The Rajah's Fortress — page 297: what you’re looking at

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

482 THE RAJAH'S FORTRESS. Loyd was standing by the door. He held up a warning finger when Guy approached, and then moving a step forward, whispered: ‘‘Bring all the men over here. Something is go- ing to happen.’’ Guy lost no time in obeying instructions, though he could see no cause for alarm. They abandoned the treasure chamber at once, taking the small lamp with them. Loyd was greatly agitated. ‘IT think they are going to make an attack,’’ he explained, hurriedly. ‘‘I heard low voices and the moving of feet beyond the door just now. Some thing heavy was pulled across the floor. If the at- tack comes, push all the furniture in the room against the door. His suspicions were only too correct. Before he could say more the silence of the room was broken by a crashing blow against the iron door. Then an- other and another, in rapid succession, until the stout iron threatened to break, and the bolts cracked and bent. ‘‘ Bring the furniture, quick,’’ cried Guy. ‘“The chests,’’ added Loyd. ‘‘Bring the chests.’’ The thunderous blows rained down faster than ever, and it was evident the door would soon yield. With frantic haste, the big iron-bound chests of treasure were dragged in and piled up against it until the barricade rose over the top of the door. The attack went on without cessation. The dacoits were using a battering ram of hard wood evidently, and ‘‘Crash! Crash! Crash!’’ they hurled it against the door, while every stroke seemed to be louder and more violent. ‘‘If the iron chests won't hold it, nothing will,’’ said Guy. ‘‘Ah, the fiends! If we only had our rifles,’’ he added, between his set teeth. CONMUC WOO co