The Rajah's Fortress — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

244 THE RAJAM'’S FORTRESS. the twisted folds of his turban shone a diamond of great size. “ By Jove, the great Pandy himself,” said Forbes half aloud. The robber acknowledged this involuntary com. pliment by a smile that showed his white teeth, a satanic smile full of malignity and deadly hatred. It seemed to pierce Forbes through and through, and he shuddered and moved a little closer to the wall. “The English sahib is afraid,” said the robber scornfully. ‘ He dreads death. He isa coward.” Forbes drew his breath hard, but made no reply. What could be this demon’s object in coming to torture him, he wondered? He began to think that Guy had been right, and that this dacoit chief was the actual one time leader of the great mutiny. In no other way could such ven- omous hatred against the English be accounted for. The robber chief moved a step closer, but Forbes faced him boldly and sternly. He would show no fear before this vile traitor. ‘ You would have been dead ere sunrise,” the robber went on in perfect English, lingering over each word. “The cannon awaited you. But your friends have given you a reprieve. You English are arash people. They have dared to en- ter my dominions and even now my guards are drag- ging them out from yonder jungle. They cannot COLUM 1OOO SS co