The Rajah's Fortress — page 65: what you’re looking at

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

56 THE RAJAH'’S FORTRESS. torches put slowly back as though wounded men were being carried to the bottom, but the main body pressed on. Far down by the river more blazing lights were seen, and it was evident that fresh men were landing. Chutney and Terril were in the center of the line, Forbes stood off on the right, and Carew was on the left. “ My brave fellows,” said Chutney, turning to his men, “ the issue of the fight is uncertain. It will be a desperate struggle, but if we are overpowered let each man fight to the last, as becomes a British soldier.” A short murmur of approval greeted this brief speech, and then a terrific shout from the foe put an end to further parley, as the dacoits made the final rush up the remaining dozen steps. It was a horrible scene, the glare of the torches, the drifting smoke, the writhing mass of natives, while the deafening tumult only added to its hor- ror, made up as it was with the agonizing shrieks from the wounded, and the ferocious imprecations and shouts of rage from the mass behind. Another volley plowed its way downward with terrible effect, and nearly every bullet brought down its man, until an actual barricade of dead bodies formed on the steps, over which the foe madly climbed, only to topple over in turn as the sharp, ping, ping, ping of the rifle cracked with Yelentless regularity. COLUM 1OOO SS co