CHAPTER XXVIII. LOOKS AFTER OLIVER, AND PROCEEDS WITH HIS ADVENTURES

“Wolvestearyourthroats!”mutteredSikes,grindinghisteeth.“IwishIwasamongsomeofyouyou’dhowlthehoarserforit.” AsSikesgrowledforththisimprecation,withthemostdesperateferocitythathisdesperatenaturewascapableof,herestedthebodyofthewoundedboyacrosshisbendedkneeandturnedhishead,foraninstant,tolookbackathispursuers. Therewaslittletobemadeout,inthemistanddarknessbuttheloudshoutingofmenvibratedthroughtheair,andthebarkingoftheneighbouringdogs,rousedbythesoundofthealarmbell,resoundedineverydirection. “Stop,youwhite-liveredhound!”criedtherobber,shoutingafterTobyCrackit,who,makingthebestuseofhislonglegs,wasalreadyahead.“Stop!” Therepetitionoftheword,broughtTobytoadeadstand-still.Forhewasnotquitesatisfiedthathewasbeyondtherangeofpistol-shotandSikeswasinnomoodtobeplayedwith. “Bearahandwiththeboy,”criedSikes,beckoningfuriouslytohisconfederate.“Comeback!” Tobymadeashowofreturningbutventured,inalowvoice,brokenforwantofbreath,tointimateconsiderablereluctanceashecameslowlyalong. “Quicker!”criedSikes,layingtheboyinadryditchathisfeet,anddrawingapistolfromhispocket.“Don’tplaybootywithme.” Atthismomentthenoisegrewlouder.Sikes,againlookinground,coulddiscernthatthemenwhohadgivenchasewerealreadyclimbingthegateofthefieldinwhichhestoodandthatacoupleofdogsweresomepacesinadvanceofthem. “It’sallup,Bill!”criedToby“dropthekid,andshow’emyourheels.”Withthispartingadvice,Mr.Crackit,preferringthechanceofbeingshotbyhisfriend,tothecertaintyofbeingtakenbyhisenemies,fairlyturnedtail,anddartedoffatfullspeed.SikesclenchedhisteethtookonelookaroundthrewovertheprostrateformofOliver,thecapeinwhichhehadbeenhurriedlymuffledranalongthefrontofthehedge,asiftodistracttheattentionofthosebehind,fromthespotwheretheboylaypaused,forasecond,beforeanotherhedgewhichmetitatrightanglesandwhirlinghispistolhighintotheair,cleareditatabound,andwasgone. “Ho,ho,there!”criedatremulousvoiceintherear.“Pincher!Neptune!Comehere,comehere!” Thedogs,who,incommonwiththeirmasters,seemedtohavenoparticularrelishforthesportinwhichtheywereengaged,readilyansweredtothecommand.Threemen,whohadbythistimeadvancedsomedistanceintothefield,stoppedtotakecounseltogether. “Myadvice,or,leastways,Ishouldsay,myorders,is,”saidthefattestmanoftheparty,“thatwe’mediatelygohomeagain.” “IamagreeabletoanythingwhichisagreeabletoMr.Giles,”saidashortermanwhowasbynomeansofaslimfigure,andwhowasverypaleintheface,andverypolite:asfrightenedmenfrequentlyare. “Ishouldn’twishtoappearill-mannered,gentlemen,”saidthethird,whohadcalledthedogsback,“Mr.Gilesoughttoknow.” “Certainly,”repliedtheshorterman“andwhateverMr.Gilessays,itisn’tourplacetocontradicthim.No,no,Iknowmysitiwation!Thankmystars,Iknowmysitiwation.”Totellthetruth,thelittlemandidseemtoknowhissituation,andtoknowperfectlywellthatitwasbynomeansadesirableoneforhisteethchatteredinhisheadashespoke. “Youareafraid,Brittles,”saidMr.Giles. “Ian’t,”saidBrittles. “Youare,”saidGiles. “You’reafalsehood,Mr.Giles,”saidBrittles. “You’realie,Brittles,”saidMr.Giles. Now,thesefourretortsarosefromMr.Giles’stauntandMr.Giles’staunthadarisenfromhisindignationathavingtheresponsibilityofgoinghomeagain,imposeduponhimselfundercoverofacompliment.Thethirdmanbroughtthedisputetoaclose