The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

316 REYNOLDS’ WORKS him continuing to enjoy a slumber so profound that it appeared as if it never could have a waking. At length the Burker, utterly bereft of all patience, was about to lay his hand on the gossoon’s shoulder and shake him with an enraged violence that would speedily dispel his slumber, when the dervish suddenly started up to a sitting posture. He rubbed his eyes, looked at the Burker with a certain air of astonishment as if having totally for- gotten that he had seen such a person in that place before, and then springing up, he hastened to inspect the niche underneath the loophole. But there was no food in it, and the gossoon gave such a hideous howl of rage that the Burker was for an instant frightened lest the sound proceeded from the throat of some wild animal in the immediate neighbour- hood. The gossoon advanced toward the Burker, making threatening signs, pointing to the vacant niche and the empty knapsack, as much as to accuse him of having de- voured the provisions which ought to be there. The Bur- ker’s temper, never the sweetest at any time, was particu- larly ruffled by the entire conduct of the gossoon, and for- getting his conciliatory policy, he replied by signs that were irate and menacing. A terrific expression of rage swept over the gossoon’s countenance, and suddenly seizing the Burker with both arms around the body, he lifted him up and dashed him down upon the granite blocks which lay close by the mouth of the cavern. Herculean was the strength of the gossoon, — a strength, too, that was exercised with a skill and expertness which made the achievement the work of a single instant. Power- less as a dwarf in the hands of a giant, and taken com- pletely unawares, the Burker was utterly unable to offer any resistance, so that with lightning rapidity did he find himself thus thrown, half-stunned, upon the granite blocks. There he lay for a few instants, and as he slowly picked him- self up, it was in the most sombre sullenness of mood that he submitted to this treatment without an effort to avenge it. For in the midst of the concentrated rage and vindictive spite which filled his soul, was the consciousness that even if he had the power to slay the gossoon, it would be an act of madness, thereby cutting off this last remaining chance of escape from the jungle. For the same reason, too, he doggedly resolved to return to his conciliatory policy toward CORNIELIOOLKKS (E()