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¡¨Pirates£¡¡¨¡¡gasped¡¡Virginia¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨Oh¡¡Sing£»¡¡what¡¡can¡¡we¡¡do£¿¡¨
¡¨You¡¡go¡¡b'low¡£¡¡¡¡Mebbyso¡¡Sing¡¡flighten¡¡'em¡£¡¡¡¡Shoot¡¡cannon¡£¡¡¡¡Bling¡¡help¡£¡¡¡¡Maxon¡¡come¡¡klick¡£¡¡¡¡Bling¡¡men¡£¡¡Chase'm¡¡'way£»¡¨¡¡explained¡¡the¡¡Chinaman¡£¡¡¡¡¡¨But¡¡plilates¡¡see¡¡'em¡¡pletty¡¡white¡¡girl£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡shrugged¡¡his¡¡shoulders¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡his¡¡head¡¡dubiously£»¡¡¡¨then¡¡old¡¡Sing¡¡no¡¡can¡¡flighten¡¡'em¡¡'way¡£¡¨
The¡¡girl¡¡shuddered£»¡¡and¡¡crouching¡¡close¡¡behind¡¡Sing¡¡hurried¡¡below¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡moment¡¡later¡¡she¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡boom¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡brass¡¡six¡¡pounder¡¡which¡¡for¡¡many¡¡years¡¡had¡¡graced¡¡the¡¡Ithaca's¡¡stern¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡had¡¡mounted¡¡a¡¡modern¡¡machine¡¡gun£»¡¡but¡¡this¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡beyond¡¡Sing's¡¡simple¡¡gunnery¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Chinaman¡¡had¡¡not¡¡taken¡¡the¡¡time¡¡to¡¡sight¡¡the¡¡ancient¡¡weapon¡¡carefully£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡gleeful¡¡smile¡¡lit¡¡his¡¡wrinkled£»¡¡yellow¡¡face¡¡as¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡splash¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ball¡¡where¡¡it¡¡struck¡¡the¡¡water¡¡almost¡¡at¡¡the¡¡side¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prahu¡£
Sing¡¡realized¡¡that¡¡the¡¡boat¡¡might¡¡contain¡¡friendly¡¡natives£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡cruised¡¡these¡¡waters¡¡too¡¡many¡¡years¡¡to¡¡take¡¡chances¡£¡¡Better¡¡kill¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡friends£»¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡than¡¡be¡¡captured¡¡by¡¡a¡¡single¡¡pirate¡£
At¡¡the¡¡shot¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡slowed¡¡up£»¡¡and¡¡a¡¡volley¡¡of¡¡musketry¡¡from¡¡her¡¡crew¡¡satisfied¡¡Sing¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡no¡¡mistake¡¡in¡¡classifying¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Her¡¡fire¡¡fell¡¡short¡¡as¡¡did¡¡the¡¡ball¡¡from¡¡the¡¡small¡¡cannon¡¡mounted¡¡in¡¡her¡¡bow¡£
Virginia¡¡was¡¡watching¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cabin¡¡ports¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡momentary¡¡hesitation¡¡and¡¡confusion¡¡which¡¡followed¡¡Sing's¡¡first¡¡shot£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡to¡¡her¡¡dismay¡¡she¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡rowers¡¡bend¡¡to¡¡their¡¡oars¡¡again¡¡and¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡move¡¡swiftly¡¡in¡¡the¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Ithaca¡£
It¡¡was¡¡apparent¡¡that¡¡the¡¡pirates¡¡had¡¡perceived¡¡the¡¡almost¡¡defenseless¡¡condition¡¡of¡¡the¡¡schooner¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡swarming¡¡the¡¡deck£»¡¡for¡¡poor¡¡old¡¡Sing¡¡would¡¡be¡¡entirely¡¡helpless¡¡to¡¡repel¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡If¡¡Dr¡£¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡were¡¡only¡¡there£»¡¡thought¡¡the¡¡distracted¡¡girl¡£¡¡With¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡alone¡¡he¡¡might¡¡keep¡¡them¡¡off¡£
At¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡a¡¡sudden¡¡resolve¡¡gripped¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Why¡¡not¡¡man¡¡it¡¡herself£¿¡¡¡¡Von¡¡Horn¡¡had¡¡explained¡¡its¡¡mechanism¡¡to¡¡her¡¡in¡¡detail£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡one¡¡occasion¡¡had¡¡allowed¡¡her¡¡to¡¡operate¡¡it¡¡on¡¡the¡¡voyage¡¡from¡¡Singapore¡£¡¡¡¡With¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡came¡¡action¡£¡¡¡¡Running¡¡to¡¡the¡¡magazine¡¡she¡¡snatched¡¡up¡¡a¡¡feed¡belt£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡another¡¡moment¡¡was¡¡on¡¡deck¡¡beside¡¡the¡¡astonished¡¡Sing¡£
The¡¡pirates¡¡were¡¡skimming¡¡rapidly¡¡across¡¡the¡¡smooth¡¡waters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡harbor£»¡¡answering¡¡Sing's¡¡harmless¡¡shots¡¡with¡¡yells¡¡of¡¡derision¡¡and¡¡wild£»¡¡savage¡¡war¡¡cries¡£¡¡There¡¡were£»¡¡perhaps£»¡¡fifty¡¡Dyaks¡¡and¡¡Malaysfierce£»¡¡barbaric¡¡men£»¡¡mostly¡¡naked¡¡to¡¡the¡¡waist£»¡¡or¡¡with¡¡war¡¡¡coats¡¡of¡¡brilliant¡¡colors¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡savage¡¡headdress¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Dyaks£»¡¡the¡¡long£»¡¡narrow£»¡¡decorated¡¡shields£»¡¡the¡¡flashing¡¡blades¡¡of¡¡parang¡¡and¡¡kris¡¡sent¡¡a¡¡shudder¡¡through¡¡the¡¡girl£»¡¡so¡¡close¡¡they¡¡seemed¡¡beneath¡¡the¡¡schooner's¡¡side¡£
¡¨What¡¡do£¿¡¡¡¡What¡¡do£¿¡¨¡¡cried¡¡Sing¡¡in¡¡consternation¡£¡¡¡¨Go¡¡b'low¡£¡¡¡¡Klick£¡¡¨¡¡¡¡But¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡finished¡¡his¡¡exhortation¡¡Virginia¡¡was¡¡racing¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡where¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun¡¡was¡¡mounted¡£¡¡¡¡Tearing¡¡the¡¡cover¡¡from¡¡it¡¡she¡¡swung¡¡the¡¡muzzle¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡pirate¡¡prahu£»¡¡which¡¡by¡¡now¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡within¡¡range¡¡above¡¡the¡¡vessel's¡¡side¡¡a¡¡moment¡¡more¡¡and¡¡she¡¡would¡¡be¡¡too¡¡close¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡weapon¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡pirates¡£
Virginia¡¡was¡¡quick¡¡to¡¡perceive¡¡the¡¡necessity¡¡for¡¡haste£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡pirates¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡instant¡¡realized¡¡the¡¡menace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡new¡¡danger¡¡which¡¡confronted¡¡them¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡score¡¡of¡¡muskets¡¡belched¡¡forth¡¡their¡¡missiles¡¡at¡¡the¡¡fearless¡¡girl¡¡behind¡¡the¡¡scant¡¡shield¡¡of¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun¡£¡¡¡¡Leaden¡¡pellets¡¡rained¡¡heavily¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡protection£»¡¡or¡¡whizzed¡¡threateningly¡¡about¡¡her¡¡head¡¡and¡¡then¡¡she¡¡got¡¡the¡¡gun¡¡into¡¡action¡£
At¡¡the¡¡rate¡¡of¡¡fifty¡¡a¡¡minute£»¡¡a¡¡stream¡¡of¡¡projectiles¡¡tore¡¡into¡¡the¡¡bow¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡when¡¡suddenly¡¡a¡¡richly¡¡garbed¡¡Malay¡¡in¡¡the¡¡stern¡¡rose¡¡to¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡waving¡¡a¡¡white¡¡cloth¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡point¡¡of¡¡his¡¡kris¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Rajah¡¡Muda¡¡Saffirhe¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡girl's¡¡face¡¡and¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡it¡¡the¡¡blood¡¡lust¡¡in¡¡his¡¡breast¡¡had¡¡been¡¡supplanted¡¡by¡¡another¡£
At¡¡sight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡emblem¡¡of¡¡peace¡¡Virginia¡¡ceased¡¡firing¡£¡¡She¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡tall¡¡Malay¡¡issue¡¡a¡¡few¡¡commands£»¡¡the¡¡oarsmen¡¡bent¡¡to¡¡their¡¡work£»¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡came¡¡about£»¡¡making¡¡off¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡harbor's¡¡entrance¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡the¡¡same¡¡moment¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡shot¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore¡¡followed¡¡by¡¡loud¡¡yelling£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡see¡¡her¡¡father¡¡and¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡pulling¡¡rapidly¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡Ithaca¡£
2
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Virginia¡¡and¡¡Sing¡¡were¡¡compelled¡¡to¡¡narrate¡¡the¡¡adventure¡¡of¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡¡a¡¡dozen¡¡times¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Chinaman¡¡was¡¡at¡¡a¡¡loss¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡had¡¡deterred¡¡the¡¡pirates¡¡at¡¡the¡¡very¡¡threshold¡¡of¡¡victory¡£¡¡¡¡Von¡¡Horn¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡they¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡the¡¡reinforcements¡¡embarking¡¡from¡¡the¡¡shore£»¡¡but¡¡Sing¡¡explained¡¡that¡¡that¡¡was¡¡impossible¡¡since¡¡the¡¡Ithaca¡¡had¡¡been¡¡directly¡¡between¡¡them¡¡and¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at¡¡which¡¡the¡¡returning¡¡crew¡¡had¡¡entered¡¡the¡¡boats¡£
Virginia¡¡was¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡her¡¡fusillade¡¡had¡¡frightened¡¡them¡¡into¡¡a¡¡hasty¡¡retreat£»¡¡but¡¡again¡¡Sing¡¡discouraged¡¡any¡¡such¡¡idea¡¡when¡¡he¡¡pointed¡¡to¡¡the¡¡fact¡¡that¡¡another¡¡instant¡¡would¡¡have¡¡carried¡¡the¡¡prahu¡¡close¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Ithaca's¡¡side¡¡and¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡machine¡¡gun's¡¡radius¡¡of¡¡action¡£
The¡¡old¡¡Chinaman¡¡was¡¡positive¡¡that¡¡the¡¡pirates¡¡had¡¡some¡¡ulterior¡¡motive¡¡for¡¡simulating¡¡defeat£»¡¡and¡¡his¡¡long¡¡years¡¡of¡¡experience¡¡upon¡¡pirate¡¡infested¡¡waters¡¡gave¡¡weight¡¡to¡¡his¡¡opinion¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡weak¡¡spot¡¡in¡¡his¡¡argument¡¡was¡¡his¡¡inability¡¡to¡¡suggest¡¡a¡¡reasonable¡¡motive¡£¡¡¡¡And¡¡so¡¡it¡¡was¡¡that¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡¡they¡¡were¡¡left¡¡to¡¡futile¡¡conjecture¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡action¡¡that¡¡had¡¡saved¡¡them¡¡from¡¡a¡¡bloody¡¡encounter¡¡with¡¡these¡¡bloodthirsty¡¡sea¡¡wolves¡£
For¡¡a¡¡week¡¡the¡¡men¡¡were¡¡busy¡¡constructing¡¡the¡¡new¡¡camp£»¡¡but¡¡never¡¡again¡¡was¡¡Virginia¡¡left¡¡without¡¡a¡¡sufficient¡¡guard¡¡for¡¡her¡¡protection¡£¡¡¡¡Von¡¡Horn¡¡was¡¡always¡¡needed¡¡at¡¡the¡¡work£»¡¡for¡¡to¡¡him¡¡had¡¡fallen¡¡the¡¡entire¡¡direction¡¡of¡¡matters¡¡of¡¡importance¡¡that¡¡were¡¡at¡¡all¡¡of¡¡a¡¡practical¡¡nature¡£¡¡¡¡Professor¡¡Maxon¡¡wished¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡the¡¡building¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡and¡¡the¡¡stockade£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡offer¡¡such¡¡suggestions¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡necessary£»¡¡and¡¡again¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡noticed¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡comparative¡¡indifference¡¡to¡¡her¡¡welfare¡£
She¡¡had¡¡been¡¡shocked¡¡at¡¡his¡¡apathy¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pirate¡¡attack£»¡¡and¡¡chagrined¡¡that¡¡it¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡¡necessary¡¡for¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡to¡¡have¡¡insisted¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡proper¡¡guard¡¡being¡¡left¡¡with¡¡her¡¡thereafter¡£
The¡¡nearer¡¡the¡¡approach¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡he¡¡might¡¡enter¡¡again¡¡upon¡¡those¡¡experiments¡¡which¡¡had¡¡now¡¡been¡¡neglected¡¡for¡¡the¡¡better¡¡part¡¡of¡¡a¡¡year¡¡the¡¡more¡¡self¡¡absorbed¡¡and¡¡moody¡¡became¡¡the¡¡professor¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡times¡¡he¡¡was¡¡scarcely¡¡civil¡¡to¡¡those¡¡about¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡never¡¡now¡¡did¡¡he¡¡have¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡word¡¡or¡¡a¡¡caress¡¡for¡¡the¡¡daughter¡¡who¡¡had¡¡been¡¡his¡¡whole¡¡life¡¡but¡¡a¡¡few¡¡short¡¡months¡¡before¡£
It¡¡often¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡Virginia¡¡when¡¡she¡¡caught¡¡her¡¡father's¡¡eyes¡¡upon¡¡her¡¡that¡¡there¡¡was¡¡a¡¡gleam¡¡of¡¡dislike¡¡in¡¡them£»¡¡as¡¡though¡¡he¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡glad¡¡to¡¡have¡¡been¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡her¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡not¡¡in¡¡any¡¡way¡¡embarrass¡¡or¡¡interfere¡¡with¡¡his¡¡work¡£
The¡¡camp¡¡was¡¡at¡¡last¡¡completed£»¡¡and¡¡on¡¡a¡¡Saturday¡¡afternoon¡¡all¡¡the¡¡heavier¡¡articles¡¡from¡¡the¡¡ship¡¡had¡¡been¡¡transported¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡On¡¡the¡¡following¡¡Monday¡¡the¡¡balance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡goods¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡sent¡¡on¡¡shore¡¡and¡¡the¡¡party¡¡were¡¡to¡¡transfer¡¡their¡¡residence¡¡to¡¡their¡¡new¡¡quarters¡£
Late¡¡Sunday¡¡afternoon¡¡a¡¡small¡¡native¡¡boat¡¡was¡¡seen¡¡rounding¡¡the¡¡point¡¡at¡¡the¡¡harbor's¡¡southern¡¡extremity£»¡¡and¡¡after¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes¡¡it¡¡drew¡¡alongside¡¡the¡¡Ithaca¡£¡¡There¡¡were¡¡but¡¡three¡¡men¡¡in¡¡ittwo¡¡Dyaks¡¡and¡¡a¡¡Malay¡£¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡was¡¡a¡¡tall£»¡¡well¡¡built¡¡man¡¡of¡¡middle¡¡age£»¡¡of¡¡a¡¡sullen¡¡and¡¡degraded¡¡countenance¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡garmenture¡¡was¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡Malay¡¡boatman£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡was¡¡that¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mien¡¡and¡¡his¡¡attitude¡¡toward¡¡his¡¡companions¡¡which¡¡belied¡¡his¡¡lowly¡¡habiliments¡£
In¡¡answer¡¡to¡¡von¡¡Horn's¡¡hail¡¡the¡¡man¡¡asked¡¡if¡¡he¡¡might¡¡come¡¡aboard¡¡and¡¡trade£»¡¡but¡¡once¡¡on¡¡the¡¡deck¡¡it¡¡developed¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡brought¡¡nothing¡¡wherewith¡¡to¡¡trade¡£¡¡He¡¡seemed¡¡not¡¡the¡¡slightest¡¡disconcerted¡¡by¡¡this¡¡discovery£»¡¡stating¡¡that¡¡he¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡such¡¡articles¡¡as¡¡they¡¡wished¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡what¡¡their¡¡requirements¡¡were¡£
The¡¡ubiquitous¡¡Sing¡¡was¡¡on¡¡hand¡¡during¡¡the¡¡interview£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡his¡¡expressionless¡¡face¡¡none¡¡might¡¡guess¡¡what¡¡was¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡the¡¡tortuous¡¡channels¡¡of¡¡his¡¡Oriental¡¡mind¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Malay¡¡had¡¡been¡¡aboard¡¡nearly¡¡half¡¡an¡¡hour¡¡talking¡¡with¡¡von¡¡Horn¡¡when¡¡the¡¡mate£»¡¡Bududreen£»¡¡came¡¡on¡¡deck£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Sing¡¡alone¡¡who¡¡noted¡¡the¡¡quickly¡¡concealed¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡recognition¡¡which¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡the¡¡two¡¡Malays¡£
The¡¡Chinaman¡¡also¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡gleam¡¡that¡¡shot¡¡into¡¡the¡¡visitor's¡¡eye¡¡as¡¡Virginia¡¡emerged¡¡from¡¡the¡¡cabin£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡no¡¡word¡¡or¡¡voluntary¡¡outward¡¡sign¡¡did¡¡the¡¡man¡¡indicate¡¡that¡¡he¡¡had¡¡even¡¡noticed¡¡her¡£¡¡¡¡Shortly¡¡afterward¡¡he¡¡left£»¡¡promising¡¡to¡¡return¡¡with¡¡provisions¡¡the¡¡following¡¡day¡£¡¡But¡¡it¡¡was¡¡to¡¡be¡¡months¡¡before¡¡they¡¡again¡¡saw¡¡him¡£
That¡¡evening¡¡as¡¡Sing¡¡was¡¡serving¡¡Virginia's¡¡supper¡¡he¡¡asked¡¡her¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡recognized¡¡their¡¡visitor¡¡of¡¡the¡¡afternoon¡£
¡¨Why¡¡no£»¡¡Sing£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡replied£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡never¡¡saw¡¡him¡¡before¡£¡¨
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¡¨What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£»¡¡Sing£¿¡¨¡¡asked¡¡the¡¡girl¡¡in¡¡a¡¡low¡¡voice¡£¡¡¡¨How¡¡perfectly¡¡weird¡¡and¡¡mysterious¡¡you¡¡are¡£¡¡Why¡¡you¡¡make¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡chills¡¡run¡¡up¡¡my¡¡spine£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡ended£»¡¡laughing¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Sing¡¡did¡¡not¡¡return¡¡her¡¡smile¡¡as¡¡was¡¡his¡¡custom¡£
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¡¨Oh£»¡¡Sing£»¡¨¡¡she¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨I¡¡do¡¡indeed£¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡unless¡¡you¡¡had¡¡reminded¡¡me¡¡I¡¡should¡¡never¡¡have¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡him¡¡with¡¡our¡¡visitor¡¡of¡¡todaythey¡¡do¡¡l