ungku Dalam came hurrying into the palace yard, very much
out of breath, for he is of a full habit of body, binding on his _kris_
as he ran. 'What is this that men say about To' Kaya running _amok_ in
the palace? Where is he?' he cried.

'At the Mosque,' said twenty voices.

'Ya Allah!' said Tungku Dalam, 'They said he was in the palace! Well,
what motion are ye making to slay him?'

No one spoke, and Tungku Dalam, cursing them roundly, sent for about
forty guns, and, leading the men himself, he passed out at the back of
the palace to Tungku Chik Paya's house near the mosque, where To' Kaya
still sat upon the low wall which surrounds that building. When he saw
Tungku Dalam, he hailed him, saying:

'Welcome! Welcome! Thy servant has desired the long night through to
fight with one who is of noble birth. Come, therefore, and let us see
which of us twain is the more skilful with his weapons.'

At this, Mat, one of Tungku Dalam's men, leaped forward and said,
'Suffer thy servant to fight with him, it is not fitting, Tungku, that
thou shouldst take part in such a business.'

But Tungku Dalam said: 'Have patience. He is a dead man. Why should we,
who are alive, risk death or hurt at his hands?' Then he ordered a
volley to be fired, but when the smoke had cleared away, To' Kaya was
still sitting unharmed on the low wall of the mosque. A second volley
was fired, with a like result, and then To' Kaya cast away the spear he
still held in his hand, and cried out: 'Perchance this spear is a charm
against bullets, try once more, and I pray thee end this business, for
it has taken over long in the settling.'

A third volley was then fired, and one bullet struck To' Kaya, but did
not break the skin. He rubbed the place, and leaped up crying: 'Oh! but
that hurts me, I will repay thee!' and, as he rushed at them, the men
fell back before him. With difficulty Tungku Dalam succeeded in rallying
them, and, this time, a volley was fired, one bullet of which took
effect, passing in at one armpit and out at the other. To' Kaya
staggered back to the wall, and sank upon it, rocking his body to and
fro. Then a final volley rang out, and a bullet passing through his
head, he fell forward upon his face. The cowardly crowd surged forward,
but fell back again in confusion, for the whisper spread among them that
To' Kaya was feigning death in order to get at close quarters. At length
a boy named Samat, who was related to the deceased Ma' Chik,