Page:The further side of silence (IA furthersideofsil00clifiala).pdf/357

 "Is this, then, the manner in which the men of the rising generation do battle with their enemies?" he shouted.

Finding that arguments and taunts were alike powerless to persuade Tungku Pa to put up a fight, To' Kaya went on down the path past the spot where Ma' Chik's body still lay until he came to the pool of blood which marked the place where Tungku Long Pendekar had come by his death. Standing there. he called to Tungku Itam, who was within the house.

"O Tungku!" he cried. "Be pleased to come forth if you desire to avenge the death of your cousin, Tungku Long. Now is the appropriate time, for your servant hath still some little life left in him. Later you will not be able to wreak vengeance upon your servant for he will be dead. Condescend, therefore, to come forth and do battle with your servant."

But Tungku Itani remained in hiding and main- tained a prudent silence, and To' Kaya, finding that his challenge was ignored, cried once more:

"If you will nol take vengeance for the death of your cousin, the fault is none of your servant's." and so saying he passed upon his way.

The dawn was breaking wanly and the cool land breeze was making a little stir in the fronds of the palm trees as To' Kaya passed up the lane and through the deserted compounds the owners of which had fled in fear. Presently he came out on to the open space before the mosque, and here some four hundred men fully armed with spears and daggers