The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, Fea SAAN } nn WI | i | | i Uj i ~ — - ~~, _—__— S x { . \ ; -~ *F / . _4 ; » Naf Wj ~ ‘ —s ——— a —< ——_ Y, Y) Mi} f, ae Se FIFA Vs, —. = 4, Ad a 2? on” = - ~ _¢ J "t AKO » 4 eu > ‘yy YL Yi if) _——, / ty 7 vy, A ~ — — ee Pewee wl eee ; F ~ ED ——a N =~. 8 Se > > Be —. , ‘ Ay Willie 4 if \ ' CAs Forni N/a Deh wT s, ‘ f SLA ~~ av : N = ne: SY : en vr ‘ yok *s : ia ae ~~ SaS we : ‘Ry ih — __ BNO . ' as bi 49 P|: ; ata tad (NT . oh ; hal HT iii _ Oil ke) 3 i ili “4 at ' ‘Lal \! ' ‘Jean -- «ow “* + Cow eo —- as === wy clayey soil, thinly crowned with the commonest vege- , that it was entirely concealed from view, they sprang tation. At intervals the slope is indented with a small creek, filled either by the heavy rains that drain through ashore, and proceeded onward, trampling down the boa wet grass as they went, in the direction they had taken on the preceding expedition to the same the trenches cut deep into the level, or receiving the | locality. overflowings of the tide, that, breaking beyond its ‘boundary, penetrate the land far into the interior. The outlet of a stream tributary to the Thames will be noticed here and there, by a broader indentation, and pointed out by some broken stump of an old tree, or a post half submerged, and marking the parish boundary. Here may be seen a solitary gull occa- sionally hovering over the desolate waste, and seeming in its circling flight to be bewildered by a region which it has flown into without intending; and among the wide-leaved flags and reedy tufts that grow abont the banks, a water-rat may be heard to plunge and grovel in the holes sunk in the margin of the shallow water; but other sign of life or animation will be rarely met with. _It was by one of these creeks that Randall and Hawkins now brought up their boat, and drawing it 80 closely beneath gn overhanging clump of rushes 7 “Now,” cried Hawkins, as they pursued their way towards the barn, “ you will remember what I have said, Mr. Randall. Half of all I pussess is yours, 8° that you rid me of the interloper that has again thrust himself into my path. Stop not to question him more than you can avoid, for he is artful—very artful, Mr. Randall, and will soon see the drift of our inquiries.” “Leave me to manage the business,” rejoined the bird-fancier, with a surly nod, as he plodded on through the heavy clay; “if the youngster turns rusty, I shall soon find a way to settle him as effec- tually as on the other occasion, when we first ran foul of one another.” “Tt is a lonely spot to fix upon, is it not, Mr. Randall ?’’ observed the miser, as with a grim and sullen satisfaction he contemplated the desolate waste that spread around them. “Jet a man call for help ever so loud, there would be none to hear—none to FOURTH Corm (C DOO —— a | SS (C(O)