The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 224: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 211 hind and murdered. Even if he got possession of his coat by means ofea stratagem, it would be diff cult for him to get safe out of thé barge withous first making away with Tugs and his wifé: for, if ‘he. they ‘would. pretended to go out for any purpose, t attack hity as he was astending the ladder and he weuld be overpowered. All thitgs Cannibal came to the conclusion that he'must an: ticipate the intention of the Blue-ruin Carrier and Mrs. Tugs by murdering thant both. . But then again recurred the question, how. was this to be done P considered; the. designs j in it. took the handkerchiet amidst a great deal of laughing, and at oncé applied it to her nose. At the same ‘instant sho ‘fell on the floor of the cabin, with:the babe in her arms, as if stricken ‘down by lightizing: and also at the very scH-samo mament, Ohifin’s' club dealt a tremendous blow on the héad of the Bladruin. Carrier. But this blow a0 fir from’ being fata, did nob even stun the man, who: pechape posaidead'a skull of more than ordi- nary ¢hickines’ ; PS ‘the: blow’ itsolf doscended in a in ¢ manter that-qoald do little hurt nobwithe tand- ing the violence: with which it was dealt. For an Suddenly an idea struck him; and he ngw saw | instant—and only for. single instant—did Tuzs his way clearly enough. ° |-¢otter on his seat; and then. spridging up with a “What a terrible close place this is to live in, to ! terrible imprecation, he closed with the Cannibal be sure!” he said, in a careloss sort of way, taking . just as the latter was about*to ropoat the blow. advantage of a pause in the discourse to make tho | remark. “TI do believe it would kill. mo outright in a very short time.” “Why, you see, me and my old woman here 1 uy accustomed to it,” responded.T “But it’s the smell that’s as bad aa the heat, ’ resumed Chiffin. “* Boiled pork ‘and greens ly very nice things for dinner ;” but they leave: an uncom- mon disagrocable odour in the place where they're cooked.” “But wo had fried saasnges to. any? said = Tugs ay Well, sassages leaves a smell too,” said Chiff, “And you had cabbages too, mind.” “But the bakker erhoke takes all that away,’ " cried the bargeman as he refilled his pipe. “Lam sure Mrs. Tugs don’t like all these here smells,” said the Cannibal-- greens, and sassagos | and bakker smoke, and the canal, and what not— partickler in such @ close place es this—to you, Mrs. Tugs? Now, what should you gay,” he con- ' tinued with a grim smile upon his countenance, “if av be I was gallant enough to give you “a bottle of scont, which to tell you the trath I went out just now to buy at the hairdresser’s yp in the road P” “T should say that it was rfyther an extro’rn’ary thing for Mr. Chiffin to do,” replied tho woman, Jaughiny. “Then that same éxtro’en’ary thing I have done,” continued the Cannibal; and as he thus spoke he produced an clegantly-cut ‘scént-bottte from the breast-pocket of thé coat that:he had-on.. : “Woll, did you ever P’ ‘exclaimed - Mrs. Tuge “If Lady Bess hed done sucha thing as this, one wouldn’t have been. astonished, CAUSe she’s 80. ex cocding perlite.” _* to laugh in tha inerriéat ‘good-huniour, '“ whose bouk we may takes leaf oub of! Lend ub. your fogle, Mrs. Tuga.” |. ee: ee eee Cee =~ ee i Sr ges eee do think I have got atch ¢. thing:"—and she pro- duced @ dirty vag whinh apheered, the at daazel af “TI like ¢ seal ve Woe wa bank orto aldo hie ont qdenr ib nour, @liciouselt, sceud your ove ‘dome ‘ett ‘you appeared to enjpy the whols | hfe. Put thaf up to your nose, ma'am." proceeding ‘heartily, and of cqurse saw no sinister ' Mrs. Tugs, who | dooks, as they were thus interlaced by each other's “Woe never know,” ania the: Garinibal, appearing sShurdaver ‘of bes tiusband Pe in ae eee ee ee 8 oe ey | PS a a a Ta: a, The table was upset in an instant, and fall over the insensible woman and the stunned child as they lay upon the floor, For a few moments the struggle with the two men was desperate; and then they fell heavily together. The ‘Cannibal: was andormost: and for 22° =e an instant. Tags. neatly throttled him—but with a | ‘desperate effort Chiffin threy his adversary off, and then was uppermost in his turn. Sti Tugs heli hin in buch & manner that ko had not the freo uso of hia arms: he could not reach his club which had dropped from his hands, nor taki a pistol from his pocket. For a minute tho contest was frightful: the wretches glared upon each other with demoniae arme—they gnaghed their teeth—foam was upon their kips—their struggles and convulsions were tho — -_——<.-ewpee - | fullest developments of extraordinary muscular power. Again did they roll over: again was tho | Cannibal in-the most perilous position. Another | instant, and he would have been strangled by his adversary : but suddenly catching that individual's noee between his teeth, he bit it clean off. ‘Fho | man roared with the pain, and Chiffin was.in an | instant covered with the blood that stroamed down — upon him. The next momept the circumstances of the horrible conteat were changed again: ‘Tus was underneath=Chiffin was uppermost—and the former, faint with excruciating pain and loss of . blood, relaxed his hold on his diabolic enemy.»Then . the Cannibal was enabled to catch at’ his lub; and with the: tremendous bludgeon he beat out tho Blué-ruin Carrie?’s brains: ! Thus ended ‘this horgible combat; and the con- queror stood’in ‘the midst of the cabin, wiping bis | | adversary’s blood from hia face. Tho woman lay - insensiblé-wpoh the floor--the child was inanimato likewise.’ Qhifia deliberated with himself for a fow moments: how-'he should act. - Should he kill tho - | Wonshe;: ov. lot her recover as sha rhight? But when “ My ankercher, you man” shie said. bl Wall, Tl eho denounce him ay tho Assuredly she would: anid therefire abe mush diol ” oo? 3 : “Hidving ‘come to this resolve, after a very brief | or _ dan; Olfiffin drew his clasp-knife from | , Would. she | ne and: then pang? it deep ° woman. | oa 6a her lips : ‘therd was 8 slight | | sire ae ‘. nto ‘ef the body, as if a momen- | it’ ihot through it; and thus she passed freen insenaibitity into death, — Chiffin' dr@w: out his clasp-knife from tho flosh in which 46 was embedded — wiped it~and returned \ LOAO© COLUM SS (CO)