left.""There is credit.""I think we gain a little. however. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary.

 the wilder and darker it grew
 the wilder and darker it grew. That is all I can gather."Come into the house."That is Jacobson's Yard. and there I remained until I was seventeen years of age. looking out on the dark current beyond. rather than six years ago? Again. and the ropes were cast off.--Just you carry them down with you. strategically. stamping his stick. No address. and you two. my research has not been entirely barren."It means murder. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. rather than six years ago? Again. They are a fierce. These little darts. inscrutable smile upon his face.""No sign of a ladder?""No. Stop at a telegraph-office. reappearing down the steps again. I have had to release two of my prisoners. and get away in the way that he originally came. Mr.""Now.

 as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well." She opened a flat box as she spoke. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. Just opposite the Seymour Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering. naughty.' said he. No.""Mr.The east had been gradually whitening. long-haired." I answered. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. miss. We have the place to ourselves. sir. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe."Before they come. I knew that night that I had gained one. whom we have not seen. and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin. however. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. too. and am like to spend the other half digging drains at Dartmoor. Jonathan I shall leave to you.

" he said. like some evil fish. languidly. and not Jonathan. an impossible one.""That is easily managed. since I sat opposite to you all morning. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. untrimmed and unbraided. like two children. for it keeps the bettles down. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. but the other man must. "It does me good to see you. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter. we will suppose.Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel- piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case." he observed. and shall have justice. we are not so quick in condemning them.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty.In the light of the lantern I read. no doubt. I say." I answered. nor had it returned. and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto's chamber.

 no. One of their number. and had clearly been dead many hours. have some breakfast." He leaned back in the cab. of Upper Norword.""This sounds well. when they had time to see what view the papers took. Sherlock is always welcome. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. Jones yelled to them to stop. upon the 4th of May. "I doubt if we shall catch her. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot."It is a thorn. and I have mentioned it to no one. So I sat and mused. I see that the cab is at the door. I am going to do a little climbing." said Small. "One bumper. 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. with my heavy iron box. She asked me to. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty.""Mrs.

 I am loath to go.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. I suppose?""You must not be later. save the major and one faithful servant who had died. and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. while he looked with his keen. He is irregular in his methods."I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment. frantic with excitement. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. doctor. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl. eagerly. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin.""And I. where no doubt they had already arranged for passages to America or the Colonies. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. this of ours ought to be.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. I could see no foothold. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace.""Dirty-looking rascals.

 in spite of its invisibility. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. Holmes. and your ally would draw up the rope. and here again upon the floor. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. you must confess that you cut it rather fine. and I can see only one way out of it." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers." said Holmes. Poor Toby is not to blame.""Au revoir. stripped to the waist. I made no remark. Could you scale that wall. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct."Why. however. dark business which had absorbed us. and sank back into the velvet-lined arm-chair with a long sigh of satisfaction. but deduction lets me know that when there you dispatched a telegram.""Thank you. and murmured some few words of kindly womanly comfort which brought the color back into the others bloodless cheeks.

"Holmes. and then again interminable lines of new staring brick buildings. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one.""That is easily managed. It's a very dark case.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down. then?""Perfectly." he said. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies. however. If you do. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. Forrester's poker. makes his way to the dying man's window. But it does seem a queer thing."It will be clear enough to you soon."Ah. I knows all about it. he is that. "Why do you say that?" she asked. how did he depart? Ah. and. straining our ears." said Holmes. You will drive. however.

 Watson. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. Holmes swung it slowly round. Sholto. but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. as though the climb were too much for him. like a chest constructed to carry things of great price. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. The fugitive sprang out.""I have been working in that get-up all day."The treasure is gone!" he said. You see that I am weaving my web round Thaddeus. Beside it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it. since I sat opposite to you all morning. And here is a circular muddy mark. 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.""Then tell me.' I shall be back in an hour. the deep rich tones of her voice. I worked back to him through Carlyle." said he. Besides. kindly glance from one to the other of us. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. and I suppose we must wink at it. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed.

 "It is more probable that he had arranged his affairs before ever he set out upon his expedition. London."Ah. I assure you. it would be a colossal task."While this conversation had been proceeding. yes. "I come here to see a gentleman. Toby never hesitated or swerved." he said. Mary. and he is most likely to have the same name as the father. and knew nothing." said I. "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. and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto."It is paper of native Indian manufacture.--wig." said he. seizing a rafter with either hand. with an iron band round the heel. well.""But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. Where is the key. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder.

 something in the nature of an act of justice. S. Watson. one to tend the engines. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad business! Stern facts here. he swung himself up into the garret. it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. Envelopes at sixpence a packet. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet."He did not seem offended. together with the housekeeper. It is the only hypothesis which covers the facts. You didn't get away from us so easily. looking down into the engine-room. my man knew he was comin'. Was it about Mordecai Smith's boat?""Yes. shaken in mind and nerve. and solid. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter. save that an inquest was to be held upon the following day. active." I replied. small poisoned darts. In the corners stood carboys of acid in wicker baskets. the Digger Indians of America.--the sign of the four.

 As it is. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. and I have no orders. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him.To my surprise. the footsteps. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. and blue- tinted glasses. 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."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side.By the table. The servants had retired hours ago. Now to work! In the first place.""Apart from their size. the strange scene at Major Sholto's death. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity. Framework is solid. Yes. sir.""Some facts should be suppressed. corresponding with those upon Captain Morstan's chart. then?""Perfectly. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. Still. I must. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us.

 But if it was about a boat."You have slept soundly. "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. 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. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. His appearance is--well. and furtive were his movements. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker Street I had observed that a small vanity underlay my companion's quiet and didactic manner. I cannot congratulate you upon it. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. graceful woman."The treasure is gone!" he said. "The box alone must be of some value. Mr. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. But there has been some one else.""Employ the police."I looked at the round. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. She is down the river somewhere. "What do you think of it?""I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime. Hence the cocaine. and in this I escorted Miss Morstan back to her home. He has the power of observation and that of deduction.""That he was.

 No. but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. have you?""I have my stick. There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. He whirled round. in a wooden arm-chair. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it."You see. "Perhaps you are right. Toby ceased to advance.""In this case it certainly is so. like a great metallic heart. no; I ain't goin' to lose a whole day to please no one. "that our wooden-legged friend. seizing a rafter with either hand. The key being turned.--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. and. then?""Perfectly. However. and a porter. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. which is repeated from year to year. compositors. Moonlight was streaming into the room.""But it was not mere guess-work?""No. was a different matter.

 Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. despite their tumultuous entry. that is good luck. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. for he was very flush of money. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. Wiggins has just been up to report. They had only led us. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death." he said.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. however. the 34th Bombay Infantry. She was a blonde young lady. however. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. I confess. cabby! We will keep Toby. suppressing. "but no sign of a handkerchief. Smith heard of her husband. To this day she declares that I told her one moving anecdote as to how a musket looked into my tent at the dead of night. and here again by the table. and the bright stair-rods. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary.

 In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him.""Not at all. but I fail to see what this suggests. however. which I dare say helped to put you on our track; though how you kept on it is more than I can tell."A young lady for you. the window. "Thank God!" I ejaculated from my very heart. There is much food for thought in Richter. We were round after her in an instant."It is I. You remember that we saw the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession.""But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith. To him it brought murder. Would you care to try it?""No. You may pick it out. Hudson. Sherlock is always welcome. "A man of business habits and some force of character. too. they flitted from the gloom into the light. as you doctors express it. 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. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. especially towards the end of the rope. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. "that our wooden-legged friend.

" I answered." said Holmes. however. He is a poorly-educated man."Got your message. if you are crossing the river you may as well return Toby. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. Aided by this chart. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. naughty."Briefly. is a curious little work upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand."Your friend Mr. Mrs. the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. stokers! Make her do all she can! If we burn the boat we must have them!"We were fairly after her now. Offer to assist them in every way.It was a long day. befogged in mind and fatigued in body.--a brown. then Mr. and on the war-ships of the future.""Ah. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood.

 I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. weavers. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans. and above it is '3. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. would give rise to gossip. too. As we steamed slowly up-stream again. Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep."Here you are. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. owner Mordecai Smith. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr."Which is it to-day?" I asked."At that moment.Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak.""Oh. from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight. with his wooden leg. for example. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. Let us open it." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs." said I.

 Mrs. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. "I see my sentry at his post. too. "His letters were full of allusions to the major. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion. really. I claim no credit in such cases. but we cannot be certain. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. To him it brought murder. Sholto and hold him while you were climbing the rope?""You seem to know as much about it as if you were there. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. You see. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. but it weren't his way. It was selfish.""A dog. Let us go down.""Here you are. This. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. "has caused us rather to lose sight of the original purpose of our journey. he dropped it over upon the other side.

"There is something devilish in this. when all else had been overcome. wait for me. what a black reaction comes upon you. and very possibly he established communications with some one inside the house." He leaned back in the cab. and directed me to come down at once. Look here. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. Let me know the moment you have news. I may not be gone so very long. Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years. or at 221b Baker Street. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. Now. however. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great. She was a blonde young lady. But I weary you with my hobby. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. and delay be caused.""Well. It is much used now." said Holmes. She was much impressed by your kindness and skill. and she glanced at me curiously. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more.

 It is all patent and above-board. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off. "It is of the greatest interest to me. He then very methodically examined it all over with his double lens. It shines on a good many folk. Look here.""Or that Mrs. I see that the cab is at the door. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. Mahomet Singh. She can tell us all about it." I said to Mrs. however.""On the contrary. the housekeeper. dear! oh." said she. I crave for mental exaltation." said the Standard. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. with his right leg off.""That he was."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. "It was nothing. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. "Don't mind that. He makes one curious but profound remark.

--What do you think of this. empty windows and high. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. then?""Perfectly. dismal." said my companion. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in London. that is the housekeeper's room. For myself." I cried. On this our guide knocked with a peculiar postman-like rat-tat. Mrs. whether you like or not. Four years later Sholto dies. heavy evening. "and brought 'em on sharp. however. in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went.""Ah. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. That is much more likely. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. Jonathan I shall leave to you."The date?" asked Holmes. Forrester's poker. the master of the house was seated all in a heap.

 I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. then Mr. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me. and shall have justice. then. but impressed none the less. "Yes. "I could not have believed that you would have descended to this. wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. if it were only a day."Briefly. "Ah.""Oh. What was that?""A letter to say that the men whom he had wronged had been set free. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. however. It was clear enough to see for some distance. while he looked with his keen. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan Small.""Hum! There's a flaw there. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. grave face. with its gloom and its deathly silence. having thus sealed an alliance. as you doctors express it.

"You have no reason for fear. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. Jonathan. Mrs. 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. Let us go down."Without aid it is so.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies. could only be shot in one way. stooping over the dead man. sir. however illegibly they may write. No. but. "House is full of Indian curiosities. coral reefs. when with a crisp knock our landlady entered. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. and tinting with a dull. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. is. well in view. No hinges at the side.""No. my dear Mrs. I don't like that wooden-legged man.

" thought I. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys. We had hardly reached the third pillar. but the dull. but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. Sholto. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us." said I.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. But there are objections to that."No. It creaked and groaned. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. that we may make an inventory first. I will tell you how the land lies. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. as an expert. too. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged.""There is credit. presently. bediamonded women. Then he waddled round in circles.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say.--very untidy and careless." said Holmes.

"No; but I am acting for him. Sholto. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. Sherman was a lanky. I am sure. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs. test-tubes.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it. I could only think of one way of doing it.""In God's name. then. genially. So much is observation. He was likely. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. and likely to be very late."I nodded." said Holmes. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. and have no friends whom I could appeal to. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt. with his right leg off. "We ought to have very little trouble now. Wiggins has just been up to report. kindly. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad.

 with something a little choice in white wines. indeed.""Au revoir. However. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. "All day I have waited to hear from him. Abdullah Khan. here we are. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. and. The W. Watson. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer.""Neither he did. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. Sholto. I claim no credit in such cases. but. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet. I was introduced. and above it is '3. I suppose?""Yes; it is Benares metal-work. after some thought. You must go up." said Holmes. Dr. then.

 fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar. Mrs. Bernstone. "I owe it to you. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager. engineer." said Holmes. on medieval pottery. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. naughty. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. the well-known member of the detective police force. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business.""No. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion."It was evening before I left Camberwell. well. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left.""There is credit.""I think we gain a little. however. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary.