244 IN MALAY FORESTS. 



upon none other can punishment rightly fall. Let 

 the death of thy babies be sufficient punishment for 

 thee. Go in peace.' 



"Nabi Sleman then turned to the Bentaras and 

 said, ' Our judgment is delivered. See that all the 

 animals here present return in peace/" 



As Ali was describing the dispersal of the animals, 

 Nibong, whose name meant "the brindle," burst in 

 upon us. 



It acknowledged our greetings with a short wag 

 of a tail, and threw itself down in the dampest and 

 coolest spot to be found, where, with heaving flanks, 

 it gave itself up to the luxury of complete exhaustion. 



A moment later we were joined by Kumbang, an 

 old black pariah, whose Malay name meant " the 

 beetle," but a most staunch and excellent hound 

 withal. 



When the two dogs had been stroked and patted 

 for a minute or two, to show that we knew what 

 they knew namely, that the day's failure had been 

 our fault and not theirs, we made a move, and 

 prepared to go homewards. 



As a chance would have it, we had not gone far 

 before Kumbang gave a sudden yelp, and dashed into 

 one side of the path. A moment later I heard a 

 rustle among some dead leaves in the thick growth in 

 front of me, and there under a fallen branch I saw 

 the small form of a pelandok. The descendant of 

 animals that " once upon a time " had held the forest 

 in sway now cowered in apprehension. Its ears were 

 turned back to catch the sound of Kumbang on its 



