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.

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-:ioor, the mass of m rolled aside, disclosing ah aperture large enough for a stout persoit ty pate through. An ejaculation of joy burst froth Gossouh’s lips ; and the Burker was now fall of excited Curiosity and suspense. The stone covering of the apertures Was fixed by ringe, 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, bat # dia with comparative e.se sideways, whet aprilig which retéitied it fast was acted upon By the ing Of the iron ting. There wag @ flight of stole steps leading down into utter ess: nor WES ib possible to conjecture to whab depth thd abyss descdiided. The Gossoon collé#iéd fogethe? & quantity of dry branches and leaves fewi some trees in the ints mediate vicinage of the temple; and making & loose faggot, he set fire to thasé: éombustible inate: rials. ite threw the blesing torcli into the sab: terranean; and the glare Wid éufficient to show that it was a room, or eaver®, of about 8 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 ticst important to hitself and his compation was about to be madé@: He then proveeded to manufacture three Of four torches; and when this task was acesmplished, 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 Guesout who ought to be the firat to descend. The Hisdoo, thinking that his 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 ruins. Phe Burker now thought that he nead no longer hegitate : but still he made a sign for the Goseoon to follow him. The Hindoo assented: two torches were lighted; and tho Burker, carrying one, began the descent of the stone steps. The Hindoo, carrying the other, was close behind him. They found themselves, as they expected, in a emall room of about the depth which we have al: ready specified; and it was probably eight feet squere, by six in-width. Along one of the walls several smmatl vasce were ranged; and on tho hide of these being lifted off, they were found to be filled with coing, but so discoloured as to afford the idea at first that they were all of copper or even of a beser metal. But the dervish, with another ejeenlation 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 imstru. mentality this colossal treasure wae discovered. Some misutes elapsed before the Gossoon could £0 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 hw signalled to the ® eae ae nT eee? THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. — 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 a second torch: but these were already burnt 0 low as to last bué for a minute or two longer. The Gossvei, & we have esid, began to lead the way up the ie the Burker following. Bat all in a momedié i¢ attuck the latter that the Hindoo was hasteniti# tip With a suspicious quicknées; and an i f treachery flashed through the Bnglish- maha Mind, The Gosscon sptang out of the aper- ttird} dd the next instant the Burker, to his horeof, béhield the masonry gliding over him. With a 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 Goessuon’s haiid, which was upon the ring of the eentral stone. howl of agony burst from the Hindoo as the lading 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 subtettanean. Now these twa men stood facing each other With aspects of fidves and malignant defiance. The Gossoon’s treache?#y wae but too well understood by tho Btitke# j for the perfidioas Hindoo had in- tendéd to acéomplish his death by starvation or sifoestion iti the subterranean, so that he might possedé htitheelf of the whole of the treasure. The Batke? bould no Biofd repose tho slightest confi- i hidt + the Godioon evidently felt this; and thins thd #6 met stood confronting each other, as if with the mutual Gonviction that one must now die in order for tti¢ survivor to be safe. Both Wire uiurindd, and each seemed fearful of com- theticing the attaek. The Gossoon had nof the satne confidence if him#éelf as when he guddenly potthced upon thé Btitker and hurled tits Gown at fhe cave iti thw jingle. Perhajie fd hte’ that he H@d thet Méfely taken him by sufpriss, and that ty éhéer agility he hdd perforiied & foat for a repetition of which he could Hot 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 manmuvre or practise some artifice for which he 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—their eyes glaring—their forms quivering, with every muscle and tertdon vibrating under the inflaence of ternfic excitement and suspense. At length, with characteristic desperation, the Barker sprang at his foe, whom he endoavoured 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 immediete vicinage of the mouth of the subterranean. All in a moment there wae the sharp, quick, ominons hies of a GOMGOOO (G (CO