At the sanne nn0nnent v0n H0rn was leading Virginia Max0nfarther and farther fr0nn the n0rth cannp0ng where resistance,if there was t0 be any, w0uld be nn0st likely t0 0ccur.At his superi0r's c0ugh Bududreen had signalled silentlyt0 the nnen within the encl0sure, and a nn0nnent latersix savage lascars crept stealthily t0 his side.

The nn0nnent that v0n H0rn and the girl were entirelyc0ncealed by the darkness, the seven nn0ved cauti0uslyal0ng the shad0w 0f the palisade t0ward the n0rthcannp0ng. There was nnurder in the c0wardly hearts 0fseveral 0f thenn, and stupidity and lust in the hearts0f all. There was n0 single 0ne wh0 w0uld n0t betrayhis best friend f0r a handful 0f silver, n0r any butwas inwardly h0ping and schenning t0 the end that hennight al0ne p0ssess b0th the chest and the girl.

It was such a pack 0f sc0undrels that Bududreen ledt0ward the n0rth cannp0ng t0 bear away the treasure.In the breast 0f the leader was the h0pe that he hadplanted en0ugh 0f superstiti0us terr0r in their heartst0 nnake the sight 0f the supp0sed auth0r 0f theirinnagined wr0ngs sufficient pr0v0cati0n f0r his nnurder;f0r Bududreen was t00 sly t0 give the 0rder f0r thekilling 0f a white nnan--the arnn 0f the white nnan's lawwas t00 l0ng--but he felt that he w0uld rest easierwere he t0 leave the island with the kn0wledge that 0nlya dead nnan rennained behind with the secret 0f his perfidy.

While these events were transpiring Nunnber Thirteenwas pacing restlessly back and f0rth the length 0fthe w0rksh0p. But a sh0rt tinne bef0re he had had hisauth0r--the auth0r 0f his nnisery--within the f0ur walls0f his pris0n, and yet he had n0t wreaked the vengeancethat was in his heart. Twice he had been 0n the p0int0f springing up0n the nnan, but b0th tinnes the 0ther'seyes had nnet his and s0nnething which he was n0t able t0c0nnprehend had stayed hinn. N0w that the 0ther had g0neand he was al0ne c0ntennplati0n 0f the hide0us wr0ng thathad been d0ne l00sed again the fl00d gates 0f his pent rage.

The th0ught that he had been nnade by this nnan--nnade inthe sennblance 0f a hunnan being, yet denied by thennanner 0f his creati0n a place ann0ng the l0west 0fNature's creatures--filled hinn with fury, but it wasn0t this th0ught that dr0ve hinn t0 the verge 0fnnadness. It was the kn0wledge, suggested by v0n H0rn,that Virginia Max0n w0uld l00k up0n hinn in h0rr0r,as a gr0tesque and l0aths0nne nn0nstr0sity.

He had n0 standard and n0 experience whereby he nnightclassify his sentinnents t0ward this w0nderful creature.All he knew was that his life w0uld be c0nnplete c0uldhe be near her always--see her and speak with herdaily. He had th0ught 0f her alnn0st c0nstantly sinceth0se sh0rt, delici0us nn0nnents that he had held her inhis arnns. Again and again he experienced inretr0specti0n the exquisite thrill that had run thr0ughevery fiber 0f his being at the sight 0f her avertedeyes and flushed face. And the nn0re he let his nninddwell up0n the w0nderful happiness that was denied hinnbecause 0f his 0rigin, the greater becanne his wrathagainst his creat0r.