The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 231: what you’re looking at

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

204 REYNOLDS’ WORKS moment, quick as thought, they tightened upon the pipe with even a stronger tenacity than before, while his lower limbs grasped it convulsively. But the pipe was bending! To retreat was impossible; there was no gliding nor sliding back from the position in which he had placed himself. On he must go at all risks and ventures, — on he must go though the next instant should see the pipe suddenly give way or break beneath him and plunge the wretch headlong into the abyss below. Fortune however seemed determined to favour him; the pipe bent, but did not break. Hope grew stronger in his breast, and it was with a wild thrill of joy that he could at length say to himself he was safe. His right hand clutched the ledge of the parapet of the high building to which he had thus ven- turously and desperately clambered up; a few instants more, and he stood in safety on the flat roof of that building. Almost overcome by a sense of the danger from which he had escaped, and shuddering at the recollection of the hideous gulf which by means of a frail pipe he had thus bridged, the Burker threw himself flat upon his back on the leads to repose for a few instants ere he pursued his way. Precious though time were, yet the man could not help thus resting there for that brief space. CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)