New-York tribune., 1898-10-23

L..
struggling mop Of hair was almost white. and
his skin was dry and creased and wrinkled. He
WAS naked. as were all his people, save for
slender lon-olout OF bark cloth. and his thin
TANKS and buttOcks were white with the warm
wood ashes in which he hau been lying when
k0lop's arrival interrupted his mid day snooze.
Bid these. thy children. build me six bam-
boo RATS. strong and firm. at the foot Of yonder
rapid. said Knlop. And mark ye. be not slow.
Tor love not Incidence"
ut can be DONE" said the Sakai headman.
submiss.vely
That is WELL" returned K1lop. See thou to
1t with speed for am man prone to wrath"
The Sakai fell to work. and by nshtfall the
SIX new rafts were completed, and while the
Jung'e-folk toiled K1Op Of the Hare.p who
had declared that he loved not Incidence. lay
upon his back on the floor Of the chiefs hut. and
roarcd a love song in harsh. discordant voice.
to the lady whose heart the wealth he sought
so eagerly, and now began TO see within his
grasp. would enable him to subdue.
Kulop slept that night in The Sakai hut among
the restless jungle folk The air was chilly up
here in the foothills. and the fire. which the
Sakai never willingly let die. smoked and smoui-
dercd in the middle Of the floor.
And kulop Of the Hare-lip slept the sleep Of
the just.
The dawn broke grayly. for a mist hung low
over thc forest. white as driven snow and co!d
and clammy az the forehead Of A corpse. The
naked $akai peeped shiyerirgly from the door
ways OF their huts and then went shuddering
back 10 the grateful warmth of The fire and the
frowzy atmosphere within
Kniop alone made his way down to the river
bank and there performed his morning abu-
tons with ScrupuOus care-fOr whatever laws
or God and man 4 Malay may disregard ne
never iorgetS The virtue Of personal cleanliness.
which in an Oriental is even more Immediately
important TO his neighbors than all the sodliness
IN the world A Malay would as soon think OF
foregoing his morning tub as he would OF FAST
ing when food to be had in plenty aud the
days Of Rdmathan had sped.
When his ablutions were completed. Knlop
climbed the steep bank once more. and stand
ing outside the chiefs hut. called the Sakai from
their lairs. bidding them hearken TO his words
They stood Or Squatted before him In the white
mist, through which the sum- just peeping above
the jungle beginning to send long slanting
rays of dazzling white light
They cold and miserable-this little
crowd Of naked men-and they shivered and
scratched their bodies restlessly. The trillinS
of the thrushes and the. chorus raised by other
birds came 70 their ears through the still air.
mingled with the WhOOping and barking or the
anthrOpOid pes; but the morning song has small
power to cheer those who. like the Sakai. are
very sensitive to cold. and it during the chilly
waking hour that mems courage and vitality
are usually at the lowest ebb.
Listen. ye accursed Sakai' cried <0lop Of
the Hare-lip. waving his spear above his head.
Mark we'll my words. for / hear the warm
earth calling to the coffin planks in which your
carcasses shall be presently If ye fail TO do my
behests Go. gather up the getah that lies with
in your dwellings and bring it hither speedily.
lest worse thing befal ye"
The Saka slowly and walked each man
TO his hut with tagging steps. In few min
utes the great round balls Of gum. with A little
hole punched in each. through which a rotten
line passed lay heaped upon the ground
at K1lop's feet But the Sakai had brought
something as we'll AZ the getah for each man
held long and slender spear fashioned OF bam-
boo. The weapon sounds harmless enough, but
these wooden blades are strong and stubborn.
and the edges and points are sharper than steel.
K0lop Of the Hare-lip saw that the time had
come for prompt action to supplement rough
words
cast down your spears to the earth, ye swine
OF the forestl' he yelled.
Almost all the Sakai did as k0lop bade them
for the Malay is here the dominant race and
jungle folk very docie In the presence Of the
more civilized brown man The Sakai chief
however clutched his weapon firmly and his
frightened old eyes ran around the group Of his
kinsmen. vainly melting them to follow his X
ample The next moment his gaze was recalled
to K0,Op Of the Hare-lip by sharp pain in his
right shoulder. the spear OF the Malay trans
fixed it. His own weapon dropped from his pow
erless arm, and the Sakai broke and fed. But a
shrl cry from K1lop. he around them.
herdng them a collie herds sheep. brought
them soon to a standstill.
No thought of further resistance remained In
their minds, and the getah quickly loaded
on the RATS and the plundered Sakai still wild
while K1lOp sat at ease on the last raft. which
two of the shuddeling jungle-folk punted care
fully.
The wounded chief. left behind in his hut.
sent two youths through the forest TO bid their
fellow tribesmen prepare the poison for the blow
pipe darts since he knew that one would
now attempt to kill K0lop OF the Hare-lip at
close quarters. But the poison which the Sakai
distI from the resin Of the ipOh tree requires
some tima to prepare. and II it Is TO be used with
effect upon a human being. a specially strong
solution is necessary. Above all. If il Is To 10
its work properly it must be newly made. Thus