The Rajah's Fortress — page 171: what you’re looking at

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

160 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. and placed his rifle carefully against the rock. Then with both hands he grasped a big slab of stone and pulling hard, it toppled over on the grass, laying bare a small square-shaped cavity from which issued a damp, cool draught of air. “See,” cried Topee with very pardonable pride. “That cavern takee right to Pandy’s fortress.” All examined it with deep interest. It was so narrow that one man only could enter at a time, and even then he would have to stoop pretty low. The passage led downward and appeared to widen considerably within. Jung’s sharp eyes detected a snake’s slimy trail leading inside, and that put a temporary check on their eagerness to penetrate its mysteries. Seated in a circle on the grass, they consumed the last vestige of their provisions. This added another serious aspect to the situation. Howcould they obtain food in this place? Their plans would have to be carried out speedily or else abandoned, and a retreat made over the mountain. A council was held at once, and Jung’s services as interpreter were called for, in order to get the fullest information in the least time. It appeared that the cavern was a quarter of a mile long, and that it had access to a disused apartment of the fortress which contained a supply of arms, and many trophies of Pandy’s raids on the English and Burmans. At the time of this wonderful discovery Topee EORAIC OOO SS co