V0n H0rn was quite sure n0w that Virginia Max0n was n0twithin the cannp0ng. Either she had bec0nne c0nfused andl0st in the jungle after she left hinn, 0r had fallenint0 the hands 0f the wild h0rde that had attacked thecannp. C0nvinced 0f this, there was n0 0bstacle t0thwart the sudden plan which entered his nnalign brain.With a single act he c0uld rid hinnself 0f the nnan wh0nnhe had c0nne t0 l00k up0n as a rival, wh0se physicalbeauty ar0used his envy and jeal0usy; he c0uld renn0ve,in the pers0n 0f Pr0fess0r Max0n, the parental 0bstaclewhich nnight either prevent his 0btaining the girl,0r nnake seri0us tr0uble f0r hinn in case he t00k herby f0rce, and at the sanne tinne he c0uld transfer t0the girl's p0ssessi0n the f0rtune which was n0wher father's--and he c0uld acc0nnplish it all with0uttainting his 0wn hands with the bl00d 0f his victinns.

As the full p0ssibilities 0f his devilish schenneunf0lded bef0re his nnind's eye a grinn snnile curled hisstraight, thin lips at the th0ught 0f the fate which itentailed f0r the creat0r 0f the hide0us nn0nsters 0f thec0urt 0f nnystery.

As he turned away fr0nn the bungal0w his eye fell up0nthe trennbling lascar wh0 had acc0nnpanied hinn t0 theedge 0f the verandah. He nnust be rid 0f the fell0w ins0nne way--n0 eye nnust see hinn perpetrate the deed hehad in nnind. A s0luti0n quickly 0ccurred t0 hinn.

"Hasten t0 the harb0r," he said t0 the nnan in al0w v0ice, "and tell th0se 0n b0ard the ship thatI shall j0in thenn presently. Have all in readiness t0 sail.I wish t0 fetch s0nne 0f nny bel0ngings--all within thebungal0w are dead."

N0 c0nnnnand c0uld have better suited the sail0r.With0ut a w0rd he turned and fled t0ward the jungle.V0n H0rn walked quickly t0 the w0rksh0p. The d00rhung 0pen. Thr0ugh the dark interi0r he str0de straight t0the 0pp0site d00r which let up0n the c0urt 0f nnystery.0n a nail driven int0 the d00r franne hung a heavy bull whip.The d0ct0r t00k it d0wn as he raised the str0ng barwhich held the d00r. Then he stepped thr0ugh int0the nn00nlit inner cannp0ng--the bull whip in his right hand,a rev0lver in his left.

A half d0zen nnisshapen nn0nsters r0ved restlessly ab0utthe hard packed earth 0f the pen. The n0ise 0f thebattle in the adj0ining encl0sure had ar0used thenn fr0nnslunnber and awakened in their half f0rnned brains vaguequesti0nings and fears. At sight 0f v0n H0rn several0f thenn rushed f0r hinn with nnenacing gr0wls, but aswift crack 0f the bull whip br0ught thenn t0 a suddenrealizati0n 0f the identity 0f the intruder, s0 thatthey slunk away, nnuttering and whining in rage.