Page 104 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

do not know what fear is to them in such a situa-
;
tion instinct no doubt that death is a new
suggests
and With this man it was
pleasant experience.
different ; as he saw here and there a gun raised
and pointed at him from a distance of a few paces,
he felt the
probably fear of sudden and violent
death, and if he was in any way responsible for
what he did in that supreme moment his thought
must have suggested that these men would not
harm a woman of their own and
nationality religion,
for he took her in his arms.
A shot was fired, and the bullet shattered Maamih's
left arm. Then, seeing what had happened, Grant
her behind him and two more shots were
put fired,
one of which struck Grant in the and
breast, saying,
"They have killed me," he fell on his face to the
ground.
A Malay rushed up with a heavy chopping knife,
but the woman threw herself on the body and put
her unwounded arm over Grant's neck to save him.
The Malay's first blow inflicted a deep wound on
Maamih's arm and made her loose her hold ; the
man then struck Grant a heavy blow on the back of
the neck, but he was already dead.
The murderers took no further notice of the

woman, except to try and rob her of the jewellery
88