The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOSSOONS 320 strength of the elder gossoon, emaciated a wretch though he were, was in no way inferior to that of his younger com- panion. Both were his masters, and seemed resolved to prove themselves so. In a mood of sullen resignation and dogged submission did the Burker continue his task, and when it was completed he and the two gossoons stretched themselves supperless to repose. The itinerants speedily slept, but the cravings of hunger kept the Burker awake for the greater part of the night. At length sleep visited his eyes also, and if his dreams were less horrible than usual, it was perhaps because he had all the less to tax or trouble his digestive organs. In the morning the gossoons again ascended to the top of the hill, again too followed by the Burker, who was as much interested as themselves in the arcival of any one bearing a supply of provisions. But no approaching form was to be seen. Crashing through the jungle at a little distance was that phenomenon, a white elephant, called an albino; but it was speedily lost to the view, and the straining eyes of the two gossoons and the Burker were again riveted in the direction whence the former evidently expected an arrival. And now, the Burker’s ideas changing, he began to hope that no one would come after all, for in this case he saw the necessity of the gossoons leaving the cavern and betaking themselves to the nearest inhabited spot where provisions might be procured, — in which case he was re- solved to accompany or to dog them, unless overpowered by their superior brute force. All of a sudden, however, ejaculations of joy burst from the lips of the gossoons, for they, with eyes more accustomed to mark the movements of human beings in their own native land than the Burker’s could possibly be, beheld some one advancing. In a short time the Burker himself discerned the form which came hastening along with light step, for the expected individual was quite young. He likewise was a gossoon, not above two or three and twenty years of age, and he was as remarkable for his personal beauty as those whom he came to join were for their ugliness. He was of the medium stature, slender and well made, with a faultless aquiline profile, and superb eyes. He was attired with some- what more neatness than the other gossoons, but still in a poor style, and his person displayed more cleanly habits. GOMiiGdoG SS) (©)