登陆注册
5199200000068

第68章

'Crape, keys, centre-bits, darkies--nothing forgotten?' inquired Toby: fastening a small crowbar to a loop inside the skirt of his coat.

'All right,' rejoined his companion. 'Bring them bits of timber, Barney. That's the time of day.'

With these words, he took a thick stick from Barney's hands, who, having delivered another to Toby, busied himself in fastening on Oliver's cape.

'Now then!' said Sikes, holding out his hand.

Oliver: who was completely stupified by the unwonted exercise, and the air, and the drink which had been forced upon him: put his hand mechanically into that which Sikes extended for the purpose.

'Take his other hand, Toby,' said Sikes. 'Look out, Barney.'

The man went to the door, and returned to announce that all was quiet. The two robbers issued forth with Oliver between them.

Barney, having made all fast, rolled himself up as before, and was soon asleep again.

It was now intensely dark. The fog was much heavier than it had been in the early part of the night; and the atmosphere was so damp, that, although no rain fell, Oliver's hair and eyebrows, within a few minutes after leaving the house, had become stiff with the half-frozen moisture that was floating about. They crossed the bridge, and kept on towards the lights which he had seen before. They were at no great distance off; and, as they walked pretty briskly, they soon arrived at Chertsey.

'Slap through the town,' whispered Sikes; 'there'll be nobody in the way, to-night, to see us.'

Toby acquiesced; and they hurried through the main street of the little town, which at that late hour was wholly deserted. A dim light shone at intervals from some bed-room window; and the hoarse barking of dogs occasionally broke the silence of the night. But there was nobody abroad. They had cleared the town, as the church-bell struck two.

Quickening their pace, they turned up a road upon the left hand.

After walking about a quarter of a mile, they stopped before a detached house surrounded by a wall: to the top of which, Toby Crackit, scarcely pausing to take breath, climbed in a twinkling.

'The boy next,' said Toby. 'Hoist him up; I'll catch hold of him.'

Before Oliver had time to look round, Sikes had caught him under the arms; and in three or four seconds he and Toby were lying on the grass on the other side. Sikes followed directly. And they stole cautiously towards the house.

And now, for the first time, Oliver, well-nigh mad with grief and terror, saw that housebreaking and robbery, if not murder, were the objects of the expedition. He clasped his hands together, and involuntarily uttered a subdued exclamation of horror. Amist came before his eyes; the cold sweat stood upon his ashy face; his limbs failed him; and he sank upon his knees.

'Get up!' murmured Sikes, trembling with rage, and drawing the pistol from his pocket; 'Get up, or I'll strew your brains upon the grass.'

'Oh! for God's sake let me go!' cried Oliver; 'let me run away and die in the fields. I will never come near London; never, never! Oh! pray have mercy on me, and do not make me steal. For the love of all the bright Angels that rest in Heaven, have mercy upon me!'

The man to whom this appeal was made, swore a dreadful oath, and had cocked the pistol, when Toby, striking it from his grasp, placed his hand upon the boy's mouth, and dragged him to the house.

'Hush!' cried the man; 'it won't answer here. Say another word, and I'll do your business myself with a crack on the head. That makes no noise, and is quite as certain, and more genteel. Here, Bill, wrench the shutter open. He's game enough now, I'll engage. I've seen older hands of his age took the same way, for a minute or two, on a cold night.'

同类推荐
  • 碧里杂存

    碧里杂存

    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。
  • 寄永道士

    寄永道士

    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。
  • 贤愚经

    贤愚经

    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。
  • 媚幽阁文娱

    媚幽阁文娱

    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。
  • 大方广佛花严经修慈分一卷

    大方广佛花严经修慈分一卷

    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。
热门推荐
  • 做你的皇妃

    做你的皇妃

    B版简介:她,本是超有前途的艺术体操国家队队员。可是乐极生悲。她,叫若冰。她,到了异世时只有八岁不说,还忘记了自己身为二十一世纪大好青年的事情,成为拥有“貌若凝梅,性如冰玉”美誉的女子苏锦。她背负着父亲的政治意义进了王宫。可是在那里她能完成父亲的意志?当记忆再回来时,她已经在青楼之中。“什么貌若凝梅,性如冰玉,我呸!”她需要钱,她要做花魁赢得身价逃出去!可是金身夜,命运改变了。一场诱惑之舞,本是她的计谋。可是,三双不同的眼睛深深地看着她!想要抓一个,却来了三个。**************************************他,是望国的王。有美却不能爱,空坐江山没有权。他,是星国的王。与佳人巧结缘,佳人的心猜不透。他,是离国的王。他国强摘凝梅,自此一心待花开。一个是寒冰般刺骨,一个是温雅如春风,一个是烈焰在焚烧!*************************************单项选择,该选哪个?请亲们在阅读此书前稍微去看下本书的视频,那么您看书的时候会有意想不到的感觉!地址是:也许第1卷的前两章是您不喜的内容,请暂时忍耐,后面你会发现这是一个不一样的穿越文哦.谢谢,亲的耐心和支持!蓝羽,发了新书,叫<舞天醉红尘>和《皇上,劫个色!》欢迎大家去看,点此页左上角的书名就安了!给亲亲的话:墨轩创作室:由五位美女码字工作者合作而成,意为广大女频读者奉上尽心尽力的美好故事.或热辣,或清爽,或婉约或唯美,风格多样,请君采撷.注:本轩出品,皆完本,保证更新保证质量,五位作者轮番献作,请大家多多支持!以下奉上墨轩出品:架空历史却并未摆脱历史的穿越文《红颜怒》墨轩作者:人鱼水洋不于世俗的爱恋,他们受千年的痛苦《后宫冷》墨轩作者:晴沁身陷青楼苦苦挣扎的爱恋故事《青楼红颜》墨轩作者:月凉宛如雪的姊妹篇《宛心泪》墨轩作者:晴沁保证全部新书,保证原创,并且潇湘首发!按时更新,保证完结!蓝羽新建此QQ群:35232275,欢迎亲们哦。
  • 我主沉浮

    我主沉浮

    一心逆生死,两手定乾坤。世间恩与怨、情与恨只有一线之差,正道与邪魔皆在一念之间。星河大陆,强者为尊,诸圣争霸,群雄四起。少年在此告天下风流人物:我主沉浮!
  • 替身嫡侧妃

    替身嫡侧妃

    他宠她,不惜在千里之外采集蚕丝,仅为她编织最美的云裳他宠她,不惜到天山之巅夺取雪莲,仅为她能一度雪莲风采他宠她,不惜大兴土木盖奢侈观月台,仅为了博得红颜一笑…然而,当真相揭露,一切不过镜中花,水中月。“我不是她的替身!永远都不会是!”冷静如她,此刻亦是撕心裂肺的嘶叫。他只是淡淡看着一地狼籍,眼前略微狼狈的她,薄唇微勾。“替身?花箬沫,你不配。”一字一顿,字字冰冷。最后,修长的身影逐渐远离,仿似走出她的生命。原来她连替身都不如…*殷红的鲜血喷洒一地,那曾经对她微笑,处处关心她的人,此刻却是落得头断尸分的悲惨结局。她努力睁开眼睛,却被泪水一次一次掩埋。想发出嘶喊,却掐在喉咙,身体因冰冷而剧烈颤抖,红唇早已被咬破。微颤的脚步刚欲不顾一切趋前,却被身后温暖的身躯紧抱,轻轻一拍,意识逐渐模糊。耳边仍清晰的听见高台出传来的阴骘嗓音:“花箬沫,本王知道你一直都在…别妄图逃脱,那只会让更多人因你而亡。”那锐利而阴寒的眸子扫视着黑压压的人群,最终却不曾见到那抹清雅的倩影…*他,阴骘冰冷的麒麟国三王爷,为心爱的女人不惜一切代价。然而,最终明白,失去的永不能再度拥有。(轩辕沧海)他,坦率真诚的白虎国大将军,纵然伤痕累累,仍是不断往她靠近,哪怕只能是守候,亦心甘情愿。(赫连烈日)他,妖孽腹黑的青龙国首席谋臣,玩弄权谋之人,却因结识她,甘于平凡,浪迹天涯祈求彼此再度相遇。(蓝斐然/慕容蓝斐)他,优雅高洁的朱雀国君主,一代明君,为保疆土鞠躬尽瘁,死而后已,但却为她几近成千古罪人。(东堂烟月)他,飘然出尘的玄武国王子,本是高贵出生,却因特殊眸子备受排挤。最后终夺得帝位,却需不断追逐心爱的她。(南宫暖熙)他,温润俊美的麒麟国大才子,第一眼见她便注定了此生的悲剧。(柳千茗)*她说:“一颗心需要坚定地去温暖另一颗心,坦诚相待,这样才可以幸福。”然而,天下之大,她却无法找到那颗能让她全心全意去温暖的心。但,她相信只要坚持,梦必能圆!在移动手机阅读平台上使用的名称为《不当替身侧妃》
  • 巴丹吉林的个人生活

    巴丹吉林的个人生活

    这是一部时光之书和个人史,以个人的角度乃至生活、命运轨迹为基本线索,贯穿了十多年在沙漠乃至异地的生命本真体验和思考。其中既有个人化的生活记述与心情心态逼真刻绘,又有对自然事物及人生人世的观察和发现。在写作手法及艺术追求上,实验与传统并重,力求更逼真地书写个人乃至时代的平民生存史,其中还大量地涉及到了地域文化及历史遗迹,乃至个人生命过程中的种种遭际。整部书格调忧伤而又高贵,多“道人所未道,言人所难言。”作者始终不跟风、不师从、不合唱,坚持自己的艺术思想与独特的书写理想,使得这部书稿在一定程度上区别于当下任何散文作品,堪称新世纪以来一部独立之作。
  • 一枕浮华

    一枕浮华

    关呈素,一个夹带着西洋清新风气的留洋女子,冲进了陈腐糜烂的封建大家庭,冲破重重礼教的约束,冲刷一个男人心里的污秽,如初春的凌霄花,乍然绽放在冷冽里,但是,她能否如愿改变自己和他人的命运?谷唯羽,封建大家庭的家长,世故冷硬阴暗无情酷烈自大。固守着男人所谓的骄傲家长的尊严,张扬着商人的狡猾,但在一个女人的执着坚韧和美丽面前,他终于,内心不再如一……人生若是一袭华丽的充满虱子的长袍,我却只愿现世安稳,岁月静好,所有最不可能的恋情,都在这最无法生长爱情的时代,悄然而生……
  • 五代十国:乱世风雨

    五代十国:乱世风雨

    从唐朝灭亡到北宋建立的五十多年间,史称五代十国。在这一历史时期,先后出现了后梁、后唐、后晋、后汉、后周五个朝代。在这一历史时期,还出现了十几个割据政权,主要有前蜀、后蜀、吴、南唐、吴越、闽、楚、南汉、南平、北汉,统称十国。关于五代十国的年限,一般传统说法认为唐朝亡于907年,北宋建于960年,因此五代十国存在于907年至960年期间。
  • 最后一支铁骑

    最后一支铁骑

    一面人皮鼓,叙说着不是贪官的贪官冤屈。一座梦城,叙说着帝王的雄图大略和饮恨难消。一座沙城,叙说着匈奴部落的没落。一个人的爱恨情仇,叙说着历史长河中的诸多无奈……
  • 傲世雷尊

    傲世雷尊

    凡星,一个废材皇子的蜕变,独身拥有大陆中最强的雷属性之体。为报母仇,毅然踏上了巅峰强者之路,成为了凡界中至强巅峰强者!爱情,是唯一的;友谊,是最真诚的;属性,是最霸道的;而我的剑,是最强的!境界划分:灵光、灵动、灵师、灵王、灵皇、灵尊、灵仙
  • 旗袍旗袍

    旗袍旗袍

    1931年,民国第一杀手、“斧头帮”帮主王九洲不满国民党的抗日态度,决定刺杀蒋介石。不巧情报泄露,在生死关头,王九洲被爱国青年梅月堇、岱春风、孟惜之所救。梅月堇崇拜英雄,王九洲爱慕美女,两人暗生情愫。梅月堇出身官宦家庭,父亲是蒋介石身边的红人梅默庵,在父亲的反对声中,她毅然选择了跟随王九洲。但她始终无法摆脱跟父亲血肉相连的亲情,如同她无法割舍对王九洲的恋情一样。暗恋、嫉妒、色诱、纵欲、恩爱情仇,她究竟何去何从?岱春风和孟惜之加入了王九洲的劳工会馆,三人结拜为兄弟,一起杀汉奸,也一起爱上了梅月堇。
  • 天赋石嘴山

    天赋石嘴山

    石嘴山是一座古老的城市,不仅有着悠久的历史,更有着灿烂的文化。本书是《美丽石嘴山丛书》之一,是众多史志学专家智慧和心血的凝结,具有非常重要的存史、资政、教化价值的文献。