The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 358: what you’re looking at

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

THE GOSSOONS 329 stream made so sweeping a curve likewise that if the Stran- gler followed its course along its bank, either to the right hand or to the left, it would bring him again in close proximity to the rock, which now seemed to serve as a fortalice com- manding the entire position; so that the Burker conceived that he had only to sally down on either side, according to circumstances, and cut off the Strangler’s retreat. All these ideas passed through the Burker’s mind during the space of the few moments in which the Strangler was fleeing toward the river. Straight he went, neither diverging to the right nor to the left, straight to the centre of the arc formed by that bend of the stream. The weeds, the sedges, and the grass grew high upon the river’s bank; through that margining fringe rushed the Strangler, so that the Burker now became suddenly convinced that his foe did really intend to pass it by swimming, or by fording it, if it were indeed fordable. An imprecation burst from the English- man’s lips at the idea that the Hindu would after all escape him. But what is that dark object which suddenly appears amongst the weeds and sedges? The Strangler turns to re- trace his way; that object is close behind him, its whole form is now developed,—jit is a tremendous alligator! . The Hindu no longer flies in a straight direction; he turns around and around, describing small circles, so as to avoid the long jaws of the unwieldy monster, which turns like- wise. It is a scene of horrible excitement for the Burker, who beholds it all from the summit of that rock. For upwards of ten minutes does the spectacle, as strange as it is frightful, endure, the Strangler describing those circles which constitute the charm by which only is his life safe, the monster perseveringly turning and turning likewise, but unable to clutch the man in its vast gaping jaws. All in a moment the Strangler disappears from the Burker’s view; he has either fallen through giddiness or terror or exhaustion, or he has tripped over something. The alli- gator makes one forward movement, he lifts his head up, the Strangler is lying crosswise in his jaws! Horrible as this incident was, it only for the instant pro- duced one effect upon the Burker, namely, that of a savage satisfaction to find that he was rid of his remaining enemy. Soon, however, the feeling stole over him that he himself Eomichdooks (E()