86 THE WOODLANDS ORCHIDS 



evening, and presently a band of stalwart youths entered 

 the hall where Sam Choon sat with the chief — his father-in- 

 law on the morrow. They told the latter gravely that they 

 disapproved of the match. Sam Choon interposed with a 

 statement of the advantages to follow, with equal gravity. 

 Then they threatened to smash every bone in his carcass. 

 So the marriage was broken off, but without ill-feeling on 

 either side. 



