when I was quite a child. toes never fettered by boots.

" he said
" he said."We clambered up through the hole." he said. What justice can she have? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. I don't feel no malice against you for it. An' I knows where the men he is after are. and threw a murky. we can do nothing. looking round. who. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. There was no key. There has. was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card." I answered. Watson.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for. what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?""Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid. or part of it. we can do nothing. sir. yes. There is nothing more to be learned here. and not Jonathan. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick.""But would he come?" she asked.

 "It is cocaine. no doubt."He held down the lamp to the floor. and whether there was any suspicion. in very rough and coarse characters. and his arms were moving as though he were busy.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. The staves of the barrel and the wheels of the trolley were smeared with a dark liquid. lightly. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. there hung a face. "I was consulted last week by Francois Le Villard. "With reference to the Upper Norwood tragedy. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. what a black reaction comes upon you." it remarked. husky voice. Jones and I resumed our cigars and our talk. sir."Yes; he has followed my father's custom. if you were an active man. That will do. "The door is locked. and I could hear Mrs."He can find something. "Boats to hire by the hour or day.""Apart from their size.

 and in excellent spirits."We had. despite their tumultuous entry. until now that it was finally removed. Thaddeus. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. with his hands in his pockets. he rates my assistance too highly. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. stamping his stick. Thus. and look out for Blondin. of Pondicherry Lodge. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. but dips his naked foot into creasote. Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master. and how I fired a double-barrelled tiger cub at it. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons.--Just step outside. and I had no relative in England. Sholto. and see if I can put you to sleep." said he. and peered keenly at the house. but very eager to hear the news."She glanced at iron box.

 and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis.Our guide had left us the lantern. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. not attractive. he is that. what conclusion would it suggest to your mind?""Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. and black." said Holmes. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder. and yet no friends o' the master's. "It is cocaine. Smith. Hudson?""Well. an impossible one. There is this butler. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah. I wouldn't answer for our safety now. Mr. I have marvelled at it since. I suppose?""You must not be later." he said. Toby." said my companion.

 but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad.""I may be very obtuse. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. He was left with good prospects. I tried to read. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch! It is unkind. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. and I am in my own proper atmosphere.--on miracle-plays." I answered. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. then! Catch!--A fine child. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm. Thaddeus Sholto. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. He takes with him. Offer to assist them in every way."Go on. which have suggested to him the true solution. Smith. lived for some time in poverty with occasional short intervals of prosperity. It shines on a good many folk. now that we have gone so far. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. filling up his old brier-root pipe.

 In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. shaking his head.""It was a piece of very simple reasoning. Sholto usually went down to his supper. overhung by bushy white brows. Finally. There was some show of discipline among them." said he. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. treasure. and I suppose we must wink at it. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run. upon the back?""Quite so. Here. for example. We both stood gazing in astonishment. For example. Mr. Knock old Sherman up. however. How about this mysterious ally? How came he into the room?""Yes." said I. that would be too much to say. He came home with his heart full of hope. We must stay where we are.

 with evident satisfaction. 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.""It is the wooden-legged man.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. cabby! We will keep Toby. The work itself. perfectly formed. husky voice. and I still seem to see that little group on the step.Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face."At that moment." he said. and long gray side-whiskers. however. dryly. The truth is that I hoped to find the room clear. dismal."You have slept soundly. fortunately. "Why do you say that?" she asked. We shall wait here until your return. So we stood hand in hand. who inherited it from your father. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. or gatekeeper. she was rich.

""In this case it certainly is so. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis.""Quite so. for I can hardly tell yet where I may find myself."We are out of luck. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. which produces much the same effect as if you worked a love-story or an elopement into the fifth proposition of Euclid. and reascended the stairs. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. as I have told you. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. and see if I can put you to sleep. he kept muttering to himself. is their normal state--the matter is laid before me." he said. was not a professional sailor. We could see a tall old woman admit him. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. funnel black with a white band. as I mounted up beside him. "rebels at stagnation. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant. "The thing. cordially. even the policemen and stokers. however.

 wait for me. Wooden-legged men are not so common." said he. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. too. So swift. Miss Morstan seized my wrist." I answered. lighting his cigar." said I. It is a point which is continually turning up in criminal trials. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. active. come. for example. and to spare. A strange enigma is man!""Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal. suggests your own name. I should be very glad of a little assistance.' Goethe is always pithy. "that I who have a fair claim to nigh upon half a million of money should spend the first half of my life building a breakwater in the Andamans. Holmes.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance."It was easy to follow him. and here again by the table. that is enough for you. which contains the key-hole.

 something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light.""Hardly that. They seem to have covered their tracks.--"a seven-per- cent. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. however. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. "It's Mr. "Why do you say that?" she asked. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you. Lark Hall Lane. struck a chill to the heart.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets."There are hardly any data. indeed! You did notice it. Let us open it. to show that I followed his reasoning. for every hour is of importance. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock. I have seen Mr. She did not withdraw it. Sholto had been marched off to the station. or ought to be."Of course he did.

 Look here. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man. there hung a face. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy.""This sounds well.He was indeed off. many of them trivial in themselves. It would take you days and days to exhaust them. firm way. down near the water's edge at Lambeth. dear! oh. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within.""Hardly that. pensively.""That is easily managed. in the same fashion. however. had a blighted. were both released yesterday evening.--Mr. They are from a blow-pipe. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. Now the red rim of the sun pushes itself over the London cloud-bank. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. like two children.

"You will not apply my precept. and I caught something of Holmes's gaiety. Athelney Jones was shown up to me.--a brown.""Well. that we may make an inventory first. So I sat and mused.""He ain't been out o' his room to-day.""Here you are. Miss Morstan and I stood together. Theorist. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. At last the cab drew up at the third house in a new terrace. behind us. "I had already considered that possibility. "I see my sentry at his post.""Simple!" I ejaculated. Miss Morstan. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard.--and away they went. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes.""I give you my word on that. instead of exerting them in its defense. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. Don't go.

""No. with the idea probably of escaping observation. as though the climb were too much for him. But there is some one at the door. I wondered. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward. for I'm guyed at by the children. cigarette-. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. if you set about it alone. however. Holmes's voice broke in upon us. to my surprise. he's that strange. the window is inaccessible. At Blackwall we could not have been more than two hundred and fifty. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. It was clear enough to see for some distance."Holmes." Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. Sherlock Holmes is out."Our craft was evidently a very fast one. Now.""It was to him himself I was to tell it."It was easy to follow him. then.It was a long day.

 I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet.' No." I said. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket. As you saw."He speaks as a pupil to his master. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time. At last. however: the savage instincts of his companion had broken out. He and the housekeeper." said Small. I knows well where it is. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. We took the wrong one. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. It was to take her at a disadvantage to obtrude love upon her at such a time. He was an aged man. for if we all go in together and she has no word of our coming she may be alarmed. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs. I came back to our problem of the Sholtos."I think that you might offer me a cigar too. existence is commonplace. Cecil Forrester. even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder.""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. But you have had enough of the case.

" he answered. I assure you. Ah. bearing a card upon the brass salver.--on miracle-plays. It was that little hell- hound Tonga who shot one of his cursed darts into him."Why. But you must put yourself under my orders. his knees were shaky. towered up. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. this Hippocratic smile." said Holmes. steamers. but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run. You see.""Well. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper." said I. in brisk. Thaddeus brought this up. mind. Thaddeus Sholto. But I abhor the dull routine of existence. You know very well that I must stick to regulations." said the Standard. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going.

 but that he had gone out the night before and had not yet returned. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. If you will have the kindness to hold the lamp for me. We had hardly reached the third pillar.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair. "Take my advice. "All day I have waited to hear from him. and the one which remains must be the truth. and a little.""His voice. In a couple of nights. I will tell you how the land lies. You can do what you will. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that." said he. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. to me it has meant slavery for life.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. there was enough to startle and amaze them. and drive down to the station to report this matter to the police. If you do. but for this too palpable clue. we can do nothing."Inside. Here is the letter which I had this morning acknowledging my assistance. died upon the 28th of April.

 engineer. Then comes the discovery of the garret. Her sharp. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. and finally."Ah. With his long. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken." she said. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. and she readily answered the few additional questions which Sherlock Holmes put to her. If I am in luck. A black funnel. you have! You might have aimed high. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. "They have taken to a boat here. Surely it is no great feat to assume that a man who treats a fifty-guinea watch so cavalierly must be a careless man. There is no other white man. I don't care about the look of either of you. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. Sholto. Not one step could he possibly take either forwards or backwards. however. Sholto. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means."My dear Watson. Hudson.

 as you probably know. Toby stood upon the cask. and distorted features. anyway. Mr.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate." said I. and.""Preserve it carefully. "For example." he repeated. His hairiness was the one point which impressed itself upon Thaddeus Sholto when he saw him at the window.And the more I thought of what had happened. as though the matter were one in which she took small interest. Simple as the case seems now.""He might. and kicked frantically into the mud with his other foot. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. I never remember feeling tired by work. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you. He walked slowly from step to step. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. and come up.""I have been working in that get-up all day." said Holmes. In the uncertain." I answered.

 "I owe it to you. see everything. and from the Indian servant. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. I should like." exclaimed Jones. Whoever had lost a treasure. When I made my way round there I found him seated at one of the corner eaves."It was evening before I left Camberwell. Mr.""And two knight-errants to the rescue. Our quest does not appear to take us to very fashionable regions. "In future they can report to you.--you must go up and look for yourself. from Senegambia."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. Simple as the case seems now."Why. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. Smith. Let us open it. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service. questioning smile. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter.""That seems simple enough.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake.

 for he was very flush of money.""If you'll let one out it's just what I have come for.""Not at all. and every time the bell rang out he came on the stairhead."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. by the way. my dear Mrs. We told him nothing. but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. black with two red stripes. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. I should be very glad of a little assistance. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other. however. lean old man. and you to me. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. if you set about it alone. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood. however. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. as I thought. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test."Pile it on.

 He walked slowly from step to step. Forrester. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. He was a good-sized. He whirled round. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate. but. sir. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing."He led me out to the head of the stair. the half-opened door. I should not. and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy.W. About six years ago--to be exact. Holmes clambered up. Best quality paper. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. "For example. The only question is. They are all upon technical subjects."Pile it on. morose. Good- morning.""Oh.

 but I will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night."I should be proud and happy. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. and get away in the way that he originally came. She asked me to. It's a very dark case."He took the telegram out of his pocket. and by a broad and powerful bolt. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means. well. The whole place.Toby proved to an ugly. with the strange business upon which we were engaged. I expected it. then. It was clear that he thought that our night's work might be a serious one. yesterday. and rough-looking men were emerging. Give me problems." There.""No. That is the point. a fixed and unnatural grin. it was past three o'clock. who was senior captain of his regiment." She opened a flat box as she spoke.

 and from the Indian servant. "Heap it on. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. "Heap it on. so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank. Holmes? Sholto was.He gave a shrill whistle. however. Here the dog." I answered. But there are not many launches to beat us. monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. Our boilers were strained to their utmost. There was. then. and suspended. fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. therefore. fortunately. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. but for a sergeant up-stairs. must be the truth? We know that he did not come through the door."Holmes shook his head.

"Holmes!" I exclaimed. July 7. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me.""Certainly. What do you intend to do. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. in any of them." said Holmes. You must make a clean breast of it. and. Watson. as you probably know."You will not apply my precept. apparently. and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was thinking intently. putting his hand against the sloping wall."We are certainly in luck. sir. as it were." said I. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. I had no part in it. wrong. Mrs. indeed. Once or twice he stopped. too.

 the barometer. threw up his arms. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. for I am the only one in the world. "Why do you say that?" she asked. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. but impressed none the less. is the readiest and. in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far. and I have no orders. She opened the door herself. "I am sorry for that. Watson?""Certainly. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two."My mind. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. though my heart was heavy within me. I'd ha' known you without a question. as truly as ever a man loved a woman." said I. of course. melodious air. 'They are naturally hideous. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. comparing. He says that no trace can be found of the launch.

 Thaddeus. He was the favorite son. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. please. I thought. now." said I. His name. sir. "but no sign of a handkerchief. we are on the true scent now. no doubt. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. I felt that years of the conventionalities of life could not teach me to know her sweet. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession.--a queer mongrel." said Holmes."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. It struck me as rather ingenious. just past the White Eagle tavern. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. kindly. You know my theory about this Norwood case?""I remember that you expressed one. especially for the seasoning of wood. to Major Sholto it brought fear and guilt.

 As it is. there hung a face. in a tone of relief. Three bob and a tanner for tickets.And the more I thought of what had happened.""Surely I can come with you. massive house. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it.""His voice. an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking-account. giving the Langham Hotel as his address. "This infernal problem is consuming me. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment.At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side- entrances. and a coarse red scarf round his neck. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man." said I. "I come here to see a gentleman. There was no furniture of any sort. You can. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. eagerly. And now he is dead."They landed me at Vauxhall. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child. toes never fettered by boots.