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necessary that she wet her feet in the ascent of the stream to the camp。 The
distance was short； the center of the camp being but a mile from the harbor；
and less than half a mile from the opposite shore of the island which was
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but two miles at its greatest breadth； and two and a quarter at its greatest
length。
At the camp Virginia found that a neat clearing had been made upon a
little tableland； a palisade built about it； and divided into three parts； the
most northerly of which contained a small house for herself and her father；
another for von Horn； and a common cooking and eating house over
which Sing was to preside。
The enclosure at the far end of the palisade was for the Malay and
lascar crew and there also were quarters for Bududreen and the Malay
second mate。 The center enclosure contained Professor Maxon's
workshop。 This compartment of the enclosure Virginia was not invited to
inspect； but as members of the crew carried in the two great chests which
the professor had left upon the Ithaca until the last moment； Virginia
caught a glimpse of the two buildings that had been erected within this
central spacea small； square house which was quite evidently her father's
laboratory； and a long； low thatched shed divided into several
compartments； each containing a rude bunk。 She wondered for whom
they could be intended。 Quarters for all the party had already been
arranged for elsewhere； nor； thought she； would her father wish to house
any in such close proximity to his workshop； where he would desire
absolute quiet and freedom from interruption。 The discovery perplexed
her not a little； but so changed were her relations with her father that she
would not question him upon this or any other subject。
As the two chests were being carried into the central campong； Sing；
who was standing near Virginia； called her attention to the fact that
Bududreen was one of those who staggered beneath the weight of the
heavier burden。
〃Bludleen； him mate。 Why workee alsame lascar boy？ Eh？〃 But
Virginia could give no reason。
〃I am afraid you don't like Bududreen； Sing；〃 she said。 〃Has he ever
harmed you in any way？〃
〃Him？ No； him no hurt Sing。 Sing poor；〃 with which more or less
enigmatical rejoinder the Chinaman returned to his work。 But he
muttered much to himself the balance of the day； for Sing knew that a
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chest that strained four men in the carrying could contain but one thing；
and he knew that Bududreen was as wise in such matters as he。
For a couple of months the life of the little hidden camp went on
peacefully and without exciting incident。 The Malay and lascar crew
divided their time between watch duty on board the Ithaca； policing the
camp； and cultivating a little patch of clearing just south of their own
campong。
There was a small bay on the island's east coast； only a quarter of a
mile from camp； in which oysters were found； and one of the Ithaca's
boats was brought around to this side of the island for fishing。
Bududreen often accompanied these expeditions； and on several occasions
the lynx…eyed Sing had seen him returning to camp long after the others
had retired for the night。
Professor Maxon scarcely ever left the central enclosure。 For days
and nights at a time Virginia never saw him； his meals being passed in to
him by Sing through a small trap door that had been cut in the partition
wall of the 〃court of mystery〃 as von Horn had christened the section of
the camp devoted to the professor's experimentations。
Von Horn himself was often with his employer as he enjoyed the
latter's complete confidence； and owing to his early medical training was
well fitted to act as a competent assistant； but he was often barred from the
workshop； and at such times was much with Virginia。
The two took long walks through the untouched jungle； exploring their
little island； and never failing to find some new and wonderful proof of
Nature's creative power among its flora and fauna。
〃What a marvellous thing is creation；〃 exclaimed Virginia as she and
von Horn paused one day to admire a tropical bird of unusually brilliant
plumage。 〃How insignificant is man's greatest achievement beside the
least of Nature's works。〃
〃And yet；〃 replied von Horn； 〃man shall find Nature's secret some day。
What a glorious accomplishment for him who first succeeds。 Can you
imagine a more glorious consummation of a man's life workyour father's；
for example？〃
The girl looked at von Horn closely。
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〃Dr。 von Horn；〃 she said； 〃pride has restrained me from asking what
was evidently intended that I should not know。 For years my father has
been interested in an endeavor to solve the mystery of lifethat he would
ever attempt to utilize the secret should he have been so fortunate as to
discover it had never occurred to me。 I mean that he should try to usurp
the functions of the Creator I could never have believed； but my
knowledge of him； coupled with what you have said； and the extreme
lengths to which he has gone to maintain absolute secrecy for his present
experiments can only lead to one inference； and that； that his present work；
if successful； would have results that would not be countenanced by
civilized society or government。 Am I right？〃
Von Horn had attempted to sound the girl that he might； if possible；
discover her attitude toward the work in which her father and he were
engaged。 He had succeeded beyond his hopes； for he had not intended
that she should guess so much of the truth as she had。 Should her interest
in the work have proved favorable it had been his intention to acquaint her
fully with the marvellous success which already had attended their
experiments； and to explain their hopes and plans for the future； for he had
seen how her father's attitude had hurt her and hoped to profit himself by
reposing in her the trust and confidence that her father denied her。
And so it was that her direct question left him floundering in a sea of
embarrassment； for to tell her the truth now would gain him no favor in
her eyes； while it certainly would lay him open to the suspicion and
distrust of her father should he learn of it。
〃I cannot answer your question； Miss Maxon；〃 he said； finally； 〃for
your father's strictest injunction has been that I divulge to no one the
slightest happening within the court of mystery。 Remember that I am in
your father's employ； and that no matter what my personal convictions
may be regarding the work he has been doing I may only act with loyalty
to his lightest command while I remain upon his payroll。 That you are
here；〃 he added； 〃is my excuse for continuing my connection with certain
things of which my conscience does not approve。〃
The girl glanced at him quickly。 She did not fully understand the
motive for his final avowal； and a sudden intuition kept her from
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questioning him。 She had learned to look upon von Horn as a very
pleasant companion and a good friendshe was not quite certain that she
would care for any change in their relations； but his remark had sowed the
seed of a new thought in her mind as he had intended that it should。
When von Horn returned to the court of mystery； he narrated to
Professor Maxon t