File:The Bird of Prey brought down.jpg

The Bird of Prey brought down by Marcus Stone. Wood engraving by Dalziel. 9.5 cm high x 15 cm wide. Initial illustration for the fifth monthly number of Our Mutual Friend, Chapter Fourteen, "The Bird of Prey Brought Down," Authentic edition, facing p. 150. [This part of the novel originally appeared in periodical form in September 1864.] n the September 1864 monthly number, Marcus Stone realizes the moment at which Lightwood, Wrayburn, the Inspector, and Riderhood solve the mystery of Gaffer Hexam's empty boat, which Dickens has posed for the reader at the conclusion of Chapter 13, the closing "curtain" of the fourth monthly instalment. Whereas in "The Bird of Prey Brought Down," the backdrop of which is unrelenting rain and a chill wind, Dickens paints vivid word-pictures of the Thames and its shores, in the illustration of the same name Stone creates an impression of driving rain: the backdrop is thoroughly obscured, and only the muddy foreground, the corpse, and the four searchers stand out distinctly. From the text, the figure bending over the corpse would be the Inspector, who has just pulled the body from the water; to the left, readily identified by his fur cap, is waterman Rogue Riderhood; to the right, standing, are the respectably attired attorneys Lightwood and Wrayburn. According to the text, the scene occurs at some water stairs, where the Inspector has pulled in the rope only to discover the lifeless body of the Thames scavenger — "The Bird of Prey" — Gaffer Hexam. Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.

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