The Rajah's Fortress — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 221 With astealthy tread he moved forward until he stood beside the cannon, and witha throbbing heart Guy kept his eyes fixed upon him. Was he aware of Guy’s presence ? That was the question. Plainly he suspected something, and he turned a careful gaze about the chamber, acting precisely as a man would who had been awakened by a bad dream, and was still uncertain whether it was a reality or not. This, in all probability, was just the situation. The fellow had been in a stupor during all that had happened, and, having fully wakened up, was trying to satisfy his doubts. He was an ugly look- ing customer, not large, but of powerful build, and was gayly decked out in striped blouse and trousers. A bad man to tackle, Guy concluded, and he devoutly wished the scoundrel would go and join his friends in the corridor, and leave the eoast clear. But the dacoit was still unsatisfied. He glanced indifferently toward the corridor, and then, to -Guy’s horror, turned deliberately and walked to- ward the secret exit. In his dream, perhaps, he had seen some one emerge from under that hanging curtain, and, foolish as it all was, he was going to lift that curtain just to satisfy his curiosity. He grasped the nearest fold and slowly raised it. Guy’s brain seemed to be on fireas he saw the inevitable exposure that was at hand, but he in- COLUM 1OOO SS co