The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 343: what you’re looking at

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

314 REYNOLDS’ WORKS was at hand, for he resolved that if the dervish, imitating the example of his predecessors, should refuse him his guid- ance, he would compel him by violence to succour him in that sense, or else would pertinaciously dog his footsteps and thus be led from the jungle. As the gossoon drew nearer still, the Burker discerned that he was one of the lowest of the sect of religious itinerants, —in fact, a wandering beggar, dependent on the alms of charity. These facts his garb and general appearance announced, while his looks were of the most forbidding character. He was about fifty years of age; his hair and beard were grizzled, and he had a strong cast in one eye, which added to his sinister aspect. The gossoon seemed surprised for a few moments on be- holding an European there, but the Burker, deeming it the most prudent course to assume a demeanour of entreaty, descended from the top of the hillock and made signs to implore the gossoon to lead him forth from the jungle. The itinerant religionist made some sign of impatience in reply, and at once proceeded to the cave. There he looked in the niche underneath the loophole, and on discovering the Burker’s knapsack, he opened it. An expression of delight appeared on his sinister features on finding a provision of boiled rice inside, and coming forth to the entrance of the cavern, he sat himself down to partake of the food. He ate it in a manner so ravenous as to indicate that his fast must have been a long one, and the Burker, thinking to do him a pleasure, took up the gourd, at the same time intima- ting by a sign that he would go and fill it with water. The gossoon did not, however, appear to take any notice of him, so busied was he in cramming the cold boiled rice down his throat. The Burker hastened to fill the gourd at the spring which welled forth behind the rocky hill, and returning to the gossoon, he presented it to him. But the dervish, with a growl as savage and as sullen as if it came from the throat of a wild beast, repulsed the gourd so rudely that it dropped from the Burker’s hand; and then the gossoon, taking a small flask from the folds of his garments, drained its con- tents, whatever they were, to the very bottom. Having done this, and without taking any more notice of the Burker, he rose, entered the cavern, threw himself lazily down, and in a few minutes was fast asleep. For a moment the Burker was deeply incensed at the CONMICOOOKS (EO)