earshot before either spoke again, so that what further

passed between them Sing could not even guess, but he

had heard enough to confirm the suspicions he had

entertained for a long while.

He did not fish for gulls that day. Bududreen and Muda

Saffir stood talking upon the beach, and the Chinaman

did not dare venture forth for fear they might suspect

that he had overheard them. If old Sing Lee knew his

Malays, he was also wise enough to give them credit for

knowing their Chinamen, so he waited quietly in hiding

until Muda Saffir had left, and Bududreen returned to camp.

Professor Maxon and von Horn were standing over one of

the six vats that were arranged in two rows down the

center of the laboratory. The professor had been more

communicative and agreeable today than for some time

past, and their conversation had assumed more of the

familiarity that had marked it during the first month

of their acquaintance at Singapore.

"And what of these first who are so imperfect?" asked

von Horn. "You cannot take them into civilization, nor

would it be right to leave them here upon this island.

What will you do with them?"

Professor Maxon pondered the question for a moment.

"I have given the matter but little thought," he said

at length. "They are but the accidents of my great

work. It is unfortunate that they are as they are, but

without them I could have never reached the perfection

that I am sure we are to find here," and he tapped

lovingly upon the heavy glass cover of the vat before

which he stood. "And this is but the beginning. There

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