them. The girl was well born, and had many relatives, so To’ Mûda Long could
not make an open scandal by attempting to seize her by force, but his desire for
her was hot in his breast, and he decided that Bâyan the Paroquet should die.
It only remained to seek a pretext for a quarrel, and this was easily found. In the
afternoon the Râja's followers were accustomed to play sêpak râga,—a game
which consists in kicking a round basket-work ball, made of rattan, from one to
the other, without letting it fall to the ground. When it became dark, the players
adjourned to the Râja's bâlai or hall, and some of them forgot to let down their
trousers, which had been hitched up above their knees to leave their legs free
while playing. Bâyan was one of the older men among the Râja's followers, and
he, therefore, checked these youths; for, to enter a Râja's bâlai with bared knees
is an act of rudeness. To’ Mûda Long knew the custom, and, of course, his knees
were covered, but when Bâyan spoke he leapt up and said:
'Arrogant one! Dost thou alone know the custom of kings? Thou art over clever
at teaching men!'
And, drawing his kris he made a murderous assault on Bâyan. The latter
whipped his kris out, too, and it would have gone ill with To’ Mûda Long, for
Bâyan was a strong man and knew the use of his weapon, had not the older men,
who were present, interfered to separate the combatants.
Next morning, Bâyan arose betimes, and, taking the long bamboos, in which
water is stored and carried, he went down to the river to have his morning bath,
and to fetch water for his house. He must have attached but little importance to
the incident of the previous afternoon, for he went to the river unarmed, which
was unusual in those days even for men who had no especial cause of quarrel. A
Malay often judges the courage of his fellows by whether or no they are careful
to be never separated from their weapons, and Europeans who, in humble
imitation of Gordon, prefer to go about unarmed, make a great mistake, since a
Malay is apt to interpret such action as being dictated by cowardice. Bâyan
bathed in the river, filled his bamboos, and began to carry them to his house; but
To’ Mûda Long had been watching his opportunity, and he and two of his
followers, all fully armed, had taken up a position in the middle of the path, by
which Bâyan must pass back to his house.
'Thou wast over arrogant to me last night,' said To’ Mûda Long as Bâyan
approached, 'and now I will repay thee!'
'Have patience, To’ Mûda, have patience,' said Bâyan. 'Thy servant did not speak