THE DANGEROUS RIVAL 



Amongst them was her cousin Pembu, a good-looking, 

 stalwart youth, who had long loved her with all the fervour 

 of his wild and ardent nature. The girl returned his love 

 as ungrudgingly as it was bestowed, for, added to his 

 comely face and manly bearing, Pembu was possessed of 

 many other virtues calculated to win a savage maiden's 

 heart. He could shoot an arrow further and with truer 

 aim than any youth or veteran in the village, and was, 

 moreover, a bold and successful hunter, while in running, 

 jumping, wrestling, and such-like feats of strength there 

 was none to equal him. 



But Pembu had a rival, and a very dangerous one no 

 less a person than the headman's son. Kishto, the youth 

 in question, was one of the so-called " enlightened " type 

 of Garo, an educated savage, despising his less-cultured 

 brethren and holding in contempt the ancient traditions of 

 his race. 



This man had long cherished a secret affection for the 

 pretty Michmi, and had once been rash enough to declare 

 his passion, an indiscretion which cost him many hours of 

 bodily pain and mental torture, for the girl had complained 

 to her lover, who, mad with fury, had sought out the 

 offender and administered so severe a castigation that the 

 wretched youth was laid up for a month. Now Kishto, 

 being of poor physique and of a cowardly disposition, 

 dared not retaliate in kind, but none the less resented the 

 treatment he had received, and swore openly to be avenged. 

 Though lacking physical strength and pluck, he was shrewd 

 and cunning to a degree, and it was not long before he had 

 devised a scheme which promised to give him the revenge 

 he thirsted for, and also the possession of the girl. Among 

 the few friends he had in the village was a mean-spirited 

 creature like himself, a man who was also ill-disposed 

 towards Pembu. Finding this individual ready and 

 willing to aid him in his evil project, Kishto resolved to 

 carry it out at once. 



A few paces from the hut where Pembu lived was one 

 occupied by a money-lender, an old and feeble man, who 

 lived alone. By reason of the extortionate rate of interest 

 he demanded he was not a very popular person in the 

 village. 



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