The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

320 REYNOLDS’ WORKS of the effects produced upon himself by the dreams of the past night. For that malignant gossoon again went through the imitation of the Burker’s convulsive writhings, and he ended by giving vent to another mocking yell more hideous than even that by which he had so startled the English outcast a short while back. The elder gossoon laughed with a low, inward chuckling which was horrible to hear, and then he contemptuously tossed the Burker a part of his provisions. The bag was a large one, and even when three people had partaken of its contents, enough provender evidently remained for three or four more meals of the same extent as this first one. But the old gossoon had brought with him no liquor, and the crystal spring accordingly supplied the means of washing down the food that was then partaken of. When the repast was ended, the elder gossoon addressed in his own language some question to the Burker, but the latter by signs intimated that he was ignorant of what was thus said to him. It soon transpired that the gossoons themselves were equally at a loss to understand the English- man, and the two itinerants accordingly conversed together, taking no further notice of the Burker. This individual waited with anxious suspense for some indication of their future plans or movements, but for three mortal hours they stirred not, and when their colloquy was ended, they stretched themselves down to sleep. The rage and impatience which the wretched outcast had experienced on the preceding day were now excelled by the feelings which took possession of him when he saw those lazy vagabonds so tranquilly and unconcernedly compose them- selves to slumber. But what could he do? He must bide their good-will and pleasure, and to the utmost of his power he must render himself agreeable to them, for fear lest they should leave him behind, as the other gossoons had done, on taking their departure. He therefore strove to assuage his boiling impatience, to appease his irritated feelings, and to sustain himself with the hope that the moment for egress from that dreadful jungle must come at last. The gossoons slept on, and the sun was again sinking toward the western horizon before they awoke. Then the provision-bag was again opened, and a ration was bestowed upon the Burker, though not to the same extent as that CORIIEOOOKS (E()