A dull murmur arose in the crowd. They knew by sad experience what kind of justice they might expect from the white man when there was opium in the question. A bitter smile was on every countenance, and many a curse was muttered against that unmerciful race which holds sway over Java and sucks its very life’s blood. Now that the people began to see that they had to do—not with a wild Amokh runner who murdered indiscriminately but—with a father who had merely protected his child from outrage, the feelings of the crowd instantly changed and not a man or woman in the dessa but pitied the wretched criminal. But a single commanding look from the Controller and one wave of the Wedono’s hand sufficed to repress every sign of displeasure.
“Wedono,” said Verstork, “you will have that man carefully guarded—you and the Loerah will be answerable for him; and you will further see that to-morrow morning early, he is taken under properly armed escort to Santjoemeh.”
“Pardon, kandjeng toean,” again groaned the unhappy father, as the people of the dessa helped to tie his arms.
“The ‘Higher Court’ must decide the matter, Setrosmito,” said Verstork, “I may and I can do no more than my duty.”
CHAPTER XIV.
A SEARCH FOR OPIUM. WHAT CAME OF IT.
To return that night to Banjoe Pahit was clearly impossible. Verstork had to hold a preliminary inquiry into the terrible event which had so suddenly disturbed the dessa, and about this investigation, he was determined to set at once, and to conduct it in the thorough and conscientious manner in which he was wont to discharge all his duties. These were the facts which this inquiry brought to light.
At about 5 o’clock in the afternoon, Singomengolo, the opium farmer’s trusty spy, and a Chinese bandoelan had made their appearance in the dessa Kaligaweh. They had proceeded straight to the opium-den, where they had to obtain some necessary information from the men in charge of that establishment. When they had learned what they wanted to know, they went to the Loerah’s house; but that functionary was not at home, having been called away, as we know, to make the necessary arrangements for the next day’s hunting. So the two worthies had betaken themselves to one of the other members of the dessa government, who granted them the assistance of the local police. Accompanied by a couple of policemen, the Chinese bandoelan went to the dwelling of Setrosmito, the father of Baboe Dalima, and when he got there, he signified his intention of searching the premises.
Said he to Setrosmito: “You never visit the store kept by Babah Than Kik Sioe, you never smoke any opium there, nor even purchase any from him. The opium-farmer has, therefore, come to the conclusion that you manage somehow to get hold of smuggled opium. Anyhow, my orders are to search your house, thoroughly.”