The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

379 mmm =u pee Gane looking, the Burker searcely knew: but the other was fixed upom himself with (he fancied) the gleaming malignity of a reptile’s. Then the Gos- soon began convulsing and writhing; and all of a sudden he sent forth so wild a yell that it made the Burker literally bound up in horrible alarm, while the blood seemed to con in his veins. The Gossoon burst out into a savage laugh, and made signs to show that he was only imitating everything that the Burker had just been doing. Deep but low was the curse which in his own ver- nacular the Burker gave as he found himself thus rendered the sport of the malignant mockery of that hated Gossoon. But the mendicant Hjndoo Continued to laugh for some moments; and it seemed to the Burker as if he were thus listen- ing to tho malice-mirth of a fiend. . When the Gossoon had finished his hideous cackinnation, he composed himeelf to sleep again: but the Burker could not close his eyes in slumber anymore. In a cuuple of hours the sun rose— the Gossoon still slept—and the Burker dssyed forth from the cavern. “ — > Oe eee - CHAPTER OLVIILI & } THE GOSSOONS, Havine slaked his thirst, which was poignant and most oppressive—for his parched lips were cracked with the fever-heat of his blood, and his tongue wae as dry as if he had been swallowing some of the embers of now extinct fire—the Burker was returning to the mouth of the cavern to await in hope the Gossoon’s awakening, when he espied another human form approaching from a little dis- tance. This speedily proved to be a nan of the same sect as the Hindoo who had slready become the Burker’s companion. Hé was a mendicant Gossoon more wretchedly clad if possible—more filthy in hie person, and more repulsive in bis looks, than even the other. He was upwards of sixty years of age, and exceedingly tall—without any stoop—but with a frame so emaciated that it was painful to contemplate the parts which his rage left bare. He had a look half sdvege, half austere ; and he growled upon the Burker aé if:re- gtrding him as an intruder in that spot. Without however taking any farther notice of him, this old Goesoon propeeded straight to the cavern; and the Burker, following, perceived that the other itinerant suddenly woke up, as if with the instinctive knowledge that an expected friend was at hand, Their greetings were however sul- lenly and moodily exchanged ; and the new-comer almost immediately produced a bag which he car- ried hidden amongst his rage. Thence he took forth rice, fruits, aud fragments af coarse barley bread; and the two Gossoons began to eat with a ravenous appetite. The Burker, half fantished, advanced in a supplicating manner towards them ; and then the younger began telling his comrade something which the 3urker speedily un- derstood to be a narrative of the-effects produced upon himeelf by the dreams of the past night. Vor thet malignant Goseoon again went through the imitation of he Burker’s convulsive writhings: and he ended by giving vent to another mocking THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. yell more hideous than even that by which he had so startled the English outcast a short while back. The elder Gossoon laughed with a low inward chuckling which was horrible to hear; and then he contemptuously tossed the Burker a part of his provisions. The bag was a large one; and even when three people had parteken of its contents, enough provender evidently remained for three or fgur more meals of the samd extent as this first one. But the old Gossoon had brought with him no liquor ; and the crystal spring accordingly sup- plied the means of washing down the food that was then partakcn of, ; When the repast was gnded, the elder Gossoon addressed in his own langflage’ some question to the Burker : bit the latter by signs intimated that he was ignorant of what was thus said to him. It soon transpired *hat the Gossoons themselves were equally at a loss to understand the English- man‘; aud the two ilinerants accordingly conversed together, taking no further notice of the Burker. This individual:waited with anxious suspense for some indication of their future plans or move- ments : but for three mortal hours they‘stirred not 5 and whén their colloquy was ended, they etretched themselves down to aleep. . The rage and impatience which the wretched outcast hhd experienced on .the preceding day, were now excelled by the feelings which took pos- session of him when he saw those lazy vagabonds eo tranquilly°and unconcernedly compose theme selves to slumber. But what could he do? He must bide their good-will and pleasure ; and to the utmost of his power he must render himself agroe- able to them, for fear lest they should leave him behind, as the other Gossoons had done, on taking their departure. He therefore strove to assuage his boiling impatience—to appease his irritated feelings—and to sustain himself with the hope that the moment for egress from that dreadful jungle must come at last. The Gossoons slept on; and the sun wafagain sinking towards the western horizon before they awoke. Then the proyision-bag was again opened ; and a ration was bestowed upon the Burker, though not to the same extent as that which each Gos. soon took for himself. The meal being disposed of, they made signe for him to procure them water in the gourd; and then they intimated that he Was to collect the firewood to be arranged at the mouth of the cavern. Ho comprehended that they were using him as their slave: but hee was compelled td submit. It was however with shuddering horror that he plunged into the thickets to gather the branches: but the task was achieved without any circumstance calculated to justify his alarm. The pile was built up: the three passed into the cavern; and the wood was lighted. The two Gossoons were spéedily buried in profoundest slumber; and the Burker, worn out in mind and body, fell asleep more quickly than on the preceding night. His dreams were again horrible—but not characterized by the same evidences of distress oa his part as these which we have described: or at least if they were, he himeelf awoke in ignorance of the fact—and at all events the Gossoons did not seom to have been disturbed. These itinerantse did not awake until eome while after s@nrise: then the provision-bag was produced—the Burker filled f° gourd from the spring—and the morning meal v vu 6 Se aa LOAO© COLUM SS (CO)