Detective Bob Bridger — page 98: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

DETECTIVE BOB BRIDGER. ih Koa when the effects of the anesthetic had worn away, and he returned to consciousness, a maid stood near with a steam- ing bowl of coffee, which I ordered him to drink. “He was surprised to find how easily he breathed, for for months his breath had been drawn by the most painful effort, and when I showed him, in a mirror, that nothing remained of the malady, save the carefully bandaged wound from which the ponderous tumor had been taken, his delight knew no bounds, and he declared that I should never quit his domain, but remain the richest and most privileged of his courtiers. “ He soon entirely recovered, and to prove his gratitude gave me a palatial bungalow upon the royal grounds, and a complete retinue of servants, who obeyed my every beck. ‘ He also presented me diamonds and jewels to the value of many thousand pounds. ‘My aim now was to escape from his rule with these rich movables, return to England, find my daughter, and make amends for the cruelty I had practiced upon her in my rage. ‘“My departure was not to be easily accomplished, for the rajah, although treating me at all times with the greatest kindness, had firmly determined that my remain- ing near to administer to his ailments was a necessity due ~ himself. ‘His people, from the highest to the lowest, knew his will, and not being permitted to communicate with the agents of the British Government, or to dispatch any mes- sages or letters whatever, I was, after all, but a captive, though dwelling in princely splendor. “For eight long years I remained without favorable op- portunity to escape, and although I was aging rapidly under the restraint, I never gave over my hope of making my way, ultimately, from the rajah’s domains. “IT knew that an assumption of contentment would best put him off his guard, and abet my aim. “T, therefore, learned the language perfectly, and ap- peared gay and jovial at his entertainments, and at all times. “ At length my opportunity came. “ His stable was located some five leagues distant from - his palace, at the edge of a smooth, grassy plain. “His favorite horse had been afflicted with a disease in one of his forelegs, which resembled elephantasis in man, and the rajah asked me if I might not be able to perform an operation upon the animal’s swollen member, and re- cover it to its proper form. Eomicboo <S (ee)