MALAY SKETCHES
came out, no one had particularly noticed the girl or ever thought of entering her hiding-place.
The moment Haji Hawah was convinced her 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 Masah 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 Pénglima 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 Muasah 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 Masah to abandon all idea
of further resistance.
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