,clinging
figures
,
the
half-opened
door
,
the
hall-light
shining
through
stained
glass
,
the
barometer
,
and
the
bright
stair-rods
.
It
was
soothing
to
catch
even
that
passing
glimpse
of
a
tranquil
English
home
in
the
midst
of
the
wild
,
dark
business
which
had
absorbed
us
.
And
the
more
I
thought
of
what
had
happened
,
the
wilder
and
darker
it
grew
.
I
reviewed
the
whole
extraordinary
sequence
of
events
as
I
rattled
on
through
the
silent
,
gaslit
streets
.
There
was
the
original
problem
:
that
at
least
was
pretty
clear
now
.
The
death
of
Captain
Morstan
,
the
sending
of
the
pearls
,
the
advertisement
,
the
letter
—
we
had
had
light
upon
all
those
events
.
They
had
only
led
us
,
however
,
to
a
deeper
and
far
more
tragic
mystery
.
The
Indian
treasure
,
the
curious
plan
found
among
Morstan
's
baggage
,
the
strange
scene
at
Major
Sholto
's
death
,
the
rediscovery
of
the
treasure
immediately
followed
by
the
murder
of
the
discoverer
,
the
very
singular
accompaniments
to
the
crime
,
the
footsteps
,
the
remarkable
weapons
,
the
words
upon
the
card
,
corresponding
with
those
upon
Captain
Morstan
's
chart
—
here
was
indeed
a
labyrinth
in
which
a
man
less
singularly
endowed
than
my
fellow-lodger
might
well
despair
of
ever
finding
the
clue
.
Pinchin
Lane
was
a
row
of
shabby
,
two-storied
brick
houses
in
the
lower
quarter
of
Lambeth
.
I
had
to
knock
for
some
time
at
No.
3
before
I
could
make
any
impression
.
At
last
,
however
,
there
was
the
glint
of
a
candle
behind
the
blind
,
and
a
face
looked
out
at
the
upper
window
.
'
Go
on
,
you
drunken
vagabone
,
'
said
the
face
.
'
If
you
kick
up
any
more
row
,
I
'll
open
the
kennels
and
let
out
forty-three
dogs
upon
you
.
'
'
If
you
'll
let
one
out
,
it
's
just
what
I
have
come
for
,
'
said
I
.
'
Go
on
!
'
yelled
the
voice
.
'
So
help
me
gracious
,
I
have
a
wiper
in
this
bag
,
an
I
'll
drop
it
on
your
'
ead
if
you
do
n't
hook
it
!
'
'
But
I
want
a
dog
,
'
I
cried
.
'
I
wo
n't
be
argued
with
!
'
shouted
Mr.
Sherman
.
'
Now
stand
clear
;
for
when
I
say
"
three
,
"
down
goes
the
wiper
.
'
'
Mr
.
Sherlock
Holmes
—
'
I
began
;
but
the
words
had
a
most
magical
effect
,
for
the
window
instantly
slammed
down
,
and
within
a
minute
the
door
was
unbarred
and
open
.
Mr.
Sherman
was
a
lanky
,
lean
old
man
,
with
stooping
shoulders
,
a
stringy
neck
,
and
blue-tinted
glasses
.
'
A
friend
of
Mr.
Sherlock
is
always
welcome
,
'
said
he
.
'
Step
in
,
sir
.
Keep
clear
of
the
badger
,
for
he
bites
.
Ah
,
naughty
,
naughty
!
would
you
take
a
nip
at
the
gentleman
?
'
This
to
a
stoat
which
thrust
its
wicked
head
and
red
eyes
between
the
bars
of
its
cage
.
'
Do
n't
mind
that
,
sir
;
it
's
only
a
slowworm
.
It
hai
n't
got
no
fangs
,
so
I
gives
it
the
run
o
'
the
room
,
for
it
keeps
the
beetles
down
.
You
must
not
mind
my
bein
'
just
a
little
short
wi
'
you
at
first
,
for
I
'm
guyed
at
by
the
children
,
and
there
's
many
a
one
just
comes
down
this
lane
to
knock
me
up
.
What
was
it
that
Mr.
Sherlock
Holmes
wanted
,
sir
?
'
'
He
wanted
a
dog
of
yours
.
'
'
Ah
!
that
would
be
Toby
.
'
'
Yes
,
Toby
was
the
name
.
'
'
Toby
lives
at
No.
7
on
the
left
here
.
'
He
moved
slowly
forward
with
his
candle
among
the
queer
animal
family
which
he
had
gathered
round
him
.
In
the
uncertain
,
shadowy
light
I
could
see
dimly
that
there
were
glancing
,
glimmering
eyes
peeping
down
at
us
from
every
cranny
and
corner
.
Even
the
rafters
above
our
heads
were
lined
by
solemn
fowls
,
who
lazily
shifted
their
weight
from
one
leg
to
the
other
as
our
voices
disturbed
their
slumbers
.
Toby
proved
to
be
an
ugly
,
long-haired
,
lop-eared
creature
,
half
spaniel
and
half
lurcher
,
brown
and
white
in
colour
,
with
a
very
clumsy
,
waddling
gait
.
It
accepted
,
after
some
hesitation
,
a
lump
of
sugar
which
the
old
naturalist
handed
to
me
,
and
,
having
thus
sealed
an
alliance
,
it
followed
me
to
the
cab
,
and
made
no
difficulties
about
accompanying
me
.
It
had
just
struck
three
on
the
Palace
clock
when
I
found
myself
back
once
more
at
Pondicherry
Lodge
.
The
ex-prize-fighter
McMurdo
had
,
I
found
,
been
arrested
as
an
accessory
,
and
both
he
and
Mr.
Sholto
had
been
marched
off
to
the
station
.
Two
constables
guarded
the
narrow
gate
,
but
they
allowed
me
to
pass
with
the
dog
on
my
mentioning
the
detective
's
name
.
Holmes
was
standing
on
the
doorstep
,
with
his
hands
in
his
pockets
,
smoking
his
pipe
.
'
Ah
,
you
have
him
there
!
'
said
he
.
'
Good
dog
,
then
!
Athelney
Jones
has
gone
.
We
have
had
an
immense
display
of
energy
since
you
left
.
He
has
arrested
not
only
friend
Thaddeus
,
but
the
gatekeeper
,
the
housekeeper
,
and
the
Indian
servant
.
We
have
the
place
to
ourselves
,
but
for
a
sergeant
upstairs
.
Leave
the
dog
here
,
and
come
up
.
'
We
tied
Toby
to
the
hall
table
,
and
reascended
the
stairs
.
The
room
was
as
we
had
left
it
,
save
that
a
sheet
had
been
draped
over
the
central
figure
.
A
weary-looking
police-sergeant
reclined
in
the
corner
.
'
Lend
me
your
bull's-eye
,
sergeant
,
'
said
my
companion
.
'
Now
tie
this
bit
of
card
round
my
neck
,
so
as
to
hang
it
in
front
of
me
.
Thank
you
.
Now
I
must
kick
off
my
boots
and
stockings
.
Just
you
carry
them
down
with
you
,
Watson
.
I
am
going
to
do
a
little
climbing
.
And
dip
my
handkerchief
into
the
creosote
.
That
will
do
.
Now
come
up
into
the
garret
with
me
for
a
moment
.
'
We
clambered
up
through
the
hole
.
Holmes
turned
his
light
once
more
upon
the
footsteps
in
the
dust
.
'
I
wish
you
particularly
to
notice
these
footmarks
,
'
he
said
.
'
Do
you
observe
anything
noteworthy
about
them
?
'
'
They
belong
,
'
I
said
,
'
to
a
child
or
a
small
woman
.
'
'
Apart
from
their
size
,
though
.
Is
there
nothing
else
?
'
'
They
appear
to
be
much
as
other
footmarks
.
'
'
Not
at
all
.
Look
here
!
This
is
the
print
of
a
right
foot
in
the
dust
.
Now
I
make
one
with
my
naked
foot
beside
it
.
What
is
the
chief
difference
?
'
'
Your
toes
are
all
cramped
together
.
The
other
print
has
each
toe
distinctly
divided
.
'
'
Quite
so
.
That
is
the
point
.
Bear
that
in
mind
.
Now
,
would
you
kindly
step
over
to
that
flap-window
and
smell
the
edge
of
the
wood-work
?
I
shall
stay
over
here
,
as
I
have
this
handkerchief
in
my
hand
.
'
I
did
as
he
directed
,
and
was
instantly
conscious
of
a
strong
tarry
smell
.
'
That
is
where
he
put
his
foot
in
getting
out
.
If
you
can
trace
him
,
I
should
think
that
Toby
will
have
no
difficulty
.
Now
run
downstairs
,
loose
the
dog
,
and
look
out
for
Blondin
.
'
By
the
time
that
I
got
out
into
the
grounds
Sherlock
Holmes
was
on
the
roof
,
and
I
could
see
him
like
an
enormous
glow-worm
crawling
very
slowly
along
the
ridge
.
I
lost
sight
of
him
behind
a
stack
of
chimneys
,
but
he
presently
reappeared
,
and
then
vanished
once
more
upon
the
opposite
side
.
When
I
made
my
way
round
there
I
found
him
seated
at
one
of
the
corner
eaves
.
'
That
you
,
Watson
?
'
he
cried
.
'
Yes
.
'
'
This
is
the
place
.
What
is
that
black
thing
down
there
?
'
'
A
water-barrel
.
'
'
Top
on
it
?
'
'
Yes
.
'
'
No
sign
of
a
ladder
?
'
'
No
.
'
'
Confound
the
fellow
!
It
's
a
most
breakneck
place
.
I
ought
to
be
able
to
come
down
where
he
could
climb
up
.
The
water-pipe
feels
pretty
firm
.
Here
goes
,
anyhow
.
'
There
was
a
scuffling
of
feet
,
and
the
lantern
began
to
come
steadily
down
the
side
of
the
wall
.
Then
with
a
light
spring
he
came
on
to
the
barrel
,
and
from
there
to
the
earth
.
'
It
was
easy
to
follow
him
,
'
he
said
,
drawing
on
his
stockings
and
boots
.
'
Tiles
were
loosened
the
whole
way
along
,
and
in
his
hurry
he
had
dropped
this
.
It
confirms
my
diagnosis
,
as
you
doctors
express
it
.
'
The
object
which
he
held
up
to
me
was
a
small
pocket
or
pouch
woven
out
of
coloured
grasses
and
with
a
few
tawdry
beads
strung
round
it
.
In
shape
and
size
it
was
not
unlike
a
cigarette-case
.
Inside
were
half
a
dozen
spines
of
dark
wood
,
sharp
at
one
end
and
rounded
at
the
other
,
like
that
which
had
struck
Bartholomew
Sholto
.
'
They
are
hellish
things
,
'
said
he
.
'
Look
out
that
you
do
n't
prick
yourself
.
I
'm
delighted
to
have
them
,
for
the
chances
are
that
they
are
all
he
has
.
There
is
the
less
fear
of
you
or
me
finding
one
in
our
skin
before
long
.
I
would
sooner
face
a
Martini
bullet
,
myself
.
Are
you
game
for
a
six-mile
trudge
,
Watson
?
'
'
Certainly
,
'
I
answered
.
'
Your
leg
will
stand
it
?
'
'
Oh
yes
.
'
'
Here
you
are
,
doggy
!
Good
old
Toby
!
Smell
it
,
Toby
,
smell
it
!
'
he
pushed
the
creosote
handkerchief
under
the
dog
's
nose
,
while
the
creature
stood
with
its
fluffy
legs
separated
,
and
with
a
most
comical
cock
to
its
head
,
like
a
connoisseur
sniffing
the
bouquet
of
a
famous
vintage
.
Holmes
then
threw
the
handkerchief
to
a
distance
,
fastened
a
stout
cord
to
the
mongrel
's
collar
,
and
led
him
to
the
foot
of
the
water-barrel
.
The
creature
instantly
broke
into
a
succession
of
high
,
tremulous
yelps
,
and
,
with
his
nose
on
the
ground
,
and
his
tail
in
the
air
,
pattered
off
upon
the
trail
at
a
pace
which
strained
his
leash
and
kept
us
at
the
top
of
our
speed
.
The
east
had
been
gradually
whitening
,
and
we
could
now
see
some
distance
in
the
cold
gray
light
.
The
square
,
massive
house
,
with
its
black
,
empty
windows
and
high
,
bare
walls
,
towered
up
,
sad
and
forlorn
,
behind
us
.
Our
course
led
right
across
the
grounds
,
in
and
out
among
the
trenches
and
pits
with
which
they
were
scarred
and
intersected
.
The
whole
place
,
with
its
scattered
dirt-heaps
and
ill-grown
shrubs
,
had
a
blighted
,
ill-omened
look
which
harmonized
with
the
black
tragedy
which
hung
over
it
.
On
reaching
the
boundary
wall
Toby
ran
along
,
whining
eagerly
,
underneath
its
shadow
,
and
stopped
finally
in
a
corner
screened
by
a
young
beech
.
Where
the
two
walls
joined
,
several
bricks
had
been
loosened
,
and
the
crevices
left
were
worn
down
and
rounded
upon
the
lower
side
,
as
though
they
had
frequently
been
used
as
a
ladder
.
Holmes
clambered
up
,
and
,
taking
the
dog
from
me
,
he
dropped
it
over
upon
the
other
side
.
'
There
's
the
print
of
wooden-leg
's
hand
,
'
he
remarked
,
as
I
mounted
up
beside
him
.
'
You
see
the
slight
smudge
of
blood
upon
the
white
plaster
.
What
a
lucky
thing
it
is
that
we
have
had
no
very
heavy
rain
since
yesterday
!
The
scent
will
lie
upon
the
road
in
spite
of
their
eight-and-twenty
hours
'
start
.
'
I
confess
that
I
had
my
doubts
myself
when
I
reflected
upon
the
great
traffic
which
had
passed
along
the
London
road
in
the
interval
.
My
fears
were
soon
appeased
,
however
.
Toby
never
hesitated
or
swerved
,
but
waddled
on
in
his
peculiar
rolling
fashion
.
Clearly
,
the
pungent
smell
of
the
creasote
rose
high
above
all
other
contending
scents
.
'
Do
not
imagine
,
'
said
Holmes
,
'
that
I
depend
for
my
success
in
this
case
upon
the
mere
chance
of
one
of
these
fellows
having
put
his
foot
in
the
chemical
.
I
have
knowledge
now
which
would
enable
me
to
trace
them
in
many
different
ways
.
This
,
however
,
is
the
readiest
,
and
,
since
fortune
has
put
it
into
our
hands
,
I
should
be
culpable
if
I
neglected
it
.
It
has
,
however
,
prevented
the
case
from
becoming
the
pretty
little
intellectual
problem
which
it
at
one
time
promised
to
be
.
There
might
have
been
some
credit
to
be
gained
out
of
it
,
but
for
this
too
palpable
clue
.
'
'
There
is
credit
,
and
to
spare
,
'
said
I
.
'
I
assure
you
,
Holmes
,
that
I
marvel
at
the
means
by
which
you
obtain
your
results
in
this
case
,
even
more
than
I
did
in
the
Jefferson
Hope
murder
.
The
thing
seems
to
me
to
be
deeper
and
more
inexplicable
.
How
,
for
example
,
could
you
describe
with
such
confidence
the
wooden-legged
man
?
'
'
Pshaw
,
my
dear
boy
!
it
was
simplicity
itself
.
I
do
n't
wish
to
be
theatrical
.
It
is
all
patent
and
above-board
.
Two
officers
who
are
in
command
of
a
convict-guard
learn
an
important
secret
as
to
buried
treasure
.
A
map
is
drawn
for
them
by
an
Englishman
named
Jonathan
Small
.
You
remember
that
we
saw
the
name
upon
the
chart
in
Captain
Morstan
's
possession
.
He
had
signed
it
in
behalf
of
himself
and
his
associates
—
the
sign
of
the
four
,
as
he
somewhat
dramatically
called
it
.
Aided
by
this
chart
,
the
officers
—
or
one
of
them
—
gets
the
treasure
and
brings
it
to
England
,
leaving
,
we
will
suppose
,
some
condition
under
which
he
received
it
unfulfilled
.
Now
,
then
,
why
did
not
Jonathan
Small
get
the
treasure
himself
?
The
answer
is
obvious
.
The
chart
is
dated
at
a
time
when
Morstan
was
brought
into
close
association
with
convicts
.
Jonathan
Small
did
not
get
the
treasure
because
he
and
his
associates
were
themselves
convicts
and
could
not
get
away
.
'
'
But
this
is
mere
speculation
,
'
said
I
.
'
It
is
more
than
that
.
It
is
the
only
hypothesis
which
covers
the
facts
.
Let
us
see
how
it
fits
in
with
the
sequel
.
Major
Sholto
remains
at
peace
for
some
years
,
happy
in
the
possession
of
his
treasure
.
Then
he
receives
a
letter
from
India
which
gives
him
a
great
fright
.
What
was
that
?
'
'
A
letter
to
say
that
the
men
whom
he
had
wronged
had
been
set
free
.
'
'
Or
had
escaped
.
That
is
much
more
likely
,
for
he
would
have
known
what
their
term
of
imprisonment
was
.
It
would
not
have
been
a
surprise
to
him
.
What
does
he
do
then
?
He
guards
himself
against
a
wooden-legged
man
—
a
white
man
,
mark
you
,
for
he
mistakes
a
white
tradesman
for
him
,
and
actually
fires
a
pistol
at
him
.
Now
,
only
one
white
man
's
name
is
on
the
chart
.
The
others
are
Hindoos
or
Mohammedans
.
There
is
no
other
white
man
.
Therefore
we
may
say
with
confidence
that
the
wooden-legged
man
is
identical
with
Jonathan
Small
.
Does
the
reasoning
strike
you
as
being
faulty
?
'
'
No
:
it
is
clear
and
concise
.
'
'
Well
,
now
,
let
us
put
ourselves
in
the
place
of
Jonathan
Small
.
Let
us
look
at
it
from
his
point
of
view
.
He
comes
to
England
with
the
double
idea
of
regaining
what
he
would
consider
to
be
his
rights
and
of
having
his
revenge
upon
the
man
who
had
wronged
him
.
He
found
out
where
Sholto
lived
,
and
very
possibly
he
established
communications
with
some
one
inside
the
house
.
There
is
this
butler
,
Lal
Rao
,
whom
we
have
not
seen
.
Mrs.
Bernstone
gives
him
far
from
a
good
character
.
Small
could
not
find
out
,
however
,
where
the
treasure
was
hid
,
for
no
one
ever
knew
,
save
the
major
and
one
faithful
servant
who
had
died
.
Suddenly
Small
learns
that
the
major
is
on
his
death-bed
.
In
a
frenzy
lest
the
secret
of
the
treasure
die
with
him
,
he
runs
the
gauntlet
of
the
guards
,
makes
his
way
to
the
dying
man
's
window
,
and
is
only
deterred
from
entering
by
the
presence
of
his
two
sons
.
Mad
with
hate
,
however
,
against
the
dead
man
,
he
enters
the
room
that
night
,
searches
his
private
papers
in
the
hope
of
discovering
some
memorandum
relating
to
the
treasure
,
and
finally
leaves
a
memento
of
his
visit
in
the
short
inscription
upon
the
card
.
He
had
doubtless
planned
beforehand
that
,
should
he
slay
the
major
,
he
would
leave
some
such
record
upon
the
body
as
a
sign
that
it
was
not
a
common
murder
,
but
,
from
the
point
of
view
of
the
four
associates
,
something
in
the
nature
of
an
act
of
justice
.
Whimsical
and
bizarre
conceits
of
this
kind
are
common
enough
in
the
annals
of
crime
,
and
usually
afford
valuable
indications
as
to
the
criminal
.
Do
you
follow
all
this
?
'
'
Very
clearly
.
'
'
Now
,
what
could
Jonathan
Small
do
?
He
could
only
continue
to
keep
a
secret
watch
upon
the
efforts
made
to
find
the
treasure
.
Possibly
he
leaves
England
and
only
comes
back
at
intervals
.
Then
comes
the
discovery
of
the
garret
,
and
he
is
instantly
informed
of
it
.
We
again
trace
the
presence
of
some
confederate
in
the
household
.
Jonathan
,
with
his
wooden
leg
,
is
utterly
unable
to
reach
the
lofty
room
of
Bartholomew
Sholto
.
He
takes
with
him
,
however
,
a
rather
curious
associate
,
who
gets
over
this
difficulty
,
but
dips
his
naked
foot
into
creosote
,
whence
come
Toby
,
and
a
six-mile
limp
for
a
half-pay
officer
with
a
damaged
tendo
Achillis
.
'
'
But
it
was
the
associate
,
and
not
Jonathan
,
who
committed
the
crime
.
'
'
Quite
so
.
And
rather
to
Jonathan
's
disgust
,
to
judge
by
the
way
he
stamped
about
when
he
got
into
the
room
.
He
bore
no
grudge
against
Bartholomew
Sholto
,
and
would
have
preferred
if
he
could
have
been
simply
bound
and
gagged
.
He
did
not
wish
to
put
his
head
in
a
halter
.
There
was
no
help
for
it
,
however
:
the
savage
instincts
of
his
companion
had
broken
out
,
and
the
poison
had
done
its
work
:
so
Jonathan
Small
left
his
record
,
lowered
the
treasure-box
to
the
ground
,
and
followed
it
himself
.
That
was
the
train
of
events
as
far
as
I
can
decipher
them
.
Of
course
as
to
his
personal
appearance
he
must
be
middle-aged
,
and
must
be
sunburned
after
serving
his
time
in
such
an
oven
as
the
Andamans
.
His
height
is
readily
calculated
from
the
length
of
his
stride
,
and
we
know
that
he
was
bearded
.
His
hairiness
was
the
one
point
which
impressed
itself
upon
Thaddeus
Sholto
when
he
saw
him
at
the
window
.
I
do
n't
know
that
there
is
anything
else
.
'
'
The
associate
?
'
'
Ah
,
well
,
there
is
no
great
mystery
in
that
.
But
you
will
know
all
about
it
soon
enough
.
How
sweet
the
morning
air
is
!
See
how
that
one
little
cloud
floats
like
a
pink
feather
from
some
gigantic
flamingo
.
Now
the
red
rim
of
the
sun
pushes
itself
over
the
London
cloud-bank
.
It
shines
on
a
good
many
folk
,
but
on
none
,
I
dare
bet
,
who
are
on
a
stranger
errand
than
you
and
I
.
How
small
we
feel
with
our
petty
ambitions
and
strivings
in
the
presence
of
the
great
elemental
forces
of
nature
!
Are
you
well
up
in
your
Jean
Paul
?
'
'
Fairly
so
.
I
worked
back
to
him
through
Carlyle
.
'
'
That
was
like
following
the
brook
to
the
parent
lake
.
He
makes
one
curious
but
profound
remark
.
It
is
that
the
chief
proof
of
man
's
real
greatness
lies
in
his
perception
of
his
own
smallness
.
It
argues
,
you
see
,
a
power
of
comparison
and
of
appreciation
which
is
in
itself
a
proof
of
nobility
.
There
is
much
food
for
thought
in
Richter
.
You
have
not
a
pistol
,
have
you
?
'
'
I
have
my
stick
.
'
'
It
is
just
possible
that
we
may
need
something
of
the
sort
if
we
get
to
their
lair
.
Jonathan
I
shall
leave
to
you
,
but
if
the
other
turns
nasty
I
shall
shoot
him
dead
.
'
He
took
out
his
revolver
as
he
spoke
,
and
,
having
loaded
two
of
the
chambers
,
he
put
it
back
into
the
right-hand
pocket
of
his
jacket
.
We
had
during
this
time
been
following
the
guidance
of
Toby
down
the
half-rural
villa-lined
roads
which
lead
to
the
metropolis
.
Now
,
however
,
we
were
beginning
to
come
among
continuous
streets
,
where
labourers
and
dockmen
were
already
astir
,
and
slatternly
women
were
taking
down
shutters
and
brushing
door-steps
.
At
the
square-topped
corner
public-houses
business
was
just
beginning
,
and
rough-looking
men
were
emerging
,
rubbing
their
sleeves
across
their
beards
after
their
morning
wet
.
Strange
dogs
sauntered
up
and
stared
wonderingly
at
us
as
we
passed
,
but
our
inimitable
Toby
looked
neither
to
the
right
or
to
the
left
,
but
trotted
onwards
with
his
nose
to
the
ground
and
an
occasional
eager
whine
which
spoke
of
a
hot
scent
.
We
had
traversed
Streatham
,
Brixton
,
Camberwell
,
and
now
found
ourselves
in
Kennington
Lane
,
having
borne
away
through
the
side
streets
to
the
east
of
the
Oval
.
The
men
whom
we
pursued
seemed
to
have
taken
a
curiously
zigzag
road
,
with
the
idea
probably
of
escaping
observation
.
They
had
never
kept
to
the
main
road
if
a
parallel
side-street
would
serve
their
turn
.
At
the
foot
of
Kennington
Lane
they
had
edged
away
to
the
left
through
Bond
Street
and
Miles
Street
.
Where
the
latter
street
turns
into
Knight
's
Place
,
Toby
ceased
to
advance
,
but
began
to
run
backwards
and
forwards
with
one
ear
cocked
and
the
other
drooping
,
the
very
picture
of
canine
indecision
.
Then
he
waddled
round
in
circles
,
looking
up
to
us
from
time
to
time
,
as
if
to
ask
for
sympathy
in
his
embarrassment
.
'
What
the
deuce
is
the
matter
with
the
dog
?
'
growled
Holmes
.
'
They
surely
would
not
take
a
cab
,
or
go
off
in
a
balloon
.
'
'
Perhaps
they
stood
here
for
some
time
,
'
I
suggested
.
'
Ah
!
it
's
all
right
.
He
's
off
again
,
'
said
my
companion
,
in
a
tone
of
relief
.
He
was
indeed
off
,
for
after
sniffing
round
again
he
suddenly
made
up
his
mind
,
and
darted
away
with
an
energy
and
determination
such
as
he
had
not
yet
shown
.
The
scent
appeared
to
be
much
hotter
than
before
,
for
he
had
not
even
to
put
his
nose
on
the
ground
,
but
tugged
at
his
leash
and
tried
to
break
into
a
run
.
I
could
see
by
the
gleam
in
Holmes
's
eyes
that
he
thought
we
were
nearing
the
end
of
our
journey
.
Our
course
now
ran
down
Nine
Elms
until
we
came
to
Broderick
and
Nelson
's
large
timber-yard
,
just
past
the
White
Eagle
tavern
.
Here
the
dog
,
frantic
with
excitement
,
turned
down
through
the
side
gate
into
the
enclosure
,
where
the
sawyers
were
already
at
work
.
On
the
dog
raced
through
sawdust
and
shavings
,
down
an
alley
,
round
a
passage
,
between
two
wood-piles
,
and
finally
,
with
a
triumphant
yelp
,
sprang
upon
a
large
barrel
which
still
stood
upon
the
hand-trolley
on
which
it
had
been
brought
.
With
lolling
tongue
and
blinking
eyes
,
Toby
stood
upon
the
cask
,
looking
from
one
to
the
other
of
us
for
some
sign
of
appreciation
.
The
staves
of
the
barrel
and
the
wheels
of
the
trolley
were
smeared
with
a
dark
liquid
,
and
the
whole
air
was
heavy
with
the
smell
of
creosote
.
Sherlock
Holmes
and
I
looked
blankly
at
each
other
,
and
then
burst
simultaneously
into
an
uncontrollable
fit
of
laughter
.
CHAPTER
VIII
.
THE
BAKER
STREET
IRREGULARS
.
'
What
now
?
'
I
asked
.
'
Toby
has
lost
his
character
for
infallibility
.
'
'
He
acted
according
to
his
lights
,
'
said
Holmes
,
lifting
him
down
from
the
barrel
and
walking
him
out
of
the
timber-yard
.
'
If
you
consider
how
much
creosote
is
carted
about
London
in
one
day
,
it
is
no
great
wonder
that
our
trail
should
have
been
crossed
.
It
is
much
used
now
,
especially
for
the
seasoning
of
wood
.
Poor
Toby
is
not
to
blame
.
'
'
We
must
get
on
the
main
scent
again
,
I
suppose
.
'
'
Yes
.
And
,
fortunately
,
we
have
no
distance
to
go
.
Evidently
what
puzzled
the
dog
at
the
corner
of
Knight
's
Place
was
that
there
were
two
different
trails
running
in
opposite
directions
.
We
took
the
wrong
one
.
It
only
remains
to
follow
the
other
.
'
There
was
no
difficulty
about
this
.
On
leading
Toby
to
the
place
where
he
had
committed
his
fault
,
he
cast
about
in
a
wide
circle
and
finally
dashed
off
in
a
fresh
direction
.
'
We
must
take
care
that
he
does
not
now
bring
us
to
the
place
where
the
creosote-barrel
came
from
,
'
I
observed
.
'
I
had
thought
of
that
.
But
you
notice
that
he
keeps
on
the
pavement
,
whereas
the
barrel
passed
down
the
roadway
.
No
,
we
are
on
the
true
scent
now
.
'
It
tended
down
towards
the
river-side
,
running
through
Belmont
Place
and
Prince
's
Street
.
At
the
end
of
Broad
Street
it
ran
right
down
to
the
water
's
edge
,
where
there
was
a
small
wooden
wharf
.
Toby
led
us
to
the
very
edge
of
this
,
and
there
stood
whining
,
looking
out
on
the
dark
current
beyond
.
'
We
are
out
of
luck
,
'
said
Holmes
.
'
They
have
taken
to
a
boat
here
.
'
Several
small
punts
and
skiffs
were
lying
about
in
the
water
and
on
the
edge
of
the
wharf
.
We
took
Toby
round
to
each
in
turn
,
but
,
though
he
sniffed
earnestly
,
he
made
no
sign
.
Close
to
the
rude
landing-stage
was
a
small
brick
house
,
with
a
wooden
placard
slung
out
through
the
second
window
.
'
Mordecai
Smith
'
was
printed
across
it
in
large
letters
,
and
,
underneath
,
'
Boats
to
hire
by
the
hour
or
day
.
'
A
second
inscription
above
the
door
informed
us
that
a
steam
launch
was
kept
—
a
statement
which
was
confirmed
by
a
great
pile
of
coke
upon
the
jetty
.
Sherlock
Holmes
looked
slowly
round
,
and
his
face
assumed
an
ominous
expression
.
'
This
looks
bad
,
'
said
he
.
'
These
fellows
are
sharper
than
I
expected
.
They
seem
to
have
covered
their
tracks
.
There
has
,
I
fear
,
been
preconcerted
management
here
.
'
He
was
approaching
the
door
of
the
house
,
when
it
opened
,
and
a
little
curly-headed
lad
of
six
came
running
out
,
followed
by
a
stoutish
,
red-faced
woman
with
a
large
sponge
in
her
hand
.
'
You
come
back
and
be
washed
,
Jack
,
'
she
shouted
.
'
Come
back
,
you
young
imp
;
for
if
your
father
comes
home
and
finds
you
like
that
,
he
'll
let
us
hear
of
it
.
'
'
Dear
little
chap
!
'
said
Holmes
strategically
.
'
What
a
rosy-cheeked
young
rascal
!
Now
,
Jack
,
is
there
anything
you
would
like
?
'
The
youth
pondered
for
a
moment
.
'
I
'd
like
a
shillin
'
,
'
said
he
.
'
Nothing
you
would
like
better
?
'
'
I
'd
like
two
shillin
'
better
,
'
the
prodigy
answered
,
after
some
thought
.
'
Here
you
are
,
then
!
Catch
!
—
A
fine
child
,
Mrs.
Smith
!
'
'
Lor
'
bless
you
,
sir
,
he
is
that
,
and
forward
.
He
gets
a'most
too
much
for
me
to
manage
,
'
specially
when
my
man
is
away
days
at
a
time
.
'
'
Away
,
is
he
?
'
said
Holmes
,
in
a
disappointed
voice
.
'
I
am
sorry
for
that
,
for
I
wanted
to
speak
to
Mr.
Smith
.
'
'
He
's
been
away
since
yesterday
mornin
'
,
sir
,
and
,
truth
to
tell
,
I
am
beginnin
'
to
feel
frightened
about
him
.
But
if
it
was
about
a
boat
,
sir
,
maybe
I
could
serve
as
well
.
'
'
I
wanted
to
hire
his
steam
launch
.
'
'
Why
,
bless
you
,
sir
,
it
is
in
the
steam
launch
that
he
has
gone
.
That
's
what
puzzles
me
;
for
I
know
there
ai
n't
more
coals
in
her
than
would
take
her
to
about
Woolwich
and
back
.
If
he
'd
been
away
in
the
barge
I
'd
ha
'
thought
nothin
'
;
for
many
a
time
a
job
has
taken
him
as
far
as
Gravesend
,
and
then
if
there
was
much
doin
'
there
he
might
ha
'
stayed
over
.
But
what
good
is
a
steam
launch
without
coals
?
'
'
He
might
have
bought
some
at
a
wharf
down
the
river
.
'
'
He
might
,
sir
,
but
it
were
n't
his
way
.
Many
a
time
I
've
heard
him
call
out
at
the
prices
they
charge
for
a
few
odd
bags
.
Besides
,
I
do
n't
like
that
wooden-legged
man
,
wi
'
his
ugly
face
and
outlandish
talk
.
What
did
he
want
always
knockin
'
about
here
for
?
'
'
A
wooden-legged
man
?
'
said
Holmes
,
with
bland
surprise
.
'
Yes
,
sir
,
a
brown
,
monkey-faced
chap
that
's
called
more'n
once
for
my
old
man
.
It
was
him
that
roused
him
up
yesternight
,
and
,
what
's
more
,
my
man
knew
he
was
comin
'
,
for
he
had
steam
up
in
the
launch
.
I
tell
you
straight
,
sir
,
I
do
n't
feel
easy
in
my
mind
about
it
.
'
'
But
,
my
dear
Mrs.
Smith
,
'
said
Holmes
,
shrugging
his
shoulders
,
'
you
are
frightening
yourself
about
nothing
.
How
could
you
possibly
tell
that
it
was
the
wooden-legged
man
who
came
in
the
night
?
I
do
n't
quite
understand
how
you
can
be
so
sure
.
'
'
His
voice
,
sir
.
I
knew
his
voice
,
which
is
kind
o
'
thick
and
foggy
.
He
tapped
at
the
winder
—
about
three
it
would
be
.
"
Show
a
leg
,
matey
,
"
says
he
:
"
time
to
turn
out
guard
.
"
My
old
man
woke
up
Jim
—
that
's
my
eldest
—
and
away
they
went
,
without
so
much
as
a
word
to
me
.
I
could
hear
the
wooden
leg
clackin
'
on
the
stones
.
'
'
And
was
this
wooden-legged
man
alone
?
'
'
Could
n't
say
,
I
am
sure
,
sir
.
I
did
n't
hear
no
one
else
.
'
'
I
am
sorry
,
Mrs.
Smith
,
for
I
wanted
a
steam
launch
,
and
I
have
heard
good
reports
of
the
—
Let
me
see
,
what
is
her
name
?
'
'
The
Aurora
,
sir
.
'
'
Ah
!
She
's
not
that
old
green
launch
with
a
yellow
line
,
very
broad
in
the
beam
?
'
'
No
,
indeed
.
She
's
as
trim
a
little
thing
as
any
on
the
river
.
She
's
been
fresh
painted
,
black
with
two
red
streaks
.
'
'
Thanks
.
I
hope
that
you
will
hear
soon
from
Mr.
Smith
.
I
am
going
down
the
river
,
and
if
I
should
see
anything
of
the
Aurora
I
shall
let
him
know
that
you
are
uneasy
.
A
black
funnel
,
you
say
?
'
'
No
,
sir
.
Black
with
a
white
band
.
'
'
Ah
,
of
course
.
It
was
the
sides
which
were
black
.
Good-morning
,
Mrs.
Smith
.
There
is
a
boatman
here
with
a
wherry
,
Watson
.
We
shall
take
it
and
cross
the
river
.
'
The
main
thing
with
people
of
that
sort
,
'
said
Holmes
,
as
we
sat
in
the
sheets
of
the
wherry
,
'
is
never
to
let
them
think
that
their
information
can
be
of
the
slightest
importance
to
you
.
If
you
do
,
they
will
instantly
shut
up
like
an
oyster
.
If
you
listen
to
them
under
protest
,
as
it
were
,
you
are
very
likely
to
get
what
you
want
.
'
'
Our
course
now
seems
pretty
clear
,
'
said
I
.
'
What
would
you
do
,
then
?
'
'
I
would
engage
a
launch
and
go
down
the
river
on
the
track
of
the
Aurora
.
'
'
My
dear
fellow
,
it
would
be
a
colossal
task
.
She
may
have
touched
at
any
wharf
on
either
side
of
the
stream
between
here
and
Greenwich
.
Below
the
bridge
there
is
a
perfect
labyrinth
of
landing-places
for
miles
.
It
would
take
you
days
and
days
to
exhaust
them
,
if
you
set
about
it
alone
.
'
'
Employ
the
police
,
then
.
'
'
No
.
I
shall
probably
call
Athelney
Jones
in
at
the
last
moment
.
He
is
not
a
bad
fellow
,
and
I
should
not
like
to
do
anything
which
would
injure
him
professionally
.
But
I
have
a
fancy
for
working
it
out
myself
,
now
that
we
have
gone
so
far
.
'
'
Could
we
advertise
,
then
,
asking
for
information
from
wharfingers
?
'
'
Worse
and
worse
!
Our
men
would
know
that
the
chase
was
hot
at
their
heels
,
and
they
would
be
off
out
of
the
country
As
it
is
,
they
are
likely
enough
to
leave
,
but
as
long
as
they
think
they
are
perfectly
safe
they
will
be
in
no
hurry
.
Jones
's
energy
will
be
of
use
to
us
there
,
for
his
view
of
the
case
is
sure
to
push
itself
into
the
daily
press
,
and
the
runaways
will
think
that
everyone
is
off
on
the
wrong
scent
.
'
'
What
are
we
to
do
,
then
?
'
I
asked
,
as
we
landed
near
Millbank
Penitentiary
.
'
Take
this
hansom
,
drive
home
,
have
some
breakfast
,
and
get
an
hour
's
sleep
.
It
is
quite
on
the
cards
that
we
may
be
afoot
to-night
again
.
Stop
at
a
telegraph
office
,
cabby
!
We
will
keep
Toby
,
for
he
may
be
of
use
to
us
yet
.
'
We
pulled
up
at
the
Great
Peter
Street
post-office
,
and
Holmes
despatched
his
wire
.
'
Whom
do
you
think
that
is
to
?
'
he
asked
,
as
we
resumed
our
journey
.
'
I
am
sure
I
do
n't
know
.
'
'
You
remember
the
Baker
Street
division
of
the
detective
police
force
whom
I
employed
in
the
Jefferson
Hope
case
?
'
'
Well
,
'
said
I
,
laughing
.
'
This
is
just
the
case
where
they
might
be
invaluable
.
If
they
fail
,
I
have
other
resources
;
but
I
shall
try
them
first
.
That
wire
was
to
my
dirty
little
lieutenant
,
Wiggins
,
and
I
expect
that
he
and
his
gang
will
be
with
us
before
we
have
finished
our
breakfast
.
'
It
was
between
eight
and
nine
o'clock
now
,
and
I
was
conscious
of
a
strong
reaction
after
the
successive
excitements
of
the
night
.
I
was
limp
and
weary
,
befogged
in
mind
and
fatigued
in
body
.
I
had
not
the
professional
enthusiasm
which
carried
my
companion
on
,
nor
could
I
look
at
the
matter
as
a
mere
abstract
intellectual
problem
.
As
far
as
the
death
of
Bartholomew
Sholto
went
,
I
had
heard
little
good
of
him
,
and
could
feel
no
intense
antipathy
to
his
murderers
.
The
treasure
,
however
,
was
a
different
matter
.
That
,
or
part
of
it
,
belonged
rightfully
to
Miss
Morstan
.
While
there
was
a
chance
of
recovering
it
I
was
ready
to
devote
my
life
to
the
one
object
.
True
,
if
I
found
it
,
it
would
probably
put
her
for
ever
beyond
my
reach
.
Yet
it
would
be
a
petty
and
selfish
love
which
would
be
influenced
by
such
a
thought
as
that
.
If
Holmes
could
work
to
find
the
criminals
,
I
had
a
tenfold
stronger
reason
to
urge
me
on
to
find
the
treasure
.
A
bath
at
Baker
Street
and
a
complete
change
freshened
me
up
wonderfully
.
When
I
came
down
to
our
room
I
found
the
breakfast
laid
and
Holmes
pouring
out
the
coffee
.
'
Here
it
is
,
'
said
he
,
laughing
and
pointing
to
an
open
newspaper
.
'
The
energetic
Jones
and
the
ubiquitous
reporter
have
fixed
it
up
between
them
.
But
you
have
had
enough
of
the
case
.
Better
have
your
ham
and
eggs
first
.
'
I
took
the
paper
from
him
and
read
the
short
notice
,
which
was
headed
'
Mysterious
Business
at
Upper
Norwood
.
'
'
About
twelve
o'clock
last
night
,
'
said
the
Standard
,
'
Mr
.
Bartholomew
Sholto
,
of
Pondicherry
Lodge
,
Upper
Norwood
,
was
found
dead
in
his
room
under
circumstances
which
point
to
foul
play
.
As
far
as
we
can
learn
,
no
actual
traces
of
violence
were
found
upon
Mr.
Sholto
's
person
,
but
a
valuable
collection
of
Indian
gems
which
the
deceased
gentleman
had
inherited
from
his
father
has
been
carried
off
.
The
discovery
was
first
made
by
Mr.
Sherlock
Holmes
and
Dr.
Watson
,
who
had
called
at
the
house
with
Mr.
Thaddeus
Sholto
,
brother
of
the
deceased
.
By
a
singular
piece
of
good
fortune
,
Mr.
Athelney
Jones
,
the
well-known
member
of
the
detective
police
force
,
happened
to
be
at
the
Norwood
Police
Station
,
and
was
on
the
ground
within
half
an
hour
of
the
first
alarm
.
His
trained
and
experienced
faculties
were
at
once
directed
towards
the
detection
of
the
criminals
,
with
the
gratifying
result
that
the
brother
,
Thaddeus
Sholto
,
has
already
been
arrested
,
together
with
the
housekeeper
,
Mrs.
Bernstone
,
an
Indian
butler
named
Lal
Rao
,
and
a
porter
,
or
gatekeeper
,
named
McMurdo
.
It
is
quite
certain
that
the
thief
or
thieves
were
well
acquainted
with
the
house
,
for
Mr.
Jones
's
well-known
technical
knowledge
and
his
powers
of
minute
observation
have
enabled
him
to
prove
conclusively
that
the
miscreants
could
not
have
entered
by
the
door
or
by
the
window
,
but
must
have
made
their
way
across
the
roof
of
the
building
,
and
so
through
a
trap-door
into
a
room
which
communicated
with
that
in
which
the
body
was
found
.
This
fact
,
which
has
been
very
clearly
made
out
,
proves
conclusively
that
it
was
no
mere
haphazard
burglary
.
The
prompt
and
energetic
action
of
the
officers
of
the
law
shows
the
great
advantage
of
the
presence
on
such
occasions
of
a
single
vigorous
and
masterful
mind
.
We
cannot
but
think
that
it
supplies
an
argument
to
those
who
would
wish
to
see
our
detectives
more
decentralized
,
and
so
brought
into
closer
and
more
effective
touch
with
the
cases
which
it
is
their
duty
to
investigate
.
'
'
Is
n't
it
gorgeous
!
'
said
Holmes
,
grinning
over
his
coffee
cup
.
'
What
do
you
think
of
it
?
'
'
I
think
that
we
have
had
a
close
shave
ourselves
of
being
arrested
for
the
crime
.
'
'
So
do
I
.
I
would
n't
answer
for
our
safety
now
,
if
he
should
happen
to
have
another
of
his
attacks
of
energy
.
'
At
this
moment
there
was
a
loud
ring
at
the
bell
,
and
I
could
hear
Mrs.
Hudson
,
our
landlady
,
raising
her
voice
in
a
wail
of
expostulation
and
dismay
.
'
By
heavens
,
Holmes
,
'
I
said
,
half
rising
,
'
I
believe
that
they
are
really
after
us
.
'
'
No
,
it
's
not
quite
so
bad
as
that
.
It
is
the
unofficial
force
—
the
Baker
Street
irregulars
.
'
As
he
spoke
,
there
came
a
swift
pattering
of
naked
feet
upon
the
stairs
,
a
clatter
of
high
voices
,
and
in
rushed
a
dozen
dirty
and
ragged
little
street
Arabs
.
There
was
some
show
of
discipline
among
them
,
despite
their
tumultuous
entry
,
for
they
instantly
drew
up
in
line
and
stood
facing
us
with
expectant
faces
.
One
of
their
number
,
taller
and
older
than
the
others
,
stood
forward
with
an
air
of
lounging
superiority
which
was
very
funny
in
such
a
disreputable
little
scarecrow
.
'
Got
your
message
,
sir
,
'
said
he
,
'
and
brought
'
em
on
sharp
.
Three
bob
and
a
tanner
for
tickets
.
'
'
Here
you
are
,
'
said
Holmes
,
producing
some
silver
.
'
In
future
they
can
report
to
you
,
Wiggins
,
and
you
to
me
.
I
cannot
have
the
house
invaded
in
this
way
.
However
,
it
is
just
as
well
that
you
should
all
hear
the
instructions
.
I
want
to
find
the
whereabouts
of
a
steam
launch
called
the
Aurora
,
owner
Mordecai
Smith
,
black
with
two
red
streaks
,
funnel
black
with
a
white
band
.
She
is
down
the
river
somewhere
.
I
want
one
boy
to
be
at
Mordecai
Smith
's
landing-stage
opposite
Millbank
to
say
if
the
boat
comes
back
.
You
must
divide
it
out
among
yourselves
,
and
do
both
banks
thoroughly
.
Let
me
know
the
moment
you
have
news
.
Is
that
all
clear
?
'
'
Yes
,
guv'nor
,
'
said
Wiggins
.
'
The
old
scale
of
pay
,
and
a
guinea
to
the
boy
who
finds
the
boat
.
Here
's
a
day
in
advance
.
Now
off
you
go
!
'
He
handed
them
a
shilling
each
,
and
away
they
buzzed
down
the
stairs
,
and
I
saw
them
a
moment
later
streaming
down
the
street
.
'
If
the
launch
is
above
water
they
will
find
her
,
'
said
Holmes
,
as
he
rose
from
the
table
and
lit
his
pipe
.
'
They
can
go
everywhere
,
see
everything
,
overhear
everyone
.
I
expect
to
hear
before
evening
that
they
have
spotted
her
.
In
the
meanwhile
,
we
can
do
nothing
but
await
results
.
We
cannot
pick
up
the
broken
trail
until
we
find
either
the
Aurora
or
Mr.
Mordecai
Smith
.
'
'
Toby
could
eat
these
scraps
,
I
dare
say
.
Are
you
going
to
bed
,
Holmes
?
'
'
No
:
I
am
not
tired
.
I
have
a
curious
constitution
.
I
never
remember
feeling
tired
by
work
,
though
idleness
exhausts
me
completely
.
I
am
going
to
smoke
and
to
think
over
this
queer
business
to
which
my
fair
client
has
introduced
us
.
If
ever
man
had
an
easy
task
,
this
of
ours
ought
to
be
.
Wooden-legged
men
are
not
so
common
,
but
the
other
man
must
,
I
should
think
,
be
absolutely
unique
.
'
'
That
other
man
again
!
'
'
I
have
no
wish
to
make
a
mystery
of
him
to
you
,
anyway
.
But
you
must
have
formed
your
own
opinion
.
Now
,
do
consider
the
data
.
Diminutive
footmarks
,
toes
never
fettered
by
boots
,
naked
feet
,
stone-headed
wooden
mace
,
great
agility
,
small
poisoned
darts
.
What
do
you
make
of
all
this
?
'
'
A
savage
!
'
I
exclaimed
.
'
Perhaps
one
of
those
Indians
who
were
the
associates
of
Jonathan
Small
.
'
'
Hardly
that
,
'
said
he
.
'
When
first
I
saw
signs
of
strange
weapons
,
I
was
inclined
to
think
so
;
but
the
remarkable
character
of
the
footmarks
caused
me
to
reconsider
my
views
.
Some
of
the
inhabitants
of
the
Indian
Peninsula
are
small
men
,
but
none
could
have
left
such
marks
as
that
.
The
Hindoo
proper
has
long
and
thin
feet
.
The
sandal-wearing
Mohammedan
has
the
great
toe
well
separated
from
the
others
,
because
the
thong
is
commonly
passed
between
.
These
little
darts
,
too
,
could
only
be
shot
in
one
way
.
They
are
from
a
blow-pipe
.
Now
,
then
,
where
are
we
to
find
our
savage
?
'
'
South
American
,
'
I
hazarded
.
He
stretched
his
hand
up
,
and
took
down
a
bulky
volume
from
the
shelf
.
'
This
is
the
first
volume
of
a
gazetteer
which
is
now
being
published
.
It
may
be
looked
upon
as
the
very
latest
authority
.
What
have
we
here
?
"
Andaman
Islands
,
situated
340
miles
to
the
north
of
Sumatra
,
in
the
Bay
of
Bengal
.
"
Hum
!
hum
!
What
's
all
this
?
Moist
climate
,
coral
reefs
,
sharks
,
Port
Blair
,
convict
barracks
,
Rutland
Island
,
cottonwoods
—
Ah
,
here
we
are
!
"
The
aborigines
of
the
Andaman
Islands
may
perhaps
claim
the
distinction
of
being
the
smallest
race
upon
this
earth
,
though
some
anthropologists
prefer
the
Bushmen
of
Africa
,
the
Digger
Indians
of
America
,
and
the
Terra
del
Fuegians
.
The
average
height
is
rather
below
four
feet
,
although
many
full-grown
adults
may
be
found
who
are
very
much
smaller
than
this
.
They
are
a
fierce
,
morose
,
and
intractable
people
,
though
capable
of
forming
most
devoted
friendships
when
their
confidence
has
once
been
gained
.
"
Mark
that
,
Watson
.
Now
,
then
,
listen
to
this
.
"
They
are
naturally
hideous
,
having
large
,
misshapen
heads
,
small
fierce
eyes
,
and
distorted
features
.
Their
feet
and
hands
,
however
,
are
remarkably
small
.
So
intractable
and
fierce
are
they
,
that
all
the
efforts
of
the
British
officials
have
failed
to
win
them
over
in
any
degree
.
They
have
always
been
a
terror
to
shipwrecked
crews
,
braining
the
survivors
with
their
stone-headed
clubs
,
or
shooting
them
with
their
poisoned
arrows
.
These
massacres
are
invariably
concluded
by
a
cannibal
feast
.
"
Nice
,
amiable
people
,
Watson
!
If
this
fellow
had
been
left
to
his
own
unaided
devices
,
this
affair
might
have
taken
an
even
more
ghastly
turn
.
I
fancy
that
,
even
as
it
is
,
Jonathan
Small
would
give
a
good
deal
not
to
have
employed
him
.
'
'
But
how
came
he
to
have
so
singular
a
companion
?
'
'
Ah
,
that
is
more
than
I
can
tell
.
Since
,
however
,
we
had
already
determined
that
Small
had
come
from
the
Andamans
,
it
is
not
so
very
wonderful
that
this
islander
should
be
with
him
.
No
doubt
we
shall
know
all
about
it
in
time
.
Look
here
,
Watson
;
you
look
regularly
done
.
Lie
down
there
on
the
sofa
,
and
see
if
I
can
put
you
to
sleep
.
'
He
took
up
his
violin
from
the
corner
,
and
as
I
stretched
myself
out
he
began
to
play
some
low
,
dreamy
,
melodious
air
—
his
own
,
no
doubt
,
for
he
had
a
remarkable
gift
for
improvisation
.
I
have
a
vague
remembrance
of
his
gaunt
limbs
,
his
earnest
face
,
and
the
rise
and
fall
of
his
bow
.
Then
I
seemed
to
be
floated
peacefully
away
upon
a
soft
sea
of
sound
,
until
I
found
myself
in
dreamland
,
with
the
sweet
face
of
Mary
Morstan
looking
down
upon
me
.
CHAPTER
IX
.
A
BREAK
IN
THE
CHAIN
.
It
was
late
in
the
afternoon
before
I
woke
,
strengthened
and
refreshed
.
Sherlock
Holmes
still
sat
exactly
as
I
had
left
him
,
save
that
he
had
laid
aside
his
violin
and
was
deep
in
a
book
.
He
looked
across
at
me
as
I
stirred
,
and
I
noticed
that
his
face
was
dark
and
troubled
.
'
You
have
slept
soundly
,
'
he
said
.
'
I
feared
that
our
talk
would
wake
you
.
'
'
I
heard
nothing
,
'
I
answered
.
'
Have
you
had
fresh
news
,
then
?
'
'
Unfortunately
,
no.
I
confess
that
I
am
surprised
and
disappointed
.
I
expected
something
definite
by
this
time
.
Wiggins
has
just
been
up
to
report
.
He
says
that
no
trace
can
be
found
of
the
launch
.
It
is
a
provoking
check
,
for
every
hour
is
of
importance
.
'
'
Can
I
do
anything
?
I
am
perfectly
fresh
now
,
and
quite
ready
for
another
night
's
outing
.
'
'
No
;
we
can
do
nothing
.
We
can
only
wait
.
If
we
go
ourselves
,
the
message
might
come
in
our
absence
,
and
delay
be
caused
.
You
can
do
what
you
will
,
but
I
must
remain
on
guard
.
'
'
Then
I
shall
run
over
to
Camberwell
and
call
upon
Mrs.
Cecil
Forrester
.
She
asked
me
to
,
yesterday
.
'
'
On
Mrs.
Cecil
Forrester
?
'
asked
Holmes
,
with
the
twinkle
of
a
smile
in
his
eyes
.
'
Well
,
of
course
on
Miss
Morstan
too
.
They
were
anxious
to
hear
what
happened
.
'
'
I
would
not
tell
them
too
much
,
'
said
Holmes
.
'
Women
are
never
to
be
entirely
trusted
—
not
the
best
of
them
.
'
I
did
not
pause
to
argue
over
this
atrocious
sentiment
.
'
I
shall
be
back
in
an
hour
or
two
,
'
I
remarked
.
'
All
right
!
Good
luck
!
But
,
I
say
,
if
you
are
crossing
the
river
you
may
as
well
return
Toby
,
for
I
do
n't
think
it
is
at
all
likely
that
we
shall
have
any
use
for
him
now
.
'
I
took
our
mongrel
accordingly
,
and
left
him
,
together
with
a
half-sovereign
,
at
the
old
naturalist
's
in
Pinchin
Lane
.
At
Camberwell
I
found
Miss
Morstan
a
little
weary
after
her
night
's
adventures
,
but
very
eager
to
hear
the
news
.
Mrs.
Forrester
,
too
,
was
full
of
curiosity
.
I
told
them
all
that
we
had
done
,
suppressing
,
however
,
the
more
dreadful
parts
of
the
tragedy
.
Thus
,
although
I
spoke
of
Mr.
Sholto
's
death
,
I
said
nothing
of
the
exact
manner
and
method
of
it
.
With
all
my
omissions
,
however
,
there
was
enough
to
startle
and
amaze
them
.
'
It
is
a
romance
!
'
cried
Mrs.
Forrester
.
'
An
injured
lady
,
half
a
million
in
treasure
,
a
black
cannibal
,
and
a
wooden-legged
ruffian
.
They
take
the
place
of
the
conventional
dragon
or
wicked
earl
.
'
'
And
two
knight-errants
to
the
rescue
,
'
added
Miss
Morstan
,
with
a
bright
glance
at
me
.
'
Why
,
Mary
,
your
fortune
depends
upon
the
issue
of
this
search
.
I
do
n't
think
that
you
are
nearly
excited
enough
.
Just
imagine
what
it
must
be
to
be
so
rich
,
and
to
have
the
world
at
your
feet
!
'
It
sent
a
little
thrill
of
joy
to
my
heart
to
notice
that
she
showed
no
sign
of
elation
at
the
prospect
.
On
the
contrary
,
she
gave
a
toss
of
her
proud
head
,
as
though
the
matter
were
one
in
which
she
took
small
interest
.
'
It
is
for
Mr.
Thaddeus
Sholto
that
I
am
anxious
,
'
she
said
.
'
Nothing
else
is
of
any
consequence
;
but
I
think
that
he
has
behaved
most
kindly
and
honourably
throughout
.
It
is
our
duty
to
clear
him
of
this
dreadful
and
unfounded
charge
.
'
It
was
evening
before
I
left
Camberwell
,
and
quite
dark
by
the
time
I
reached
home
.
My
companion
's
book
and
pipe
lay
by
his
chair
,
but
he
had
disappeared
.
I
looked
about
in
the
hope
of
seeing
a
note
,
but
there
was
none
.
'
I
suppose
that
Mr.
Sherlock
Holmes
has
gone
out
,
'
I
said
to
Mrs.
Hudson
as
she
came
up
to
lower
the
blinds
.
'
No
,
sir
.
He
has
gone
to
his
room
,
sir
.
Do
you
know
,
sir
,
'
sinking
her
voice
into
an
impressive
whisper
,
'
I
am
afraid
for
his
health
?
'
'
Why
so
,
Mrs.
Hudson
?
'
'
Well
,
he
's
that
strange
,
sir
.
After
you
was
gone
he
walked
and
he
walked
,
up
and
down
,
and
up
and
down
,
until
I
was
weary
of
the
sound
of
his
footstep
.
Then
I
heard
him
talking
to
himself
and
muttering
,
and
every
time
the
bell
rang
out
he
came
on
the
stair-head
,
with
"
What
is
that
,
Mrs.
Hudson
?
"
And
now
he
has
slammed
off
to
his
room
,
but
I
can
hear
him
walking
away
the
same
as
ever
.
I
hope
he
's
not
going
to
be
ill
,
sir
.
I
ventured
to
say
something
to
him
about
cooling
medicine
,
but
he
turned
on
me
,
sir
,
with
such
a
look
that
I
do
n't
know
how
ever
I
got
out
of
the
room
.
'
'
I
do
n't
think
that
you
have
any
cause
to
be
uneasy
,
Mrs.
Hudson
,
'
I
answered
.
'
I
have
seen
him
like
this
before
.
He
has
some
small
matter
upon
his
mind
which
makes
him
restless
.
'
I
tried
to
speak
lightly
to
our
worthy
landlady
,
but
I
was
myself
somewhat
uneasy
when
through
the
long
night
I
still
from
time
to
time
heard
the
dull
sound
of
his
tread
,
and
knew
how
his
keen
spirit
was
chafing
against
this
involuntary
inaction
.
At
breakfast-time
he
looked
worn
and
haggard
,
with
a
little
fleck
of
feverish
colour
upon
either
cheek
.
'
You
are
knocking
yourself
up
,
old
man
,
'
I
remarked
.
'
I
heard
you
marching
about
in
the
night
.
'
'
No
,
I
could
not
sleep
,
'
he
answered
.
'
This
infernal
problem
is
consuming
me
.
It
is
too
much
to
be
baulked
by
so
petty
an
obstacle
,
when
all
else
had
been
overcome
.
I
know
the
men
,
the
launch
,
everything
;
and
yet
I
can
get
no
news
.
I
have
set
other
agencies
at
work
,
and
used
every
means
at
my
disposal
.
The
whole
river
has
been
searched
on
either
side
,
but
there
is
no
news
,
nor
has
Mrs.
Smith
heard
of
her
husband
I
shall
come
to
the
conclusion
soon
that
they
have
scuttled
the
craft
.
But
there
are
objections
to
that
.
'
'
Or
that
Mrs.
Smith
has
put
us
on
a
wrong
scent
.
'
'
No
,
I
think
that
may
be
dismissed
.
I
had
inquiries
made
,
and
there
is
a
launch
of
that
description
.
'
'
Could
it
have
gone
up
the
river
?
'
'
I
have
considered
that
possibility
too
,
and
there
is
a
search-party
who
will
work
up
as
far
as
Richmond
.
If
no
news
comes
to-day
,
I
shall
start
off
myself
to-morrow
,
and
go
for
the
men
rather
than
the
boat
.
But
surely
,
surely
,
we
shall
hear
something
.
'
We
did
not
,
however
.
Not
a
word
