The robbery (10)

 

'Back! Back!'

 

Oliver stood still, frozen with fear. A light a ppeared, then two men on the stairs , then a sudden bright flash,and a loud bang. Oliver staggered back. Sikes seized the boy's collar through the window and pulled him back out into the garden.

 

'They've hit him!' shouted Sikes. 'He's bleeding.'

 

A bell rang loudly, above the noise of more grnshots and the shouts of men. Oliver filt himself being carried accross rough ground , and then he saw and heard no more.

 

8 After the robbery  (1)

 

The night was bitterly cold. A sharp wind whipped the fallen snow up into the air and blew it into every hole and corner. It was a night for the homeless to lie down and die; and for luckier people to sit close to their fires and thank God they were at home.

 

In the workhouse where Oliver was vorn, Mrs Corney - the widow in charge - was making tea by her fire . When she heard a knock at her door, she frowned and called out sharply, 'Come in .' The frown, however ,was puickly changed to a sweet smile when she saw Mr Bumble enter.