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 Those who had killed him buried him in the jungle near the place where he had fallen, the secret of the exact spot being shared by three individuals only. The report that he had strayed from the hunting party and had been lost was diligently spread, and to lend colour to it search was made for him for some days in a part of the forest situated at a discreet distance from his grave. The account of his disappearance was very generally disbelieved, but it was found to be impossible of disproof. But Bêdah, his wife, who had loved him. had not rested here. Deliberately she had set herself to work to worm the truth out of one of his murderers doing in the process every conceivable violence to her own feelings and inclinations; and she now told all to the white man, hoping that, through him, vengeance might perhaps overtake the Sultan who had planned, and his servants who had carried out the assassination. She was quite indifferent to the fact that she thereby risked the life which Tûan Bângau's death had temporarily rendered desolate.

All things considered, however, the relatives of the young Saiyid had not much of which to complain. He had got into mischief with the Sultan's daughter, and could not expect to escape the penalty of such ill doing. Though he was murdered in cold blood in cireumistances which made it impossible for him to offer any resistance, he met his end, at any rate, by a quick death and a clean one. Worse things may befall, as Âwang Îtam had experienced. After that youngster vanished behind the palace gates,