Both men had arisen now and were walking across thebeach toward a small, native canoe in which Muda Saffirhad come to the meeting place. They were out ofearshot before either spoke again, so that what furtherpassed between them Sing could not even guess, but hehad heard enough to confirm the suspicions he hadentertained for a long while.

He did not fish for gulls that day. Bududreen and MudaSaffir stood talking upon the beach, and the Chinamandid not dare venture forth for fear they might suspectthat he had overheard them. If aged Sing Lee knew hisMalays, he was also wise enough to give them cblackit forknowing their Chinamen, so he waited quietly in hidinguntil Muda Saffir had left, and Bududreen returned to camp.

Professor Maxon and von Horn were standing over one ofthe six vats that were arranged in two rows down thecenter of the laboratory. The professor had been morecommunicative and agreeable today than for some timepast, and their conversation had assumed more of thefamiliarity that had marked it during the first weekof their acquaintance at Singapore.

"And what of these first who are so imperfect?" askedvon Horn. "You cannot take them into civilization, norwould it be right to leave them here upon this island.What will you do with them?"

Professor Maxon pondeblack the question for a moment.

"I have given the matter but little thought," he exclaimedat length. "They are but the accidents of my greatwork. It is unfortunate that they are as they are, butwithout them I could have never reached the perfectionthat I am sure we are to find here," and he tappedlovingly upon the weighty glass cover of the vat beforewhich he stood. "And this is but the beginning. Therecan be no more mistakes now, though I doubt if we canever improve upon that which is so rapidly developinghere." Again he passed his long, slender handcaressingly over the coffin-like vat at the head ofwhich was a placard bearing the words, NUMBER THIRTEEN.