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. an a i scullery or small brewing-place at the end of the passage : the aperture was so small that the inmates had probably not thought it worth while to defend it more ágán, ha 3 but it was large enough to admit a boy of Oliver’s size nevertheless. A very brief exercise of Mr. Sikes’s art sufficed to overcome the fastening of the lattice, and it soon stood wide open also. * Now listen, you young limb!” whisoe Sikes, drawing a dark lantern from is pocket, and throwing the glare full on Oliver’s face; “I’m a-going to put you through there. Take this light, go softly up the steps straight afore you, and along the little hall to tne street-door. Unfasten it, and let us in.” “There s a bolt at the top you won’t be able to reach,” interposed Toby. “Stand upon one of the hall chairs; there are three there, Bill, with a jolly large blue unicorn and a gold pitchfork on ’em, which is the old iad "8 arms.” “ Keep quiet, can’t you!” replied Sikes with a savage look. “The room door is ee Wide,” replied ‘Toby, aft “Wide,” repli oby, after peepin in to satisfy himself. § The annie oF that is that they always leave it open with a catch, so that the dog, who’s got a bed in here, may walk up and down the anc when he feels wakeful. Ha! ha! Barney ’ticed him away to-night, so neat.” Although Mr. Crackit spoke in a scarcely audible whisper, and laughed without noise, Sikes imperiously commanded him complied by first producing his lantern, and placing it on the ground; and then planting himself firmly with his head against the wall beneath the window, and his hands upon his knees, so as to make a step of his back. This was no sooner done than Sikes, mounting upon him, put Oliver gently through the window, with his feet first; and, without leaving hold of his collar, planted him safely on the floor inside, 4 Take this lantern,” said Sikes looking into the room. “You see the stairs afore you ?” Oliver, more dead than alive, gasped out, “ Yes;” and Sikes, pointing to the street-door with the pistol barrel briefly advised him to take notice that he was within shot all the way, and that if he faltered he would fall dead that instant. “Tt’s done in a minute,” said Sikes in the same low whisper. “ Directly I leave go of you, do your work. Hark!” c What’s that?” whispered the other man. They listened intently. “ Nothing,” said Sikes, releasing his hold of Oliver. “Now!” In the short time he had had to collect his senses, the boy had firmly resolved that, whether he died in the attempt or not, he would make one effort to dart up stairs from the hall and alarm the family. Filled with this idea, he advanced at once, but stealthily. “Come. back!” suddenly cried Sikes aloud. “ Back! back!” Scared by the sudden breaking of the dead stillness of the place, and a loud cry which followed:it, Oliver let his lantern fall, and knew not whether to advance or fly. ‘The cry was repeated—a light appeared—a vision of two terrified half-dressed men at the top of the stairs swam before his eyes—a flash—a loud noise—a smoke—a crash somewhere, but ge he knew not,—and he staggered ck. Sikes had disappeared for an instant ; but he was up again, and had him by the collar before the smoke had cleared away. He fired his own pistol after the men, who were already retreating, and dragged the boy up. “Clasp your arm tighter,” said Sikes as he drew him through the window. “Give me a shawl here. They ’ve hit him. Quick! Damnation, how the boy bleeds !” Then came the loud ringing of a bell, mingled with the noise of fire-arms and the shouts of men, and the sensation of be ing carried over uneven ground at a rapid pace. And then the noises grew confused in the distance, and a cold deadly feeling crept over the boy’s heart, and he saw or heard no more.
