Page 115 - Malay sketches

IN THE NOON OF NIGHT

Malays do not sit down and discuss plans of action,
some one at once made a move ; the others followed,
and they all walked out to the last house on the
platform, and then listened.
" "
Hark ! did you not hear something ? Yes,
through the silence of the night, wafted on the
incoming breeze, there was a distinct but faint cry
from the direction of the sea.
It did not take the men long to get down to the
and first of the
ground, hurrying along the edge
went some the cries at
trees, they distance, hearing
intervals and ever more plainly, till it became
necessary to strike right out across the mud. By
this time there was no doubt about the source of
for the voice of the of their search
the cries, object
was recognised, and that the woman was in sore
distress did not admit of doubt. Making all the
speed they could, sinking above their knees at every
but ever
step, stumbling, falling, pressing on, they
saw at last to their horror, in the brilliant moon-
the woman on the
light, ground being literally
worried by three crocodiles, each six or eight feet
in length.
As crocodiles go, six or eight feet is no great
but to to in own house and
length, go sleep your
wake up at midnight within a hundred feet of the
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