SEA-DYAK LEGEND, 81 



Those that were left by the clearing had not long to wait. 

 Soon after dusk they saw a man come and standing on the 

 trunk of a large felled tree, call aloud to the animals of the 

 forest and the invisible spirits around in the name of Rajali 

 Shua and Seregendah to come to his help. The twelve men 

 crept up cautiously behind him and seized him. 



" We have you now," they said as they held him fast. " It 

 is you who have caused us all the trouble of having to cut down 

 this jungle for the second time. Now we intend to kill you, 

 and you will not be able to play your tricks on us any more." 



It was too dark to see who it was, and Bui-Nasi said, 

 " Let us have a light and see what he is like. I am sure he 

 must be as ugly as he is troublesome." 



One of them fetched a light and to their great surprise 

 they saw their prisoner was Pulang-Gana ! 



" So it is you Pulang-Gana ! " said his brother in anger. 

 " You are up to your old tricks again. You were too lazy to 

 work before, and would not keep watch over our garden, and 

 you left us without telling us where you were going. And now, 

 after several years' absence, you come back and disturb us in 

 our work, and by some means or other set up the trees we have 

 had the trouble of cutting down. Though I am your brother 

 I have no pity for you. As long as you are alive you will give 

 us trouble, so we intend to kill you and be well rid of you." 



He expected Pulang-Gana to be afraid of him and to 

 plead for his life. But things were very much changed from 

 the old days when Pulang-Gana was the despised youngest 

 brother, beaten and scolded by the others. Now he was the 

 son-in-law of the gods, and had Rajah Shua and Seregendah to 

 help him, and he was not at all afraid of his brothers, because 

 he knew well they could do him no harm. 



He shook off those that held him, and told them to listen 

 to what he had to say. His manner and bearing were very dif- 

 ferent from that of one who feared them. They stood round 

 him in awe, for they instinctively felt that Pulang-Gana was not 

 to be trifled with, and from what had already taken place, they 

 knew that he was aided by powerful spirits. 



R. A. Soc, No. 45, 1905, ^ 



