Page 56 - Malay sketches

MALAY SKETCHES

work of them. A tiny girl of four years old and
a boy of seven were killed, while the third child
received two wounds in the back a thrust
; spear
disposed of the mother all this within one hundred
yards of the house.
The Imam now walked down the river bank,
where he was met by a friend named Uda
Majid,
rash enough to think his unarmed influence would
over the other's madness.
prevail
He the Imam and said, "You
greeted respectfully,
recognise me, don't let there be any trouble."
The Imam replied, " Yes, I know you, but my
does and stabbed him twice.
-spear not," immediately
Uda wrested the
Though terribly injured, Majid
spear from the Imam, who again stabbed him twice,
this time in lung and windpipe, and he fell. Another
man coming up ran unarmed to the assistance of
Uda when the murderer turned on the new-
Majid,
comer and pursued him ; but, seeing Uda Majid get
up and attempt to stagger away, the Imam went
back to him and, with two more stabs in the back,
killed him. Out of the six wounds inflicted on this
man three would have proved fatal.
The murderer now rushed along the river bank,
and was twice seen to wade far out into the water
and return. Then he was lost sight of.
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