The letter contained the request of the Colonel to be allowed to enter the kotta unarmed, accompanied by Tomonggong Djaja Nagara and one other, in order to have an interview with Amai Kotong. Johannes smiled on reading this. But once inside the fort again, he called the garrison together in the square, mounted the steps and read with a loud and penetrating voice, looking solemnly at the paper, how the Commander of Kwala Kapoeas, in the name of the Resident of Bandjermasin, ordered Harimaoung Boekit with his Poenans to be delivered up to the gallows as murderers. On hearing the pretended contents of the letter, a cry of rage arose from all the assembled natives. The Poenan chief mounted the steps to satisfy himself by looking at the horrible words which pronounced his sentence. Johannes, after having allowed them for a few moments to give vent to their feelings, commanded silence as he had some further communications to make. “I have not read all,” he said in a loud voice. “Listen, brothers, to what follows: If these Poenans, those horrible murderers, are not delivered up before sunset the inhabitants of kotta Djangkan will feel the avenging arm of the Dutch Government. The kotta will be taken and levelled to the ground. The soil on which it now stands will be dug up and the priestesses will sow salt in the furrows as a token that the spot will be accursed forever and ever by Mahatara.” The cries of the multitude now became deafening. As soon as Johannes saw another opportunity of being listened to, he continued: “Attend! All the men will be killed and strung up like animals; the old women and children will be sold as slaves, and the maidens and young married women will be divided amongst the assailants!” Their rage became unbounded, and the wild band would have sped outside and put the bearer of this fatal letter to the most horrible martyrdom, but for the timely intervention of Johannes and his companions. They placed themselves at the gate of the kotta and after much trouble succeeded in convincing the enraged people of the innocence of the messenger who was wholly ignorant of the contents of the document. “No, friends!” Johannes exclaimed, “we must not answer this threat with a murder. But it will be wise to show that we are no cowards.” “I will go to the Commander myself!” Amai Kotong cried, “and explain that I cannot possibly give up a member of my family; such a course being quite against our moral teachings.” “No,” Johannes said. “You would not be proof against the honeyed language of a paleface. Besides, they will keep you a prisoner if you don’t submit.” “But what am I to do?” “See here?” And at the same time he tore the letter into a thousand pieces, collected them in a pisang leaf and tied them up into a parcel. “That is the way to return the letter to the Commander!” he exclaimed victoriously. A loud cry of satisfaction was the answer, proving again that whoever has tact, may lead any assemblage as he wishes.