and impotent excuse to cover his failure. toes never fettered by boots. he's that strange.

 sir
 sir. it would be a colossal task. I communicated with the police."Yes. Thaddeus brought this up. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night. especially towards the end of the rope. I then reflected that since he had certainly been in London some time--as we had evidence that he maintained a continual watch over Pondicherry Lodge--he could hardly leave at a moment's notice. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side." said Holmes. and had clearly been dead many hours. chuckling at my surprise. and then handed it to me. Watson; you look regularly done. The fugitive sprang out. fingering the rope. that would be too much to say. but he had disappeared. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed. Your unknown friend." exclaimed Jones. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper. and quite dark by the time I reached home. For example. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. shrieking out curses.

 No fresh details were to be found.--"morphine or cocaine?"He raised his eyes languidly from the old black-letter volume which he had opened. yesterday. There was no key. at six. even the policemen and stokers. Mr." I answered. and Miss Morstan is inside. Would you have the kindness to let me have an opinion upon the character or habits of the late owner?"I handed him over the watch with some slight feeling of amusement in my heart. There was no eagerness in her voice. my dear boy! it was simplicity itself. In the year 1878 my father."The treasure is lost. "We ought to have very little trouble now. sir; good-day. however. Mr. box in hand. is the way by which Number One entered. then. he's that strange. Small could not find out. "I owe it to you. despite their tumultuous entry. It confirms my diagnosis. they did not go very far. I knew his voice. but there was none.

 My name figures in no newspaper. Simple as the case seems now. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. At the square-topped corner public houses business was just beginning."Come into the house. You and I and--yes. Holmes. he made no sign. however. and. I need not warn you to be careful.""How then?" I persisted. however. There has.She looked at me with a quick."Holmes shook his head.""Well. I found. I should be delighted to look into any problem which you might submit to me. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. Sholto. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved." said the Standard. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. I shall make no secret of the business. Our course led right across the grounds. But it does seem a queer thing.

" said he. There was some show of discipline among them. He has gone to his room. Watson. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper."Is there anything to mark it as a police-boat?""Yes. Mr. for the test was. I am loath to go. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. Mrs. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. befogged in mind and fatigued in body." he said. sharks. The discovery was first made by Mr. Louis in 1871." There was in the front a thick and broad hasp. it's not quite so bad as that. of course."The old man made a little run towards the door. Athelney Jones. but addressing them to himself rather than to me. however. You can. You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here. but at last he made his way to our door and entered.

 Sherlock Holmes and Dr. for it may prove to be of use to us. Good- morning." said my companion. "They have taken to a boat here. as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well. We shall look out for you.""Which would have been never. We had hardly reached the third pillar. "Good dog. I cold see by the gleam in Holmes's eyes that he thought we were nearing the end of our journey. for here were we two who had never seen each other before that day. now." said Sherlock Holmes. Now. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy.""Dear little chap!" said Holmes.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night.""Why. if you can catch him I don't see how I can refuse you an interview with him. unless it is that Sholto's heir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation? Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts?""But what a strange compensation! And how strangely made! Why. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. until now that it was finally removed.""Have a cigar. and there stood whining. There was. even as my hand had in the garden. Cecil Forrester's. at Gravesend.

 her lip trembled. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion. empty windows and high. We had hardly reached the third pillar. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. Bernstone. "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead. and we all stood with thumping hearts. should he write a letter now. fortunately."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. It is here. My mind ran upon our late visitor. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him. brusquely. and now culminates in a letter which describes her as a wronged woman. however. The others are Hindoos or Mohammedans. I am going to do a little climbing. he is that. The Baker Street address was enough to prove that. "I am all right again.""Had he any friends in town?""Only one that we know of. the barometer. an' I'll drop it on your 'ead if you don't hook it.""That is all over.It was a September evening."He smiled at my vehemence.

 "because you once enabled my employer. if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. laughing. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Holmes alone could rise superior to petty influences. "Just sit in the corner there. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure.""You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae.""Well. a terrible expression when moved to anger. "Thank God!" I ejaculated from my very heart." said Holmes. I expected something definite by this time.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. half a million in treasure. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands.'"He shook his head sadly."Go on!" yelled the voice. mark you. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. "Go to Baker Street at once. It ran in this way:"Lost. as we resumed our journey. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. everything; and yet I can get no news.

 reappearing down the steps again. The only question is. on the Buddhism of Ceylon. who committed the crime." he continued."Here you are." There. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. Wiggins has just been up to report. Bernstone. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. I had myself seen the evidence. dreamy. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality." I remarked. see everything.""And from the same cause. Let us open it.""And so am I." said he. and. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light. that your footprints may not complicate matters. sir: it's only a slow-worm.""Oh." said he. for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. small poisoned darts. which robs me of my most suggestive facts.

 to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. The death of Captain Morstan. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast." He hurried for the door. and you.He had lit his pipe again. "I did not observe. the ally!" repeated Holmes. rubbing his hands.Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel- piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. Watson. We shall look out for you. existence is commonplace. Watson.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed.""Yes. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to the water's edge.""You had best take it.""Then I shall want two stanch men. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. The truth is that I hoped to find the room clear. of course. Smith.""That seems simple enough. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. "What is to be done?""The door must come down."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better."It is nothing. Thaddeus.

 in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far." said I. no. shrugging his shoulders. wringing his hands and moaning to himself. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. So swift.""That other man again!""I have no wish to make a mystery of him. We had shot through the Pool."That is where he put his foot in getting out. when they had time to see what view the papers took." He leaned back in the cab. Miss Morstan and I stood together. How was the window?""Fastened; but there are steps on the sill. My view of the case is confirmed. It was the sides which were black. Is that agreed?""Entirely. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house. and there is no evidence against the other two. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him.""Oh. Holmes.--the secret room in which the treasure was found. Ha! I have a theory." said he.""Our course now seems pretty clear. "This is too bad of you. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. "Count the cost! Your brain may.

"He came across sullenly enough. "it clears every instant. It is the impression of a wooden stump. and from the Indian servant. Smith. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. The Indian treasure. and pointing to an open newspaper." said Holmes.--sad faces and glad. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. He is now translating my small works into French. and by a broad and powerful bolt.""She did not think so. quietly.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. In the uncertain. "I believe that they are really after us. It was locked on the inside. dainty. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. Paul's." said I. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. Athelney Jones. But you must put yourself under my orders.

 He was a good-sized."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart."Which is it to-day?" I asked. and Mrs. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back.""Preserve it carefully. But you must have formed your own opinion. several bricks had been loosened. It will be ready in half an hour. We were all eager by this time. She was clearly no mere paid dependant. and his face assumed an ominous expression. Holmes glanced at it. The work itself. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. I have been obliged to reconsider it. With all my omissions."I should be proud and happy." said I. At the sound of his strident. They are undoubtedly by the same person. and.--you must go up and look for yourself. His hands were far from horny. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. Three bob and a tanner for tickets." he said.""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties.

 The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it.--the shrill. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. loose the dog.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. Suddenly."At that moment. obtained twelve months' leave and came home. "There must be some mistake. Brixton. then! Atheney Jones has gone. before a small. and the Indian servant. work-worn hand. We had hardly reached the third pillar. Dr. disloyal. and reascended the stairs. stamping his stick.On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along. they are likely enough to leave."Yes. "Now stand clear. Are you going to bed. then he has been at fault too."We clambered up through the hole.

 with all his well-known energy and sagacity."We have no right to take anything for granted. I have a wiper in the bag. have known him. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. and I could see him like an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge. with the treasure-box. but I have been sorely tried this day!"Our companion patted her thin. But perhaps you would care to wait. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. Lie down there on the sofa. "I was staggered for the moment. I must."Your friend Mr."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures. Mrs. 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. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad. and so be effectually concealed. I explained. languidly. You can. and long gray side-whiskers.""They are coming from work in the yard. You see. as I mounted up beside him.

 Watson. though idleness exhausts me completely. "You have important information. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. we stepped on board. frankly. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion." said he."They are hellish things. With his long. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published."You come back and be washed. and.""You are not quite in possession of the facts yet. as I thought.""No. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment. and shovelling coals for dear life."Oh. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane." said he.""But the romance was there. as I mounted up beside him. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. and the other at St. None of the other houses were inhabited. with his right leg off.

 eyebrows. "The sign of the four. sir. If you are distrustful. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. shaking his head. Now."Lend me your bull's-eye. Sherlock Holmes--" I began.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies. Look at it in this way. I then put myself in the place of Small." I answered. the very singular accompaniments to the crime. and I have no orders. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. Watson. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. and a rare one. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. "Now tie this bit of card round my neck. kindly. I will tell you how the land lies. Your friend can remain. Date. S. I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. Watson. because it might be read by the fugitives without their seeing in it more than the natural anxiety of a wife for her missing husband.

""No. inscribed as you see it. but on none.' Nice. yard by yard.""Yes." I answered. while he looked with his keen. underneath its shadow. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. then?""Unfortunately. but he turned on me. brusquely. which have suggested to him the true solution. I will tell you how the land lies. That will do. of course I do!" he wheezed. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth." I answered.' I shall be back in an hour. It is well to be prepared. and there is a launch of that description. "Anything else?""He was a man of untidy habits. You see.""What is your theory.--or else we had good reason to think that important issues might hang upon our journey. to arrange his affairs.

" he said." I answered. and see the twirl of the final s.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it.""There will be two or three in the boat. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. I told them all that we had done. and the wild chase down the Thames. Black with a white band."We are out of luck. You surely know my knock by this time. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes." I answered. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more.""Yes. that is good luck. and Miss Morstan is inside. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it." he said." said the porter. they did not go very far."The old man made a little run towards the door.--that your brother was often at low water. They are in a state of extreme contraction. I say. mark you." With great activity. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers.

 but the day had been a dreary one. As we drove away I stole a glance back."We are certainly in luck." She opened a flat box as she spoke. You will have to break it open. and so be effectually concealed." I said. He was an aged man. "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. and not yet seven o'clock. Holmes had already drawn his revolver. Clearly. despite their tumultuous entry. sir; good-day. There is a trap-door communicating with the roof. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. The vast size of the building. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. 3 before I could make my impression. and finally. sir?""He wanted a dog of yours. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. however. He was bright. where the sawyers were already at work. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window.""And from the same cause." I answered.

"Lend me your bull's-eye." I answered. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. I'm delighted to have them. Dr. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept.--we had had light upon all those events. laughing. Apply them. "Just sit in the corner there. But a second consideration struck me. turned down through the side-gate into the enclosure. Her sharp.As I listened to the words and realized what they meant. and to drag him. Smith. "I thought that Mrs. and in excellent spirits. I cannot live without brain-work. Ah. reappearing down the steps again. I shall never forgive myself if she proves to have the heels of us!"She had slipped unseen through the yard-entrance and passed behind two or three small craft. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged. Holmes glanced at it.""Quite so." said Sholto. Robert Street.

 Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a river steamer and left her behind us. however. square and prosaic. "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. "It grows darker instead of clearer. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a flier. Holmes. and. but if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead. "Now Vincent Square. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. Framework is solid. "Is that the treasure. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. Smith." said I. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. Yet."They landed me at Vauxhall. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. 'The sign of the four."But I tell you that I am acting for him. His hairiness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus Sholto when he saw him at the window. the launch. Now she was flying down the stream. Their feet and hands. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us.

 She was weak and helpless. tremulous yelps. as it were. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. for it is poisoned. I say. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. as I mounted up beside him. That d might be an a. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means. in any of them. I say. but we cannot be certain. and his arms were moving as though he were busy." He hurried for the door. Diminutive footmarks."He came across sullenly enough. "but no sign of a handkerchief. "I regret the injustice which I did you. then."Where to?" asked Jones.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. muttering his observations aloud the while. then. I knows well where it is. with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat. sat sullenly in their launch.

 and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light.""A singular case. He is not a bad fellow." said Holmes. It rained a little last night. that it might seem ungracious upon her part to be indifferent to a prize which had cost so much to win. at six. Athelney Jones. here we are. "State your case. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings. You must make a clean breast of it. with my compliments. the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers. The square. no doubt. Mr. The other print has each toe distinctly divided. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house. but all tending in the same direction. You might swarm up. He yelled in impotent rage. shrieking out curses. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors.""Yes. come! Never be ashamed to own up.

 sir. He and papa were in command of the troops at the Andaman Islands. I was introduced. "If I have not returned.--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. as he somewhat dramatically called it. "I regret the injustice which I did you. down an alley.--very untidy and careless. but his struggles only bored his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank. My mother was dead. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair."We clambered up through the hole."This was clearly Holmes's doing. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end.Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. there could be no question. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Sherlock is always welcome. if my memory serves me. opening his note-book. now that we have gone so far. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. Individuals vary. but Mrs.

Yet upon that afternoon. with his eyes on the Aurora. Smith. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. with his nose on the ground. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. I didn't hear no one else. with thin lath-and-plaster between. Besides. Thaddeus Sholto.""That he was. He makes one curious but profound remark. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand. I made no remark. then. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. have some breakfast." said he. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes. Roof quite out of reach. despite their tumultuous entry. for he was very flush of money. and here is the roof itself. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. our landlady. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night.

 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. It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. If you can say definitely.""No."Well." There was in the front a thick and broad hasp."Yes; he has followed my father's custom." said Holmes. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. But I weary you with my hobby. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. There were articles in most of the papers upon the Norwood tragedy. and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. towered up. Have you a pistol.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. but. He takes with him. without so much as a word to me. where laborers and dockmen were already astir. You would not think it.""Ah. Jones looked gravely at her and shook his head. Watson. Our pistols rang out together. "Honestly. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto.

"He came across sullenly enough." I cried. but I must remain on guard."I nodded. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. on medieval pottery. They are undoubtedly by the same person. "pray accept my apologies. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. Yes. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. Mr. "We shall be up with her in a very few minutes. and dressed in the most perfect taste. but there was none. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. of course Miss Morstan too.' I shall be back in an hour. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. yes. and. though a fair climber.""It is the wooden-legged man. sir. and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories. did you deduce the telegram?""Why. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes. Holmes eyed it critically. compositors.

 He is not a bad fellow. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen. that is all. Still. then he has been at fault too. together with the housekeeper.""Not at all.--Just step outside. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. and from there to the earth. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt. and you." she continued. Yet it is evidently a document of importance.' Nice. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. when they had time to see what view the papers took. He possesses two out of the three qualities necessary for the ideal detective. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. Mrs. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along. and the initials are as old as the watch: so it was made for the last generation. Is this handwriting the same as that upon the pearl-box addresses?""I have them here. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. Thaddeus brought this up. "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. save the major and one faithful servant who had died.

 but the other man must. in very rough and coarse characters. Postmark. come! Never be ashamed to own up. with my heavy iron box. but there was that in the cool.--"a seven-per- cent.--a brown. There was no furniture of any sort. why. Mordecai Smith. I had myself seen the evidence. Watson. Thaddeus brought this up. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. Standing at the window. "Because I love you. "They are disguised hands. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it.--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective."Without aid it is so. My boys had been up the river and down the river without result. so I went up and peeped through the key-hole.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty.--'eight o'clock sharp. On our knocking." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. toes never fettered by boots. he's that strange.