d, renewed her
challenge to her brother to come forth.

When this scene had continued for about twenty minutes, and I was
beginning to fear that the Devil would prompt Tungku Aminah to fire her
brother's house, and that I should get burned out also,--suffering, as
the Malays says, like the woodpecker in the falling tree,--a sudden and
unexpected turn was given to affairs, which speedily brought things to
an abrupt conclusion.

During one of the pauses for breath, indulged in by the clamouring
women, Tungku Indut was heard to arise from his couch with great noise
and deliberation. A hushed silence immediately fell upon the assembled
women, and, in the stillness, Tungku Indut's words were distinctly heard
by all of us.

'Awang!' he said, naming one of his followers, 'Awang! _Bring me my
sword!_'

That was all, but it was enough and to spare. A shrill shriek was raised
by the listening women,--a shriek, this time, of fear and not of
defiance,--and in a moment the army of three hundred ladies was in full
flight. Never was there such a rout. They tumbled over, and trampled
upon one another in their frantic desire to escape, and maimed one
another, as they fought their way up the narrow roadway, in their panic.
All respect for persons, rank, or position, was completely lost sight
of, commoners pushing past _rajas_ in their deadly fear of being the
hindermost, who is the proverbial prey of the pursuing devil. Too
breathless to scream, and sweating with fear and exertion, they scuffled
up the street, to the sound of rending garments and pattering feet, nor
did they rest until the palace was regained, and the doors securely
barred.

On the King's return, the dancing girls were, of course, surrendered;
and I do not like to think what was the measure of bodily pain and
suffering, that these dainty creatures were called upon to pay as the
price of their escapade. It was a sore subject with Tungku Indut, too,
and he and his father were not on speaking terms, on this account, for
near a twelvemonth after.

As for Tungku Aminah, she is as truculent as ever, and bears a great
reputation for courage among her fellow country-women. It is not every
girl, they say, who would so boldly have attacked; and of the retreat,
which only a few of us witnessed, no mention is ever made.

One has heard of the Women's Rights Meeting in Boston, which was broken
up in confusion by the untimely appearance of three little mice; and of
that other