English
‘Hallo!’criedaloud,hoarsevoice,assoonastheysetfootinthepassage.
‘Don’tmakesucharow,’saidSikes,boltingthedoor.‘Showaglim,Toby.’
‘Aha!mypal!’criedthesamevoice.‘Aglim,Barney,aglim!Showthegentlemanin,Barney;wakeupfirst,ifconvenient.’
Thespeakerappearedtothrowaboot-jack,orsomesucharticle,atthepersonheaddressed,torousehimfromhisslumbers:forthenoiseofawoodenbody,fallingviolently,washeard;andthenanindistinctmuttering,asofamanbetweensleepandawake.
‘Doyouhear?’criedthesamevoice.
‘There’sBillSikesinthepassagewithnobodytodotheciviltohim;andyousleepingthere,asifyoutooklaudanumwithyourmeals,andnothingstronger.
Areyouanyfreshernow,ordoyouwanttheironcandlesticktowakeyouthoroughly?’
Apairofslipshodfeetshuffled,hastily,acrossthebareflooroftheroom,asthisinterrogatorywasput;andthereissued,fromadoorontherighthand;first,afeeblecandle:andnext,theformofthesameindividualwhohasbeenheretoforedescribedaslabouringundertheinfirmityofspeakingthroughhisnose,andofficiatingaswaiteratthepublic-houseonSaffronHill.
‘BisterSikes!’exclaimedBarney,withrealorcounterfeitjoy;‘cubid,sir;cubid.’
‘Here!yougetonfirst,’saidSikes,puttingOliverinfrontofhim.‘Quicker!orIshalltreaduponyourheels.’
Mutteringacurseuponhistardiness,SikespushedOliverbeforehim;andtheyenteredalowdarkroomwithasmokyfire,twoorthreebrokenchairs,atable,andaveryoldcouch:onwhich,withhislegsmuchhigherthanhishead,amanwasreposingatfulllength,smokingalongclaypipe.
Hewasdressedinasmartly-cutsnuff-colouredcoat,withlargebrassbuttons;anorangeneckerchief;acoarse,staring,shawl-patternwaistcoat;anddrabbreeches.
Mr.Crackit(forheitwas)hadnoverygreatquantityofhair,eitheruponhisheadorface;butwhathehad,wasofareddishdye,andtorturedintolongcorkscrewcurls,throughwhichheoccasionallythrustsomeverydirtyfingers,ornamentedwithlargecommonrings.
Hewasatrifleabovethemiddlesize,andapparentlyratherweakinthelegs;butthiscircumstancebynomeansdetractedfromhisownadmirationofhistop-boots,whichhecontemplated,intheirelevatedsituation,withlivelysatisfaction.
‘Bill,myboy!’saidthisfigure,turninghisheadtowardsthedoor,‘I’mgladtoseeyou.Iwasalmostafraidyou’dgivenitup:inwhichcaseIshouldhavemadeapersonalwentur.Hallo!’
Utteringthisexclamationinatoneofgreatsurprise,ashiseyesrestedonOliver,Mr.TobyCrackitbroughthimselfintoasittingposture,anddemandedwhothatwas.
‘Theboy.Onlytheboy!’repliedSikes,drawingachairtowardsthefire.
‘WudofBisterFagid’slads,’exclaimedBarney,withagrin.
‘Fagin’s,eh!’exclaimedToby,lookingatOliver.‘Wotaninwalableboythat’llmake,fortheoldladies’pocketsinchapels!Hismugisafortin’tohim.’
‘There—there’senoughofthat,’interposedSikes,impatiently;andstoopingoverhisrecumbantfriend,hewhisperedafewwordsinhisear:atwhichMr.Crackitlaughedimmensely,andhonouredOliverwithalongstareofastonishment.
‘Now,’saidSikes,asheresumedhisseat,‘ifyou’llgiveussomethingtoeatanddrinkwhilewe’rewaiting,you’llputsomeheartinus;orinme,atallevents.
Sitdownbythefire,younker,andrestyourself;foryou’llhavetogooutwithusagainto-night,thoughnotveryfaroff.’
OliverlookedatSikes,inmuteandtimidwonder;anddrawingastooltothefire,satwithhisachingheaduponhishands,scarecelyknowingwherehewas,orwhatwaspassingaroundhim.
‘Here,’saidToby,astheyoungJewplacedsomefragmentsoffood,andabottleuponthetable,‘Successtothecrack!’
Herosetohonourthetoast;and,carefullydepositinghisemptypipeinacorner,advancedtothetable,filledaglasswithspirits,anddrankoffitscontents.Mr.Sikesdidthesame.
‘Adrainfortheboy,’saidToby,half-fillingawine-glass.‘Downwithit,innocence.’
‘Indeed,’saidOliver,lookingpiteouslyupintotheman’sface;‘indeed,I—’
‘Downwithit!’echoedToby.‘DoyouthinkIdon’tknowwhat’sgoodforyou?Tellhimtodrinkit,Bill.’
‘Hehadbetter!’saidSikesclappinghishanduponhispocket.‘Burnmybody,ifheisn’tmoretroublethanawholefamilyofDodgers.Drinkit,youperwerseimp;drinkit!’
Frightenedbythemenacinggesturesofthetwomen,Oliverhastilyswallowedthecontentsoftheglass,andimmediatelyfellintoaviolentfitofcoughing:whichdelightedTobyCrackitandBarney,andevendrewasmilefromthesurlyMr.Sikes.
Thisdone,andSikeshavingsatisfiedhisappetite(Olivercouldeatnothingbutasmallcrustofbreadwhichtheymadehimswallow),thetwomenlaidthemselvesdownonchairsforashortnap.
Oliverretainedhisstoolbythefire;Barneywrappedinablanket,stretchedhimselfonthefloor:closeoutsidethefender.
Theyslept,orappearedtosleep,forsometime;nobodystirringbutBarney,whoroseonceortwicetothrowcoalsonthefire.
Oliverfellintoaheavydoze:imagininghimselfstrayingalongthegloomylanes,orwanderingaboutthedarkchurchyard,orretracingsomeoneorotherofthescenesofthepastday:whenhewasrousedbyTobyCrackitjumpingupanddeclaringitwashalf-pastone.
Inaninstant,theothertwowereontheirlegs,andallwereactivelyengagedinbusypreparation.
Sikesandhiscompanionenvelopedtheirnecksandchinsinlargedarkshawls,anddrewontheirgreat-coats;Barney,openingacupboard,broughtforthseveralarticles,whichhehastilycrammedintothepockets.
‘Barkersforme,Barney,’saidTobyCrackit.
‘Heretheyare,’repliedBarney,producingapairofpistols.‘Youloadedthemyourself.’
‘Allright!’repliedToby,stowingthemaway.‘Thepersuaders?’
‘I’vegot‘em,’repliedSikes.
‘Crape,keys,centre-bits,darkies—nothingforgotten?’inquiredToby:fasteningasmallcrowbartoaloopinsidetheskirtofhiscoat.
‘Allright,’rejoinedhiscompanion.‘Bringthembitsoftimber,Barney.That’sthetimeofday.’
Withthesewords,hetookathickstickfromBarney’shands,who,havingdeliveredanothertoToby,busiedhimselfinfasteningonOliver’scape.
‘Nowthen!’saidSikes,holdingouthishand.
Oliver:whowascompletelystupifiedbytheunwontedexercise,andtheair,andthedrinkwhichhadbeenforceduponhim:puthishandmechanicallyintothatwhichSikesextendedforthepurpose.
‘Takehisotherhand,Toby,’saidSikes.‘Lookout,Barney.’
Themanwenttothedoor,andreturnedtoannouncethatallwasquiet.
ThetworobbersissuedforthwithOliverbetweenthem.
Barney,havingmadeallfast,rolledhimselfupasbefore,andwassoonasleepagain.
Itwasnowintenselydark.Thefogwasmuchheavierthanithadbeenintheearlypartofthenight;andtheatmospherewassodamp,that,althoughnorainfell,Oliver’shairandeyebrows,withinafewminutesafterleavingthehouse,hadbecomestiffwiththehalf-frozenmoisturethatwasfloatingabout.
Theycrossedthebridge,andkeptontowardsthelightswhichhehadseenbefore.
Theywereatnogreatdistanceoff;and,astheywalkedprettybriskly,theysoonarrivedatChertsey.
‘Slapthroughthetown,’whisperedSikes;‘there’llbenobodyintheway,to-night,toseeus.’
Tobyacquiesced;andtheyhurriedthroughthemainstreetofthelittletown,whichatthatlatehourwaswhollydeserted.
Adimlightshoneatintervalsfromsomebed-roomwindow;andthehoarsebarkingofdogsoccasionallybrokethesilenceofthenight.Buttherewasnobodyabroad.
Theyhadclearedthetown,asthechurch-bellstrucktwo.
Quickeningtheirpace,theyturneduparoaduponthelefthand.
Afterwalkingaboutaquarterofamile,theystoppedbeforeadetachedhousesurroundedbyawall:tothetopofwhich,TobyCrackit,scarcelypausingtotakebreath,climbedinatwinkling.
‘Theboynext,’saidToby.‘Hoisthimup;I’llcatchholdofhim.’
BeforeOliverhadtimetolookround,Sikeshadcaughthimunderthearms;andinthreeorfoursecondsheandTobywerelyingonthegrassontheotherside.Sikesfolloweddirectly.
Andtheystolecautiouslytowardsthehouse.
Andnow,forthefirsttime,Oliver,well-nighmadwithgriefandterror,sawthathousebreakingandrobbery,ifnotmurder,weretheobjectsoftheexpedition.
Heclaspedhishandstogether,andinvoluntarilyutteredasubduedexclamationofhorror.
Amistcamebeforehiseyes;thecoldsweatstooduponhisashyface;hislimbsfailedhim;andhesankuponhisknees.
‘Getup!’murmuredSikes,tremblingwithrage,anddrawingthepistolfromhispocket;‘Getup,orI’llstrewyourbrainsuponthegrass.’
‘Oh!forGod’ssakeletmego!’
criedOliver;‘letmerunawayanddieinthefields.
IwillnevercomenearLondon;never,never!Oh!
prayhavemercyonme,anddonotmakemesteal.
FortheloveofallthebrightAngelsthatrestinHeaven,havemercyuponme!’
Themantowhomthisappealwasmade,sworeadreadfuloath,andhadcockedthepistol,whenToby,strikingitfromhisgrasp,placedhishandupontheboy’smouth,anddraggedhimtothehouse.
‘Hush!’criedtheman;‘itwon’tanswerhere.
Sayanotherword,andI’lldoyourbusinessmyselfwithacrackonthehead.
Thatmakesnonoise,andisquiteascertain,andmoregenteel.Here,Bill,wrenchtheshutteropen.He’sgameenoughnow,I’llengage.
I’veseenolderhandsofhisagetookthesameway,foraminuteortwo,onacoldnight.’
Sikes,invokingterrificimprecationsuponFagin’sheadforsendingOliveronsuchanerrand,pliedthecrowbarvigorously,butwithlittlenoise.
Aftersomedelay,andsomeassistancefromToby,theshuttertowhichhehadreferred,swungopenonitshinges.
Itwasalittlelatticewindow,aboutfivefeetandahalfabovetheground,atthebackofthehouse:whichbelongedtoascullery,orsmallbrewing-place,attheendofthepassage.
Theaperturewassosmall,thattheinmateshadprobablynotthoughtitworthwhiletodefenditmoresecurely;butitwaslargeenoughtoadmitaboyofOliver’ssize,nevertheless.
AverybriefexerciseofMr.Sike’sart,sufficedtoovercomethefasteningofthelattice;anditsoonstoodwideopenalso.
‘Nowlisten,youyounglimb,’whisperedSikes,drawingadarklanternfromhispocket,andthrowingtheglarefullonOliver’sface;‘I’magoingtoputyouthroughthere.
Takethislight;gosoftlyupthestepsstraightaforeyou,andalongthelittlehall,tothestreetdoor;unfastenit,andletusin.’
‘There’saboltatthetop,youwon’tbeabletoreach,’interposedToby.‘Standupononeofthehallchairs.
Therearethreethere,Bill,withajollylargeblueunicornandgoldpitchforkon‘em:whichistheoldlady’sarms.’
‘Keepquiet,can’tyou?’repliedSikes,withathreateninglook.‘Theroom-doorisopen,isit?’
‘Wide,’repliedToby,afterpeepingintosatisfyhimself.
‘Thegameofthatis,thattheyalwaysleaveitopenwithacatch,sothatthedog,who’sgotabedinhere,maywalkupanddownthepassagewhenhefeelswakeful.Ha!ha!Barney‘ticedhimawayto-night.Soneat!’
AlthoughMr.Crackitspokeinascarcelyaudiblewhisper,andlaughedwithoutnoise,Sikesimperiouslycommandedhimtobesilent,andtogettowork.
Tobycomplied,byfirstproducinghislantern,andplacingitontheground;thenbyplantinghimselffirmlywithhisheadagainstthewallbeneaththewindow,andhishandsuponhisknees,soastomakeastepofhisback.
Thiswasnosoonerdone,thanSikes,mountinguponhim,putOivergentlythroughthewindowwithhisfeetfirst;and,withoutleavingholdofhiscollar,plantedhimsafelyonthefloorinside.
‘Takethislantern,’saidSikes,lookingintotheroom.‘Youseethestairsaforeyou?’
Oliver,moredeadthanalive,gaspedout,‘Yes.’
Sikes,pointingtothestreet-doorwiththepistol-barrel,brieflyadvisedhimtotakenoticethathewaswithinshotalltheway;andthatifhefaltered,hewouldfalldeadthatinstant.
‘It’sdoneinaminute,’saidSikes,inthesamelowwhisper.‘DirectlyIleavegoofyou,doyourwork.Hark!’
‘What’sthat?’whisperedtheotherman.
Theylistenedintently.
‘Nothing,’saidSikes,releasinghisholdofOliver.‘Now!’
Intheshorttimehehadhadtocollecthissenses,theboyhadfirmlyresolvedthat,whetherhediedintheattemptornot,hewouldmakeoneefforttodartupstairsfromthehall,andalarmthefamily.
Filledwiththisidea,headvancedatonce,butstealthily.
‘Comeback!’suddenlycriedSikesaloud.‘Back!back!’
Scaredbythesuddenbreakingofthedeadstillnessoftheplace,andbyaloudcrywhichfollowedit,Oliverlethislanternfall,andknewnotwhethertoadvanceorfly.
Thecrywasrepeated—alightappeared—avisionoftwoterrifiedhalf-dressedmenatthetopofthestairsswambeforehiseyes—aflash—aloudnoise—asmoke—acrashsomewhere,butwhereheknewnot,—andhestaggeredback.
Sikeshaddisappearedforaninstant;buthewasupagain,andhadhimbythecollarbeforethesmokehadclearedaway.
Hefiredhisownpistolafterthemen,whowerealreadyretreating;anddraggedtheboyup.
‘Claspyourarmtighter,’saidSikes,ashedrewhimthroughthewindow.‘Givemeashawlhere.They’vehithim.Quick!Howtheboybleeds!’
Thencametheloudringingofabell,mingledwiththenoiseoffire-arms,andtheshoutsofmen,andthesensationofbeingcarriedoverunevengroundatarapidpace.
Andthen,thenoisesgrewconfusedinthedistance;andacolddeadlyfeelingcreptovertheboy’sheart;andhesaworheardnomore.
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