CHAPTER L. THE PURSUIT AND ESCAPE

,theshutterwasclosed,andacandlelightedandplaceduponthetable.Theterribleeventsofthelasttwodayshadmadeadeepimpressiononallthree,increasedbythedangeranduncertaintyoftheirownposition.Theydrewtheirchairsclosertogether,startingateverysound.Theyspokelittle,andthatinwhispers,andwereassilentandawe-strickenasiftheremainsofthemurderedwomanlayinthenextroom. Theyhadsatthus,sometime,whensuddenlywasheardahurriedknockingatthedoorbelow. “YoungBates,”saidKags,lookingangrilyround,tocheckthefearhefelthimself. Theknockingcameagain.No,itwasn’the.Heneverknockedlikethat. Crackitwenttothewindow,andshakingallover,drewinhishead.Therewasnoneedtotellthemwhoitwashispalefacewasenough.Thedogtoowasonthealertinaninstant,andranwhiningtothedoor. “Wemustlethimin,”hesaid,takingupthecandle. “Isn’tthereanyhelpforit?”askedtheothermaninahoarsevoice. “None.Hemustcomein.” “Don’tleaveusinthedark,”saidKags,takingdownacandlefromthechimney-piece,andlightingit,withsuchatremblinghandthattheknockingwastwicerepeatedbeforehehadfinished. Crackitwentdowntothedoor,andreturnedfollowedbyamanwiththelowerpartofhisfaceburiedinahandkerchief,andanothertiedoverhisheadunderhishat.Hedrewthemslowlyoff.Blanchedface,sunkeneyes,hollowcheeks,beardofthreedays’growth,wastedflesh,shortthickbreathitwastheveryghostofSikes. Helaidhishanduponachairwhichstoodinthemiddleoftheroom,butshudderingashewasabouttodropintoit,andseemingtoglanceoverhisshoulder,draggeditbackclosetothewall—ascloseasitwouldgo—andgrounditagainstit—andsatdown. Notawordhadbeenexchanged.Helookedfromonetoanotherinsilence.Ifaneyewerefurtivelyraisedandmethis,itwasinstantlyaverted.Whenhishollowvoicebrokesilence,theyallthreestarted.Theyseemednevertohavehearditstonesbefore. “Howcamethatdoghere?”heasked. “Alone.Threehoursago.” “To-night’spapersaysthatFagin’stook.Isittrue,oralie?” “True.” Theyweresilentagain. “Damnyouall!”saidSikes,passinghishandacrosshisforehead.“Haveyounothingtosaytome?” Therewasanuneasymovementamongthem,butnobodyspoke. “Youthatkeepthishouse,”saidSikes,turninghisfacetoCrackit,“doyoumeantosellme,ortoletmelieheretillthishuntisover?” “Youmaystophere,ifyouthinkitsafe,”returnedthepersonaddressed,aftersomehesitation. Sikescarriedhiseyesslowlyupthewallbehindhim:rathertryingtoturnhisheadthanactuallydoingit:andsaid,“Is—it—thebody—isitburied?” Theyshooktheirheads. “Whyisn’tit!”heretortedwiththesameglancebehindhim.“Wotdotheykeepsuchuglythingsabovethegroundfor?—Who’sthatknocking?” Crackitintimated,byamotionofhishandashelefttheroom,thattherewasnothingtofearanddirectlycamebackwithCharleyBatesbehindhim.Sikessatoppositethedoor,sothatthemomenttheboyenteredtheroomheencounteredhisfigure. “Toby,”saidtheboyfallingback,asSikesturnedhiseyestowardshim,“whydidn’tyoutellmethis,downstairs?” Therehadbeensomethingsotremendousintheshrinkingoffofthethree,thatthewretchedmanwaswillingtopropitiateeventhislad.Accordinglyhenodded,andmadeasthoughhewouldshakehandswithhim. “Letmegointosomeotherroom,”saidtheboy,retreatingstillfarther. “Charley!”saidSikes,steppingforward.“Don’tyou—don’tyouknowme?” “Don’tcomenearerme,”answeredtheboy,stillretreating,andlooking,withhorrorinhiseyes,uponthemurderer’sface.“Youmonster!” Themanstoppedhalf-way,andtheylookedateachotherbutSikes’seyessunkgraduallytotheground. “Witnessyouthree,”criedtheboyshakinghisclenchedfist,andbecomingmoreandmoreexcitedashespoke.“Witnessyouthree—I’mnotafraidofhim—iftheycomehereafterhim,I’llgivehimupIwill.Itellyououtatonce.Hemaykillmeforitifhelikes,orifhedares,butifIamhereI’llgivehimup.I’dgivehimupifhewastobeboiledalive.Murder!Help!Ifthere’sthepluckofamanamongyouthree,you’llhelpme.Murder!Help!Downwithhim!” Pouringoutthesecries,andaccompanyingthemwithviolentgesticulation,theboyactuallythrewhimself,single-handed,uponthestrongman,andintheintensityofhisenergyandthesuddennessofhissurprise,broughthimheavilytothegroun