last time," the merchants seemed suddenly startled into action.
" Eleven thousand I" cried out the capitan with the hoary tail.
"Twelve thousand I" said the energetic captain of the Chinese at Ponorogo.
And thus, step by step, they raised their bids, until no less a sum than fifteen thousand was finally offered.
"Satu kali, dua kali!" cried the auctioneer; words equivalent to our "once, twice." "Ti— ti—" he added, as he was about to pronounce the final "thrice"; whereupon a fresh movement was observed amongst the colleagues of the old Madioen captain, as if they were urging him to keep up the contest he had commenced and carried on so well. But the cautious old man shook his head, signifying that it was all over for him; and the tiga kali being pronounced, the licence was assigned to him who had bid the fifteen thousand.
