The Rajah's Fortress — page 310: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH'S FORTRESS. 295 Sahib, the leader of the great mutiny, the rightful heir to a stolen kingdom. But none will know it. The red flag floats from the fortress now, and at sunrise the tongues that could whisper that secret will be stilled forever.’’ ‘‘And you?’’ cried Guy. ‘‘ What tie connects you with this blood-stained assassin of women and chil- dren ?’’ The Hindoo’s eyes glittered and his face darkened with wrath. ‘*Silence, sahib,’’ he cried in thunderous tones. ‘Restrain that babbling tongue. Revile once more the rajah, and by Great Brahma, I’ll slay you like a dog.’’ Guy looked him coolly in the face. Perhaps he hoped the Hindoo would carry out his threat. ‘‘As for you,’’ continued Dalo more calmly, ‘‘I feel little wish to spare you, but a promise isa promise. I have begged your life from the rajah, and my prayer was granted. There is a condition attached toit. Your fate is in your own hands.’’ ‘Name the condition,’’ said Guy. ‘It is this,’’ replied Dalo. ‘‘You will swear by all that you hold most sacred never to reveal to liv- ing man that Nana Sahib still lives. And never again to take up arms against him or give to any person information which will put him in peril or threaten the discovery of his secret. Moreover, you will declare tothe English that the dacoit chief Pandy is now dead and will no longer trouble the country.’’ ‘*And if I swear, what then?’’ asked Guy. ‘‘The English are men of honor,’’ answered Dalo coolly. ‘‘ They can be trusted. If you will take this oath on an English Bible, then you will be escorted to a place on the Chindwin River from whence in half a day you can reach your friends at Balet.’’ COLUM 1OOO SS co