The Rajah's Fortress — page 187: what you’re looking at

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

176 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. ‘“ Wait an’ see,” he replied, laconically. “ An’ will you do it, Misther Forbes?” he continued, turning to Melton. “Just let me hist ye on the big table in the kitchen an’ you can slip through the trap-door like an eel.” Forbes’s curiosity was aroused, and he assented to Mike’s proposition. He knew there was little danger that he would be observed on the roof, for the night was dark. McGore took him into the kitchen and made a high stand by putting one table on another. Forbes mounted this shaky structure and was able to reach the trap-door overhead and shove it aside. With a spring he pulled himself out upon the roof. It was barely ten yards to the edge over- looking the kitchen window, and crawling very cautiously he soon gained the desired position. At first he could see nothing but the darkness, but as his eyes grew accustomed to it, he began to perceive objects dimly. There was the stockade, that long white streak, and in front was the row of cages. The beasts were all awake, and, scenting danger apparently, were uttering growls from time to time, while the rhinoceros, to judge from the noise seemed to be prodding at the bars. The next thing Forbes observed was that the space in the rear of the house was absolutely empty. Not a dacoit was in sight. He was eager to crawl up to the front of the building and try to learn something of their plans, but he knew McGore was COLUM 1OOO SS co