Page:Malay Sketches.pdf/135

 THE PASSING OF PENGLIMA PRANG SEMAUN

Then he returned to to his own home to think how this was be worked out.

The Penglima Prang Semaun’s house was between those of the Shabandar, up stream, and Megat Raja, down stream, and he knew that he was not strong enough to resist a combined attack from both them. Therefore he determined that force must be backed by cunning if he was to achieve his end.

He concluded that his only plan was to attack the Shabandar, dispose of him first as the most important, and then deal with Megat Raja at his leisure.

Meanwhile, Che Nuh had expressed his desire to marry Meriam, but as his relatives recognised that such an open avowal of his liaison must lead to trouble with Megat Raja and his folk, they declined to allow him to do this, and Che Nuh’s negative attitude towards the lady only increased the wrath of her kinsman, Penglima Prang Semaun.

I have said that this bravo, for that was his metier, was the henchman of the Raja Bendahara, the highest authority in the State after the Sultan. Penglima Prang Semaun, having determined to kill the Shabandar, felt it necessary to report the intention to his master and, mindful of possible wrath to come, to ask his sanction.