Page:Malay Sketches.pdf/141

 Now, the Shabandar had a brother, and he was aman of war, and the Sultan well knew that this method of dealing with the murderers would not satisfy him, so he at once created him Datoh Shabandar in succession to the dead man, in the hope that the gift of this dignity might make for the general peace.

The Râja Běndahâra, accompanied by Pénglima Prang and his friends, then returned to Blanja.

The new Shabandar had no intention of leaving his brother’s murderers to boast of their exploit, and, in a very short time, he asked for the Sultan’s permission to attack them and wipe out the disgrace of his relative’s unavenged death.

The Sultan said the request must be preferred to the Raja Bendahara, for so long as the Pénglima Prang was in his villaze he could not be attacked without the Wazir’s sanction. Application was duly made to the Bendahara, who replied that it would be contrary to custom to attack the Pénglima Prang while living at his door, but that if they could get him away they might do what they pleased,

The Pénglima Prang was, however, far too wary to be lured away from safety, and matters were in this state when there returned from a pilgrimage to