English
NeartothatpartoftheThamesonwhichthechurchatRotherhitheabuts,wherethebuildingsonthebanksaredirtiestandthevesselsontheriverblackestwiththedustofcolliersandthesmokeofclose-builtlow-roofedhouses,thereexiststhefilthiest,thestrangest,themostextraordinaryofthemanylocalitiesthatarehiddeninLondon,whollyunknown,evenbyname,tothegreatmassofitsinhabitants.
Toreachthisplace,thevisitorhastopenetratethroughamazeofclose,narrow,andmuddystreets,throngedbytheroughestandpoorestofwatersidepeople,anddevotedtothetraffictheymaybesupposedtooccasion.
Thecheapestandleastdelicateprovisionsareheapedintheshops;thecoarsestandcommonestarticlesofwearingappareldangleatthesalesman’sdoor,andstreamfromthehouse-parapetandwindows.
Jostlingwithunemployedlabourersofthelowestclass,ballast-heavers,coal-whippers,brazenwomen,raggedchildren,andtheraffandrefuseoftheriver,hemakeshiswaywithdifficultyalong,assailedbyoffensivesightsandsmellsfromthenarrowalleyswhichbranchoffontherightandleft,anddeafenedbytheclashofponderouswaggonsthatbeargreatpilesofmerchandisefromthestacksofwarehousesthatrisefromeverycorner.
Arriving,atlength,instreetsremoterandless-frequentedthanthosethroughwhichhehaspassed,hewalksbeneathtotteringhouse-frontsprojectingoverthepavement,dismantledwallsthatseemtototterashepasses,chimneyshalfcrushedhalfhesitatingtofall,windowsguardedbyrustyironbarsthattimeanddirthavealmosteatenaway,everyimaginablesignofdesolationandneglect.
Insuchaneighborhood,beyondDockheadintheBoroughofSouthwark,standsJacob’sIsland,surroundedbyamuddyditch,sixoreightfeetdeepandfifteenortwentywidewhenthetideisin,oncecalledMillPond,butknowninthedaysofthisstoryasFollyDitch.
ItisacreekorinletfromtheThames,andcanalwaysbefilledathighwaterbyopeningthesluicesattheLeadMillsfromwhichittookitsoldname.
Atsuchtimes,astranger,lookingfromoneofthewoodenbridgesthrownacrossitatMillLane,willseetheinhabitantsofthehousesoneithersideloweringfromtheirbackdoorsandwindows,buckets,pails,domesticutensilsofallkinds,inwhichtohaulthewaterup;andwhenhiseyeisturnedfromtheseoperationstothehousesthemselves,hisutmostastonishmentwillbeexcitedbythescenebeforehim.
Crazywoodengalleriescommontothebacksofhalfadozenhouses,withholesfromwhichtolookupontheslimebeneath;windows,brokenandpatched,withpolesthrustout,onwhichtodrythelinenthatisneverthere;roomssosmall,sofilthy,soconfined,thattheairwouldseemtootaintedevenforthedirtandsqualorwhichtheyshelter;woodenchambersthrustingthemselvesoutabovethemud,andthreateningtofallintoit—assomehavedone;dirt-besmearedwallsanddecayingfoundations;everyrepulsivelineamentofpoverty,everyloathsomeindicationoffilth,rot,andgarbage;alltheseornamentthebanksofFollyDitch.
InJacob’sIsland,thewarehousesarerooflessandempty;thewallsarecrumblingdown;thewindowsarewindowsnomore;thedoorsarefallingintothestreets;thechimneysareblackened,buttheyyieldnosmoke.
Thirtyorfortyyearsago,beforelossesandchancerysuitscameuponit,itwasathrivingplace;butnowitisadesolateislandindeed.
Thehouseshavenoowners;theyarebrokenopen,andentereduponbythosewhohavethecourage;andtheretheylive,andtheretheydie.
Theymusthavepowerfulmotivesforasecretresidence,orbereducedtoadestituteconditionindeed,whoseekarefugeinJacob’sIsland.
Inanupperroomofoneofthesehouses—adetachedhouseoffairsize,ruinousinotherrespects,butstronglydefendedatdoorandwindow:ofwhichhousethebackcommandedtheditchinmanneralreadydescribed—therewereassembledthreemen,who,regardingeachothereverynowandthenwithlooksexpressiveofperplexityandexpectation,satforsometimeinprofoundandgloomysilence.
OneofthesewasTobyCrackit,anotherMr.Chitling,andthethirdarobberoffiftyyears,whosenosehadbeenalmostbeatenin,insomeoldscuffle,andwhosefaceboreafrightfulscarwhichmightprobablybetracedtothesameoccasion.
Thismanwasareturnedtransport,andhisnamewasKags.
‘Iwish,’saidTobyturningtoMr.Chitling,‘thatyouhadpickedoutsomeothercribwhenthetwooldonesgottoowarm,andhadnotcomehere,myfinefeller.’
‘Whydidn’tyou,blunder-head!’saidKags.
‘Well,Ithoughtyou’dhavebeenalittlemoregladtoseemethanthis,’repliedMr.Chitling,withamelancholyair.
‘Why,look’e,younggentleman,’saidToby,‘whenamankeepshimselfsoveryex-clusiveasIhavedone,andbythatmeanshasasnughouseoverhisheadwithnobodyapryingandsmellingaboutit,it’sratherastartlingthingtohavethehonourofawisitfromayounggentleman(howeverrespectableandpleasantapersonhemaybetoplaycardswithatconweniency)circumstancedasyouare.’
‘Especially,whentheexclusiveyoungmanhasgotafriendstoppingwithhim,that’sarrivedsoonerthanwasexpectedfromforeignparts,andistoomodesttowanttobepresentedtotheJudgesonhisreturn,’addedMr.Kags.
Therewasashortsilence,afterwhichTobyCrackit,seemingtoabandonashopelessanyfurtherefforttomaintainhisusualdevil-may-careswagger,turnedtoChitlingandsaid,
‘WhenwasFagintookthen?’
‘Justatdinner-time—twoo’clockthisafternoon.
CharleyandImadeourluckyupthewash-uschimney,andBoltergotintotheemptywater-butt,headdownwards;buthislegsweresopreciouslongthattheystuckoutatthetop,andsotheytookhimtoo.’
‘AndBet?’
‘PoorBet!ShewenttoseetheBody,tospeaktowhoitwas,’repliedChitling,hiscountenancefallingmoreandmore,‘andwentoffmad,screamingandraving,andbeatingherheadagainsttheboards;sotheyputastrait-weskutonherandtookhertothehospital—andtheresheis.’
‘Wot’scomeofyoungBates?’demandedKags.
‘Hehungabout,nottocomeoverhereaforedark,buthe’llbeheresoon,’repliedChitling.
‘There’snowhereelsetogotonow,forthepeopleattheCripplesareallincustody,andthebaroftheken—Iwentupthereandseeitwithmyowneyes—isfilledwithtraps.’
‘Thisisasmash,’observedToby,bitinghislips.‘There’smorethanonewillgowiththis.’
‘Thesessionsareon,’saidKags:‘iftheygettheinquestover,andBolterturnsKing’sevidence:asofcoursehewill,fromwhathe’ssaidalready:theycanproveFaginanaccessorybeforethefact,andgetthetrialononFriday,andhe’llswinginsixdaysfromthis,byG—!’
‘Youshouldhaveheardthepeoplegroan,’saidChitling;‘theofficersfoughtlikedevils,orthey’dhavetornhimaway.
Hewasdownonce,buttheymadearingroundhim,andfoughttheirwayalong.
Youshouldhaveseenhowhelookedabouthim,allmuddyandbleeding,andclungtothemasiftheywerehisdearestfriends.
Icansee‘emnow,notabletostanduprightwiththepressingofthemob,anddragginhimalongamongst‘em;Icanseethepeoplejumpingup,onebehindanother,andsnarlingwiththeirteethandmakingathim;Icanseetheblooduponhishairandbeard,andhearthecrieswithwhichthewomenworkedthemselvesintothecentreofthecrowdatthestreetcorner,andsworethey’dtearhisheartout!’
Thehorror-strickenwitnessofthisscenepressedhishandsuponhisears,andwithhiseyesclosedgotupandpacedviolentlytoandfro,likeonedistracted.
Whilehewasthusengaged,andthetwomensatbyinsilencewiththeireyesfixeduponthefloor,apatteringnoisewashearduponthestairs,andSikes’sdogboundedintotheroom.
Theyrantothewindow,downstairs,andintothestreet.
Thedoghadjumpedinatanopenwindow;hemadenoattempttofollowthem,norwashismastertobeseen.
‘What’sthemeaningofthis?’saidTobywhentheyhadreturned.‘Hecan’tbecominghere.I—I—hopenot.’
‘Ifhewascominghere,he’dhavecomewiththedog,’saidKags,stoopingdowntoexaminetheanimal,wholaypantingonthefloor.‘Here!Giveussomewaterforhim;hehasrunhimselffaint.’
‘He’sdrunkitallup,everydrop,’saidChitlingafterwatchingthedogsometimeinsilence.‘Coveredwithmud—lame—halfblind—hemusthavecomealongway.’
‘Wherecanhehavecomefrom!’exclaimedToby.
‘He’sbeentotheotherkensofcourse,andfindingthemfilledwithstrangerscomeonhere,wherehe’sbeenmanyatimeandoften.
Butwherecanhehavecomefromfirst,andhowcomesheherealonewithouttheother!’
‘He’—(noneofthemcalledthemurdererbyhisoldname)—’Hecan’thavemadeawaywithhimself.Whatdoyouthink?’saidChitling.
Tobyshookhishead.
‘Ifhehad,’saidKags,‘thedog‘udwanttoleadusawaytowherehedidit.No.
Ithinkhe’sgotoutofthecountry,andleftthedogbehind.
Hemusthavegivenhimtheslipsomehow,orhewouldn’tbesoeasy.’
Thissolution,appearingthemostprobableone,wasadoptedastheright;thedog,creepingunderachair,coiledhimselfuptosleep,withoutmorenoticefromanybody.
Itbeingnowdark,theshutterwasclosed,andacandlelightedandplaceduponthetable.
Theterribleeventsofthelasttwodayshadmadeadeepimpressiononallthree,increasedbythedangeranduncertaintyoftheirownposition.
Theydrewtheirchairsclosertogether,startingateverysound.
Theyspokelittle,andthatinwhispers,andwereassilentandawe-strickenasiftheremainsofthemurderedwomanlayinthenextroom.
Theyhadsatthus,sometime,whensuddenlywasheardahurriedknockingatthedoorbelow.
‘YoungBates,’saidKags,lookingangrilyround,tocheckthefearhefelthimself.
Theknockingcameagain.No,itwasn’the.Heneverknockedlikethat.
Crackitwenttothewindow,andshakingallover,drewinhishead.
Therewasnoneedtotellthemwhoitwas;hispalefacewasenough.
Thedogtoowasonthealertinaninstant,andranwhiningtothedoor.
‘Wemustlethimin,’hesaid,takingupthecandle.
‘Isn’tthereanyhelpforit?’askedtheothermaninahoarsevoice.
‘None.Hemustcomein.’
‘Don’tleaveusinthedark,’saidKags,takingdownacandlefromthechimney-piece,andlightingit,withsuchatremblinghandthattheknockingwastwicerepeatedbeforehehadfinished.
Crackitwentdowntothedoor,andreturnedfollowedbyamanwiththelowerpartofhisfaceburiedinahandkerchief,andanothertiedoverhisheadunderhishat.Hedrewthemslowlyoff.
Blanchedface,sunkeneyes,hollowcheeks,beardofthreedays’growth,wastedflesh,shortthickbreath;itwastheveryghostofSikes.
Helaidhishanduponachairwhichstoodinthemiddleoftheroom,butshudderingashewasabouttodropintoit,andseemingtoglanceoverhisshoulder,draggeditbackclosetothewall—ascloseasitwouldgo—andgrounditagainstit—andsatdown.
Notawordhadbeenexchanged.Helookedfromonetoanotherinsilence.
Ifaneyewerefurtivelyraisedandmethis,itwasinstantlyaverted.
Whenhishollowvoicebrokesilence,theyallthreestarted.
Theyseemednevertohavehearditstonesbefore.
‘Howcamethatdoghere?’heasked.
‘Alone.Threehoursago.’
‘To-night’spapersaysthatFagin’stook.Isittrue,oralie?’
‘True.’
Theyweresilentagain.
‘Damnyouall!’saidSikes,passinghishandacrosshisforehead.
‘Haveyounothingtosaytome?’
Therewasanuneasymovementamongthem,butnobodyspoke.
‘Youthatkeepthishouse,’saidSikes,turninghisfacetoCrackit,‘doyoumeantosellme,ortoletmelieheretillthishuntisover?’
‘Youmaystophere,ifyouthinkitsafe,’returnedthepersonaddressed,aftersomehesitation.
Sikescarriedhiseyesslowlyupthewallbehindhim:rathertryingtoturnhisheadthanactuallydoingit:andsaid,‘Is—it—thebody—isitburied?’
Theyshooktheirheads.
‘Whyisn’tit!’heretortedwiththesameglancebehindhim.‘Wotdotheykeepsuchuglythingsabovethegroundfor?—Who’sthatknocking?’
Crackitintimated,byamotionofhishandashelefttheroom,thattherewasnothingtofear;anddirectlycamebackwithCharleyBatesbehindhim.
Sikessatoppositethedoor,sothatthemomenttheboyenteredtheroomheencounteredhisfigure.
‘Toby,’saidtheboyfallingback,asSikesturnedhiseyestowardshim,‘whydidn’tyoutellmethis,downstairs?’
Therehadbeensomethingsotremendousintheshrinkingoffofthethree,thatthewretchedmanwaswillingtopropitiateeventhislad.
Accordinglyhenodded,andmadeasthoughhewouldshakehandswithhim.
‘Letmegointosomeotherroom,’saidtheboy,retreatingstillfarther.
‘Charley!’saidSikes,steppingforward.‘Don’tyou—don’tyouknowme?’
‘Don’tcomenearerme,’answeredtheboy,stillretreating,andlooking,withhorrorinhiseyes,uponthemurderer’sface.‘Youmonster!’
Themanstoppedhalf-way,andtheylookedateachother;butSikes’seyessunkgraduallytotheground.
‘Witnessyouthree,’criedtheboyshakinghisclenchedfist,andbecomingmoreandmoreexcitedashespoke.
‘Witnessyouthree—I’mnotafraidofhim—iftheycomehereafterhim,I’llgivehimup;Iwill.Itellyououtatonce.
Hemaykillmeforitifhelikes,orifhedares,butifIamhereI’llgivehimup.
I’dgivehimupifhewastobeboiledalive.Murder!Help!
Ifthere’sthepluckofamanamongyouthree,you’llhelpme.Murder!Help!Downwithhim!’
Pouringoutthesecries,andaccompanyingthemwithviolentgesticulation,theboyactuallythrewhimself,single-handed,uponthestrongman,andintheintensityofhisenergyandthesuddennessofhissurprise,broughthimheavilytotheground.
Thethreespectatorsseemedquitestupefied.
Theyofferednointerference,andtheboyandmanrolledonthegroundtogether;theformer,heedlessoftheblowsthatshowereduponhim,wrenchinghishandstighterandtighterinthegarmentsaboutthemurderer’sbreast,andneverceasingtocallforhelpwithallhismight.
Thecontest,however,wastoounequaltolastlong.
Sikeshadhimdown,andhiskneewasonhisthroat,whenCrackitpulledhimbackwithalookofalarm,andpointedtothewindow.
Therewerelightsgleamingbelow,voicesinloudandearnestconversation,thetrampofhurriedfootsteps—endlesstheyseemedinnumber—crossingthenearestwoodenbridge.
Onemanonhorsebackseemedtobeamongthecrowd;fortherewasthenoiseofhoofsrattlingontheunevenpavement.
Thegleamoflightsincreased;thefootstepscamemorethicklyandnoisilyon.
Then,camealoudknockingatthedoor,andthenahoarsemurmurfromsuchamultitudeofangryvoicesaswouldhavemadetheboldestquail.
‘Help!’shriekedtheboyinavoicethatrenttheair.
‘He’shere!Breakdownthedoor!’
‘IntheKing’sname,’criedthevoiceswithout;andthehoarsecryaroseagain,butlouder.
‘Breakdownthedoor!’screamedtheboy.‘Itellyouthey’llneveropenit.Runstraighttotheroomwherethelightis.Breakdownthedoor!’
Strokes,thickandheavy,rattleduponthedoorandlowerwindow-shuttersasheceasedtospeak,andaloudhuzzahburstfromthecrowd;givingthelistener,forthefirsttime,someadequateideaofitsimmenseextent.
‘OpenthedoorofsomeplacewhereIcanlockthisscreechingHell-babe,’criedSikesfiercely;runningtoandfro,anddraggingtheboy,now,aseasilyasifhewereanemptysack.‘Thatdoor.Quick!’
Heflunghimin,boltedit,andturnedthekey.‘Isthedownstairsdoorfast?’
‘Double-lockedandchained,’repliedCrackit,who,withtheothertwomen,stillremainedquitehelplessandbewildered.
‘Thepanels—aretheystrong?’
‘Linedwithsheet-iron.’
‘Andthewindowstoo?’
‘Yes,andthewindows.’
‘Damnyou!’criedthedesperateruffian,throwingupthesashandmenacingthecrowd.‘Doyourworst!I’llcheatyouyet!’
Ofalltheterrificyellsthateverfellonmortalears,nonecouldexceedthecryoftheinfuriatedthrong.
Someshoutedtothosewhowerenearesttosetthehouseonfire;othersroaredtotheofficerstoshoothimdead.
Amongthemall,noneshowedsuchfuryasthemanonhorseback,who,throwinghimselfoutofthesaddle,andburstingthroughthecrowdasifhewerepartingwater,cried,beneaththewindow,inavoicethatroseaboveallothers,‘Twentyguineastothemanwhobringsaladder!’
Thenearestvoicestookupthecry,andhundredsechoedit.
Somecalledforladders,someforsledge-hammers;someranwithtorchestoandfroasiftoseekthem,andstillcamebackandroaredagain;somespenttheirbreathinimpotentcursesandexecrations;somepressedforwardwiththeecstasyofmadmen,andthusimpededtheprogressofthosebelow;someamongtheboldestattemptedtoclimbupbythewater-spoutandcrevicesinthewall;andallwavedtoandfro,inthedarknessbeneath,likeafieldofcornmovedbyanangrywind:andjoinedfromtimetotimeinoneloudfuriousroar.
‘Thetide,’criedthemurderer,ashestaggeredbackintotheroom,andshutthefacesout,‘thetidewasinasIcameup.Givemearope,alongrope.They’reallinfront.
ImaydropintotheFollyDitch,andclearoffthatway.
Givemearope,orIshalldothreemoremurdersandkillmyself.’
Thepanic-strickenmenpointedtowheresucharticleswerekept;themurderer,hastilyselectingthelongestandstrongestcord,hurrieduptothehouse-top.
Allthewindowintherearofthehousehadbeenlongagobrickedup,exceptonesmalltrapintheroomwheretheboywaslocked,andthatwastoosmallevenforthepassageofhisbody.
But,fromthisaperture,hehadneverceasedtocallonthosewithout,toguardtheback;andthus,whenthemurdereremergedatlastonthehouse-topbythedoorintheroof,aloudshoutproclaimedthefacttothoseinfront,whoimmediatelybegantopourround,pressinguponeachotherinanunbrokenstream.
Heplantedaboard,whichhehadcarriedupwithhimforthepurpose,sofirmlyagainstthedoorthatitmustbematterofgreatdifficultytoopenitfromtheinside;andcreepingoverthetiles,lookedoverthelowparapet.
Thewaterwasout,andtheditchabedofmud.
Thecrowdhadbeenhushedduringthesefewmoments,watchinghismotionsanddoubtfulofhispurpose,buttheinstanttheyperceiveditandknewitwasdefeated,theyraisedacryoftriumphantexecrationtowhichalltheirpreviousshoutinghadbeenwhispers.Againandagainitrose.
Thosewhowereattoogreatadistancetoknowitsmeaning,tookupthesound;itechoedandre-echoed;itseemedasthoughthewholecityhadpoureditspopulationouttocursehim.
Onpressedthepeoplefromthefront—on,on,on,inastrongstrugglingcurrentofangryfaces,withhereandthereaglaringtorchtolightenthemup,andshowthemoutinalltheirwrathandpassion.
Thehousesontheoppositesideoftheditchhadbeenenteredbythemob;sasheswerethrownup,ortornbodilyout;thereweretiersandtiersoffacesineverywindow;clusteruponclusterofpeopleclingingtoeveryhouse-top.
Eachlittlebridge(andtherewerethreeinsight)bentbeneaththeweightofthecrowduponit.
Stillthecurrentpouredontofindsomenookorholefromwhichtoventtheirshouts,andonlyforaninstantseethewretch.
‘Theyhavehimnow,’criedamanonthenearestbridge.‘Hurrah!’
Thecrowdgrewlightwithuncoveredheads;andagaintheshoutuprose.
‘Iwillgivefiftypounds,’criedanoldgentlemanfromthesamequarter,‘tothemanwhotakeshimalive.Iwillremainhere,tillhecometoaskmeforit.’
Therewasanotherroar.Atthismomentthewordwaspassedamongthecrowdthatthedoorwasforcedatlast,andthathewhohadfirstcalledfortheladderhadmountedintotheroom.
Thestreamabruptlyturned,asthisintelligenceranfrommouthtomouth;andthepeopleatthewindows,seeingthoseuponthebridgespouringback,quittedtheirstations,andrunningintothestreet,joinedtheconcoursethatnowthrongedpell-melltothespottheyhadleft:eachmancrushingandstrivingwithhisneighbor,andallpantingwithimpatiencetogetnearthedoor,andlookuponthecriminalastheofficersbroughthimout.
Thecriesandshrieksofthosewhowerepressedalmosttosuffocation,ortrampleddownandtroddenunderfootintheconfusion,weredreadful;thenarrowwayswerecompletelyblockedup;andatthistime,betweentherushofsometoregainthespaceinfrontofthehouse,andtheunavailingstrugglesofotherstoextricatethemselvesfromthemass,theimmediateattentionwasdistractedfromthemurderer,althoughtheuniversaleagernessforhiscapturewas,ifpossible,increased.
Themanhadshrunkdown,thoroughlyquelledbytheferocityofthecrowd,andtheimpossibilityofescape;butseeingthissuddenchangewithnolessrapiditythanithadoccurred,hespranguponhisfeet,determinedtomakeonelasteffortforhislifebydroppingintotheditch,and,attheriskofbeingstifled,endeavouringtocreepawayinthedarknessandconfusion.
Rousedintonewstrengthandenergy,andstimulatedbythenoisewithinthehousewhichannouncedthatanentrancehadreallybeeneffected,hesethisfootagainstthestackofchimneys,fastenedoneendoftheropetightlyandfirmlyroundit,andwiththeothermadeastrongrunningnoosebytheaidofhishandsandteethalmostinasecond.
Hecouldlethimselfdownbythecordtowithinalessdistanceofthegroundthanhisownheight,andhadhisknifereadyinhishandtocutitthenanddrop.
Attheveryinstantwhenhebroughttheloopoverhisheadprevioustoslippingitbeneathhisarm-pits,andwhentheoldgentlemanbefore-mentioned(whohadclungsotighttotherailingofthebridgeastoresisttheforceofthecrowd,andretainhisposition)earnestlywarnedthoseabouthimthatthemanwasabouttolowerhimselfdown—atthatveryinstantthemurderer,lookingbehindhimontheroof,threwhisarmsabovehishead,andutteredayellofterror.
‘Theeyesagain!’hecriedinanunearthlyscreech.
Staggeringasifstruckbylightning,helosthisbalanceandtumbledovertheparapet.Thenoosewasonhisneck.
Itranupwithhisweight,tightasabow-string,andswiftasthearrowitspeeds.Hefellforfive-and-thirtyfeet.
Therewasasuddenjerk,aterrificconvulsionofthelimbs;andtherehehung,withtheopenknifeclenchedinhisstiffeninghand.
Theoldchimneyquiveredwiththeshock,butstooditbravely.
Themurdererswunglifelessagainstthewall;andtheboy,thrustingasidethedanglingbodywhichobscuredhisview,calledtothepeopletocomeandtakehimout,forGod’ssake.
Adog,whichhadlainconcealedtillnow,ranbackwardsandforwardsontheparapetwithadismalhowl,andcollectinghimselfforaspring,jumpedforthedeadman’sshoulders.
Missinghisaim,hefellintotheditch,turningcompletelyoverashewent;andstrikinghisheadagainstastone,dashedouthisbrains.
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