Stranica 123 [123]
85
Oliver murmured his comprehension
‘of the different bodies referred to, and
Mr. Sikes proceeded to load the pistol
with great nicety and deliberation.
* Now it’s loaded,” said Mr. Sikes
when he had finished.
6 Yes, I see it is, sir,” replied Oliver,
trembling.
“ Well,” said the robber, grasping Oli¬
ver’s wrist tightly, and putting the barrel
so close to his temple that they touched,
at which moment the boy could not re¬
press a shriek; “if you speak a word
when you’re out 07 doors with me, ex¬
cept when I speak to you, that load¬
ing will be in your head without notice
—so, if you do make up your mind to
ae without leave, say your prayers
t.?"
Having bestowed a scowl upon the ob¬
ject of this warning, to increase its ef¬
bet, Mr. Sikes continued.
s As near as I know, there isn’t any¬
body as would be asking very partickler
arter you, if you was disposed of; so I
needn’t take this devil-and-all of trouble
to explain matters to you if it warn’t for
your own . D’ye hear!"
“The short and the long of what you
mean,” said Nancy, speaking very em¬
phatically, and slightly frowning at Oli¬
ver, as if to bespeak his serious attention
to her words, " is, that if you ’re crossed
by him in this job you have on hand,
you "11 prevent his ever telling tales after¬
wards, by shooting him through the head,
and take your chance of swinging for it
as you do for a great many other things
in the way of business every month of
your life.”
“That ’s it!” observed Mr. Sikes ap¬
provingly; “ women can always put
things in fewest words, except when it’s
blowing-up, and then they lengthens it
out. And now that he’s thoroughly up
to it, let’s have some supper, and get a
snooze afore starting."
In pursuance of this request, Nancy
uickly laid the cloth, and, disappearing
or a few minutes, presently returned
with a pot of porter and a dish of sheeps’
heads, which gave occasion to several
pleasant witticisms on the part of Mr.
Sikes, founded upon the singular coinci¬
dence of “jemmies” being a cant name
common to them and an ingenious imple¬
ment much used in his profession. In¬
deed, the worthy gentleman, stimulated
perhaps by the immediate prospect of be¬
‘Ing in active service, was in great spirits
8
and roof whereof it
may be here remarked, that he humorous¬
ly drank all the beer at a draught, and
did not utter, on a rough calculation, more
than fourscore oaths during the whole
progress of the meal.
Supper being ended,—it may be easily
conceived that Oliver had no great appe¬
tite for it Mr. Sikes disposed of a couple
of glasses of spirits and water, and threw
himself upon the bed, ordering Nancy,
with many imprecations in case of failure,
to call him at five precisely. Oliver
stretched himself, in his clothes, by com¬
mand of the same authority, on a mat¬
tress upon the floor; and the girl, mend¬
ing the fire, sat before it, in readiness to
rouse them at the appointed time.
For a long time Oliver lay awake,
thinking it not impossible that Nancy
might seek that opportunity of: whisper¬
ing some further advice, but the girl sat
brooding over the fire without moving,
save now and then to trim the light:
weary with watching and anxiety, he at
length fell asleep.
When he awoke, the table was covered
with tea thi and Sikes was thrusting
various articles into the pockets of his
great-coat which hung over the back of a
chair, while Nancy was busily engaged
in preparing breakfast. It was not yet
daylight, for the candle was still burning,
and it was quite dark outside. A sharp
rain, too, was beating against the window¬
panes, and the sky looked black and
cloudy.
6 Now, then!” crowled Sikes, as Oliver
started up; “half-past five! Look sharp,
or you ’ll get no breakfast, for it’s late as
it is.”
Oliver was not long in making his tol¬
let; and, having taken some breakfast,
replied to a surly inquiry from Sikes, by
saying that he was quite ready.
Nancy, scarcely looking at the poy,
threw him a handkerchief to tie round his
throat, and Sikes gave him a large rough
cape to button over his shoulders. ‘Thus
attired, he gave his hand to the robber,
who, merely pausing to show him, with a
menacing gesture, that he had the pistol
in a side-pocket of his great-coat, clasped
it firmly in his, and, exchanging a fare¬
well with Nancy, led him away.
Oliver turned round for an mstant
when they reached the door, in the hope
of meeting a look from the girl: but she
had resumed her old seat in front of the
fire, and sat perfectly motionless before it
-humour; in