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They were silent again。
“Damn you all！” said Sikes； passing his hand across his
forehead。 “Have you nothing to say to me？”
There was an uneasy movement among them； but nobody
spoke。
“You that keep this house；” said Sikes； turning his face to
Crackit； “do you mean to sell me； or to let me lie here till the hunt
is over？”
“You may stop here； if you think it safe；” returned the person
addressed； after some hesitation。
Sikes carried his eyes slowly up the wall behind him； rather
trying to turn his head than actually doing it； and said； “Is—it—the
body—is it buried？”
They shook their heads。
“Why isn’t it？” he retorted； with the same glance behind him。
“Wot do they keep such ugly things above the ground for？—Who’s
that knocking？”
Crackit intimated； by a motion of his hand as he left the room；
that there was nothing to fear； and directly came back with
Charley Bates behind him。 Sikes sat opposite the door； so that the
moment the’ boy entered the room he encountered his figure。
“Toby；” said the boy； falling back； as Sikes turned his eyes
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towards him； “why didn’t you tell me this downstairs？”
There had been something so tremendous in the shrinking off
of the three； that the wretched man was willing to propitiate even
this lad。 Accordingly he nodded； and made as though he would
shake hands with him。
“Let me go into some other room；” said the boy； retreating still
farther。
“Charley！” said Sikes； stepping forward； “don’t you—don’t you
know me？”
“Don’t come near me；” answered the boy； still retreating； and
looking； with horror in his eyes； upon the murderer’s face。 “You
monster！”
The man stopped half…way； and they looked at each other； but
Sikes’s eyes sank gradually to the ground。
“Witness you three；” cried the boy； shaking his clenched fist；
and becoming more and more excited as he spoke。 “Witness you
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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Oliver Twist 546
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