The Rajah's Fortress — page 83: what you’re looking at

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

76 THE RAJAH'S FORTRESS. forward in expectation of finding shelter, a murder- ous fire was poured into their very faces from every door and window. The enemy divining their pur- pose, had made a circuit and entered the building from the door. A perfect panic ensued, and the column was thrown into utmost confusion. With great difficulty the colonel reduced the men to discipline, for the groans of the wounded had a demoralizing effect in the face of the leaden storm that was whistling around them. The guns were hurried forward, and the front of the building was very soon cleared as the bul- lets pierced the thin bamboo walls and the mats of rice straw that screened the windows. Then a charge was made up the steps, and in an instant British and dacoits were struggling for possession. It was an obstinate fight, and the soldiers forced their way in through every door and window, driv- ing the enemy stubbornly at the point of the saber and gaining inch by inch until by sheer force of numbers the dacoits were tumbled out through the rear entrance, and the main body of hussars swept victoriously in at the front. It was a short-lived conquest. The wretches had fired the house in a dozen places as they re- treated, and the bamboo walls blazed with incredi- ble rapidity, defying all attempts to extinguish the flames. Dawn was breaking as Colonel Cubit led the COLUM 1OOO SS co