The Rajah's Fortress — page 129: what you’re looking at

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

120 THE RAJAH’S FORTR SSM. next three contained very fine specimens of tigers, large, savage-looking brutes that howled ferociously as the keepers thrust in the raw meat. Five Burmese tiger cats were next in line, beau- tiful little animals, who trotted gracefully around their cells and uttered growling protests when the keepers were not sufficiently liberal with the sup- ply of meat. ‘ Now then, Forbes, come look at this,” said Bolton, who was following him closely around, enjoying his amazement. Passing by two or three empty cages, he stopped before the last one in the line, and pointed triumphantly at a great black an- imal that was stretched full length across the floor. The creature rose with a low growl as he per- ceived his visitors, and Melton hurriedly stepped back in alarm as hesaw what a terrible beast it was that crouched on the other side of those thin bars. He was enormous in size, with a long, grace- ful body, a heavy tapering tail that dragged be- hind him as he walked, and his legs were simply wonderful in their massiveness and strength. His head was round with short ears, long whiskers, and eyes that gave to the brutal face an expression that was simply diabolical. Melton shuddered as the wicked yellow orbs were turned full on him, and Bolton, observing this, said: “ Not a very pleasant customer, is he? He’s worth his weight in gold, pretty nearly, though. Do you know what it is? ” 9 COLUM 1OOO SS co