The Rajah's Fortress — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

236 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. they still try to open the secret entrance and surprise us from the rear?” Loyd shook his head. “They have abandoned that,” he said. “Let them once discover your hiding-place here and they will gather their whole force around you. And discover it they will, for the jungle is full of them now. I made my escape just in time.” “ Then the chances are in our favor,” said Guy. “ If we can only hold this place for an hour or two, until the dacoits have assembled their full force, we can take the first chance rush back to the cavern, burst into the fortress, rescue the prisoner, and fight our way out.” “Kither that or perish here,” returned Loyd, grimly. “Now, Captain Chutney, your plan is good. I beg leave to prefix a little plan of my own. This place is really so well hidden that the dacoits may not discover it for twenty-four hours. That prisoner yonder speaks no English [ll war- rant you. Turn him loose and he'll soon have a howling mob on our track.” ‘ That won’t do,” said Guy. ‘ Pandy does not know how many of us there are. Better leave him under a false impression.” “ You are right,” assented Loyd. “Then make the rascal give a couple of signal calls. That will serve the purpose just as well.” “ Topee,” said Guy, “take the gag from that 9 COLUM 1OOO SS co