The Rajah's Fortress — page 291: what you’re looking at

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

276 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. folds, he was amazed to see Topee standing up be- fore the secretary, shading a lighted match be- tween his fingers. The Chinaman’s face expressed passionate greed. He pried open the lid and dropped it noiselessly back upon its hinges. Then, lighting another match as soon as one went out, he pulled open one of the drawers with a hand that shook from excitement. Guy had barely time to see that it was the drawer containing the sapphires, when the Chinaman quickly transferred its contents to the capacious pockets of his blouse. His actions during al] this time expressed no fear. He doubtless felt, as was indeed the case, that he had as much claim on those jewels as any one, since it was he who had guided the English to the fortress, and whatever caution he exercised was due to his unwillingness to disturb the sleepers in the next room. He next opened three or four drawers at once, and coolly proceeded to pick out the largest stones. Guy continued to look on from behind the cur- tain, undecided whether to confront him or go back and finish his sleep, when a most startling and un- looked for interruption put an end to the little drama. Two dark figures glided noiselessly behind the unconscious Chinaman, hovered over him for a sec- ond, as it seemed to Guy, and then a muscular arm reached out and clasped poor Topee’s throat just as the match flared up and expired. Hardly able to believe that he had seen aright, Guy stood rooted to the spot, while the cold sweat started from every pore, and trickled down his face. Then came the sounds of a very faint scuffle, a rustling movement over the rugs. Then a brief si- COLUM 1OOO co