English
‘Wolvestearyourthroats!’mutteredSikes,grindinghisteeth.‘IwishIwasamongsomeofyou;you’dhowlthehoarserforit.’
AsSikesgrowledforththisimprecation,withthemostdesperateferocitythathisdesperatenaturewascapableof,herestedthebodyofthewoundedboyacrosshisbendedknee;andturnedhishead,foraninstant,tolookbackathispursuers.
Therewaslittletobemadeout,inthemistanddarkness;buttheloudshoutingofmenvibratedthroughtheair,andthebarkingoftheneighbouringdogs,rousedbythesoundofthealarmbell,resoundedineverydirection.
‘Stop,youwhite-liveredhound!’criedtherobber,shoutingafterTobyCrackit,who,makingthebestuseofhislonglegs,wasalreadyahead.‘Stop!’
Therepetitionoftheword,broughtTobytoadeadstand-still.Forhewasnotquitesatisfiedthathewasbeyondtherangeofpistol-shot;andSikeswasinnomoodtobeplayedwith.
‘Bearahandwiththeboy,’criedSikes,beckoningfuriouslytohisconfederate.‘Comeback!’
Tobymadeashowofreturning;butventured,inalowvoice,brokenforwantofbreath,tointimateconsiderablereluctanceashecameslowlyalong.
‘Quicker!’criedSikes,layingtheboyinadryditchathisfeet,anddrawingapistolfromhispocket.‘Don’tplaybootywithme.’
Atthismomentthenoisegrewlouder.Sikes,againlookinground,coulddiscernthatthemenwhohadgivenchasewerealreadyclimbingthegateofthefieldinwhichhestood;andthatacoupleofdogsweresomepacesinadvanceofthem.
‘It’sallup,Bill!’criedToby;‘dropthekid,andshow‘emyourheels.’
Withthispartingadvice,Mr.Crackit,preferringthechanceofbeingshotbyhisfriend,tothecertaintyofbeingtakenbyhisenemies,fairlyturnedtail,anddartedoffatfullspeed.
Sikesclenchedhisteeth;tookonelookaround;threwovertheprostrateformofOliver,thecapeinwhichhehadbeenhurriedlymuffled;ranalongthefrontofthehedge,asiftodistracttheattentionofthosebehind,fromthespotwheretheboylay;paused,forasecond,beforeanotherhedgewhichmetitatrightangles;andwhirlinghispistolhighintotheair,cleareditatabound,andwasgone.
‘Ho,ho,there!’criedatremulousvoiceintherear.‘Pincher!Neptune!Comehere,comehere!’
Thedogs,who,incommonwiththeirmasters,seemedtohavenoparticularrelishforthesportinwhichtheywereengaged,readilyansweredtothecommand.
Threemen,whohadbythistimeadvancedsomedistanceintothefield,stoppedtotakecounseltogether.
‘Myadvice,or,leastways,Ishouldsay,myorders,is,’saidthefattestmanoftheparty,‘thatwe‘mediatelygohomeagain.’
‘IamagreeabletoanythingwhichisagreeabletoMr.Giles,’saidashorterman;whowasbynomeansofaslimfigure,andwhowasverypaleintheface,andverypolite:asfrightenedmenfrequentlyare.
‘Ishouldn’twishtoappearill-mannered,gentlemen,’saidthethird,whohadcalledthedogsback,‘Mr.Gilesoughttoknow.’
‘Certainly,’repliedtheshorterman;‘andwhateverMr.Gilessays,itisn’tourplacetocontradicthim.No,no,Iknowmysitiwation!Thankmystars,Iknowmysitiwation.’
Totellthetruth,thelittlemandidseemtoknowhissituation,andtoknowperfectlywellthatitwasbynomeansadesirableone;forhisteethchatteredinhisheadashespoke.
‘Youareafraid,Brittles,’saidMr.Giles.
‘Ian’t,’saidBrittles.
‘Youare,’saidGiles.
‘You’reafalsehood,Mr.Giles,’saidBrittles.
‘You’realie,Brittles,’saidMr.Giles.
Now,thesefourretortsarosefromMr.Giles’staunt;andMr.Giles’staunthadarisenfromhisindignationathavingtheresponsibilityofgoinghomeagain,imposeduponhimselfundercoverofacompliment.
Thethirdmanbroughtthedisputetoaclose,mostphilosophically.
‘I’lltellyouwhatitis,gentlemen,’saidhe,‘we’reallafraid.’
‘Speakforyourself,sir,’saidMr.Giles,whowasthepalestoftheparty.
‘SoIdo,’repliedtheman.‘It’snaturalandpropertobeafraid,undersuchcircumstances.Iam.’
‘SoamI,’saidBrittles;‘onlythere’snocalltotellamanheis,sobounceably.’
ThesefrankadmissionssoftenedMr.Giles,whoatonceownedthathewasafraid;uponwhich,theyallthreefacedabout,andranbackagainwiththecompletestunanimity,untilMr.Giles(whohadtheshortestwindoftheparty,aswasencumberedwithapitchfork)mosthandsomelyinsistedonstopping,tomakeanapologyforhishastinessofspeech.
‘Butit’swonderful,’saidMr.Giles,whenhehadexplained,‘whatamanwilldo,whenhisbloodisup.Ishouldhavecommittedmurder—IknowIshould—ifwe’dcaughtoneofthemrascals.’
Astheothertwowereimpressedwithasimilarpresentiment;andastheirblood,likehis,hadallgonedownagain;somespeculationensueduponthecauseofthissuddenchangeintheirtemperament.
‘Iknowwhatitwas,’saidMr.Giles;‘itwasthegate.’
‘Ishouldn’twonderifitwas,’exclaimedBrittles,catchingattheidea.
‘Youmaydependuponit,’saidGiles,‘thatthatgatestoppedtheflowoftheexcitement.Ifeltallminesuddenlygoingaway,asIwasclimbingoverit.’
Byaremarkablecoincidence,theothertwohadbeenvisitedwiththesameunpleasantsensationatthatprecisemoment.
Itwasquiteobvious,therefore,thatitwasthegate;especiallyastherewasnodoubtregardingthetimeatwhichthechangehadtakenplace,becauseallthreerememberedthattheyhadcomeinsightoftherobbersattheinstantofitsoccurance.
Thisdialoguewasheldbetweenthetwomenwhohadsurprisedtheburglars,andatravellingtinkerwhohadbeensleepinginanouthouse,andwhohadbeenroused,togetherwithhistwomongrelcurs,tojoininthepursuit.
Mr.Gilesactedinthedoublecapacityofbutlerandstewardtotheoldladyofthemansion;Brittleswasaladofall-work:who,havingenteredherserviceamerechild,wastreatedasapromisingyoungboystill,thoughhewassomethingpastthirty.
Encouragingeachotherwithsuchconverseasthis;but,keepingveryclosetogether,notwithstanding,andlookingapprehensivelyround,wheneverafreshgustrattledthroughtheboughs;thethreemenhurriedbacktoatree,behindwhichtheyhadlefttheirlantern,lestitslightshouldinformthethievesinwhatdirectiontofire.
Catchingupthelight,theymadethebestoftheirwayhome,atagoodroundtrot;andlongaftertheirduskyformshadceasedtobediscernible,thelightmighthavebeenseentwinklinganddancinginthedistance,likesomeexhalationofthedampandgloomyatmospherethroughwhichitwasswiftlyborne.
Theairgrewcolder,asdaycameslowlyon;andthemistrolledalongthegroundlikeadensecloudofsmoke.
Thegrasswaswet;thepathways,andlowplaces,wereallmireandwater;thedampbreathofanunwholesomewindwentlanguidlyby,withahollowmoaning.
Still,OliverlaymotionlessandinsensibleonthespotwhereSikeshadlefthim.
Morningdrewonapace.Theairbecomemoresharpandpiercing,asitsfirstdullhue—thedeathofnight,ratherthanthebirthofday—glimmeredfaintlyinthesky.
Theobjectswhichhadlookeddimandterribleinthedarkness,grewmoreandmoredefined,andgraduallyresolvedintotheirfamiliarshapes.
Theraincamedown,thickandfast,andpatterednoisilyamongtheleaflessbushes.
But,Oliverfeltitnot,asitbeatagainsthim;forhestilllaystretched,helplessandunconscious,onhisbedofclay.
Atlength,alowcryofpainbrokethestillnessthatprevailed;andutteringit,theboyawoke.
Hisleftarm,rudelybandagedinashawl,hungheavyanduselessathisside;thebandagewassaturatedwithblood.
Hewassoweak,thathecouldscarcelyraisehimselfintoasittingposture;whenhehaddoneso,helookedfeeblyroundforhelp,andgroanedwithpain.
Tremblingineveryjoint,fromcoldandexhaustion,hemadeanefforttostandupright;but,shudderingfromheadtofoot,fellprostrateontheground.
Afterashortreturnofthestuporinwhichhehadbeensolongplunged,Oliver:urgedbyacreepingsicknessathisheart,whichseemedtowarnhimthatifhelaythere,hemustsurelydie:gotuponhisfeet,andessayedtowalk.
Hisheadwasdizzy,andhestaggeredtoandfrolikeadrunkenman.
Buthekeptup,nevertheless,and,withhisheaddroopinglanguidlyonhisbreast,wentstumblingonward,heknewnotwhither.
Andnow,hostsofbewilderingandconfusedideascamecrowdingonhismind.
HeseemedtobestillwalkingbetweenSikesandCrackit,whowereangrilydisputing—fortheverywordstheysaid,soundedinhisears;andwhenhecaughthisownattention,asitwere,bymakingsomeviolentefforttosavehimselffromfalling,hefoundthathewastalkingtothem.
Then,hewasalonewithSikes,ploddingonasonthepreviousday;andasshadowypeoplepassedthem,hefelttherobber’sgraspuponhiswrist.
Suddenly,hestartedbackatthereportoffirearms;thereroseintotheair,loudcriesandshouts;lightsgleamedbeforehiseyes;allwasnoiseandtumult,assomeunseenhandborehimhurriedlyaway.
Throughalltheserapidvisions,thererananundefined,uneasyconsciousnessofpain,whichweariedandtormentedhimincessantly.
Thushestaggeredon,creeping,almostmechanically,betweenthebarsofgates,orthroughhedge-gapsastheycameinhisway,untilhereachedaroad.
Heretherainbegantofallsoheavily,thatitrousedhim.
Helookedabout,andsawthatatnogreatdistancetherewasahouse,whichperhapshecouldreach.
Pityinghiscondition,theymighthavecompassiononhim;andiftheydidnot,itwouldbebetter,hethought,todienearhumanbeings,thaninthelonelyopenfields.
Hesummonedupallhisstrengthforonelasttrial,andbenthisfalteringstepstowardsit.
Ashedrewnearertothishouse,afeelingcomeoverhimthathehadseenitbefore.Herememberednothingofitsdetails;buttheshapeandaspectofthebuildingseemedfamiliartohim.
Thatgardenwall!Onthegrassinside,hehadfallenonhiskneeslastnight,andprayedthetwomen’smercy.Itwastheveryhousetheyhadattemptedtorob.
Oliverfeltsuchfearcomeoverhimwhenherecognisedtheplace,that,fortheinstant,heforgottheagonyofhiswound,andthoughtonlyofflight.Flight!
Hecouldscarcelystand:andifhewereinfullpossessionofallthebestpowersofhisslightandyouthfulframe,whithercouldhefly?
Hepushedagainstthegarden-gate;itwasunlocked,andswungopenonitshinges.
Hetotteredacrossthelawn;climbedthesteps;knockedfaintlyatthedoor;and,hiswholestrengthfailinghim,sunkdownagainstoneofthepillarsofthelittleportico.
Ithappenedthataboutthistime,Mr.Giles,Brittles,andthetinker,wererecruitingthemselves,afterthefatiguesandterrorsofthenight,withteaandsundries,inthekitchen.
NotthatitwasMr.Giles’shabittoadmittotoogreatfamiliaritythehumblerservants:towardswhomitwasratherhiswonttodeporthimselfwithaloftyaffability,which,whileitgratified,couldnotfailtoremindthemofhissuperiorpositioninsociety.
But,death,fires,andburglary,makeallmenequals;soMr.Gilessatwithhislegsstretchedoutbeforethekitchenfender,leaninghisleftarmonthetable,while,withhisright,heillustratedacircumstantialandminuteaccountoftherobbery,towhichhisbearers(butespeciallythecookandhousemaid,whowereoftheparty)listenedwithbreathlessinterest.
‘Itwasabouthalf-pasttwo,’saidMr.Giles,‘orIwouldn’tswearthatitmightn’thavebeenalittlenearerthree,whenIwokeup,and,turningroundinmybed,asitmightbeso,(hereMr.Gilesturnedroundinhischair,andpulledthecornerofthetable-clothoverhimtoimitatebed-clothes,)IfanciedIheerdanoise.’
Atthispointofthenarrativethecookturnedpale,andaskedthehousemaidtoshutthedoor:whoaskedBrittles,whoaskedthetinker,whopretendednottohear.
’—Heerdanoise,’continuedMr.Giles.‘Isays,atfirst,“Thisisillusion”;andwascomposingmyselfofftosleep,whenIheerdthenoiseagain,distinct.’
‘Whatsortofanoise?’askedthecook.
‘Akindofabustingnoise,’repliedMr.Giles,lookingroundhim.
‘Morelikethenoiseofpowderingaironbaronanutmeg-grater,’suggestedBrittles.
‘Itwas,whenyouheerdit,sir,’rejoinedMr.Giles;‘but,atthistime,ithadabustingsound.
Iturneddowntheclothes’;continuedGiles,rollingbackthetable-cloth,‘satupinbed;andlistened.’
Thecookandhousemaidsimultaneouslyejaculated‘Lor!’anddrewtheirchairsclosertogether.
‘Iheerditnow,quiteapparent,’resumedMr.Giles.
’”Somebody,”Isays,“isforcingofadoor,orwindow;what’stobedone?
I’llcallupthatpoorlad,Brittles,andsavehimfrombeingmurderedinhisbed;orhisthroat,”Isays,“maybecutfromhisrighteartohisleft,withouthiseverknowingit.”’
Here,alleyeswereturneduponBrittles,whofixedhisuponthespeaker,andstaredathim,withhismouthwideopen,andhisfaceexpressiveofthemostunmitigatedhorror.
‘Itossedofftheclothes,’saidGiles,throwingawaythetable-cloth,andlookingveryhardatthecookandhousemaid,‘gotsoftlyoutofbed;drewonapairof—’
‘Ladiespresent,Mr.Giles,’murmuredthetinker.
’—Ofshoes,sir,’saidGiles,turninguponhim,andlayinggreatemphasisontheword;‘seizedtheloadedpistolthatalwaysgoesupstairswiththeplate-basket;andwalkedontiptoestohisroom.
“Brittles,”Isays,whenIhadwokehim,“don’tbefrightened!”’
‘Soyoudid,’observedBrittles,inalowvoice.
’”We’redeadmen,Ithink,Brittles,”Isays,’continuedGiles;’”butdon’tbefrightened.”’
‘Washefrightened?’askedthecook.
‘Notabitofit,’repliedMr.Giles.‘Hewasasfirm—ah!prettynearasfirmasIwas.’
‘Ishouldhavediedatonce,I’msure,ifithadbeenme,’observedthehousemaid.
‘You’reawoman,’retortedBrittles,pluckingupalittle.
‘Brittlesisright,’saidMr.Giles,noddinghishead,approvingly;‘fromawoman,nothingelsewastobeexpected.
We,beingmen,tookadarklanternthatwasstandingonBrittle’shob,andgropedourwaydownstairsinthepitchdark,—asitmightbeso.’
Mr.Gileshadrisenfromhisseat,andtakentwostepswithhiseyesshut,toaccompanyhisdescriptionwithappropriateaction,whenhestartedviolently,incommonwiththerestofthecompany,andhurriedbacktohischair.Thecookandhousemaidscreamed.
‘Itwasaknock,’saidMr.Giles,assumingperfectserenity.‘Openthedoor,somebody.’
Nobodymoved.
‘Itseemsastrangesortofathing,aknockcomingatsuchatimeinthemorning,’saidMr.Giles,surveyingthepalefaceswhichsurroundedhim,andlookingveryblankhimself;‘butthedoormustbeopened.Doyouhear,somebody?’
Mr.Giles,ashespoke,lookedatBrittles;butthatyoungman,beingnaturallymodest,probablyconsideredhimselfnobody,andsoheldthattheinquirycouldnothaveanyapplicationtohim;atallevents,hetenderednoreply.
Mr.Gilesdirectedanappealingglanceatthetinker;buthehadsuddenlyfallenasleep.Thewomenwereoutofthequestion.
‘IfBrittleswouldratheropenthedoor,inthepresenceofwitnesses,’saidMr.Giles,afterashortsilence,‘Iamreadytomakeone.’
‘SoamI,’saidthetinker,wakingup,assuddenlyashehadfallenasleep.
Brittlescapitulatedontheseterms;andthepartybeingsomewhatre-assuredbythediscovery(madeonthrowingopentheshutters)thatitwasnowbroadday,tooktheirwayupstairs;withthedogsinfront.
Thetwowomen,whowereafraidtostaybelow,broughtuptherear.
BytheadviceofMr.Giles,theyalltalkedveryloud,towarnanyevil-disposedpersonoutside,thattheywerestronginnumbers;andbyamaster-stokeofpolicy,originatinginthebrainofthesameingeniousgentleman,thedogs’tailswerewellpinched,inthehall,tomakethembarksavagely.
Theseprecautionshavingbeentaken,Mr.Gilesheldonfastbythetinker’sarm(topreventhisrunningaway,ashepleasantlysaid),andgavethewordofcommandtoopenthedoor.
Brittlesobeyed;thegroup,peepingtimorouslyovereachother’sshoulders,beheldnomoreformidableobjectthanpoorlittleOliverTwist,speechlessandexhausted,whoraisedhisheavyeyes,andmutelysolicitedtheircompassion.
‘Aboy!’exclaimedMr.Giles,valiantly,pushingthetinkerintothebackground.‘What’sthematterwiththe—eh?—Why—Brittles—lookhere—don’tyouknow?’
Brittles,whohadgotbehindthedoortoopenit,nosoonersawOliver,thanheutteredaloudcry.
Mr.Giles,seizingtheboybyonelegandonearm(fortunatelynotthebrokenlimb)luggedhimstraightintothehall,anddepositedhimatfulllengthonthefloorthereof.
‘Hereheis!’bawledGiles,callinginastateofgreatexcitement,upthestaircase;‘here’soneofthethieves,ma’am!Here’sathief,miss!Wounded,miss!
Ishothim,miss;andBrittlesheldthelight.’
’—Inalantern,miss,’criedBrittles,applyingonehandtothesideofhismouth,sothathisvoicemighttravelthebetter.
Thetwowomen-servantsranupstairstocarrytheintelligencethatMr.Gileshadcapturedarobber;andthetinkerbusiedhimselfinendeavouringtorestoreOliver,lestheshoulddiebeforehecouldbehanged.
Inthemidstofallthisnoiseandcommotion,therewasheardasweetfemalevoice,whichquelleditinaninstant.
‘Giles!’whisperedthevoicefromthestair-head.
‘I’mhere,miss,’repliedMr.Giles.‘Don’tbefrightened,miss;Iain’tmuchinjured.Hedidn’tmakeaverydesperateresistance,miss!Iwassoontoomanyforhim.’
‘Hush!’repliedtheyounglady;‘youfrightenmyauntasmuchasthethievesdid.Isthepoorcreaturemuchhurt?’
‘Woundeddesperate,miss,’repliedGiles,withindescribablecomplacency.
‘Helooksasifhewasa-going,miss,’bawledBrittles,inthesamemannerasbefore.‘Wouldn’tyouliketocomeandlookathim,miss,incaseheshould?’
‘Hush,pray;there’sagoodman!’rejoinedthelady.‘Waitquietlyonlyoneinstant,whileIspeaktoaunt.’
Withafootstepassoftandgentleasthevoice,thespeakertrippedaway.
Shesoonreturned,withthedirectionthatthewoundedpersonwastobecarried,carefully,upstairstoMr.Giles’sroom;andthatBrittleswastosaddletheponyandbetakehimselfinstantlytoChertsey:fromwhichplace,hewastodespatch,withallspeed,aconstableanddoctor.
‘Butwon’tyoutakeonelookathim,first,miss?’askedMr.Giles,withasmuchprideasifOliverweresomebirdofrareplumage,thathehadskilfullybroughtdown.‘Notonelittlepeep,miss?’
‘Notnow,fortheworld,’repliedtheyounglady.‘Poorfellow!Oh!treathimkindly,Gilesformysake!’
Theoldservantlookedupatthespeaker,assheturnedaway,withaglanceasproudandadmiringasifshehadbeenhisownchild.
Then,bendingoverOliver,hehelpedtocarryhimupstairs,withthecareandsolicitudeofawoman.
Share this article to
FINISH