The Rajah's Fortress — page 232: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 219 if this were done he could not see what took place within. He pulled himself upright, still keeping under the curtain, and glided noiselessly out into the room. A glance showed that the fire could not be detected, and pressing the curtain close against the rock he moved on tiptoe toward the corridor, keep- ing one hand on hisrevolver. A fewsteps brought him to the shadow of the doorway, and moving his head a few inches, he gained a full view of the cor- ridor. The sight was indeed startling. Within five yards of him on the opposite side of the passage | was a massive stone door linked to the wall with a ponderous chain, and stretched before it on the corridor floor lay half a dozen sleeping dacoits, their muscular forms and their shining weapons at their sides boldly exposed in the light of a small bronze lamp that rested on a low stool. Guy’s breath came short and quick, and yet there was no cause for present alarm. Time enough for that when they awoke. Just around the corner was the entrance to Pandy’s apartments, Loyd had said, and Guy felt a burning desire to take just one peep. To what length his rashness would have carried him it is hard to say, but, as he hesitated, footsteps echoed down the corridor, arms rattled, and then, with heavy tread, six, stalwart dacoits, four Burmans, and two. Chinamen, marched up the passage. COLUM 1OOO SS co