"Zee man is not a fool zough he is a villain.

He knows vat avaits him if he comes." "He will not come openly," returned the hermit, "but he will not now rest till he has killed me." Even as he spoke a loud shouting, mingled with shrieks and yells, was heard at the other end of the main street.

The sounds of uproar appeared to approach, and soon a crowd of people was seen rushing towards the market-place, uttering cries of fear in which the word "a-mok" was heard.

At the sound of that word numbers of people--specially women and children--turned and fled from the scene, but many of the men stood their ground, and all of them drew their krisses.

Among the latter of course were the white men and their native companions.
We have already referred to that strange madness, to which the Malays seem to be peculiarly liable, during the paroxysms of which those affected by it rush in blind fury among their fellows, slaying right and left.