The Rajah's Fortress — page 95: what you’re looking at

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

86 THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. the sergeant in charge of the party to Captain Buller. “He had dragged four soldiers into one of them little huts over in that narrow street where we were penned up last night, and he had ’em stripped stark naked, an’ their clothes and wal- lybles all tied up in a big bundle. We just come along in the nick of time, sir.” This was one of the gravest offenses under mili- tary law, and Buller and Chutney held a short con- versation, while the Chinaman, with his hands tied behind him, appeared to be the most unconcerned one in the party. “Take him down to the end of the square and shoot him,” said Buller. ‘ And any more of the rascals you catch at that kind of work you can shoot on the spot. Don’t come to headquarters with trifles of that sort.” “Come on, now, march!” cried the sergeant, clapping the prisoner on the back. “I’ve got your death warrant, you pig-tailed, heathen Chinee.” A sudden gleam of terror came into the olive- colored face, and then down he plumped on his knees, pouring out a stream of supplications ina mixture of English and Chinese and shaking his manacled hands. “Take him away,” cried Buller, sternly, to whom such scenes had lost all power to be anything but tiresome. Guy watched the poor wretch witha look of pity on his face. It was a very revolting spectacle COLUM 1OOO SS co