The Rajah's Fortress — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

150 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. yellow bars of light were almost at their feet. A moment more and discovery was certain. Then came a low cry from the Chinaman, the flare of the oncoming torches actually revealed a dark hole in the wall and in confused haste all crowded into the unknown refuge. “ Stoop low,” cried Chutney, who had bumped his head on the roof, and Topee whispered loudly, ‘¢ No talkees no noise, hidee face.” This warning was literally followed, for each man threw himself flat on the slimy floor, crawling back close against the wall, for they were in a very small apartment that seemed scarcely big enough to hold them. The torches were by this time dancing about the entrance, and the tread of the advancing mass came plainly to their ears, although the sandaled feet made little sound on the polished floor. The Chinaman lay motionless, his face buried in his hands, but Guy ventured to look up as the strange procession passed. Three or four half naked fellows came first, bear- ing the flaring torches, and Guy felt sure his party would be discovered, for the light shone directly in upon them. He scarcely ventured to breathe, but watched the strange sight with a serpent-like fascination. The main body of the enemy came next, and such a group of men Guy had never seen before. They were of mixed nationalities, comprising Bur-. COLUM 1OOO SS co