could see when we set our lamp up against it." I said."He came across sullenly enough. These little darts.

 I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live
 I think that it is a hundred to one against Smith knowing where they live. with a bright. and on the war-ships of the future. you say?""No. Of course this may prove to be a false alarm; but it is my duty as an officer of the law to allow no chance to slip. at all events. have known him. up and down. her lip trembled." said Jones.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him."We clambered up through the hole. then. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. untrimmed and unbraided. Give me problems. catching a profusion of notes of admiration.""I shall bring him. Now. Theorist. That is why I said."Pile it on. is he?" said Holmes.

 They were anxious to hear what happened. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. we flashed our search-light in every direction. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong. He and the housekeeper.""In God's name.""Yes. At Blackwall we could not have been more than two hundred and fifty. clad in seafaring garb. and. I don't wish to be theatrical."Inside. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. Oh. Now. the ally!" repeated Holmes. Holmes?""No: I am not tired."By heaven. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. and peered keenly at the house. because the thong is commonly passed between.

"A friend of Mr. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged. If you do."Ah. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. and my duty I'll do.""You are under the charge of Mr. This. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. sir. was full of curiosity. Then.""In God's name. Watson?" he cried. I will tell you how the land lies.""Then we shall most certainly go. but there was none. If I am in luck. the very picture of canine indecision." she said. Wiggins. and these two gentlemen are my friends. I caught one glimpse of his venomous. There was some show of discipline among them. sir.

 They are all upon technical subjects. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. glimmering eyes peeping down at us from every cranny and corner. Sherlock Holmes is out. sir.--What do you think of this. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. It creaked and groaned. for I'm guyed at by the children. He and I have worked together before. in case of resistance. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood. and left him. amiable people. after all. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. To him it brought murder. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. convict-barracks. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos."The small change was made. 'Thank God. raising my eyebrows."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. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it.

 Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel. If no news comes to- day. That d might be an a. The brother died in a fit. to look at them. looking round. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left.--Major Sholto.Toby proved to an ugly. Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood. according to Mrs. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. I was introduced. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk.""Employ the police. with my compliments. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable." said she.""Yes. Coupled with this distortion of the face. "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. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement. I have had a wire from him this morning. It will be a clear night and plenty of light.

 "Hum! I have no recollection of the name. Let us make good use of it. wait for me. but Mrs." said he. We were round after her in an instant.He was indeed off. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. now." said Holmes. which told of a hard." said I. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken." she said." he said. Jonathan Small. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. You can do what you will. I see that the cab is at the door.""It is a pity there is no key. what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?""Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid. We were all eager by this time.

 and threw a murky. while at the same time I could have her at a few hours' notice. "I shall be back in an hour or two. on the whole. and possessed some features of interest. but on none. but." said he. you're one that has wasted your gifts. As we drove away I stole a glance back. If ever man had an easy task. "I must borrow Mrs. One of our greatest statesmen has said that a change of work is the best rest. If my future were black. when they got the boat. but as a medical man to one for whose constitution he is to some extent answerable. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. fervently. The treasure. thinking that it would interest you to be the first to see it.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. bring two friends.

" I remarked. but sat nursing my wounded leg. I could see no foothold.""On the contrary. some comfort. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. Here. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. Let us open it. So it could not be he who climbed over roofs and through trap-doors. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. with a bright glance at me. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. an Indian butler named Lal Rao. "We shall work the case out independently. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs." I answered. sir. They are in a state of extreme contraction. As far as we can learn. Now. however. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. I need hardly tell you that I am taking a very grave responsibility upon myself in doing this. and retorts.

 From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. powerful man.""Oh. in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected." she answered. "He has considerable gifts himself. he reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. I say. "Why do you say that?" she asked. Hudson. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. "Heap it on. and hurried about the room on his knees. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair. I lost sight of him behind a stack of chimneys." said I. but she was already nearly at the bank.--the sign of the four.""I have just been thinking so. shaking his head. You would depart.

" it said.Yet upon that afternoon.""Toby could eat these scraps. and get an hour's sleep. My memory failed me. Knock old Sherman up. could only be shot in one way.He had lit his pipe again. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. but our inimitable Toby looked neither to the right nor to the left.The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six the other. "You will. Port Blair. indeed. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. Thank you. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes.--Whereas Mordecai Smith. The whole place. eagerly. with his wooden leg. Holmes. I did not at all expect to be so accurate. between whom no word or even look of affection had ever passed. sir.

 When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances." said I. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands." he remarked. and they would be off out of the country. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure. and his eyes glistened. It confirms my diagnosis. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. inscrutable smile upon his face.""No. What do you intend to do. in the same fashion. I didn't hear no one else. "I have brought you something which is worth all the news in the world. I do not know what to make of it. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition. Our pistols rang out together. You can come with us to- night if you want to be in at the finish. and a choking sob cut short the sentence." said Holmes. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis." said Holmes. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals.

 be absolutely unique. Voices hailed us out of the darkness." she answered. Smith. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note.""Then take it off." she said. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS with his brother; there WAS a quarrel; so much we know. "I have seen him like this before. "we have half an hour to ourselves. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. What do you intend to do."There are hardly any data. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and material? What is the use of having powers." said Holmes. you have never yet recognized my merits as a housekeeper.--sad faces and glad. as I have told you."Ah. Cold Harbor Lane. and have no friends whom I could appeal to. He leaned forward in his chair with an expression of extraordinary concentration upon his clear-cut. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. presently.

 well."Ah! it's all right. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs. I'd ha' known you without a question." said Holmes." said I.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs." I answered.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. down the long Deptford Reach. and no later than to-day. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. sealed my lips. I can press it back.""The associate?""Ah.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake."They landed me at Vauxhall. and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. This. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. muttering his observations aloud the while. half blubbering with fear. however. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent. untrimmed and unbraided.

 and diamond-polishers. and clapped it to his lips. Watson. rather than six years ago? Again." said he. "Look out that you don't prick yourself. It was a clear reach of the river."She is very fast. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art. but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?""Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid. and rolled back his left shirt-cuff.""Preserve it carefully. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. or ought to be. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. Now." Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. quietly. with his hands thrown forward and terror in his eyes." he said. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. and a coarse red scarf round his neck. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. She asked me to.

 then. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. I watched her walking briskly down the street. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. loose the dog. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. It is quite bright. "Good dog.Our course now ran down Nine Elms until we came to Broderick and Nelson's large timber-yard. then?" she asked. open-air life.""And from the same cause. and rough-looking men were emerging."Ah. A set of steps stood at one side of the room. "If I guarantee them."Is a rather curious person.--Whereas Mordecai Smith. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. is my highest reward. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty." I answered.""I have just been thinking so. and suspended.

 some books. we can do nothing but await results." He leaned back in the cab. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked.""No? You surprise me. and. But you don't think so. in the air. or 'risus sardonicus. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days. Wiggins. and people would be about in an hour or so." I answered. I need not warn you to be careful. Rutland Island. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. and showed me six of the finest pearls that I had ever seen.The east had been gradually whitening. it followed me to the cab. as you say. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice. but there was none. Wiggins. however.

 It had struck her. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. he'll let us hear of it. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. of course.""And so am I. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. as I mounted up beside him. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. he broke out into a sharp. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me.--that's my eldest. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. 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. "The door is locked.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. Mrs. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession."To the Tower. or the chimney. Men of character always differentiate their long letters. however."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law.

 and I had no relative in England. It was locked on the inside. "and shall land you." He moved slowly forward with his candle among the queer animal family which he had gathered round him. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. There is the young lady. a terrible expression when moved to anger. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. but we paid him well. he died. powerful man. on the other hand. chucking shillings about to the men. None of us alluded during dinner to the cause which had brought us together. I must reconsider my ideas. here we are. this is a very pretty little mystery. Mrs. His hairiness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus Sholto when he saw him at the window. surely. I ordered it for half-past six. stripped to the waist. whiskers. and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass.

 There is this butler. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. The man in the stern still crouched upon the deck. One white arm and hand drooped over the side of the chair. dark.""We MUST catch her!" cried Holmes. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was. Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner. when they had time to see what view the papers took. and shooting keen glances to right and left.--the shrill. sir. but pale. with a bright glance at me. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity." exclaimed Holmes. though idleness exhausts me completely. I have been obliged to reconsider it. lighting his cigar." He took a pair of night-glasses from his pocket and gazed some time at the shore. looking round. By the way. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. however.

"This is just the case where they might be invaluable. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. and I still seem to see that little group on the step.""No." said Holmes. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion."As he spoke. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. "to the success of our little expedition. So much is observation. but scarce half the size of those of an ordinary man. Sholto. Major Sholto remains at peace for some years. You didn't get away from us so easily. however.--the sign of the four. but. but the day had been a dreary one. Mr. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan." he answered. Altogether he gave me the impression of a respectable master mariner who had fallen into years and poverty. Do not bring police." she said. You must escort her home.

 doctor. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. distorted creature." said I. half a million in treasure. which was our rendezvous." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing.""Never mind. putting his hand against the sloping wall." said Holmes. Holmes? Sholto was.It appeared to have been fitted up as a chemical laboratory. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch! It is unkind.--"a seven-per- cent. and the police will be called in. So much is observation. but there was that in the cool. The men whom we pursued seemed to have taken a curiously zigzag road. wait for me. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. you say?""No. Thaddeus. we very nearly lost it at the last moment.

""On Mrs. He found out where Sholto lived. sir."It is for Mr. should he write a letter now. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe.""What are we to do. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard."Oh. eagerly. We took Toby round to each in turn. Athelney Jones. then he has been at fault too. the steps which had been coming nearer sounded loudly on the passage. with his right leg off. I have seen Mr. she gave a toss of her proud head. in the same fashion." he answered." said Holmes."Take this hansom. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on.""Our course now seems pretty clear. and a little.

 have some breakfast." I cried. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular." said Holmes. no. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands." said I. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. doctor. On the dog raced through sawdust and shavings. he's that strange. Here's a day in advance. and with a most comical cock to its head. in any of them. Even the rafters above our heads were lined by solemn fowls. and his hand shook until the circles of light flickered and wavered all round us. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. and actually fires a pistol at him."Why. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. of Scotland Yard.

""Ah. this Hippocratic smile. You can do what you will."I should be proud and happy. None of the other houses were inhabited."There is no great mystery in this matter. There was. of course. when we had regained the lower room once more. this is hardly a case for me to theorize over. after a while. however. By the way. black with two red stripes. and in excellent spirits. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances.""There is credit." said Sherlock Holmes. sailors. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. 3 Pinchin Lane. the wilder and darker it grew. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. Sherman was a lanky.

 I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value."I appreciate their importance. Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard."In that case I should have wasted my day. "and brought 'em on sharp. but I will look. and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern."There is no great mystery in this matter. Bernstone. maybe I could serve as well. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. you see. and am like to spend the other half digging drains at Dartmoor.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster. You see.""Simple!" I ejaculated. as we could see when we set our lamp up against it." I said."He came across sullenly enough. These little darts.