The Rajah's Fortress — page 214: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 203 Loyd gave him a wicker basket containing rice cakes, a flask of native liquor, and a small joint of venison. ‘* This must do until to-morrow,” he said. ‘Go at once now, for two dacoits share this hut with me. They are on guard at the tunnel now, but no one knows what may happen. Till to-morrow, good- bye.” He fairly pushed Guy outside, and witha fervent clasp of the hand turned away. The journey back was a fearful undertaking. The night was dark as pitch, and once or twice Guy despaired of finding his way at all. His brain was in a whirl, too, over the startling occurrences of the evening. He could scarcely believe that he had really been so close to the dreaded Pandy. One thing he had firmly resolved on. If this un- fortunate Englishman should really be brought in a prisoner, he must be saved at all hazards. What a horrible thing it must be to be blown from the mouthof acannon! And as this thought passed through his mind he remembered with a thrill that this was the very punishment the Eng- lish inflicted on certain captives during the great mutiny. Yes, it was as plain as day now; this Pandy must be the terrible Nana Sahib, and his whole life was devoted to insatiate revenge. Crash! Guy stumbled head foremost over a heap of rocks, and, as he pulled himself angrily to his feet, a low whistle reached his ears. He COLUM 1OOO SS co