The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 380: what you’re looking at

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

eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, 869 Seale ‘i “he ~ es . - r z > st . Ee | ? —_ : i * sine (a . ryt rah Wren rt : ’ ’ m4 hi yf Di \ ; eA yiut : il ‘. ‘ : af : i LW I, ; ty on the top of the hill; and then, having again slaked bis thirst with the gushing waters of the pellucid spring, he paseed round the rocky emi- nence in order to reach the entrance of his cavern, that he might partake of his evening meal. Having eaten of bis provisions, he felt an exceed- ing drowsiness stealing upon him, most probably from having remained eo long upon the eminence exposed to the suliry fervour of the sun. So strong became this inclination to sleep, that he could not battle against it; and yet he knew that the projecting barrier was not raised at the mouth of the cavern. After a vain effurt to shake off the increasing somnolence, the Burker yielded himself to it ; and falling back on the ground of the cave, he sank into sleep. Horrible dreams speedily began to troop in unto his mind: s hideous nightmare seised upon him; and he felt an oppression upon the chest Wie. - & Wit ees Ba be I “ot” rl ; ry , &« . —" - oe ~~ = * : - <r =, = i” —— ed Le thus lying heavily on him. Nover had his visions been #0 horrible beiore, frightful though many of his dreaming experiences had been beneath the roof of that very cavern. How long he slept he knew not: but he was suddenly startled up into complete wakefulness; and then a monstrous cobra upreared its hooded bead from his breast and hissed at him. The man shrieked out in his mental agony: the cobra darted his head forward as if to seize him on the face with its fangs; and the Burker sank back insensible. When he came back to consciousness, he shud- dered with the awful recollection of what be had endured, and which now appeared to be a hideous dream. The dusk was closing in; and he started up to his feet, mechanically clutching hie club which lay by his side. Still trembling and quiver. ing all over under the influence of his hideous recollections—with the perspiration standing cold that it appeared as if the hand of death iteelf were! and clammy upon his forehead—the Burker was No. 99.—FourtTH SERI&ZS. co Lf G OVO) (CO Lf