet you are as much a

soulless thing as we--that much von Horn taught us well. So I believe that it

would be better were we to keep forever from the sight of men. I do not much like

the thought of living with these strange, hairy monsters, but we might find a

place here in the jungle where we could live alone and in peace."

"I do not want to live alone," cried Number Three. "I want a mate, and I see a

beautiful one yonder now. I am going after her," and with that he again started

toward a female ourang outang; but the lady bared her fangs and retreated before

his advance.

"Even the beasts will have none of us," cried Number Ten angrily. "Let us take

them by force then," and he started after Number Three.

"Come back!" shouted Bulan, leaping after the two deserters.

As he raised his voice there came an answering cry from a little distance ahead--a

cry for help, and it was in the agonized tones of a woman's voice.

The Monster Men