"There is some mistake," he said. "No man can blow an arrow that far."
Lkath's face flashed with anger. "When I was a boy, Mynheer Resident, I learned to shoot the sumpitan," he said. "Let me show you how a Dyak can shoot." He took the sumpitan which they had taken with them at Peter Gross's request, placed an arrow in the orifice, distended his cheeks, and blew. The shaft went across the water-hole.
"A wonderful shot!" Peter Gross exclaimed in pretended amazement. "There is none other can shoot like Lkath."
Several Sadongers offered to show what they could do. None of the shafts went quite so far as their chief's. Taking the weapon from them, Peter Gross offered it to the dead Sadonger's brother.
"Let us see how far you can shoot," he said pleasantly.
The man shrank back. Peter Gross noticed his quick start of fear. "I cannot shoot," he protested.
"Try," Peter Gross insisted firmly, forcing the sumpitan into his hand. The Sadonger lifted it to his lips with trembling hands, the weapon shaking so that careful aim was impossible. He closed his eyes, took a quick half-breath, and blew. The arrow went little more than half the distance to the water-hole.
"You did not blow hard enough," Peter Gross said. "Try once more." But the Sadonger, shaking his head, retreated among his companions, and the resident did not press the point. He turned to Lkath.
"It is time to start, if we are to be back in Sadong before malam" (night) "casts its mantle over the earth," he said. Well content with the showing he had made, Lkath agreed.
They were passing the temple; it was an hour before sundown when Peter Gross said suddenly: