The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

THE RUINED TEMPLE 367 he was alone. He was on the point of giving way to his rage, when he felt that the money he had secured about his person was still all in safety there, and in a few moments the mahout made his appearance. The Burker’s counte- nance instantaneously cleared up, while the native burst out into a merry peal of laughter, at the same time pointing to the broken pipe which lay upon the floor, and tapping his head significantly. The Burker comprehended his friend’s meaning, which was to the effect that the tobacco had proved too strong for him. The mahout had been to look after his elephant; a good meal was now brought in from the mayor’s cottage, and the Burker did all the more justice to the provisions, inasmuch as his mind was relieved from the cruel apprehension which for a moment had smitten it, and he now felt that the completest reliance could be placed in the integrity of his companion. The journey was resumed, and for two or three hours the road lay through a tract of country where habitations were to be seen only at very distant intervals. At length, at about midday, when the heat of the sun was growing of an intolerable sultriness, a halt was made at a farmhouse at no great distance from a town which appeared to be of considerable extent. The Hindu, however, gave the Burker to understand that the town would be avoided when their journey was resumed. The passport, as heretofore, ensured the travellers a welcome reception on the part of the native and his family who inhabited the farmhouse, and still the mahout looked carefully after his elephant. They had not been half an hour at this farmhouse, when half a dozen horsemen were seen advancing, and the Burker felt somewhat uncomfortable on recognizing the uniforms of the peons, or policemen. He fancied likewise, by the aspect of the mahout, that this individual would rather have avoided the company into which he was about to be thrown. The peons came up, dismounted from their horses, and led them into the stable to which the elephant had been consigned. Just within the doorway of the stable the mahout and the Burker had posted themselves, and they were at the time partaking of the provisions so bounteously fur- nished by the occupants of the farmhouse. The peons looked suspiciously at the Burker, but the mahout hastened to say something, which produced a change GOMIIGDOG SS (S©)