The Rajah's Fortress — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

64 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. ing with a solicitous and anxious eye that no harm came to his master. Now he rose noiselessly and came forward. “ T will go down to meet the other boat, sahibs,” he said quietly. “ You!” cried Chutney in amazement. “ How can you do it, Dalo?” The Indian pointed to the largest idol of the group, which had been torn from its pedestal and lay prostrate on the stone floor. It was a truly horrible image, roughly carved from some kind of wood. “TI can go on that, sahib. It will float very easily.” “ But the crocodiles?” said Chutney. “ There are but few in the river,” replied the Indian calmly, and he fingered a long knife that hung in a sheath at his side. While Dalo was speaking, Forbes watched him keenly. <A struggle was going on within him to know whether this man was above suspicion or whether there was any good reason for mistrusting him. Since the murder of Hassam he had struggled against this growing aversion, for which there really existed no cause; but he could not quite rid his mind of it. ; ‘ You area brave fellow, Dalo,” hesaid. ‘*T[ will go with you. The idol will easily carry two.” He turned his gaze full on the Indian’s face, but COLUM 1OOO SS co