The Rajah's Fortress — page 298: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 283 The terrific concussions, echoing through the pent up chamber, roused Chauner from his stupor. He pulled himself upright and stared fearfully around him with glassy eyes and fevered cheeks. Forbes and Loyd picked up bed and all and car- ried it to the far end of the room. Chauner muttered some broken sentences and fell back on his pillows. The foe paused for a brief breathing spell and then renewed the attack with fierce desperation. The battering ram smote the door with a steady, regular movement. The very walls seemed to trem- ble and shake, the door groaned and quivered, the massive bolts cracked in their fastenings, the hinges creaked, and the barricade of chests rattled their iron-bound sides. Everything was giving way to- gether. Another furious storm of blows, then one fearful crash, followed by a mighty roar and rumble, and without a second’s warning the great pile of chests toppled over in one common ruin, dragging Carew down with them. The money chest had been on top, and, burst open by the concussion, the golden shower poured down like hailstones, leaping and rolling to every corner of the room. The lamp went out, but the brief span of darkness vanished before the ‘glare of adozen torches, and with triumphant shouts the dacoits poured in through the broken door, leaping and climbing over the pile of chests. Their faces were dark and sullen in the red glare and they carried only long, heavy spears. They were led by a stranger, a black giant with an ugly, scarred face. ‘“Throw down your arms,’’ he cried in English, as he saw the glitter of their daggers. The men hesitated and drew back to the end of the room. ‘What shall we do, Loyd?’’ Guy asked in a low COLUM 1OOO SS co