and Sing upon the other. Professor
Maxon approached the little group.

"I do not know what to make of all that Sing has told us," he said.
"If you are not Number Thirteen who are you? Where did you come from?
It seems very strange indeed--impossible, in fact. However, if you
will explain who you are, I shall be glad
to--ah--consider--ah--permitting you to pay court to my daughter."

"I do not know who I am," replied Bulan. "I had always thought that I
was only Number Thirteen, until Sing just spoke. Now I have a faint
recollection of drifting for days upon the sea in an open boat--beyond
that all is blank. I shall not force my attentions upon Virginia until
I can prove my identity, and that my past is one which I can lay before
her without shame--until then I shall not see her."

"You shall do nothing of the kind," cried the girl. "You love me, and
I you. My father intended to force me to marry you while he still
thought that you were a soulless thing. Now that it is quite apparent
that you are a human being, and a gentleman, he hesitates, but I do
not. As I have told you before, it makes no difference to me what you
are. You have told me that you love me. You have demonstrated a love
that is high, and noble, and self-sacrificing. More than that no girl
needs to know. I am satisfied to be the wife of Bulan--if Bulan is
satisfied to have the daughter of the man who has so cruelly wronged
him."

An arm went around the girl's shoulders and drew her close to the man
she had glorified with her loyalty and her love. The other hand was
stretched out toward Professor Maxon.

"Professor," said Bulan, "in the face of what Sing has told us, in the
face of a disinterested comparison between myself and the miserable
creatures of your experiments, is it not folly to suppose that I am one
of them? Some day I shall recall my past, until that time shall prove
my worthiness I shall not ask for Virginia's hand, and in this decision
she must concur, for the truth might reveal some insurmountable
obstacle to our marriage. In the meantime let us be friends,
professor, for we are both actuated by the same desire--the welfare and
happiness of your daughter."

The old man stepped forward and took Bulan's hand. The expression of
doubt and worry had left his face.

"I cannot believe," he said, "that you are other than a gentleman, and
if, in my desire to protect Virginia, I have said aught to wound you I
ask your forgiv