or and
fear faded from the tender rounded face, and was replaced by that look
of perfect rest and peace which is only to be seen in the countenance of
a sleeping child.

Ku-ish gathered up the fish, and took all the tobacco he could find on
Kria's body, for a Sakai rarely loses sight completely of those cravings
of appetite, which, with him, are never wholly satisfied. Then, when the
darkness had shut down over the land, he crept to Kria's house, and bade
Chep follow him. She came without a word, for women whose ancestors have
been slaves for generations have very little will of their own. She wept
furtively when Ku-ish told her, in a few passionless sentences, that he
had killed Kria and his son, and she bewailed herself aloud when, at
their first halting-place, she received the severe chastisement, which
Ku-ish dealt out to her with no grudging hand, as her share in the
general punishment. But, when the thrashing was over, she followed him
meekly, with the tears still wet upon her cheeks, making no attempt to
escape. Thus Ku-ish, the Porcupine, and Chep, the Bird, made their way
through the strange forests, until they had once more regained the
familiar Sakai country, and were safe among their own people.

Pursuit into such a place is impossible, for a Sakai comes and goes like
a shadow, and can efface himself utterly when he desires to do so. Thus,
though Kria's relatives clamoured for vengeance, little could be done. I
was myself at that time in charge of the district in which these things
occurred, and it was only by the most solemn promises that no evil
should befall them, that I induced the various Sakai chiefs to meet me
near the limits of their country. My request that Ku-ish should be
handed over for trial was received by the assembled elders as a demand
which was manifestly ridiculous. Ku-ish was in the jungle, and they knew
that pursuit would be useless, unless his own people aided in the chase.
This they were determined not to do, and I, being bound by promises not
to harm the Chiefs, was powerless to force them to come to my
assistance.

At length, a very aged man, the principal headman present, a wrinkled
old savage, scarred by encounters with wild beasts, and mottled with
skin disease and dirt, lifted up his voice and spoke, shaking his
straggling mop of frowsy grizzled hair in time to the words he uttered.

'There is a custom, _Tuan_, when such things occur. The Porcupine has
killed the _Gob_ (Malay