Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04

the deep forest snare great jeweled peacocks
and trap the langurs OF the high treetops
with hollow gourds; still the selaoang, the
tiger, the rhinoceroS, and the python contend
for the mastery of the jungle, and still the
Semarang the Little People. rule them all by
virtue of that spark of the eternal flame which
makes man the lord Of the beast
There in the jungle one night, when the
white moonlight filtered through the tree tops
like melting snow, Teloa was born. Maia, her
mother, was woman Of the Seniarang, and
she named her daughter after that roSe-and-
gold orchid Teloa Star of the Forest.
Fourteen wonderful years the girl lived in
the Jungle with her tribe wild and free as the
sambhur whose belling aroused her at dawn.
Her days were full of little. happy adventures
Sometimes it was the finding OF a crimson
hibiscus flower which she thrust into the
great coil of blue-black hair which came down
low over her forehead or wore in the sarong
of plated bark which covered a skin like pale
gold satin. Other days she hunted the jungle
for lansat that white fruit of the deep woods
and mangosteens and custard apples, or
caught sluggish, fruit eating fish, out of still
pools and shared mouse deer for pets.
Always, too there Mon, the son OF the
chief Of her little band. 1t was he who taught
her to walk up the tallest trees, leaning
against twist of Llama about her waist and
to initiate the call of the rain birds, whose
notes fall from the treetops like drops Of
molten silver. Together they caught bird
wing butterflies with velvet-black and emer-
aid wings and ninovets like flames Of fire in
the forest, and trogons with blue backs and
crimson breasts.
THEN came the raid of the Penang Malays
who had their village at the edge Of the
Jungle They owed allegiance to the Sui
tan Of Parak and every year had to deliver 70
him as tribute either two slaves two ele-
plant tusks. As it was safer to hunt men than
elephants, slavers annually invaded the jungle
Of the Semarang.
It all happened at dawn. One moment the
forest was velvet-black, starred with the white
blossoms Of the moonhowers while the vines
hung in dim green webs against the shadows
Of the trees. Then, like the opening Of the
door Of some vast furnace, the risen sun famed
through the darkness, and the silence was
shattered by a thousand voices Of bird and
beast. Near where the Semarang slept by their
banked fires, with only the smoke for a coveTlet.
sounded the yelling, ringing challenge OF an
argus pheasant. At once 1t was answered from
all three sides of the camping place. The
notes had hardly died away before the grizzled
old leader of the band leaped to his feet like
q cat, as his trained ears caught something
unusual in the call.
"Up, up, brothers!" he Missed. 1.-THE hunters
Of men be upon us"
Even as he spoke, every one Of the little COM
pany was on his feet, with the swift silence Of
startled animals, just as the fierce sorak, that
war cry Of the Malays sounded, and from all
sides the raiders rushed upon them. Like
covey of quail the forest-folk scattered Some
dfved into the thickets; others went up the
dangling lianas hand over hand. None stayed
to fight
the wrinkled old grandmother whom she had
been helping Even as she thrust her into
safety in the densest part Of q thorn thicket,
an arm like @ steel band wound about her
waist and a second later rope was twisted
tight around her wrists. Mon sprang at the
man, but another SLAYER slashed at him with
a barong, that deadly Malay knife. A swing
ing Llama broke the force of the blow: yet the
boys brown skin was suddenly laced with GRIM
son and Teloa's last memory Of him, as he
disappeared among the tree tops, was Of Q
face distorted with pain and grief
moment later everything went black before
her straining eyes, and she knew nothing more
until she found herself in the house Of old
Ahmad one Of the elders Of the Malay village
where she was to be kept until the Sultan sent
for the tribute. There, although not i'll used,
she was watched every moment day and night.
and spent most Of her time on a tiny platform
of bamboos hung from the ceiling in q corner,
like swallows nest.
Soon after her arrival came the tiger.
1t was old Ahmad himself who first glimpsed
the dreadful visitor. He was following twist
ing path through the jungle when suddenly q
peacock stepped out into clearing ahead Of
him. its breast q blaze Of emerald and sap
phire. Ahmad crouched back of q bush, while
the regal bird spread its tail, and, with It's
crested head held high moved slowly forward
A moment later Ahmed crept closer, foot by
foot, for the peacock Is one of the prizes Of the
Jungle and the range of his old blunderbuss
was strictly limited. Then, even as he raised
his clumsy weapon, he saw something which
struck from his mind everything save an over
towering desire to be elsewhere.
Between himself and the bird was suddenly