The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

366 REYNOLDS’ WORKS into two, one leading direct toward that town. The mahout guided the elephant into the diverging road, making signs to the Burker that it would be prudent to avoid the town, for fear lest the secret of the treasure should be discovered. They presently halted at a farmhouse, where the mahout displayed some document which he carried about with him, and the presentation of this paper at once ensured the two travellers a hospitable reception. The Burker therefore concluded that the elephant and its driver belonged to some high authority, whose hands had furnished the passport which thus commanded friendly treatment. At that farmhouse they remained during the sultriest hours of the day, the mahout keeping his eye continuously upon the elephant, so as to prevent any person about the premises from detecting the secret of the treasure; nor did it appear to excite any astonishment that he would not suffer the animal to be relieved from the burden which he carried. Toward evening the journey was renewed, and it was continued until about an hour after dusk, when another halt was made at a village, or, rather, large hamlet, consist- ing of about three dozen wretched hovels. Here the presen- tation of the passport secured for the elephant the only stable that was to be found in the place, and the mahout took care that no one else should be present when he and the Burker relieved the animal from its load. Having furnished the elephant with provender, and locked up the stable, the mahout, followed by the Englishman, pro- ceeded to the khan, where an ample meal was provided from the residence of the mayor of the village. A flask of good liquor accompanied it; the Hindu and the Englishman ate and drank to their hearts’ content, and the more the latter saw of the former the better he liked him. Presently the native produced pipes and tobacco, a luxury of which the Burker gladly availed himself; but he had not smoked long when he felt as if his head were swimming around, the pipe dropped from his hand, and he sank upon the bench in the unconsciousness of profound slumber. When he awoke in the morning, he was some time before he could collect his ideas, but when his memory began to erow settled, an idea of treachery on the part of the mahout swept through his brain. This appeared to receive a terrible confirmation when, on looking around, he discovered that Gomiuicbdoc cS (E(©)