n Bangau.
A Malay woman, however, is very far from regarding the possession of a
lover as a disgrace: in this case, Uteh's vanity was gratified by the
intrigue becoming known. To obtain this even the sacrifice of her lover
did not seem too heavy a price to pay.

The King's anger knew no bounds when he heard of what had occurred, and
physical punishment was, of course, the only means of covering his
shame, which occurred to his primitive and unoriginal imagination. His
position, however, was a difficult one. Tuan Bangau was a member of a
very powerful clan; he was also a Saiyid, and the King feared that the
fanaticism of his people would be aroused if he openly slew a
descendant of the Prophet Muhammad. Awang Itam, whose intrigue had also
become known, was arrested, carried into the palace, and all trace was
lost of him for months. Iang Munah also disappeared from among the
women; but to Tuan Bangau not a word was said, and never by sign or
gesture was he allowed to guess that his crime was known to the King.

One day the King went a hunting, and took his way up a small stream
which was totally uninhabited. Tuan Bangau was of the party, and those
who went with them were all men selected for their discretion, and their
unwavering loyalty to the King. The hunting party travelled in boats, of
which there were two, the King going in one, and his son Tungku Saleh in
the other. In the latter boat sat Tuan Bangau, and about a dozen of the
King's Youths. Arrived at a certain place, the King's boat went on round
the point, and Tungku Saleh's boat tied up in mid-stream, while the
Prince ate some sweatmeats which had been brought for the purpose.

When he had eaten his fill, he bade Tuan Bangau and one or two other
Saiyids, who were among his followers, fall to on what remained, and it
was while Tuan Bangau was washing his mouth over the side of the boat
after eating, that Tungku Saleh gave the signal which heralded his
death. A man who was behind him stabbed him in the shoulder with a
spear, and another blow given almost simultaneously knocked him into the
river. Tuan Bangau dived, and swam until he had reached the shallow
water near the bank. Here he rose to his feet, drew his _kris_, and
called to those within the boat to come and fight him one at a time if
they dared. The only answer was a spear which wounded him in the neck,
and a bullet from a gun which penetrated to his heart. In a moment all
that remained of Tuan Bangau w