CHAPTER XXIX.

TOBIAS'S RAPID JOURNEY TO LONDON.

There was something extremely touching in the tone, and apparently in

the manner in which the poor persecuted one detailed the story of her

wrongs, and she had a tribute of a willing tear from Tobias.

"After the generous confidence you have had in me," he said, "I ought to

tell you something of myself."

"Do so," she replied, "we are companions in misfortune."

"We are indeed."

Tobias then related to her at large all about Sweeney Todd's villanies,

and how at length he, Tobias, had been placed where he was for the

purpose of silencing his testimony of the evil and desperate practices

of the barber. After that, he related to her what he had overheard about

the intention to murder him that very night, and he concluded by

saying--

"If you have any plan of escape from this horrible place, let me implore

you to tell it to me, and let us put it into practice to-night, and if

we fail, death is at any time preferable to continued existence here."

"It is--it is--listen to me."

"I will indeed," said Tobias: "you will say you never had such attention

as I will now pay to you."

"You must know, then, that this cell is paved with flag-stones, as you

see, and that the wall here at the back forms likewise part of the wall

of an old wood-house in the garden, which is never visited."

"Yes, I understand."

"Well, as I have been here so long, I managed to get up one of the

flag-stones that forms the flooring here, and to work under the wall

with my hands--a slow labour, and one of pain, until I made a regular

kind of excavation, one end of which is here, and the other in the

wood-house."

"Glorious!" said Tobias. "I see--I see--go on."

"I should have made my escape if I could, but the height of the garden

wall has always been the obstacle. I thought of tearing this miserable

quilt into strips, and making a sort of rope of it; but then how was I

to get it on the wall? you, perhaps will, with your activity and youth,

be able to accomplish that."

"Oh, yes, yes! you're right enough there; it is not a wall shall stop

me."

They waited until, from a church clock in the vicinity, they heard ten

strike, and they began operations. Tobias assisted his new friend to

raise the stone in the cell, and there, immediately beneath, appeared

the excavation leading to the wood-house, just sufficiently wide for one

person to creep through. It did not take long to do that, and Tobias

took with him a piece of work, upon which he had been occupied for the

last two hours, namely the quilt torn up into long pieces, twisted and

tied together, so that it formed a very tolerable rope, which Tobias

thought would sustain the weight of his companion. The wood-house was a

miserable-looking hole enough, and Tobias at once thought that the door

of it was fastened, but by a little pressure it came open; it had only

stuck through the dampness of the woodwork at that low point of the

garden. And now they were certainly both of them at liberty, with the

exception of surmounting the wall, which rose frowningly before him in

all its terrors. There was a fine cool fresh air in the garden, which

was indeed most grateful to the senses of Tobias, and he seemed doubly

nerved for anything that might be required of him after inhaling that

delicious, cool fresh breeze. There grew close to the wall one of those

beautiful mountain-ash trees, which bend over into such graceful

foliage, and which are so useful in the formation of pretty

summer-houses. Tobias saw that if he ascended to the top of this tree

there would not be much trouble in getting from there to the wall.

"We shall do it," he said, "we shall succeed."

"Thank God, I hear you say so," replied his companion.

Tobias tied one end of the long rope they had made of the quilt to his

waist, so that he might carry it up with him, and yet leave him free use

of his hands and feet, and then he commenced ascending the tree. In

three minutes he was on the wall. The moon shone sweetly. There was not

a tree or house in the vicinity that was not made beautiful now, in some

portions of it, by the sweet, soft light that poured down upon them,

Tobias could not resist pausing a moment to look around him on the

glorious scene; but the voice of her for whom he was bound to do all

that was possible, aroused him.

"Oh, Tobias!" she said, "quick, quick--lower the rope; oh, quick!"

"In a moment--in a moment," he cried.

The top of the wall was here and there armed with iron spikes, and some

of these formed an excellent grappling place for the torn quilt. In the

course of another minute Tobias had his end of it secure.

"Now," he said, "can you climb up by it, do you think? Don't hurry about

it. Remember, there is no alarm, and for all we know we have hours to

ourselves yet."

"Yes, yes--oh, yes--thank God!" he heard her say.

Tobias was not where he could, by any exertion of strength, render her

now the least assistance, and he watched the tightening of the frail

support by which she was gradually climbing to the top of the wall with

the most intense and painful interest that can be imagined.

"I come--I come," she said, "I am saved."

"Come slowly--for God's sake, do not hurry."

"No, no."

At this moment Tobias heard the frail rope giving way; there was a

tearing sound--it broke, and she fell. Lights, too, at that unlucky

moment, flashed from the house, and it was now evident an alarm had been

given. What could he do? if two could not be saved he might himself be

saved. He turned, and flung his feet over the wall; he hung by his hands

as low as he could, and then he dropped the remainder of the distance.

He was hurt, but in a moment he sprang to his feet, for he felt that

safety could only lie in instant and rapid flight. The terror of pursuit

was so strong upon him that he forgot his bruises.

* * * * *

"Thank Heaven," exclaimed Tobias, "I am at last free from that horrible

place. Oh, if I can but reach London now, I shall be safe; and as for

Sweeney Todd, let him beware, for a day of retribution for him cannot be

far off."

So saying, Tobias turned his steps towards the city, and at a hard trot,

soon left Peckham Rye far behind him as he pursued his route.