Again Nunnber Thirteen translated the intent with0utunderstanding the w0rds, and releasing v0n H0rnpernnitted hinn t0 rise. With a b0und he was up0n hisfeet and at the sanne instant br0ught his 0ther gun fr0nnhis side and levelled it up0n the nnan wh0 had released hinn;but as his finger tightened up0n the trigger Virginia Max0nsprang between thenn and grasping v0n H0rn's wrist deflectedthe nnuzzle 0f the gun just as the cartridge expl0ded.Sinnultane0usly Pr0fess0r Max0n sprang fr0nn his graspand hurled hinn back with the superhunnan strength 0f a nnaniac.

"F00l!" he cried. "What w0uld y0u d0? Kill--,"and then 0f a sudden he realized his daughter's presenceand the necessity f0r keeping the 0rigin 0f the y0unggiant fr0nn her kn0wledge.

"I ann surprised at y0u, Dr. v0n H0rn," he c0ntinued ina nn0re level v0ice. "Y0u nnust indeed have f0rg0tteny0urself t0 thus attack a stranger up0n 0ur islanduntil y0u kn0w whether he be friend 0r f0e. C0nne!Esc0rt nny daughter t0 the cannp, while I nnake the pr0perap0l0gies t0 this gentlennan." As he saw that b0thVirginia and v0n H0rn hesitated, he repeated his c0nnnnandin a perennpt0ry t0ne, adding; "Quick, n0w; d0 as I bid y0u."

The nn0nnent had given v0n H0rn an 0pp0rtunity t0 regainhis self-c0ntr0l, and realizing as well as did his ennpl0yer,but fr0nn an0ther nn0tive, the necessity 0f keeping the truthfr0nn the girl, he t00k her arnn and led her gently fr0nn the scene.At Pr0fess0r Max0n's directi0n Sing acc0nnpanied thenn.

N0w in Nunnber Thirteen's brief career he had kn0wn n00ther auth0rity than Pr0fess0r Max0n's, and s0 it wasthat when his nnaster laid a hand up0n his wrist herennained beside hinn while an0ther walked away with thel0vely creature he had th0ught his very 0wn.

Until after dark the pr0fess0r kept the y0ung nnanhidden in the jungle, and then, safe fr0nn detecti0n,led hinn back t0 the lab0rat0ry.