The Rajah's Fortress — page 113: what you’re looking at

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

104 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. he had seen by this time what a bend the river made below the town. He supposed instead that it was a march of the enemy to help take the town, and came to the con- clusion that Cubit and his forces were lost beyond a doubt. The dacoits made a critical examination of the strange marks, and promptly came to a conclu- sion that did not seem to bear out Melton’s opinion, for with a hasty glance up and down, they dived into the forest again and continued their march with more haste than ever. It was nearly sundown when they stopped along a small, shallow stream, and, hungry and exhausted, Melton was allowed to throw himself down under a tree. He was afraid at first that he would be compelled to go without supper, but one of the dacoits went off into the forest and presently came back with a half-a-dozen cocoanuts and a bunch of plantains, off which they made a hearty meal, - untying Melton’s hands for a little while, and then binding them again. That night was a long and weary one, and Forbes got but little sleep. A fire was kindled for protec- tion, and the dacoits took turns in keeping guard, for on all sides were heard the howlings and cries of various wild animals, and once an elephant trumpeted loudly some distance off in the forest. Morning came at last with a cool, delicious breeze blowing through the trees from the purple mount- COLUM 1OOO SS co