The Rajah's Fortress — page 300: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH'S FORTRESS. 285 help thinking that it were better so, for nothing but death could await them in the end. The dacoits pulled the chests out of the way, cast- ing many a lingering glance at the coin scattered on the floor, but not daring to touch a piece. Then the prisoners were roughly shoved from the room and taken to the dungeon facing the corridor. They were left here under guard while the rest went back and presently returned carrying Chauner and Carew on a soft mattress. They deposited this in the corner and then retired, leaving a lamp burn- ing on the stool. The whole affair had been carried out very quick- ly. An hour ago they had been sleeping peacefully on soft rugs. Now they lay on a stone floor with irons on their wrists. The door had been repaired and securely fastened. - They had not been left alone five minutes when two dacoits came in with a vessel of water and a roll of linen. They took the irons off Guy’s wists. “Now, sahib,’’ said one of them, ‘‘attend to your friends. That one,’’ pointing to Chauner, ‘‘is very bad. No get well. That man,’’ and he mo- tioned toward Carew, ‘‘no much hurt.’’ Guy gladly availed himself of this permission, though he only too well divined its object. The dacoit proved to be right, fora dash of cold water brought Carew round very shortly, though he was badly bruised all over. When his arm was moved he cried out with pain, and on examination it was found to be broken at the wrist. At Guy’s bidding the dacoit brought in a thin board, which was speedily converted into splints, and after some trouble the arm was set and hung ina sling, an operation which called for much fortitude on Ca- rew’s part. Chauner still lay in a stupor, opening his eyes in a vacant manner from time to time. COLUM 1OOO SS co