登陆注册
5199200000029

第29章

He stood, for a moment, with the blood so tingling through all his veins from terror, that he felt as if he were in a burning fire; then, confused and frightened, he took to his heels; and, not knowing what he did, made off as fast as he could lay his feet to the ground.

This was all done in a minute's space. In the very instant when Oliver began to run, the old gentleman, putting his hand to his pocket, and missing his handkerchief, turned sharp round. Seeing the boy scudding away at such a rapid pace, he very naturally concluded him to be the depredator; and shouting 'Stop thief!'

with all his might, made off after him, book in hand.

But the old gentleman was not the only person who raised the hue-and-cry. The Dodger and Master Bates, unwilling to attract public attention by running down the open street, had merely retured into the very first doorway round the corner. They no sooner heard the cry, and saw Oliver running, than, guessing exactly how the matter stood, they issued forth with great promptitude; and, shouting 'Stop thief!' too, joined in the pursuit like good citizens.

Although Oliver had been brought up by philosophers, he was not theoretically acquainted with the beautiful axiom that self-preservation is the first law of nature. If he had been, perhaps he would have been prepared for this. Not being prepared, however, it alarmed him the more; so away he went like the wind, with the old gentleman and the two boys roaring and shouting behind him.

'Stop thief! Stop thief!' There is a magic in the sound. The tradesman leaves his counter, and the car-man his waggon; the butcher throws down his tray; the baker his basket; the milkman his pail; the errand-boy his parcels; the school-boy his marbles;the paviour his pickaxe; the child his battledore. Away they run, pell-mell, helter-skelter, slap-dash: tearing, yelling, screaming, knocking down the passengers as they turn the corners, rousing up the dogs, and astonishing the fowls: and streets, squares, and courts, re-echo with the sound.

'Stop thief! Stop thief!' The cry is taken up by a hundred voices, and the crowd accumulate at every turning. Away they fly, splashing through the mud, and rattling along the pavements:

up go the windows, out run the people, onward bear the mob, a whole audience desert Punch in the very thickest of the plot, and, joining the rushing throng, swell the shout, and lend fresh vigour to the cry, 'Stop thief! Stop thief!'

'Stop thief! Stop thief!' There is a passion FOR HUNTINGSOMETHING deeply implanted in the human breast. One wretched breathless child, panting with exhaustion; terror in his looks;agaony in his eyes; large drops of perspiration streaming down his face; strains every nerve to make head upon his pursuers; and as they follow on his track, and gain upon him every instant, they hail his decreasing strength with joy. 'Stop thief!' Ay, stop him for God's sake, were it only in mercy!

Stopped at last! A clever blow. He is down upon the pavement;and the crowd eagerly gather round him: each new comer, jostling and struggling with the others to catch a glimpse. 'Stand aside!' 'Give him a little air!' 'Nonsense! he don't deserve it.' 'Where's the gentleman?' 'Here his is, coming down the street.' 'Make room there for the gentleman!' 'Is this the boy, sir!' 'Yes.'

Oliver lay, covered with mud and dust, and bleeding from the mouth, looking wildly round upon the heap of faces that surrounded him, when the old gentleman was officiously dragged and pushed into the circle by the foremost of the pursuers.

'Yes,' said the gentleman, 'I am afraid it is the boy.'

'Afraid!' murmured the crowd. 'That's a good 'un!'

'Poor fellow!' said the gentleman, 'he has hurt himself.'

'_I_ did that, sir,' said a great lubberly fellow, stepping forward; 'and preciously I cut my knuckle agin' his mouth. Istopped him, sir.'

The follow touched his hat with a grin, expecting something for his pains; but, the old gentleman, eyeing him with an expression of dislike, look anxiously round, as if he contemplated running away himself: which it is very possible he might have attempted to do, and thus have afforded another chase, had not a police officer (who is generally the last person to arrive in such cases) at that moment made his way through the crowd, and seized Oliver by the collar.

'Come, get up,' said the man, roughly.

'It wasn't me indeed, sir. Indeed, indeed, it was two other boys,' said Oliver, clasping his hands passionately, and looking round. 'They are here somewhere.'

'Oh no, they ain't,' said the officer. He meant this to be ironical, but it was true besides; for the Dodger and Charley Bates had filed off down the first convenient court they came to.

'Come, get up!'

'Don't hurt him,' said the old gentleman, compassionately.

'Oh no, I won't hurt him,' replied the officer, tearing his jacket half off his back, in proof thereof. 'Come, I know you;it won't do. Will you stand upon your legs, you young devil?'

Oliver, who could hardly stand, made a shift to raise himself on his feet, and was at once lugged along the streets by the jacket-collar, at a rapid pace. The gentleman walked on with them by the officer's side; and as many of the crowd as could achieve the feat, got a little ahead, and stared back at Oliver from time to time. The boys shouted in triumph; and on they went.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 高冷总裁低调爱

    高冷总裁低调爱

    十二年前他失去一切,无奈远走他乡。十二年后,他化身商界大佬归来。谁知深爱的那个女人却将她忘得一干二净。对外他残酷冷血,在她面前却像个孩子。他将她变相囚禁在别墅里,天天求亲亲求抱抱。她多次想逃,却被抓了回来。他说,“你说过要给我生个孩子,说过的话就得算数!”
  • 耕堂劫后十种:秀露集

    耕堂劫后十种:秀露集

    本书是作者的杂文作品集。一、戏的梦二、书的梦三、画的梦四、石子——病期琐事五、乡里旧闻等。
  • 女帝?皇后?送上门!

    女帝?皇后?送上门!

    【又名<残花败柳>】【本文】=【小女尊】+【小后宫】+【小江湖】+....【暂时没想到了】(超级慢热文)【第一卷轻松搞笑到第二卷的虐心虐肺】她怀恨入宫,刚入宫便被皇宫内所有人骂作"残花败柳"暗恋她许久的他愤怒之余,当着所有人的面强暴了她,血迹斑斑的白色床单,触目惊心的血红...是清白的证明还是....?同时她被贬为最卑微的"浣衣奴".....夜夜索欢,将她尊严和身体踏之脚下.....夜夜春宵,不论是心还是身,都不堪负荷.....☆¨¨¨¨★¨¨¨¨☆¨¨¨¨【如果有兴趣,那么就收藏吧】★¨¨¨¨☆¨¨¨¨★¨¨¨¨本文纯属虚构,如有雷同,纯属巧合。左儿其他的文:<冷酷皇帝俏丞相>(一个男人的普通穿越)(完结)喜欢的亲们,可以去看看左儿其他的文。〓收藏〓投票〓收藏〓一步到位!嘻嘻,看过喜欢的请收藏了。这样可以随时知道文文是否更新了。
  • 不久不久现在即可

    不久不久现在即可

    圆梦者,乃知前世今生守梦者,只在你我之间是圆,是守,只在生死之间是你,是我,只听彼岸之花前世,你只愿圆,我只望守何时才能相伴今生,我只愿圆,你只望守何时才能相知
  • 豪门试婚:绯闻老婆别想逃

    豪门试婚:绯闻老婆别想逃

    她前有严母管教,后有闲夫调教。“天啊!难道人世间无我容身之处。”前有粉丝,后有绯闻。“没想到一个娱乐圈,居然让我八卦满身飞。“亲,你确定要与为夫为敌?”某男邪魅一笑,对于席乐馨的反击不疼不痒。阵阵败下场之后,席乐馨捂脸:“现在认错,会不会有些不要脸了。”某男眉毛一挑,笑得得一脸不怀好意的道:“或许,暖床更适合让你报复~~~”席乐馨:“……好像不要脸的人不是她哈?”
  • 失约

    失约

    失约是人与之间的错过,而柳玫和沐阳的一次失约,却是命运般的错过。然而,这也许就是一种缘分吧,其实爱情不过是在对的时间遇上了对的人,但柳玫和沐阳的爱情故事绝非这么简单……
  • 三世之冰坠之裳

    三世之冰坠之裳

    原本是天庭人人宠爱的五公主,可却意外流落凡间,这也就算了,为何莫名其妙的穿越了!这是什么操作?孤独影:我不介意别人说你是什么,我和你是一路的,你若成魔我本是魔,你若是神…我不弑神,就看着办吧!夜凌—*~*!名影的!你把我这个魔尊放哪去了水令佞零:若再对你服软,本王的名字就倒过来写!(算了,倒过来不怎么好听,就凑合凑合过日子吧…)水令熙麒:其实吧,我一个皇帝为了你可以牺牲我的幸福,可耐和碰上了一个半瞎子,唉~我太难了……一天众人醉酒,宫茱嘴露说出了自己的身份:我跟你们说个秘密,其实我是神仙,法力很高,学识渊博,最顶层的那种!众人:哦~(看这丫头,又在吹牛)又一天,她无意中暴露身份,可却被人诬陷是妖怪众人:来人,抄家伙,捉妖去!宫茱:什么鬼?夜筱冥,你丫的,都是你害得我!夜筱冥:冤枉,我只是个打酱油的,穿越之路慢又长,我也一样想还乡,奈何天机镜诓人,把你一样送远方三百年后,梦回初始,阴差阳错投胎成了【凡人】,她还能克服危机吗,又能回到属于她的地方吗……
  • 明伦汇编皇极典风俗部

    明伦汇编皇极典风俗部

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 心欲成妖

    心欲成妖

    她天生一双阴阳眼,却因为这双眼失去双亲。她颠沛流离,周旋于魑魅魍魉、人妖仙鬼之间。离奇的红绳之下又悬着什么样的故事,古船的背后又生活着怎样一群异族。她本不欲踏足,奈何命运牵扯,深陷其中……她孤苦无依,直到遇见他……架空+玄幻··
  • 我是你的脑残粉

    我是你的脑残粉

    这是讲述一个暖萌吐槽妹如何勾搭她的本命男神,然后悲催地被拒,又被反过来奋力猛追的故事。