The Rajah's Fortress — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

94. THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. “ Very good,” said Guy. ‘ Now here is what the Chinaman told me. He is very cautious about his information, and is terribly afraid that some of Pandy’s men will discover his treachery. His name is Topee, and he has been a member of Pandy’s own personal guard for five years. He says that Pandy keeps very close, and is seldom seen by his men, but lives shut up in a very curious retreat among rocks in a deep and almost unapproachable valley. This place is watched over by a select band of dacoits, and Topee him- self was for a short time a member of this body guard. The place is three or four days’ journey from here, in what direction Topee will not say. He insists most positively that only half a dozen men shall accompany him, and I suppose he is right on that point. A larger force would be dis- covered at once. All the traveling must be done at night, too. ‘“ He says, moreover, that Pandy’s stronghold is filled with heaps and heaps of treasure of every kind, and he lays claim to part of that also if we are successful. He won’t evendivulge his plans, but he says it will not be a difficult matter to capture Pandy if we are very careful. To tell the truth, this Topee is an unscrupulous scoundrel, but in this case he can be trusted implicitly. He is greedy and avaricious, and will do his best to earn the fifty thousand rupees.” “By Jove, Chutney,” exclaimed Carew, “are CONMUC WOO SS co