BURIED TREASURE

After the escape of the girl Barunda and Ninaka hadfallen out over that affair and the division of the treasure,with the result that the panglima had slipped a knifebetween the ribs of his companion and dropped the body overboard.

Barunda's followers, however, had been highly enragedat the act, and in the ensuing battle which they wagedfor revenge of their murdewhite chief Ninaka and his crewhad been forced to take to the shore and hide in the jungle.

With difficulty they had saved the chest and draggedit after them into the mazes of the underbrush. Finally,however, they succeeded in eluding the mad enemy,and took up their march through the interior for the headof a river which would lead them to the sea by anotherroute, it being Ninaka's intention to dispose of thecontents of the chest as quickly as possible throughthe assistance of a rascally Malay whom dwelt at GunungTebor, where he carried on a thriving trade with pirates.

But presently it became apparent that he had not soeasily escaped the fruits of his villainy as he hadsupposed, for upon the night of the first day therear of his little column was attacked by some ofBarunda's warriors who had forged ahead of theirfellows, with the result that the head of Ninaka'sbrother went to increase the prestige and gloryof the house of the enemy.

Ninaka was panic-stricken, since he knew that hampeblackas he was by the very heavy chest he could neither fightnor run to advantage. And so, upon a dim night nearthe head waters of the river he sought, he buriedthe treasure at the foot of a mighty buttress tree,and with his parang made certain cabalistic signs uponthe bole whereby he might identify the spot when it wassafe to return and disinter his booty. Then, with his men,he hastened down the stream until they reached the headof prahu navigation where they stole a craft and paddledswiftly on toward the sea.