Oliver Twist Chapter 6 (narrated by Daniel) Oliver Among the Thieves Day after day Oliver stayed in Fagin's room, taking the marks out of handkerchiefs. Sometimes, too, he played the game with Fagin's pockets. At last he began to want fresh air. He asked Fagin to let him go out to work with Dawkins and Charley Bates. One morning Fagin allowed him to go. The three boys left the house, walking very slowly. Oliver wondered if they were going to work at all. They were just coming out of a narrow street into a square when suddenly Dawkins stopped. Putting his finger on his lips, he pulled his friends back. 'Quiet!' he said. 'Do you see that old man near the bookshop?' 'Perfect,' said Charley Bates. Oliver looked at them in surprise. The two boys walked across the road and went close behind the old gentleman. Oliver followed them. The old gentleman had white hair and gold glasses. He carried a stick under his arm. He had taken a book from a shelf in front of the shop and he stood reading it. Oliver was shocked when he saw Dawkins put his hand into the old man's pocket and take out a handkerchief. Dawkins gave it to Charley Bates and they both ran away. In a moment, Oliver understood the mystery of the handkerchiefs and the watches and the jewels and Fagin's games. He stood for a moment, full of fear, and then he too began to run. The old gentleman put his hand in his pocket. He did not find his handkerchief, so he turned round. When he saw Oliver running away, he thought of course that the boy had stolen his handkerchief. 'Stop, thief!' he shouted, and ran after Oliver. Everybody in the street joined him in the chase. 'Stop, thief,' they cried. Even Dawkins and Charley Bates began to shout, 'Stop, thief!' and run after Oliver too. Then someone hit Oliver and he fell to the ground. A crowd collected round him. Oliver lay, covered with dust, and bleeding from the mouth. He looked wildly at all the faces that surrounded him. 'Is this the boy?' they asked the old gentleman. 'Yes,' said the old gentleman, 'I am afraid it is. Poor boy! He has hurt himself.' A police constable pushed through the crowd and seized Oliver by the neck. 'Get up!' he said. 'It wasn't me, sir. It was two other boys,' said Oliver. 'They are here somewhere.' But Jack and Charley had disappeared. 'Oh, no, they aren't,' said the constable. 'Don't hurt him,' said the old gentleman. 'I am not really sure that this boy took the handkerchief.' The constable pulled Oliver along the street to the police station. Oliver was too frightened to speak. 'There is something in this boy's face that interests me,' said the old gentleman to himself. 'Is he innocent? Where have I seen a face like that before?' Suddenly a man in an old black suit rushed into the police station. 'Stop, stop!' he cried. 'Stop a moment!' 'What is this? Who are you?' asked the constable. 'I own the bookshop,' replied the man, 'and I saw what happened. There were three boys - two others and this one. Mr Brownlow was reading and another boy took his handkerchief. This boy did nothing. He watched and looked surprised.' 'Then the boy must go free,' said the constable. He took his hands off Oliver, and the boy fainted. 'Poor boy, poor boy!' said Mr Brownlow, the old gentleman. 'Call a carriage, somebody, please. At once!' A carriage came. Oliver was placed on one of the seats. The old gentleman got in and sat beside him. They rode away until the carriage stopped in front of a pleasant house in a quiet London street. Oliver was taken into the house and put to bed. When Dawkins and Charley Bates arrived home, Fagin was waiting for them. 'Where's Oliver?' he said with an angry look. The young thieves looked at him, but they said nothing. 'What has happened to that boy?' cried Fagin, quickly pulling Dawkins towards him. 'Speak or I will kill you!' 'A police officer took him away,' answered Dawkins. He pulled himself free and took a knife from the table. Fagin picked up a cup and threw it at Dawkins's head. It missed him and nearly hit a man who was entering the room. 'Who threw that at me?' said a deep voice. He was a strong man of about thirty-five, with dirty clothes and angry eyes. A white dog followed him into the room. Its face was scratched and torn in twenty different places. 'What are you doing to those boys, Fagin?' the man said. 'I am surprised they don't murder you.' 'Quiet, Mr Sikes,' said Fagin. 'Don't speak so loud. You seem angry today.' 'Perhaps I am,' said Bill Sikes. 'Give me a drink, Fagin. And don’t put poison in it,' he added as a joke. While Sikes was drinking beer, Jack Dawkins told them about Oliver. He explained how he had been caught. 'I am afraid,' said Fagin, 'that the boy may tell the constable about us. We must find him.' But none of them wanted to go near a police station. The door opened and Bet and Nancy came in. 'Ah!' said Fagin. 'Bet will go, won't you, my dear?' 'Where?' said Bet. 'To the police station to find Oliver. He has been taken away and we must get him back.' 'No!' said Bet. 'Nancy, my dear,' said Fagin. 'What do you say?' 'No,' said Nancy. 'She will go, Fagin,' said Sikes, looking at her angrily. So Nancy agreed to look for Oliver. In clean clothes and with a little basket, she looked very sweet. 'Oh, my poor, dear little brother, Oliver!' cried Nancy, pretending to weep. 'What has happened to him? Where have they taken him? Oh, please tell me!' 'Very good!' said Fagin. 'You are a fine girl, Nancy. Go and see the constable now.' Nancy returned quickly. 'A gentleman has got him,' she said. 'Dawkins took the man's handkerchief. But the police don't know where he lives.' 'We must find him!' cried Fagin. 'Charley, you must watch that bookshop every day. I shall shut this house tonight. It isn't safe here. You know where to find me! Don't stay here, my dears. And find Oliver!'