The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

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

328 REYNOLDS’ WORKS the other might not have a knife or dagger, or even a pistol, concealed about the person. With his club held up over his head, alike as a means of defence against the lasso, and to be in readiness to deal a terrific blow, the Burker rushed on to the combat. The Strangler stood firm, holding his cord in a peculiar manner, and as the Burker drew near, that lasso was thrown out with such sudden violence that the knot of the noose struck him upon the mouth. The blood gushed forth, and he was for an instant staggered, but maddened with pain, he made one bound toward his enemy. The Strangler darted aside, and gathered up his lasso with incredible rapidity for the purpose of using it again, but the Burker’s club reached his left arm as a blow was dealt with all the energy of the infuriate Englishman. That arm fell crushed and powerless by the Strangler’s side, but the right hand again threw forth the lasso, and again too with more or less effect. It struck the Burker in the middle of the forehead, with such violence as to make him reel even more than the former blow, and lightning appeared to gleam before his eyes. But again did he rush toward the Strangler, who however darted back, and the lasso was once more whistling through the air, its noose this time being thrown at the Burker’s neck. It was a marvel that he avoided it, and yet he did. Then, at the same instant, he hurled his cudgel with all his might at the Strangler; it struck the Hindu a tremendous blow upon the face, and the wretch toppled over the side of the rock, which in that direction was precipitous. The Burker looked down into the abyss of about thirty feet in depth, and there he beheld the Strangler darting away, for, to the Englishman’s astonishment, his opponent had evidently alighted on his feet. The lasso, having fallen from the Strangler’s hand, lay upon the top of the rock, and it was now evident that the Hindu miscreant_ himself had experienced enough of the conflict for the present occasion. He was flying, and the Burker remained a victor upon the battle-ground. At a very little distance a broad stream was rolling, and the thought struck the Burker that he would pursue his enemy and despatch him altogether. That river ap- peared to bar the Strangler’s progress, for how could he swim across it with the use only of his right arm? And the GEomichbooks €o