The Rajah's Fortress — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

THE RAJAH’S FORTRESS. 87 to him, though the events of the last few days had done much to render him callous to bloodshed and suffering. The sergeant pricked the wretch from behind with the point of a bayonet, but he only cried the louder and finally threw himself flat upon his face. ‘Shall Ido the business here, sir?” asked the sergeant, pulling out a long pistol. Captain Buller made no reply, but Guy cried out in horror, “ No, no, either take him away at once or release him.” ‘Release him?” cried the sergeant actually for- getting the respect due his superior officer in his indignation. “ Release a warmint like that, sir ! Yl Here, that’s sensible like now,” he added to the Chinaman, who had suddenly risen to his feet, but not with any intention of going peacefully along with his executioners, for he had detected the ring of pity in Guy’s voice, and determined to make the most of it. “Me speakee to Inglis officer,” he said in toler- ably plain English. “In your mind you will,” said the Sergeant. “Them guns will do some speakin’ to you very shortly,” and he jerked his thumb toward the glit- tering rifles in the hands of his men. ‘Me speakee welly important,” persisted the Chinaman. “ Alle same loosee hands so me getee paper,” and he held up his manacled wrists for Guy to see. COLUM 1OOO SS co