Great Expectations

When he looked out from his shelter in the distance, and saw that I

waved my hat to him to come up, he rejoined me, and there we waited;

sometimes lying on the bank, wrapped in our coats, and sometimes moving

about to warm ourselves, until we saw our boat coming round. We got

aboard easily, and rowed out into the track of the steamer. By that time

it wanted but ten minutes of one o'clock, and we began to look out for

her smoke.

But, it was half-past one before we saw her smoke, and soon afterwards

we saw behind it the smoke of another steamer. As they were coming on

at full speed, we got the two bags ready, and took that opportunity

of saying good by to Herbert and Startop. We had all shaken hands

cordially, and neither Herbert's eyes nor mine were quite dry, when I

saw a four-oared galley shoot out from under the bank but a little way

ahead of us, and row out into the same track.

A stretch of shore had been as yet between us and the steamer's smoke,

by reason of the bend and wind of the river; but now she was visible,

coming head on. I called to Herbert and Startop to keep before the tide,

that she might see us lying by for her, and I adjured Provis to sit

quite still, wrapped in his cloak. He answered cheerily, "Trust to me,

dear boy," and sat like a statue. Meantime the galley, which was very

skilfully handled, had crossed us, let us come up with her, and fallen

alongside. Leaving just room enough for the play of the oars, she kept

alongside, drifting when we drifted, and pulling a stroke or two when we

pulled. Of the two sitters one held the rudder-lines, and looked at us

attentively,--as did all the rowers; the other sitter was wrapped up,

much as Provis was, and seemed to shrink, and whisper some instruction

to the steerer as he looked at us. Not a word was spoken in either boat.

Startop could make out, after a few minutes, which steamer was first,

and gave me the word "Hamburg," in a low voice, as we sat face to face.

She was nearing us very fast, and the beating of her peddles grew louder

and louder. I felt as if her shadow were absolutely upon us, when the

galley hailed us. I answered.

"You have a returned Transport there," said the man who held the lines.

"That's the man, wrapped in the cloak. His name is Abel Magwitch,

otherwise Provis. I apprehend that man, and call upon him to surrender,

and you to assist."