Chapter Summary.

Chapter 4 concluded with the arrival of a party of musket-carrying soldiers arriving at the Forge, as the Gargery’s and guests are coming towards the end of their Christmas dinner. Chapter 5 continues with the Sergeant at the door, telling those inside that he needs a pair of handcuffs fixed by the blacksmith, and that the soldiers are pursuing two convicts ‘pretty well known to be out on the marshes still‘. Joe obliges by firing up the forge. After fixing the handcuffs, Joe, Pip and Mr. Wopsle join the soldiers on their manhunt. The party hear shouting from a ditch and rushing towards it find both convicts fighting in a ditch. The Sergeant rushes into the ditch telling them to surrender, joined soon after by fellow soldiers who drag both convicts apart from each other. Pip recognises them both from previous encounters but doesn’t let on that he has met them. Pip refers to the convict he met at the church the previous day and brought food to as ‘my convict‘. Pip’s convict tells the soldiers that instead of escaping himself, he remained to keep the other convict from getting away, telling them that ‘he’s a gentleman, if you please, this villain‘. The other convict tells the soldiers that the other tried to murder him. The two convicts are escorted to a boat to be taken back to the prison hulk. Just before departing Pip’s convict, having spotted Pip amongst the assembled crowd, confesses to the Sergeant that he stole food and a file from the Forge. Joe confirms that such items were taken. The chapter ends with the fugitives being taken across the water in a boat to be returned to the hulk, which Pip describes as being ‘like a wicked Noah’s ark‘.

Quotations.

The bellows seemed to roar for the fugitives.

Great Expectations (Chapter 5).

He’s a gentleman, if you please, this villain.

Great Expectations (Chapter 5).

Down banks and up banks, and over gates, and splashing into dikes, and breaking among coarse rushes: no man cared where he went.

Great Expectations (Chapter 5).

Livid to look at, and, in addition to the old bruised left side of his face, seemed to be bruised and torn all over.

Great Expectations (Chapter 5). Pip describes escaped prisoner Compeyson after fighting with fellow convict Abel Magwitch.

We don’t know what you have done, but we wouldn’t have you starved to death for it.

Great Expectations (Chapter 5).