Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/238

 upon the imagination of the people of Pahang—who love pluck almost as heartily as they abominate toil—so the tale of his doings is still told, though these things happened nearly forty years ago.

Kûlop Sûmbing probably held a sufficiently cynical opinion on the subject of the character of his countrywomen, who are among the most venal of their sex. He knew that no woman could love him for his personal attractions, and that those who would be willing to put up with him and with his disfigurement would be themselves undesirable. On the other hand, experience convinced him that many would be ready to lavish their favours upon him if his money-bags were well lined. Therefore he determined to grow rich with as little delay as possible, and in order to compass this end he looked about for some one whom he could conveniently plunder. For this purpose Pêrak was played out. The law of the white men could not be bribed by a successful robber, and of recent years the chances of evading it had been much restricted. In these circumstances, he turned his eyes across the border to Pahang, which was still ruled by its own Sultan and his chiefs, and which bore a notable reputation as a land in which ill things might be done with impunity, to the great profit and contentment of him who did them.

He had a love of adventure, was absolutely fearless, and was, moreover, a good man with his weapons. To put these possessions to their proper uses more elbow-room was necessary than Pêrak afforded, for there a man was forever haunted by the threatening