The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTHRIBE OF THE COURT. eonduct, as for this procrastination of the joyr- ney which he expected to enter upor under his guidance, For theé entire day did the Barker remeia sit- ting in front of the cavern, with the exception of two or three demporery absences to dake his thirst at the epring; and as the sun drew searer and mearer to the western horizon, the impatience of the Burker grew into a perfect rage. Ob, how he hated that Gossoon !|—in what biiter aversion did ho hold him-——he could have even killed him, eo tremendous at length grow hic vexation and his spite when he beheld him contioning to enjoy e slumber so profound thatit appeared as if it never eould have a waking. At length the Surker, uiterly bereft of all patience, wes about to ley his hand om the Gos- soon’s shoulder and sheke him with an onraged violence thet would speedily dispel his slumber, when the derrish eudcenly sterted up to « eitting posture. He rubbel his ayes-—looked at the Burker with a cortein air of astonishment as if having totally forgesten that he hed essen such a pereon in that place before--ead then springing up, he hastened 40 inspect the niche underneath the loophole. Fut there was no food in #&; and the Gosscen gave euch a hideous how] of rage thes the Busker was for an inatent frightened lest the sund ed from the threat of como wild | in the immediate neighbour- hood, he Gossoon advaneed towards the Bar- ker, making threateniag dgns — pointing to the vacant niche end the empty much as to accuse him of having devoured the provisions which ought tobe there? The Burkeor’s temper, never the aweetest at any time, was parti- eulasly ruffled by the entire conduet of the Gos- soon; and forgetting his eoncilietory policy, be replied by signs shat were irete and manaciag. A terrific expression of rage awept over the Gossoon’s countenance; and suddenly seising the Burker with both arms round the body, he ised him up and deshef hiss down upon the granite blacks which lay clese by the mouth of the cavetn. Hereulean was the strength of the Gosscon~—s strength too that was exercised with a skill and expertneses which made the achievement the work of a single inetant. Powegloss as a dwarf in the hands of a gientand taken completely auawares the Burker wae utterly unable to offer any re- stance ; ao that with lightning rapidity did ae find himeelf thus thrown, half-tunned, upoa the granite blooke. There he lay fora few instants ¢ and as he slowly pieked himeelf up, it was in the most sombre euilenness of mood that he eubmitted to this treatment without an effort to avenge it. For in the midet of the concentrated rage and vin- dictive spite which filled his soul, was the con- sciousness that even if he had the power to slay the Gossson, it would be an act of madness, thereby cutting off this last remai ebance of eseape from the jungle. For the same reason too, he dog- gediy resolved to return to his coneiliatory policy towerds the man ou whom he felt himself to be eo completely dependent. The Gossoon surveyed him with « kind of sombre contempt as he slowly raised himeolf to his feet; and then he grinned with a horrible satis- fection, as if contented ‘with having shown the European that he was hie master. That he was 871 well acquainted with the cave the Burker had already perceived, from the fact of his searching the niche so promptly after his arrival; and another proof thereof was now furnished by the circum. ae that the Gossoon passed roynd to the back of the well to drink of the water. The sun was by this time beginning fo set; and the Burker therefore knew that it was useless to think of set- ting out upon a journey through the jungle during the hours of the might. He made a sign to the Gosecon to the effect that be would pile up the stones at the mouth of the caverm: bunt the itine- rant Dervish burst out into « scornful laugh, as if ridiculing such a proegution or means .of defence. He eet to work to gather together a quantity of dried woed; and he made a sign to the Burker to imitate his example, Jearlessly the Gogsoon plunged into the long gras in the phicket, and tore down some branches of the moat resinous trees, Whea an immense quantity of fuel was thus col- lected, the Gossoon arranged it in the fora of « somiairole near the front of the cave; end cburl- ishly motioning the Burker 4o follow him within the rampart, he set fire to it by the means of igni- tion which -he carried about his person. He then threw himself down in the cavern; and composing himself to sleep, was soon wrapped once more in a slumber as profound as that which throughout the livelong day he had enjoged. But the Burker could not sleep. He was half famished with hunger: he trembled leet the Strangler should inaidioualy work his way, despite the fire, into the cave: he was afraid likewise of the repulsive Gossoon who lay snoring at a little distance. Perhaps the wretch, thought the Bueker, wes only pretending to be asleep in order to watoh | 8m Oporto of taking his life ?—though he cer- y could nes seo of what avail such a proceed, ing would be to the Hindeo. The fire eontinued to burn steadily for a long time; and as there was no wind, but the night-air wes etill and stagnant, the emoke beat not into the cavern, bat ascended straight upwerd. At length a sensation of drow, Giness began to ste] upon the Burker; and after several vain efforts to shake it off, he yielded to its Horrible dreams haunted bim, as usual; for the mind reproduced with edded horror the waking thoughts of the wretched man; and now in imagi- nation he beheld the dead Strangler’s eompeniop atealing upon him: he saw the hideoas Gossoon bending ever him with a termble feroeity of counr tenance, and with a long sharp instrument in his hand. Then he fancied that he was in the depths of the jungle’s wilds, pursued by a tiger—that he strove to fly—but that his feet became as hoary as if they had turned into lead, and he could nef essape the ravonons animal that was every inatans gaining upon him. But all of a sudden the sube jeet of his visions changed ; and he was writhing and convulsing in the huge folds of a boa cone gtrietor. With a shriek of agony he awoke. He was lying in the cave: the duskiness of night still prevailed—the fire hed eunk into a eomicirouler pile of smouldering embers, juss throwing out jight sufficient to show him the eyes of the Gustoon etering wide open as the mendicant dervish atili lay stretched along the floor of the cave at a little distance. In which direction the eye with the horrible squint was 4 (CO G OOO SS} (CO