The Rajah's Fortress — page 100: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 91 ‘“ You drunken idiot,” he said, *“ be off at once! There will be nothing for you to do here to-day.” And as the deeply injured sergeant walked off in high dudgeon to hunt for more beer, Guy beckoned the captive to follow him. “I'll be responsible for the fellow,” he said to Buller, and, followed by the delighted Chinaman, he entered the building and closed the door behind him. The conference between the two was a long one, and a severe trial to the patience of the young officers, who smoked their cheroots on the benches outside. Just as the mess bugle blew for supper, Chutney came out. He handed the Chinaman over to a guard, with instructions to watch him closely, and then he turned to Buller and said abruptly: “I want a fortnight’s absence, and half a dozen picked men, Buller.” During Cubit’s sickness, Buller, by virtue of his seniority, was in command of the forces, so that Guy was under the necessity of preferring his application to him. Buller twisted his imperial in silence for a mo- ment, and then answered hesitatingly : «This is a bad time to get off; our force is none too large to hold the town in security. In fact you are too good an officer to spare. To tell the truth, Chutney, I ought to say no at once, for you want to go off on some mad expedition after COLUM 1OOO SS co