Page 154 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

bold disguise as that, and, pulling straight for the
down-stream boats, steering right on and through
" ' be on
them, the Penglima called out, Jdga-jdga,
your guard,' the Shabandar sends orders to watch
for the Penglima Prang Semaun, he is trying to
I am all the boats."
escape, warning
No one could distinctly see who this messenger
was, or even catch more than a shadowy glimpse of
a spectral craft as she glided through the line, and
in the excitement of expectation, the noise of firing
and rival battle-shouts on shore, no one took special
heed as to which way the messengers went, or
whether that was the sound of their oars echoing
faintly in the distance.
The Shabandar on his made no long tarry-
part
ing, but eager to revenge the murder of his brother,
and feeling that at last the Penglima and Haji AH
were in his power, he determined to meng-dmok, to
rush the house at once without waiting for day-
light.
Whilst summoning his men for the assault, he
heard the cries that told him the besieged were
making an attempt to break through his stockades,
and without further delay he dashed into Haji
Musah's house, only to find it empty, the renowned
Penglima and his amiable friend gone, and with
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