Page 148 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

came no one had noticed the girl
out, particularly
or ever thought of entering her hiding-place.
The moment Hawah was convinced her
Haji
daughter was not in the house, she became equally
certain she was in the hands of the enemy, and that
was an intolerable idea. She, therefore, besought
her husband to offer to yield provided the girl were
restored. This new factor in the case persuaded
him, and Haji Musah called out that he would yield
if his daughter were given back to them.
At first the besiegers could not understand the
meaning of this proposal, but light very soon came
to them and they argued that if the girl was not
inside the house or in their hands, she must be in
the kitchen, and a search of that place very soon
discovered her.
The Penglima accordingly replied that he accepted
the proposal and would restore the girl on condition
her father yielded. The door was then opened and
the girl admitted, but no sooner was she in the
house than it was closed again and Haji Musah
declined to give himself up.
Shortly after, however, the loss of blood and
pain of his stiffening limb made movement impos-
sible and compelled Haji Musah to abandon all idea
of further resistance.
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