The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

362 " THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. caused this motion, even on the part of a sleeper; —apnd he kept one eye just so slightly open that he could etill discern anything that might take place at the mouth of the well. A few more minutes now elapsed—when the Burker beheld a dark countenance appearing above the thicket ; and he recognised it to be that of one of the shark-teethed assassins of the two travellers in another part of the jungle. The Strangler was gazing with his penetrating eyes upon him; and being apparently satisfied that the Burker really slept, he drew himself up more and more above the thicket and the stones. He had on his dark scanty garment, just the same as when the Burker Had previously seen him: but he seemed to have no weapons of any kind, except the lasso, which was now tied round his waist. It was a relief to the Burker’s mind thus to ascertain the condition in which the Strangler pre- sented himeelf. Stealthily he stepped forth from his ambush; and he seemed to be alone; for he tarried not to be followed by any companion: nor did he look down into the well to make any sign or to whisper any word. He now laid himself fiat upon the grass, and began noiselessly dragging himself towards the Burker. This the Burker b no means liked : for the idea of 9 subtle poison a the point of some small sharp instrument, instan- taneously flashed through his startled brain. For a few moments longer he remained undecided how to act,—while the Strangler was working his noise- less way nearer and nearer towards hia. All in moment the Burker sprang up: but quick ag his own movement was that of the Hindoo; and not more quickly do $wo wild animals close in the deadly strife than did these two men grapple with each other The Burker was astonished at the degree cf strength developed by his opponent,— whose wiry form, with bat little goer upon it, seemed likewise to be endowed with gn extraor- dinary elasticity. The Burker felt that all bis own energies were needed ; for he read a ferocious des- peration in the sinister gleaming eyes of the Strangler. Those two men regarded each other as if the feeling were mutual that the safety of one could only be secured by the death of the other; and thus, after they had grappled together with the lightning-agility already described, they paused for an instant, as if mutually to read each other’s purpose in their eyes. Then the struggle commenced. With a cry that resembled the mingled howl and yell of a wild beast, the Burker endeavoured to hurl his opponent to the ground: but the Hindoo, anticipating the movement, grasped the Burker’s neckcloth with such terrific force as al- most to strangle him. Then the Burker dealt tremendous blows with his great thick boots at the bare legs of the Strangler; so that the latter, unable to endure the agony, loosened his hold. But not « sound fell from his lips. No accent of either rage or pain escaped him: in total silence did he conduct his hostile proceedings, as if he were dumb. His hold was loosened but for an instant; and then he closed in such a manner with the Burker that the latter was no longer able to use his legs as weapons of offence, but had quite enough to do fo prevent himeelf from being thrown down. Mastering up all his strength—arming himeelf as it were with all the energies that he could possibly call to his aid, he made a tremendous effort to bring down his foe. But quick as lightning the Hindoo darted away to a little distance: in the twinkling of an eye the lasso was taken from over the folds of his garment; and its length was flung forth as rapidly as the boa constrictor had ere now thrown itself from the tree upon the tiger. The Burker was however fully on his guard; and asthe noose approached him he caaght it in his hand. With a sudden jerk it was torn away; and the Strangler disappeared amidst the bushes and long grags at a little distance. The Burker waited for some minutes with all the keen wariness of one who wag not to be taken by surprise: but the Strangler re-appeared pot. The man sat down to rest himsolf, still however keeping his eyes fixed upon the spot where the Hindoo ‘had vanished. alf an hour passed, ang no sign was there of the Strangler: no sound inYicated his return. The Burker gave yent to a bitter imprecation that the encounter should have finished in such a manner; for he could nof help thinking that his enemy would dog him through the jatigle in the hope of taking him unawares. " Thug the ‘Burker’s position acquired a new horror; for be was not only ex- posed to the ferocious attacks of wild beasts and the more stealthy hostility of reptiles, but fe had now to guard against a monster in human shape possessing the fierceness of the former and the subtlety df the latter. | @ rose, and continued bis way: but like Robinson Crusoe on the ipland, ‘after having seen the print of @ man’s foot ‘upon the sand, he kept looking sround him, with spxious uneasi- ness énd nervous alarm, in every directiop. Thus he toiled on through the jungle until night began to close in; and then, utterly exhausted, he felt the absolute necessity of seeking some place where he might repose. But where was he to find sach aspot? Perhaps the Strangler was at no great distance?—perhape he had been creeping on amidst the bushes and the long grass, heedless of the venomous reptiles thaf might be lurking there?—peradventure even pt that moment he might be within a few yards of the Burker, wait- ing for an opportunity to throw his laseo with better effect than on the former occasion. The wretched Engiish criminal was goaded almost to desperation; and again did thoughts of suicide enter his head. He now walked feebly and like e drunken man, with the sense that if he were to atop short he must sink down, and probably be- come a prey to the unseen enemy whom he be- lieved to be dogging his footsteps. Such was the Burker’s state of mind and sach his physical condition, when, as the dusk was closing in around him, he beheld a clump of trees which by their configuration he thoufht he had seen before. Yes—he felt convinced of it! He looked about him—he beheld some other object which was familiar: he was in the neighbourhood of the very cave where he had previously found an asylum, and where unseen hands had afforded him the means of appeasing his hunger. He ex- perienced a feeling of relief, while he marvelled that by a long circuitous route his wanderings should thus have brought him back to a place which he had fancied to have been abandoned for ever. GOnMIGOOOKS (CO Pe