The Rajah's Fortress — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 286 his long mustache, his brown eyes flashing, while over in a far corner the picture of despair sat Wood, his face buried in his hands. ‘‘I£ only there was a way to send word home,’’ said Guy, halting abruptly, and then he resumed his march again. Like tigers pacing their narrow cages, he and Forbes passed and repassed until they stopped from weariness, Their attention was now diverted by Chauner. He opened his eyes and called feebly for something to eat. His fever had gnoe down and his braw was quite cool. ‘TI believe he will get well,’’ said Loyd, holding a cup of water to his lips, which the wounded man drank eagerly, and then he added, ‘‘ What a mock- ery it seems! To talk of his getting well. Far bet- ter that he die,’’ and he looked half enviously at the wounded soldier. Then he examined the wounds, and forgetting his words of but a moment previous, exclaimed: *‘I must have fresh bandages if his life is to be saved.’’ He hesitated an instant, and then going over to the door struck a couple of blows on the stone. It was opened instantly by a stalwart dacoit who gruffly inquired, ‘‘What sahib want ?’’ ‘‘I want fresh linen for that man there,’’ said Loyd, and he pointed to Chauner. The dacoit glanced in and said, scornfully, ‘‘No good. Man no get well.’’ While this colloquy was going on the rest had all pressed close to the door straining their eyes into the lighted corridor where half a dozen more dacoits were to be seen standing about armed to the teeth. A couple of heavy chains permitted the door to swing in a distance of half afoot, just as the door of a prisoner’s cell is arranged when the inmate 1s al- COLUM 1OOO SS co