The Rajah's Fortress — page 111: what you’re looking at

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

102 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. in the balance. Then they came to an agreement of some kind and relapsed into silence and a close scrutiny of the river. Forbes tried them with what little Burmese he could recall, but they only shook their heads, so he yvave up the attempt to converse with them, and began to reflect on his chances for escape. The prospect was poor indeed, for his captors were powerful, muscular fellows, and were armed in addition. He wisely concluded to make the best of matters, for he saw that his life was in noimmediate danger. The thought of Dalo maddened him, however. His suspicions had been well-founded, after all. He was at a loss to know what was the object of the Indian’s treachery. Doubtless he was leagued in some way with the dacoits, and was desirous of preventing the other steamer from advancing up the river. It was indeed maddening tothink that the scoun- drel was no doubt by this time telling his carefully concocted tale on board the steamer. That was the reason it did not appear, and up in the town the intrepid colonel was making a desperate struggle for life, and on the rock Chutney was waiting for the expected succor. Losing all control of himself at these reflections, Melton tugged fiercely at his fastenings and strug- gled to his feet, but was instantly dashed heavily to the ground, where he lay for a moment stunned. CONMUC WOO SS co