The Rajah's Fortress — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 137 hundred lives would not be too great a price to pay for the capture and punishment of the blood-stained . instigator of the great mutiny. Guy had stood beside the well at Lucknow, and thinking of this he felt nerved to do and dare any: thing. The day passed quietly and without alarm, though it was certain the enemy were in the vicinity, and as the sun went slowly down, Guy began to prepare for the march. Stout leggins were buckled on and the ammuni+ tion was divided round, with the exception of one box which Jung strapped on his back. The water bottles were all filled, and then leaving a few things hidden on the island which could not well be taken along, they embarked in the canoe and paddled rapidly up the stream for probably a quarter of a mile. “ No mens come this way,” said Topee as he landed them on the bank. “ All go that a way,” and he pointed down the creek toward Balet. The canoe and paddles were hidden with unusual care, and covered over with soil and bushes, and then the march was begun, Topee at the head with a saber for lopping off refractory undergrowth, while Guy came close on his heels, the rest following in single file. The danger was now from other sources than the dacoits. More than once slimy serpents hissed and wriggled from under their very feet, and the COLUM 1OOO SS co