TENTH ADVENTURE
PIANG'S TRIUMPH
Two years had passed since the bichara. Prosperity and honor had cometo Dato Kali Pandapatan and his people under the rule of General Beechand Governor Findy, and Piang had been raised to the post of officialinterpreter. Sicto, the disturber, had been seized in Zamboangaon the charge of complicity in the plot on Governor Findy's life;he had attempted to escape, and there were varying reports as to theresults. Some said that he had been killed by a crocodile, others thathe had escaped and swum to Basilan; but the tribe had not heard of himsince the bichara, and they were relieved to be rid of his bullyingpresence. Especially the little slave girl, Papita, whom Sicto hadannoyed since infancy, was glad that he was gone. Sicto's father hadcaptured the little maid in a raid on the Bogobo country, and theboy seemed to think it his special privilege to abuse and torment her.
Along the steep mountain trail, dividing the jungle as a river might,crept a slow procession. A lumbering carabao swayed lazily forward,and on each side walked four stalwart Moros, ever heedful of thedignified figure astride the beast. Dato Kali Pandapatan rode insilence. Occasionally he gazed down into the deep valleys or off inthe direction of Ganassi Peak, but the sorrowful, patient expressionnever left his face.
Where was Piang? For three days the boy had been missing, and Kaliguessed only too easily what had taken him away in such haste. Afew days before little Papita had mysteriously disappeared. It waswhispered that the notorious Dato Ynoch (Ee-nock) had kidnapped her,and Kali was already preparing an expedition against the marauder. Hefelt the strain of civilization for the first time, for he had givenhis word never to assemble his warriors without the permission ofthe white chiefs at Zamboanga. But Piang, the impatient, the valiant,could not brook the delay, and had in all probability started afterhis little friend alone. Kali's messengers should return to-day,and he had ridden far out to watch for their coming.
The procession reached the clearing that gave a full view of thesea. In the distance the eye could discern the curving coast of tinyBongao; Kali was impervious to the summer beauty and youth of thesparkling ocean, to the charm of the dainty island so gaily chattingwith the garrulous waves. He did not see the graceful, white rice-birdsor the regal aigrets flitting about among the trees; he saw only thevast, restless ocean. There were no boats in sight.
Slowly the willing carabao was turned homeward, and the aged monarchsorrowfully gave up hope of sending succor to Piang that night. Therecent storm had probably delayed his envoys, and he must wait the_Sabah's_ monthly visit, which would come the next day.
At the door of his hut Kali Pandapatan was helped from the royalbeast's back and up the steep ladder entrance into the cool dusk ofthe interior where industrious women squatted at their several tasks.
"I miss the child's lively chatter," Aioi was saying sadly.
"She was a trying pupil, I can tell you," remarked the woman at theloom, "but a winning child." She leaned closer to Aioi and whispered:
"Did you know that Papita had been asked in marriage?" The surprisedlook on Aioi's face made an answer unnecessary.
"Our chief is said to have spurned the offer. You know he has alwayshoped to prove Papita's noble birth; he wanted Piang to have her,so when the terrible Dato Ynoch's offer came--"
"Who speaks the name of our enemy in my house?" thundered Kali,glowering at the chattering women. "Bend to your tasks and have donewith idle gossip."