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three—I’m not afraid of him—if they come here after him I’ll give
him up； I will。 I tell you at once。 He may kill me for it if he likes； or
if he dares； but if I am here I’ll give him up。 I’d give him up if he
was to be boiled alive。 Murder！ Help！ If there’s the pluck of a man
among you three； you’ll help me。 Murder！ Help！ Down with him！”
Pouring out these cries； and accompanying them with violent
gesticulation； the boy actually threw himself； single…handed； upon
the strong man； and in the intensity of his energy and the
suddenness of his surprise； brought him heavily to the ground。
The three spectators seemed quite stupefied。 They offered no
interference； and the boy and man rolled on the ground together；
the former； heedless of the blows that showered upon him；
wrenching his hands tighter and tighter in the garments about the
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murderer’s breast； and never ceasing to call for help with all his
might。
The contest； however； was too unequal to last long。 Sikes had
him down； and his knee was on his throat； when Crackit pulled
him back with a look of alarm； and pointed to the window。 There
were lights gleaming below； voices in loud and earnest
conversation； the tramp of hurried footsteps—endless they seemed
in number—crossing the nearest wooden bridge。 One man on
horseback seemed to be among the crowd； for there was the noise
of hoofs rattling on the uneven pavement。 The gleam of lights
increased； the footsteps came more thickly and noisily on。 Then
came a loud knocking at the door； and then a hoarse murmur from
such a multitude of angry voices as would have made the boldest
quail。
“Help！” shrieked the boy； in a voice that rent the air。 “He’s
here！ Break down the door！”
“In the king’s name；” cried the voices without； and the hoarse
cry arose again； but louder。
“Break down the door！” screamed the boy。 “I tell you they’ll
never open it。 Run straight to the room where the light is。 Break
down the door！”
Strokes； thick and heavy； rattled upon the door and lower
window…shutters as he ceased to speak； and a loud huzzah burst
from the crowd； giving the listener； for the first time； some
adequate idea of its immense extent。
“Open the door of some place where I can lock this screeching
hell…babe；” cried Sikes fiercely； running to and fro； and dragging
the boy； now； as easily as if he were an empty sack。 “That door。
Quick！” He flung him in； bolted it； and turned the key。 “Is the
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downstairs door fast？”
“Double…locked and chained；” replied Crackit； who； with the
other two men； still remained quite helpless and bewildered。
“The panels—are they strong？”
“Lined with sheet…iron。”
“And the windows too？”
“Yes； and the windows。”
“Damn you！” cried the desperate ruffian； throwing up the sash
and menacing the crowd。 “Do your worst！ I’ll cheat you yet！”
Of all the terrific yells that ever fell on mortal ears； none could
exceed the cry of the infuriated throng。 Some shouted to those
who were nearest to set the house on fire； others roared to the
officers to shoot him dead。 Among them all； none showed such
fury as the man on horseback； who； throwing himself out of the
saddle； and bursting through the crowd as if he were parting
water； cried； beneath the window； in a voice that rose above all
others； “Twenty guineas to the man who brings a ladder！”
The nearest voices took up the cry； and hundreds echoed it。
Some called for ladders； some for sledge…hammers； some ran with
torches to and fro as if to seek them； and still came back and
roared again； some spent their breath in impotent curses and
execrations； some pressed forward with the ecstasy of madmen；
and thus impeded the progress of those below； some among the
boldest attempted to climb up by the water…spout and crevices in
the wall； and all waved to and fro； in the darkness beneath； like a
field of corn moved by an angry wind； and joined from time to time
in one loud furious roar。
“The tide；” cried the murderer； as he staggered back into the
room； and shut the faces out—“the tide was in as I came up。 Give
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me a rope； a long rope。 They’re all in front。 I may drop into the
Folly Ditch； and clear off that way。 Give me a rope； or I shall do
three more murders and kill myself。”
The panic…stricken men pointed to where such articles were
kept； the murderer； hastily selecting the longest and strongest
cord； hurried up to the house…top。
All the windows in the rear of the house had been long ago
bricked up； except one small trap in the room where the boy was
locked； and that was too small even for the passage of his body。
But； from this aperture； he had never ceased to call on those
without to guard the back； and thus； when the murderer emerged
at last on the house…top by the door in the roof； a loud shout
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
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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
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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 hea