oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第82章

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three—I’m　not　afraid　of　him—if　they　come　here　after　him　I’ll　give　
him　up；　I　will。　I　tell　you　at　once。　He　may　kill　me　for　it　if　he　likes；　or　
if　he　dares；　but　if　I　am　here　I’ll　give　him　up。　I’d　give　him　up　if　he　
was　to　be　boiled　alive。　Murder！　Help！　If　there’s　the　pluck　of　a　man　
among　you　three；　you’ll　help　me。　Murder！　Help！　Down　with　him！”　

Pouring　out　these　cries；　and　accompanying　them　with　violent　
gesticulation；　the　boy　actually　threw　himself；　single…handed；　upon　
the　strong　man；　and　in　the　intensity　of　his　energy　and　the　
suddenness　of　his　surprise；　brought　him　heavily　to　the　ground。　

The　three　spectators　seemed　quite　stupefied。　They　offered　no　
interference；　and　the　boy　and　man　rolled　on　the　ground　together；　
the　former；　heedless　of　the　blows　that　showered　upon　him；　
wrenching　his　hands　tighter　and　tighter　in　the　garments　about　the　

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murderer’s　breast；　and　never　ceasing　to　call　for　help　with　all　his　
might。　

The　contest；　however；　was　too　unequal　to　last　long。　Sikes　had　
him　down；　and　his　knee　was　on　his　throat；　when　Crackit　pulled　
him　back　with　a　look　of　alarm；　and　pointed　to　the　window。　There　
were　lights　gleaming　below；　voices　in　loud　and　earnest　
conversation；　the　tramp　of　hurried　footsteps—endless　they　seemed　
in　number—crossing　the　nearest　wooden　bridge。　One　man　on　
horseback　seemed　to　be　among　the　crowd；　for　there　was　the　noise　
of　hoofs　rattling　on　the　uneven　pavement。　The　gleam　of　lights　
increased；　the　footsteps　came　more　thickly　and　noisily　on。　Then　
came　a　loud　knocking　at　the　door；　and　then　a　hoarse　murmur　from　
such　a　multitude　of　angry　voices　as　would　have　made　the　boldest　
quail。　

“Help！”　shrieked　the　boy；　in　a　voice　that　rent　the　air。　“He’s　
here！　Break　down　the　door！”　

“In　the　king’s　name；”　cried　the　voices　without；　and　the　hoarse　
cry　arose　again；　but　louder。　

“Break　down　the　door！”　screamed　the　boy。　“I　tell　you　they’ll　
never　open　it。　Run　straight　to　the　room　where　the　light　is。　Break　
down　the　door！”　

Strokes；　thick　and　heavy；　rattled　upon　the　door　and　lower　
window…shutters　as　he　ceased　to　speak；　and　a　loud　huzzah　burst　
from　the　crowd；　giving　the　listener；　for　the　first　time；　some　
adequate　idea　of　its　immense　extent。　

“Open　the　door　of　some　place　where　I　can　lock　this　screeching　
hell…babe；”　cried　Sikes　fiercely；　running　to　and　fro；　and　dragging　
the　boy；　now；　as　easily　as　if　he　were　an　empty　sack。　“That　door。　
Quick！”　He　flung　him　in；　bolted　it；　and　turned　the　key。　“Is　the　

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downstairs　door　fast？”　

“Double…locked　and　chained；”　replied　Crackit；　who；　with　the　
other　two　men；　still　remained　quite　helpless　and　bewildered。　

“The　panels—are　they　strong？”　

“Lined　with　sheet…iron。”　

“And　the　windows　too？”　

“Yes；　and　the　windows。”　

“Damn　you！”　cried　the　desperate　ruffian；　throwing　up　the　sash　
and　menacing　the　crowd。　“Do　your　worst！　I’ll　cheat　you　yet！”　

Of　all　the　terrific　yells　that　ever　fell　on　mortal　ears；　none　could　
exceed　the　cry　of　the　infuriated　throng。　Some　shouted　to　those　
who　were　nearest　to　set　the　house　on　fire；　others　roared　to　the　
officers　to　shoot　him　dead。　Among　them　all；　none　showed　such　
fury　as　the　man　on　horseback；　who；　throwing　himself　out　of　the　
saddle；　and　bursting　through　the　crowd　as　if　he　were　parting　
water；　cried；　beneath　the　window；　in　a　voice　that　rose　above　all　
others；　“Twenty　guineas　to　the　man　who　brings　a　ladder！”　

The　nearest　voices　took　up　the　cry；　and　hundreds　echoed　it。　
Some　called　for　ladders；　some　for　sledge…hammers；　some　ran　with　
torches　to　and　fro　as　if　to　seek　them；　and　still　came　back　and　
roared　again；　some　spent　their　breath　in　impotent　curses　and　
execrations；　some　pressed　forward　with　the　ecstasy　of　madmen；　
and　thus　impeded　the　progress　of　those　below；　some　among　the　
boldest　attempted　to　climb　up　by　the　water…spout　and　crevices　in　
the　wall；　and　all　waved　to　and　fro；　in　the　darkness　beneath；　like　a　
field　of　corn　moved　by　an　angry　wind；　and　joined　from　time　to　time　
in　one　loud　furious　roar。　

“The　tide；”　cried　the　murderer；　as　he　staggered　back　into　the　
room；　and　shut　the　faces　out—“the　tide　was　in　as　I　came　up。　Give　

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me　a　rope；　a　long　rope。　They’re　all　in　front。　I　may　drop　into　the　
Folly　Ditch；　and　clear　off　that　way。　Give　me　a　rope；　or　I　shall　do　
three　more　murders　and　kill　myself。”　

The　panic…stricken　men　pointed　to　where　such　articles　were　
kept；　the　murderer；　hastily　selecting　the　longest　and　strongest　
cord；　hurried　up　to　the　house…top。　

All　the　windows　in　the　rear　of　the　house　had　been　long　ago　
bricked　up；　except　one　small　trap　in　the　room　where　the　boy　was　
locked；　and　that　was　too　small　even　for　the　passage　of　his　body。　
But；　from　this　aperture；　he　had　never　ceased　to　call　on　those　
without　to　guard　the　back；　and　thus；　when　the　murderer　emerged　
at　last　on　the　house…top　by　the　door　in　the　roof；　a　loud　shout　
proclaimed　the　fact　to　those　in　front；　who　immediately　began　to　
pour　round；　pressing　upon　each　other　in　an　unbroken　stream。　

He　planted　a　board；　which　he　had　carried　up　with　him　for　the　
purpose；　so　firmly　against　the　door；　that　it　must　be　matter　of　great　
difficulty　to　open　it　from　the　inside；　and　creeping　over　the　tiles；　
looked　over　the　low　parapet。　

The　water　was　out；　and　the　ditch　a　bed　of　mud。　

The　crowd　had　been　hushed　during　these　few　moments；　
watching　his　motions　and　doubtful　of　his　purpose；　but　the　instant　
they　perceived　it　and　knew　it　was　defeated；　they　raised　a　cry　of　
triumphant　execration　to　which　all　their　previous　shouting　had　
been　whispers。　Again　and　again　it　rose。　Those　who　were　at　too　
great　a　distance　to　know　its　meaning；　took　up　the　sound；　it　echoed　
and　re…echoed；　it　seemed　as　though　the　whole　city　had　poured　its　
population　out　to　curse　him。　

On　pressed　the　people　from　the　front—on；　on；　on；　in　a　strong；　
struggling　current　of　angry　faces；　with　here　and　there　a　glaring　

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torch　to　light　them　up；　and　show　them　out　in　all　their　wrath　and　
passion。　The　houses　on　the　opposite　side　of　the　ditch　had　been　
entered　by　the　mob；　sashes　were　thrown　up；　or　torn　bodily　out；　
there　were　tiers　and　tiers　of　faces　in　every　window；　cluster　upon　
cluster　of　people　clinging　to　every　house…top。　Each　little　bridge　
（and　there　were　three　in　sight）　bent　beneath　the　weight　of　the　
crowd　upon　it。　Still　the　current　poured　on　to　find　some　nook　or　
hole　from　which　to　vent　their　shouts；　and　only　for　an　instant　see　
the　wretch。　

“They　have　him　now；”　cried　a　man　on　the　nearest　bridge。　
“Hurrah！”　

The　crowd　grew　light　with　uncovered　heads；　and　again　the　
shout　uprose。　

“I　will　give　fifty　pounds；”　cried　an　old　gentleman　from　the　same　
quarter；　“to　the　man　who　takes　him　alive。　I　will　remain　here；　till　he　
comes　to　ask　for　it。”　

There　was　another　roar。　At　this　moment　the　word　was　passed　
among　the　crowd　that　the　door　was　forced　at　last；　and　that　he　who　
had　first　called　for　the　ladder　had　mounted　into　the　room。　The　
stream　abruptly　turned；　as　this　intelligence　ran　from　mouth　to　
mouth；　and　the　people　at　the　windows；　seeing　those　upon　the　
bridges　pouring　back；　quitted　their　stations；　and；　running　into　the　
street；　joined　the　concourse　that　now　thronged　pell…mell　to　the　
spot　they　had　left；　each　man　crushing　and　striving　with　his　
neighbour；　and　all　panting　with　impatience　to　get　near　the　door；　
and　look　upon　the　criminal　as　the　officers　brought　him　out。　The　
cries　and　shrieks　of　those　who　were　pressed　almost　to　suffocation；　
or　trampled　down　and　trodden　under　foot　in　the　confusion；　were　
dreadful；　the　narrow　ways　were　completely　blocked　up；　and　at　this　

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time；　between　the　rush　of　some　to　regain　the　space　in　front　of　the　
house；　and　the　unavailing　struggles　of　others　to　extricate　
themselves　from　the　mass；　the　immediate　attention　was　distracted　
from　the　murder；　although　the　universal　eagerness　for　his　capture　
was；　if　possible；　increased。　

The　man　had　shrunk　down；　thoroughly　quelled　by　the　ferocity　
of　the　crowd；　and　the　impossibility　of　escape；　but　seeing　this　
sudden　change　with　no　less　rapidity　than　it　had　occurred；　he　
sprang　upon　his　feet；　determined　to　make　（one　last　effort　for　his　
life　by　dropping　into　the　ditch；　and；　at　the　risk　of　being　stifled；　
endeavouring　to　creep　away　in　the　darkness　and　confusion。　

Roused　into　new　strength　and　energy；　and　stimulated　by　the　
noise　within　the　house　which　announced　that　an　entrance　had　
really　been　effected；　he　set　his　foot　against　the　stack　of　chimneys；　
fastened　one　end　of　the　rope　tightly　and　firmly　round　it；　and　with　
the　other　made　a　strong　running…noose　by　the　aid　of　his　hands　and　
teeth　almost　in　a　second。　He　could　let　himself　down　by　the　cord　to　
within　a　less　distance　of　the　ground　than　his　own　height；　and　had　
his　knife　ready　in　his　hand　to　cut　it　then　and　drop。　

At　the　very　instant　when　he　brought　the　loop　over　his　head　
previous　to　slipping　it　beneath　his　arm…pits；　and　when　the　old　
gentleman　before　mentioned　（who　had　clung　so　tight　to　the　railing　
of　the　bridge　as　to　resist　the　force　of　the　crowd；　and　retain　his　
position）　earnestly　warned　those　about　him　that　the　man　was　
about　to　lower　himself　down—at　that　very　instant　the　murderer；　
looking　behind　him　on　the　roof；　threw　his　arms　above　his　head；　
and　uttered　a　yell　of　terror。　

“The　eyes　again！”　he　cried；　in　an　unearthly　screech。　

Staggering　as　if　struck　by　lightning；　he　lost　his　balance　and　

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tumbled　over　the　parapet。　The　noose　was　on　his　neck。　It　ran　up　
with　his　weight；　tight　as　a　bowstring；　and　swift　as　the　arrow　it　
speeds。　He　fell　for　five…and…thirty　feet。　There　was　a　sudden　jerk；　a　
terrific　convulsion　of　the　limbs；　and　there　he　hung；　with　the　open　
knife　clenched　in　his　stiffening　hand。　

The　old　chimney　quivered　with　the　shock；　but　stood　it　bravely。　
The　murderer　swung　lifeless　against　the　wall；　and　the　boy；　
thrusting　aside　the　dangling　body　which　obscured　his　view；　called　
to　the　people　to　come　and　take　him　out；　for　God’s　sake。　

A　dog；　which　had　lain　concealed　till　now；　ran　backwards　and　
forwards　on　the　parapet；　with　a　dismal　howl；　and；　collecting　
himself　for　a　spring；　jumped　for　the　dead　man’s　shoulders。　Missing　
his　aim；　he　fell　into　the　ditch；　turning　completely　over　as　he　went；　
and　striking　his　head　against　a　stone；　dashed　out　his　brains。　

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Chapter　51　

Affording　an　explanation　of　more　mysteries　than　
one；　and　comprehending　a　proposal　of　marriage　
with　no　word　of　settlement　or　pin…money。　

The　events　narrated　in　the　last　chapter　were　yet　but　two　
days　old；　when　Oliver　found　himself；　at　three　o’clock　in　the　
afternoon；　in　a　travelling　carriage　rolling　fast　towards　his　
native　town。　Mrs。　Maylie；　and　Rose；　and　Mrs。　Bedwin；　and　the　
good　doctor；　were　with　him；　and　Mr。　Brownlow　followed　in　a