Oldal 259 [259]
OCR
197 ken—I went up there and saw it with my own eyes—is filled with traps.” « This is a smash,” observed Toby, biting his lips. “There’s more than one will go with this." 6 The Sessions are on," said Kags; “ if they get the inquest over ; if Bolter turns King’s evidence, as of course he will from what he’s said already; they can prove Fagin an accessary before the fact, and get the trial on on Friday ; he’ll swing in six days from this, by G—!”’ 6 You should have heard the people n,”’ said Chitling ; "the officers fought ike devils, or they d have torn him away. He was down once, but they made a ring round him, and fought their way along. You should have seen how he looked about him, all muddy and bleeding, and clung to them as if they was his dearest friends. I can see ’em now, not able to stand upright with the pressing of the mob, and dragging him along amongst them; I can see the people jumping up, one behind another, and snarling with their teeth, and making at him like wild beasts ; I can see the blood upon his hair and beard, and hear the dreadful cries, with which the women worked themselves into the centre of the crowd, at the street corner, and swore they’d tear his heart out! The horror-stricken witness of this scene pressed his hands upon his ears, and with his eyes fast closed, got up and paced violently to and fro like one distracted. Whilst he was thus engaged, and the two men sat in silence with their eyes fixed upon the floor, a pattering noise was heard upon the stairs, and Sikes’s dog bounded into the room. ‘They ran to the window, down stairs, and into the street. The dog had jumped in at an open window ; he made no attempt to follow them, nor was his master to be seen. “ What’s the meaning of this!” said Toby, when they had returned. “He can’t be coming here. I—I—hope not." “If he was coming here, held have come with the dog," said Kags, stooping down to examine the animal, who lay panting on the floor. “Here; give us some water for him, he has run himself faint.” s He’s drunk it all up, every drop,” said Kags, after watching the dog some time in silence, “ covered with mud— lame—half blind—he must have come a long way.” s Where can he have come from!” expee in ‘‘He’s been to the other kens, of course, and finding them filled with strangers, come on here, where he’s been many a time, and often. But where can he have come from first, and how comes he here alone, without the other?” “ He, (none of them called the murderer by his old ee) he can’t have made away with himself; what do you think ?" said Chitling. Toby shook his head. “If he had,” said Kags, “ the dog ’ud want to lead us away to where he did it. No. I think he’s got out of the country, and left the dog behind. He must have given him the slip somehow, or he wouldn’t be so easy.” | This solution appearing the most probable one, was adopted as the right, and the dog creeping under a chair, coiled himself up to sleep, without further notice from anybody. 7 It being now dark, the shutter was closed, and a candle lighted and placed upon the table. The terrible events of the two days had made a deep impression upon all three, increased by the danger and uncertainty of their own position. They drew their chairs close together, starting at every sound. They spoke little, and that in whispers, and were as silent and awe-stricken as if the remains of the murdered woman lay in the next room. They had sat thus some time, when suddenly was heard a hurried knock at the door below. | “Young Bates,” said Kags, looking angrily round to check the fear he felt himself. The knocking came again. " No, it wasn’t he—he never knocked like that.” Crackit went to the window, and, shaking all over, drew in his head. There was no need to tell them who it was; his pale face was enough. The dog, too, was on the alert in an instant, and ran whining to the door. “ We must let him in,” he said, taking up the candle. 6 Isn"t there any help for it?” asked the other man in a hoarse voice. “None. He must come in. ’ “Don’t leave us in the dark,” said Kags, taking down a candle from the chimney-piece, and lighting it with such a trembling hand that the knocking was twice repeated before he had finished. Crackit went down to the door, and returned followed by a man with the lower part of his face buried in a handkerchief, and another tied over his head
