Page:Oliver Twist (1838) vol. 3.djvu/271

 the shrinking off of the three, that the wretched man was willing to propitiate even this lad. Accordingly he nodded and made as though he would shake hands with him.

"Let me go into some other room," said the boy retreating still further.

"Why, Charley?" said Sikes stepping forward. "Don't you—don't you know me?"

"Don't come nearer me," answered the boy, still retreating and looking with horror in his eyes upon the murderer's face. "You monster."

The man stopped half-way, and they looked at each other; but Sikes's eyes sunk gradually to the ground.

"Witness you three," cried the boy, shaking his clenched fist, and becoming more and more excited as he spoke. "Witness you three—I'm not afraid of him—if they come here after him, I'll give him up; I will. I tell you out at once; he may kill me for it if he likes or if he dares, but if I'm 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