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back and met a short distance in the rear of the party they had desertedin
another moment they were headed for the long…house from which they had
started。
It was fully an hour thereafter that doubts began to enter Bulan's head；
and as the day dragged on he came to realize that he and his weird pack
were alone and lost in the heart of a strange and tangled web of tropical
jungle。
No sooner had Bulan and his party disappeared in the jungle than
Barunda and Ninaka made haste to embark with the chest and the girl and
push rapidly on up the river toward the wild and inaccessible regions of
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the interior。 Virginia Maxon's strong hope of succor had been gradually
waning as no sign of the rescue party appeared as the day wore on。
Somewhere behind her upon the broad river she was sure a long； narrow
native prahu was being urged forward in pursuit； and that in command of
it was the young giant who was now never for a moment absent from her
thoughts。
For hours she strained her eyes over the stern of the craft that was
bearing her deeper and deeper into the wild heart of fierce Borneo。 On
either shore they occasionally passed a native long…house； and the girl
could not help but wonder at the quiet and peace which reigned over these
little settlements。 It was as though they were passing along a beaten
highway in the center of a civilized community； and yet she knew that the
men who lolled upon the verandahs； puffing indolently upon their
cigarettes or chewing betel nut； were all head hunters； and that along the
verandah rafters above them hung the grisly trophies of their prowess。
Yet as she glanced from them to her new captors she could not but feel
that she would prefer captivity in one of the settlements they were passing…
…there at least she might find an opportunity to communicate with her
father； or be discovered by the rescue party as it came up the river。 The
idea grew upon her as the day advanced until she spent the time in
watching furtively for some means of escape should they but touch the
shore momentarily； and though they halted twice her captors were too
watchful to permit her the slightest opportunity for putting her plan into
action。
Barunda and Ninaka urged their men on； with brief rests； all day； nor
did they halt even after night had closed down upon the river。 On； on the
swift prahu sped up the winding channel which had now dwindled to a
narrow stream； at intervals rushing strongly between rocky walls with a
current that tested the strength of the strong； brown paddlers。
Long…houses had become more and more infrequent until for some
time now no sign of human habitation had been visible。 The jungle
undergrowth was scantier and the spaces between the boles of the forest
trees more open。 Virginia Maxon was almost frantic with despair as the
utter helplessness of her position grew upon her。 Each stroke of those
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THE MONSTER MEN
slender paddles was driving her farther and farther from friends； or the
possibility of rescue。 Night had fallen； dark and impenetrable； and with it
had come the haunting fears that creep in when the sun has deserted his
guardian post。
Barunda and Ninaka were whispering together in low gutturals； and to
the girl's distorted and fear excited imagination it seemed possible that she
alone must be the subject of their plotting。 The prahu was gliding
through a stretch of comparatively quiet and placid water where the stream
spread out into a little basin just above a narrow gorge through which they
had just forced their way by dint of the most laborious exertions on the
part of the crew。
Virginia watched the two men near her furtively。 They were deeply
engrossed in their conversation。 Neither was looking in her direction。
The backs of the paddlers were all toward her。 Stealthily she rose to a
stooping position at the boat's side。 For a moment she paused； and then；
almost noiselessly； dove overboard and disappeared beneath the black
waters。
It was the slight rocking of the prahu that caused Barunda to look
suddenly about to discover the reason for the disturbance。 For a moment
neither of the men apprehended the girl's absence。 Ninaka was the first
to do so； and it was he who called loudly to the paddlers to bring the boat
to a stop。 Then they dropped down the river with the current； and
paddled about above the gorge for half an hour。
The moment that Virginia Maxon felt the waters close above her head
she struck out beneath the surface for the shore upon the opposite side to
that toward which she had dived into the river。 She knew that if any had
seen her leave the prahu they would naturally expect to intercept her on
her way toward the nearest shore； and so she took this means of outwitting
them； although it meant nearly double the distance to be covered。
After swimming a short distance beneath the surface the girl rose and
looked about her。 Up the river a few yards she caught the
phosphorescent gleam of water upon the prahu's paddles as they brought
her to a sudden stop in obedience to Ninaka's command。 Then she saw
the dark mass of the war…craft drifting down toward her。
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Again she dove and with strong strokes headed for the shore。 The next
time that she rose she was terrified to see the prahu looming close behind
her。 The paddlers were propelling the boat slowly in her direction it
was almost upon her nowthere was a shout from a man in the bowshe
had been seen。
Like a flash she dove once more and； turning； struck out rapidly
straight back beneath the oncoming boat。 When she came to the surface
again it was to find herself as far from shore as she had been when she
first quitted the prahu； but the craft was now circling far below her； and
she set out once again to retrace her way toward the inky mass of shore
line which loomed apparently near and yet； as she knew； was some
considerable distance from her。
As she swam； her mind； filled with the terrors of the night； conjured
recollection of the stories she had heard of the fierce crocodiles which
infest certain of the rivers of Borneo。 Again and again she could have
sworn that she felt some huge； slimy body sweep beneath her in the
mysterious waters of this unknown river。
Behind her she saw the prahu turn back up stream； but now her mind
was suddenly engaged with a new danger； for the girl realized that the
strong current was bearing her down stream more rapidly than she had
imagined。 Already she could hear the increasing roar of the river as it
rushed； wild and tumultuous； through the entrance to the narrow gorge
below her。 How far it was to shore she could not guess； or how far to the
certain death of the swirling waters toward which she was being drawn by
an irresistible force； but of one thing she was certain； her strength was
rapidly waning； and she must reach the bank quickly。
With redoubled energy she struck out in one last mighty effort to reach
the shore。 The tug of the current was strong upon her； like a giant hand
reaching up out of the cruel river to bear her back to death。 She felt her
strength ebbing quicklyher strokes now were feeble and futile。 With a
prayer to her Maker she threw her hands above her head in the last effort
of the drowning swimmer to clutch at even thin air for supportthe current
caught and swirled her downward toward the gorge； and； at the same
instant her fi