MALAY SKETCHES
Haji Hawah, and their daughter and son-in-law, the latter named Haji Sahil.
At daybreak the back door of the house was opened and the two women came out and went into the kitchen. In a moment Haji Hawah discovered that the space beneath the house was full of armed men, and with a scream she rushed back towards the door. Ere she could gain it, Haji Ali sprang upon the platform and seized one of her hands, while her husband, unpleasantly alive to the situation, caught hold of the other and tried to pull her within the door, an effort which she seconded with all her might.
A real tug-of-war was carried on for a few moments, and Haji Ali was joined by another man.
Local tradition says that [faji Ali experienced suddenly a feeling that something dire was going to happen, and he asked his companion to relieve him of his hold of the woman’s hand, The man took it, and Haji Masah from the inside making a great effort drew his wife towards him, and at the same time, with a spear, thrust out beyond her with so true an aim that he transfixed her would-be capter. The man released his hold, fell with a groan into Haji Ali’s arms, and Haji Masah, drawing his wife into the house and believing he had wounded Péng-
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