The Rajah's Fortress — page 135: what you’re looking at

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

126 THE RAJAH'S FORTRESS. Bolton and McGore were standing in the open gateway, and across the narrow belt of waters on the projecting spur of rock stood three stalwart dacoits, holding up their hands in token of peace. ‘ Well, what is it? ” asked Bolton. ‘+ You have an Englishman there,” said the leader of the party, a tall man with curved black mus- taches. ‘* He belongs to Pandou. His men cap- tured him three days ago, but you killed one of them and have taken the Englishman. Pandou bids.me to say that he will forgive you the murder, but he wants the Englishman and has sent us for him.” Melton listened to this speech, delivered in per- fectly accented English, with the utmost astonish- ment, and could hardly convince himself that he had heard aright. It was still too dark tosee the speaker distinctly, but he appeared to be a dacoit like his companions. Then Bolton answered slowly : “The Englishman is my guest. Tell your master that I cannot give him up even at his bidding.” Melton breathed easier. He knew too well what it meant to be delivered over to Pandy’s tender mercies. An interval of silence while the dacoits conferred among themselves, and then the fellow went on: “It is not well to be rash. Must we tell our chief that you refuse?” COLUM 1OOO SS co