The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 397: what you’re looking at

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

$86 ‘ length succeeded ; and with but little difficulty he moved the stone—or rather, we should say, not merely the one which contained the ring, but the gurrounding smaller ones to which it was joined. Instead of opening like a trip-door, the mass of m rolled aside, disclosing ah aperture large enough for # stout perscit td pate through. An ejaculation of joy burst froth: Gosson’s lips ; and the Burker was now fall of éxcited curiosity and suspense. The stone covering of the apertures Was fixed by rings, on its underneath part, to two iron bars running horizontal and parallel three or four inches below the aperture; so that the masonry could not be raised, but # dia with comparative e.se sideways, whet sprig which retéitied it fast was acted upon By the ing of the iron ting. There was & flight of stole steps loading down into utter ess: nor WES it possible to conjecture to what depth thd abyss descétided. The Goseoon colledi6d fogethé? & quantity of dry branches and leaves f¥oti some trees in the ints mediate vicinage of the temple; and making & loose faggot, he set fire to thesé: éombustible inate: rials. ite threw the blazing torch into the sab: terrancan; and the glare Wid dufficient to show that it was room, or caver®, of about tA feeb in depth, to which the steps led down. The Gosseon ribbed his hands, laughed glee: fully, and gavé every évideride of his conviction that some diseovery tiost iimportant to hittself and his compation was about to be madé: He then proveeded to manufacture three 6% four torches; and when this task was accomplished, he signalled the Burker to descend ists the cavern fot the purposes of research. But the Englishman, terribly suspicious of perfidy, shock his head, and intimated that it was the Gossout who ought to be the first to descend. The Hisdoo, thinking that bis companion required some fresh proof of his sincerity towards him, drew forth his poignard, snapped the blade in halves, and toeted the fragments amidst the rains. Phe Burker now thought that he need no longer hesitate : but still he made a sign for the Gossoon to follow him. The Hindoo assented: two torches were lighted; and the Burker, carrying one, began the descent of the stone steps. The Hindoo, carrying the other, was close behind him. They found themeelves, as they expected, in a emali room of abdut the depth which we have al: ready specified; and i¢ was probably eight feet squere, by six im.width. Along one of the walls several smmaitl vasce were ranged; and on tho hide of these being lifted off, they were found to be filled with coins, but so discoloured ae to afford the idea at first that they were all of copper or even of a baser metal. But the dervish, with another ejeeulation of joy, rang a few of them on the aved floor, bit them with his teeth, and proved hem to be silver. He then danced in the gheefal- ness of hie mood; and the Burker was likewise 60 overjoyed that he forgot all his past enmity and hatred towards the man through whose imefru. mentality this colossal treasure was discovered. Some misutes clapsed before the Gossoon could 80 fae vegain his composure as to reflect upon the eourve which was next to be adopted. Nor did it Gppear ae if he were very well able to make up bis mind in a berry: foe he signalled to the yo —— —=__ Ce ee ed eee eee COO) ane 0 ee THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. — 2.2 - Burkert that they sould quit the cavern for the present. The Englishman now once again aban- doned himself to the guidance of the Gossoon; and he offered no objection when that individual began to lead the way up the stone steps. They had each lighted @ second torch: but these were already burnt bo low as to last but for a minute or two longer. The Gosseell, 48 we have esid, began to lead the way up the Hep the Burker following. Bat all in a mometié i¢ attuck the latter that the Hindoo was hasteniti# tip #ith a suspicious quicknées; and an i f teeaehery flashed through the Bnglish- maha Mind, The Gosscon sptang out of the aper- ttird} ad the next instant the Burker, to his horeof, bélidld the masonry gliding over him. With & cry, or rather yell, at the hideous thought of being buried alive in that tomb, he thrast up his right hand, which held the fragment of the blazing tore; nd i¢ came itt contact with the Gossuon’s haiid, which was upon the ring of the eentral stone. howl of agony burst from the Hindoo as the blading faggot broke all over his flesh: his had quitted its hold on the ring : the Butker roliéd back the masonry, and leaped forth from the subtettancan. Now thead two mon stood facing each other With aspects of fid?es and malignant defiance. The Gossoon’s treache?#y wae but too well understood by tho Btitke# j for the perfidious Hindoo had in- tended to acéommplish bis death by starvation or gulfieation itt the subterranean, so thet he might possedé htitheelf of the whole of the treasure. The Batke? bould no Hiofd repose the slightest confi- dened #1 hit : the Godfoon evidently felt this; and bhius thé t@6 mit stood confronting each other, as if with the mutual ¢onviction that one mist now die in order for tti¢ survivor to be safe. Both Wire ufirned, each seemed fearful of com- theticing the attaek. THe Gossoon had no$ the satne confidence ifi him#éelf as when he euddenly potrhced upon thé Butker and buried tii down at fhe cave iti thw jeingle. Porhapie hé htiew that he H@d thet Méiely taken him by stifpriss, and that ty éhéer agility he hdd perforiied & foat for a repetition of which he could not hope, now that his opponent stood entirely upon his guard. Oa the other hand the Englishman was equally reluc- tant to be the first to close in the death-strugzgle, for fear lest the Gossoon should have some fresh MaDwuvre or practice some artifice for which hé was unprepared. They were like two wild beasts, determined upon an encounter— whose fero- cious instincts could not be otherwise appeased— yet neither daring to commence the attack—each waiting to take the other a¢ disadvantage—éheir eyes glaring—their forms quivering, with every muscle and tertdon vibrating under the inflaence of ternmfic excitement and suspense. At length, with characteristic desperation, the Barker sprang at his foe, whom ke endeavoured to clatch by the throat : bat the Gossoon to # oer- tain extent avoiding the attack, seized the Burker round the waist and hurled him to the ground— thus repeating the feat which he had performed at the cavein the jungle. The Boghshmaa however held fast to his opponent; and amidst the grass did they struggle in the immediate vicinage of the mouth of the subterranean. All in a moment there wae the sharp, quick, ominons hies of a Goin G OOO SS} (CO