The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 375: what you’re looking at

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

et a A ES PP, UEP RT ce ga I TT IT, QurEnt-giee ee iN AEE ea a Te EE, Ee ee eee eee eee EF on, F , => ft a] A Qa (Ee; GEE ae, 2 we LTP caused this motion, even on the part of a sleeper; —and he Bept one eye just eo slightly open that he equld still discern anything that might take place at the mouth of the well. A few more minutes now elapsed—when the Burker beheld a dark countenance appearing above the thicket; and ho reougniged it to be that of one of the shark-teethed assassins of the two travellers in another part of the jungle. The Strangler wis gasing with his penefrating eyes upon him; and being apparently satisfied that the Burker really slept, he drew himself up more and more above the thicket and the stones. He had on his dark ecanty garment, just the same as when the Burker had previously seen him: but he seemed to have no weapons of any kind, except the lasso, which was now tied round his waist. ° It was a relief to the Burker’s mind thus to ascertain the condition in which the Strangler pre- seated himeclf. Stoalthily he atepped forth from his ambush; and be seemed to bo alonv; for he [ turried not to be followed by any companion? nor did he look down mto the well to muéite any 7 or to whisper any word. He now laitf hinieelf fat upon the grask, and bean noiselessly dragging himself towards the Burker. This the Burker by no means liked: for the idea of a @ubtte D at the point of some email sharp fastrument, Aiefan- taneously flashed through his startled brain. a few moments longer he rewained undecided how | powe to act,—while the Strangler Wes working his noise- less way nearor and nearer towards him. All in'a moment the Burker spreng ups but quick as his own movement was tet of the Hindoo; and not more quickly do two wild diimals olose in the deadly strife thaa did! these two men grapple with each other Phe Burke® was astonished at the degree «f strength developéd by hig opponent,— whose wiry fourm, with but little, upon jt, seemed likewise 'to be etidoged wittr an eXtrtor. dinary elasticity, The Burker felt that all hts own energios were needed; for he read a ferocious des- peration in ‘the sinister gleaming eyes of the Strungler. Those two men regarded each other if the feeling were mutual that thd’ safoty of one cuuld only be secured by the death of the othor; and thus, after thoy had grappled tgrether with the livhtuing-agility already described, _ they paueed for an instant, as if mutually to read each ‘other’s purpose in their eyes. Then the struggle commenced. ‘ With « cry that resembled the mingled howl and yell of a wild beast, the ‘Burker endeavoured to hurl his opponent to the ground: but the Hindao, anticipating the movement, grasprd the Burker’s neckeloth with such terrific force as al- most to strangle him. Then the Burker deslt tremendous blows with his great thick boots at the bare legs of the Strangler; so that the latter, unable to endure the agony, Io8soned his hold. But not a sound fell from his lips. No accent of either yage or pain escaped him: in total silence yeh hé‘egnduct bis hostile proceedings, as‘ if he werd dORW. ° ‘Ett Hold! was loosened but for en instant; and ‘He- dosed in: such a manner with the Burker latter was no longer ablo to uso his legs of offence, but had quite anough to do $> prevent hinfeslf from being thrown down. Mustering up all his strength—arising bimeclf as 5 ,he tolled on through: the’ ‘to dlose ins and thet, utterly exhausted, he felt THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ee it were with all the energics that he could possibly call to his aid, he made a tremendous effort to bring down his foe. But quick as lightning the Hindoo darted away to a little distanoe: in the twinkling of an eye the lasso was taken from over the folds of his garment; and its length was flung forth as rapidly as the boa constrictor had ere now thrown itself frout the tree upon the tiger. The Burker was however fally on his guard; and as the noose*approached him he caught it in his hand. With a sudden jerk it was torn away; and the Sti#ngler disappeared amidst the bushes and lowg gédi¥ at a0 ite distance. Tho Burker waited for dite ted With! all the kee wariness of one who Wat not to §@ fkken by surprise: but the Strangler #6-8 #not. The man sat down to reat Afmsélf, fill’ however keeping his eyes fixed spot wherd fk@ Hindoo hed vanished. pon fire Beit an hour peased, Gud nd sign was thero of the angler: ho sound indlumted his return. The rker gave Vent to a bittey ipprecation that the épcountér shouit Have finished’ia such a manner ; for he could aAvé Acip thinking thet his enemy wouki dog Hifi thd Bw sng it the hope of taking Ait dnawales. te Buriter’d position acquired a Suffix; fof he wav ot only ex- posed te the ous attagky' of wilt Gvaste and thé more ly hostility of réptiles; but he had now to guard agafist a monster int Kutna dn ssing tio ficrcctives of tho foither and the sudtlety of tho Intter. He rose, anf continued his’ way: but like Robinson Crusoe ow the isffid, after having seen the’ print of #& man's foot upon the sand, he.kept lodiing around hiw, With anxious duwani- nes# and nervous dlarm, i évory direction. Thus gie until night began Clie absolixte' nécessity of seeking some place where be' might repose. But where wes he to find such | ‘aspotP Perhaps the Strangler was at ho great distanceP—perheape he had been creeping on amidst the bushes and the long grass, heodiess of the venornous reptiles that might 6e lurking there P—peradventure eveh at that moment he‘ might be within a fow yatds of the Burker, wait- ing for an opportunity to throw his lassu with botter offect than on the former occasion. The wretebesd Eng.ish criminal was goaded almost to desperation; and again did thoughts of suicide enter his head. He now walked feebly and like & drunken mav, With the sense that if he were to atop short he must sink down, and pfdbably be- come a prey to the unseen enemy whom hv be- lieved to be dogginy: his fuotsteps. Such was the Burker’s state of mind and such his physical condition, whew, as the dusk was closing in around hitb, he beheld’a'clump'of trees’ which by their configuration’ he thought he had seen before. Yeu'—He felt cotivinced of itt He looked about him—he' betreltl' dine other object whioh was fauilines he was’ in' the neighbourhood of the very cavé where he bad previously found’ att dsylam, atid where unseen’ bards had affurded’ him the meade of appeasiig his hunger. He ex- perienced a’ feeling of relief, while he muatvelled' that by a long circuitous’ route’ his*wubderinge should thus have brought him basi® to's’ plave whith he ited fancied to'have beh abatitlvhed’ for’ over, ‘ é ¢ @ LOAO© (C©) SS (CO)