The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

THE RUINED TEMPLE 369 fected by a wild beast. The Englishman now directed the mahout’s attention to the sliding trap-door, and lighting a torch, he led the way down into the cavern. The Hindu followed him in fullest confidence, — as indeed he well might, for he was armed with pistols and other weapons, whereas the Burker was defenceless. On beholding the vases filled with coins, the native’s countenance expressed admiration, wonder, and joy, and the Englishman, by means of signs and the few words which he could command, gave him to understand that they would remove and share this hoard of wealth. The mahout grasped the Burker’s hand in ratification of the bargain, as well as in token of friendship, and they went to work accordingly. The mahout was provided with immense bags, in which he was accustomed to carry the elephant’s provender; these were slung over the animal’s back, the jars were brought forth, and the coin was consigned to those sacks. But the Hindu, though an honest, good-tempered fellow, was not altogether without the characteristic cunning of his race, and in order to prevent the coins from jingling in the bags, he expertly put thin layers of grass and large leaves. Ina short time the sacks were filled to the extent which the mahout thought the elephant could conveniently bear, and the re- mainder of the coin was secured about the persons of the two men. They now set out together, both mounted upon the ele- phant, and the Burker was rejoiced to find that the mahout’s way was in quite the contrary direction from the town where he had seen the horrible tortures administered, and whence he had been scared off by the warning of the police official. The Hindu endeavoured to make the Burker under- stand the destination for which he was bound and the length of the journey which he had to perform, but the Englishman’s acquaintance with Hindustani was much too limited to enable him to comprehend his new friend’s meaning. It was however sufficient for the Burker that he had at length fallen in with one who seemed friendly disposed toward him, and who had an identical interest with his own, so to speak, in reference to the treasure whereof they had obtained pos- session. In a few hours a town became visible in the distance, and the travellers reached a point where the road branched off CONIC OC SS) (S©)