Pip Wants Magwitch’s Safety

Chapter-11

Magwitch’s safety and his safe passage out of England was my sole motive. Since Magwitch was longing to seek his private vengeance with Compeyson, I decided not to tell Magwitch anything about him. I just told him that I had a talk with my friend Wemmick.

“Sir, I had a talk with Wemmick and he had advised me as regards how to act now. I told him as to how our rooms were constantly watched and monitored. I also told him that soon we might have to go abroad. Regarding the alteration of our sense and style of living by becoming more modern, I believed it wasn’t a perfect thing in present scheme of things.”
Herbert and I were talking one day when he said, “Pip, I believe that we should ourselves row Magwitch out of the sea when the hard time comes and put you and Magwitch on a ship for Hamburg.”
He continued, “This would save us from the trouble and danger of hiring a boatman.”
As I was leaving the place, I said, “Though I didn’t wish to leave you here yet I believe you are more safe here. Goodbye, old chap.”
“Pip, never say goodbye. I don’t know when we shall meet again. Still I say, never say goodbye; always say good night.”
Pip and Mr Jaggers talking with Jaggers Having a decanter of wine in his hand.
“OK; Good night sir! Herbert will be the mediator between us. As soon as the opportune time comes, we would go abroad,” I said. I set out to get the boat myself. I even went out with Herbert for practice and training. Even sometime, I went out alone. I often felt that I was being constantly monitored and tracked. I was quite fearful. No signs on the indications of moving abroad came from Wemmick and the conditions pressurized me to return their money.
I even mortgaged the articles that I had owned but decided not to take any money from my patron.
One fine afternoon in February when I had come ashore, I dined and went out to see a play. A friend happened to meet me who told me that someone was following me. I was filled with fright. In order to lessen my fears, I had a talk with Herbert and wrote to Magwitch.
Accidently, I met Mr Jaggers one day.
“Hey Pip! You know Spider has won the pool this time,” said Mr Jaggers.
“Yes, I do,” I replied.
“Can you imagine someone like the Spider,” said Mr Jaggers.
He took a decanter of wine and made a drink for himself.
I also wanted to know the truth behind Estella’s parentage and believed that Mr Jaggers or Wemmick were the ones who could have guided me. There even seemed to be a connection between Magwitch and Estella.
“Miss Havisham wishes to see you,” Mr Jaggers said.
Hearing the words of Mr Jaggers, I was a bit surprised.
When I reached Miss Havisham’s place, I could sense a bit of emptiness in the house. I felt pity for her and thought how tough it was for her to survive the wreckage and the psychological turmoil that she had to go through in her life. She gazed at me for some time but she wasn’t able to recognize me. So, I spoke, “Miss, it is me, Pip.”
She told me that she had confirmed all the work that was to be done. She would pay the money that was due for years in terms of the contract that was signed by me.
“Pip, can I do anything for you too? I doubt that you would never forgive me,” said Miss Havisham.
“O Miss Havisham, thanks for asking me but nothing is needed by me. My life has been in tatters quite a few times. I need to be forgiven myself.”
She came down on her knees and touched my feet with all her hair falling around. She was crying bitterly and I wasn’t able to watch her this way.
“Tell me my mistake. What wrong had I committed?” she said.
“Very little, Miss Havisham. I would have loved Estella; is she married now?” I asked.
“Yes, but tell me my mistake,” she repeated.
I tried to find out Estella’s parentage from Miss Havisham but to no avail. She didn’t know about it. She told me that she had requested Mr Jaggers and he had brought a baby girl. She named the baby as Estella and adopted the child.

I was looking at her neglected garden when I heard a huge cry. It was Miss Havisham crying for help. She was running towards me as she was totally engulfed in the devastating flames.
I threw my coat over her and dragged the cloth that was burning the table. Even the table and some wooden items had caught fire. Beetles and spiders were running for shelter. All the servants came running to save the burning lady.
She fainted and a surgeon was called in urgently. I had burnt both my hands in the mishap and it was an ugly scene.
She started to get well in the evening but began muttering in the night, “What wrong have I done? Forgive me.”
I gave a kiss on her lips before leaving the place next morning. She still pleaded me to forgive her.
While I and Herbert were having breakfast one morning, we received a letter from Wemmick. “After reading the letter, burn it,” the letter stated, “On Wednesday or on any day earlier than that; do what you are supposed to do.”
Next morning, I and Herbert planned whatever was to be done and decided to even bring Stantop into the scheme of things.
We decided to pitch up Magwitch from his lodgings and row down the river.
We were to spend our night at an inn by the riverside and then get on to a ship to Hamburg. While Magwitch and I would get on board, my friends would row back to London.
I started looking forward to Monday. But the same evening, I received a startling letter which was written in an unintelligible handwriting; “Your uncle is in danger but I can help you in this regard. I can tell you something of importance if you wish to come alone at the hut near the brickworks at 9 today.”
I decided to go.
Bearing the cold and windy conditions I reached our town in the marshes. After strolling for a while I reached the brickworks and then the hut. A candle was lit inside the house; there was nothing other than a bed in the house.
“Is anyone home?” I shouted. Despite my two attempts, nobody replied. I took a round around the hut, but didn’t find anybody. I decided to go upstairs and inspect the area. I had even taken the candle when I was knocked down. Someone started tying me by throwing a rope over my head.
A beastly voice echoed, “You are my enemy. See, I have got you now.”
”Hey! Who are you? Help me out of here,” I shouted repeatedly.

The man put his hand over my mouth and said, “I will murder you if you shout once more.”
In the candlelight, I could see that he was my old enemy, Orlick.
“You chap, I have got you now, and won’t let you go off now.”
His bloodshot eyes clearly showed that he was drunk. He looked a wild beast, waiting to have a go at his prey.
“You were the one between me and my woman, the one I liked. It was just because of you that I lost my job. Now, you will have to repent for this.”
“I will kill you just, as I killed your sister. I am going to slaughter you to death,” he added.
“Biddy was right in her deductions. Oh! It was you,” I said while trying to free myself.
I struggled to loosen the rope with which he had tied me. In the meanwhile, he picked up his hammer and was about to strike me. This led to a loud cry from me.
I was able to hear a few sounds outside the hut. Orlick ran out as some people came running in. I fell senseless to the ground as the rope was cut off.
I could hear Herbert and Stantop when I regained my consciousness, “He would soon be up and doing.”
When I felt better, they discussed that they had found Orlick’s letter in my room, found something fishy after reading it and taken the next coach to the brickworks.
“See, we just reached at the right moment,” said Herbert.
My helpful friends had once again saved me. I was taken back to London and I rested the entire day to recuperate.
Finally, the day came on a cold March morning when we were to put our plans to action. I just carried a single bag and stuffed into it all that I required.
It was a windy day. We needed our coats. I totally forgot about Orlick and my near brush with death by that time.
We waited for a few minutes at Magwitch’s lodgings till we had him on the board. He carried a black canvas bag, a boat and a clock along with him. He looked a river pilot now. He thanked me again and again that we were helping him to escape.

“Dear Pip, you won’t be able to understand how happy and ecstatic I am to be here with you after spending so many years behind bars.”
“Yes sir; I know and can understand the joys of freedom,” I said.
“No, my boy; you haven’t listened to my words attentively. I am sorry; I won’t be low, won’t be low,” said Magwitch.
We continued rowing. We decided to look for an inn where we could spend the night. Next morning, we were supposed to board the ship to Hamburg.
The inn that we found out was rather dirty. It was warm and cozy. The food was good and delicious. Except Magwitch, none seemed to get any sleep that night. We all were anxious.
As soon as we caught sight of the ship, we started rowing towards it. By the time we reached the ship, another boat reached it. There seemed to be four men on the boat. One of them seemed to be a passenger and was wrapped in a long cloak. Just as the two boats touched each other, one of the rowers cried, “You have a returned convict named Provies or Abel Magwitch on board. In the name of the law, I call upon you to help us arrest this fellow.”
Just then, Magwitch sprung forward, pulled the cloak of the passenger and I could now see clearly that it was Compeyson. Magwitch had gone mad. Both men seized each other. With a loud splash they were soon struggling under the water. Their struggle was so violent that it even disturbed the balance of the ship.
I along with Herbert and Stantop had to jump into the water in order to stop the fight. Even we found ourselves half drowned. Our hearts sank when we discovered that our rescuers were policemen. Magwitch was rescued senseless. He was struck on his chest and head by the ship and he seemed to have lost a lot of blood. It was later discovered that Compeyson had been drowned and was dead.
Herbert and Stantop returned back to London. I and Magwitch were taken back to the inn where I took great care of him.
He had quite a lot of difficulty in breathing and was groaning in acute pain.
I now saw him only as my patron who had helped me generously over the past few years. All my hatred for this man disappeared and gave way to a sense of respect and belongingness.
“Oh Pip, I am quite content to see that you can flourish and grow, even without me,” said Wemmick.
‘No’, I said to myself. I knew Wemmick was right when he said that a convict’s possessions were forfeited to the crown.
“Hey! You pay a visit to me only when you come to see me. A gentleman doesn’t deserve to be with me,” he said.
“I would never move away from you, Sir,” I replied, “I would always be at your side just as you have helped me all these years.”
I could sense that tears welled up in his eyes. He moved his face away to hide his tears which were the tears of happiness.

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