贝壳电子书 > 英文原著电子书 > oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) >

第113章

oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪))-第113章

小说: oliver twist(雾都孤儿(孤星血泪)) 字数: 每页4000字

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!



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 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 547 

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 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 548 

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 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 549 

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。 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 550 

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 post…
chaise; accompanied by one other person whose name had not 
been mentioned。 

They had not talked much upon the way; for Oliver was in a 
flutter of agitation and uncertainty which deprived him of the 
power of collecting his thoughts; and almost of speech; and 
appeared to have scarcely less effect on his companions; who 
shared it; in at least an equal degree。 He and the two ladies had 
been very carefully made acquainted by Mr。 Brownlow with the 
nature of the admissions which had been forced from Monks; and 
although they knew that the object of their present journey was to 
complete the work which had been so well begun; still the whole 
matter was enveloped in enough of doubt and mystery to leave 
them in endurance of the most intense suspense。 

The same kind friend had; with Mr。 Losberne’s assistance; 
cautiously stopped all channels of communication through which 
they could receive intelligence of the dreadful occurrences that 
had so recently taken place。 “It was quite true;” he said; “that they 

Charles Dickens ElecBook Classics 


Oliver Twist 551 

must know them before long; but it might be at a better time than 
the present; and it could not be at a worse。” So they travelled on in 
silence; each busied with reflections on the object which had 
brought them together; and no one disposed to give utterance to 
the thoughts which crowded upon all。 

But if Oliver; under these influences; had remained silent while 
they journeyed towards his birth…place by a road he had never 
seen; how the whole current of his recollections ran back to old 
times; and what a crowd of emotions were awakened up in his 
breast; when they turned into that which he had traversed on foot; 
a poor; houseless; wandering boy; without a friend to help him; or 
a roof to shelter his head。 

“See there; there!” cried Oliver; eagerly clasping the hand of 
Rose; and pointing out of the carriage window; “that’s the stile I 
came over; there are the hedges I crept behind for fear any one 
should overtake me an

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的