e held a branch in the current; it was torn from his
grasp. With great foresight, he ordered all the floats to be taken
up the river and securely moored. Back to the ditch he flew. Yes,
yes, it was going to be successful! Before the attack was made by
Kali Pandapatan, Piang would have the rafts through the cut-off,
safely on their journey to the estuary. How surprised the dato would
be when Piang advanced against the enemy from the other side of the
Big Bend! He laughed softly, hugging himself in boyish delight.

Away he pattered toward some men who were apparently in difficulty.

"_Halamantek!_" ("Leeches!") they called. They were pulling the
slothful creatures off each other, but as soon as they freed themselves
from the pests, more fell from above or crept up from the mud. Piang
had foreseen this difficulty and had supplied himself with a small
gourd filled with cocoanut oil, strongly saturated with cinchona
(quinine). Offering some of his small store to the men, they gratefully
rubbed the mixture into their flesh and bent to their task again. Piang
exhorted them to work, warning them if the ditch was not completed
before moonrise, all would be lost, and off he danced blending in with
the night and its secrets like a picturesque _pampahilep_ (jungle imp).

Only Moros could have accomplished so difficult a task in the
dark. With a will they sturdily plied the crude tools and before
the blackness of the night had been lifted by the rising moon, the
excited little party was crowding around Piang as he examined the few
remaining feet to be accomplished. Like a general meeting a crisis,
Piang sharply gave his orders:

"Tooloowee, take your pole and stand on the far side of the ditch. When
I give the signal, push the dyke with all your might." He stationed
another powerful Moro opposite Tooloowee.

"Bungao, do you hasten to the rafts and prepare to resist the first
flood that will sweep through the ditch."

When all was ready Piang raised his hand and the struggle began. Little
by little the soft mud was worked away, and the current, feeling
the banks weaken, seemed to lose interest in its natural bed. At
first the stream only caressed its new-found outlet, but gradually
it concentrated its forces, and, with a mighty rush, attacked the
slight remaining resistance and went thundering off into the ditch. A
smothered cry went up from the Moros:

"Piang! Piang!" How they loved their wise little charm boy!

But the wor