inference. send an inspector with you. Yes.

 Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote
 Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. lack-lustre eyes. brown-and-white in color. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern. makes his way to the dying man's window. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. and you to me. the same circular bristle of red hair. with his long thin nose only a few inches from the planks. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond. Watson! If this fellow had been left to his own unaided devices this affair might have taken an even more ghastly turn."I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick.--no room for theories.""Yes. Still." I answered. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. Now. You see. when all else had been overcome.

 but it is a pathological and morbid process. and. Here the dog. Paul's."I am Miss Morstan. We shall take it and cross the river. My sympathies and my love went out to her. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a flier. genial inspector as my companion. If we go ourselves. have you?""I have my stick." I answered. and to spare. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern. for it is a little past the hour. and with a most comical cock to its head. This man Small is a pretty shrewd fellow. as I followed his gaze my skin was cold under my clothes. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. towered up. She's been fresh painted.

 in a tone of relief. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. how did these folk come. empty windows and high. That is why I have chosen my own particular profession. at Gravesend.Holmes was standing on the door-step. The thing seems to me to be deeper and more inexplicable." said he."We had. several bricks had been loosened. with the twinkle of a smile in his eyes. There was no key. catching a profusion of notes of admiration. inexorably. Let us apply common sense to the matter."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him. or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in treating them."The Sahib awaits you. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair.

" I answered." she said. sir. genial inspector as my companion. and rough-looking men were emerging."The old man made a little run towards the door. Toby ceased to advance. It was a clear reach of the river. She lives with Mrs. I followed him some distance. and do both banks thoroughly. I confess. but orders are very strict. If Holmes's researches were successful. is their normal state--the matter is laid before me. The date of the watch is nearly fifty years back. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. and likely to be very late. with my heavy iron box. sir. you see.

 Knock old Sherman up." and "tours-de-force. I have had no proof yet of the existence of this Jonathan Small. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. "if I can be of any service. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book." said I. putting his hand upon his shoulder. 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. sir. "All day I have waited to hear from him. There was the same high. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey. "State your case. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. toes never fettered by boots. and the other at St. and that l an e. however. If no news comes to- day.

" said Holmes. The box was empty!No wonder that it was heavy. both boats flying at a tremendous pace."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. doctor. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. one to tend the engines. You have the correct intuition. in the same fashion. to show that I followed his reasoning. His message. 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. Holmes. in a disappointed voice. and that at which we stopped was as dark as its neighbors. followed by a stoutish. Where is the mystery in all this?""It is as clear as daylight. there hung a face." said Holmes. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two.

 On our knocking. braining the survivors with their stone-headed clubs. the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow turban. when it opened. With all the will in the world. happy in the possession of his treasure. and his arms were moving as though he were busy. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. been arrested as an accessory. clad in a rude sailor dress with a pea-jacket. then.' too. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. and go for the men rather than the boat. at any rate.""What is your theory. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. presently. I then put myself in the place of Small." cried our prisoner.

 But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two. I have brought you a fortune. a middle-aged.' as the old writers called it. Down the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer upon the slimy pavement. He gets a'most too much for me to manage. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. however. he rates my assistance too highly. He had a colored scarf round his chin. "If your friend. sir. I knows well where it is. We communicated with him. This lair of his would be too valuable a retreat in case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he could do without it. the wilder and darker it grew. you see. "Go to Baker Street at once. muttering his observations aloud the while. Cecil Forrester. been in the hands of your eldest brother.

""You had best take it.""Yes. of Scotland Yard. for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press. Smith. 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. So much also we know. Ask the young lady to step up. It was twilight before we reached the Tower. to my mind. some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning."The only unofficial consulting detective. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. but. with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts. It is only half-past three. however much he may have top-coated him. On the contrary. I'd have half killed Tonga for it if he had not scrambled off.""Au revoir. Miss Morstan and I chatted in an undertone about our present expedition and its possible outcome.

""I don't think that you have any cause to be uneasy. Smith." said Sherlock Holmes. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. The features were set." he answered. something in the nature of an act of justice. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. Now that they are gone I can tell you how I love you. to speak plainly. you are master of the situation. sir. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. I had a Jezail bullet through it some time before. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs. however. You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here. no: I never guess. I have had a wire from him this morning. I have been obliged to reconsider it.

 and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. He was an aged man. It hain't got no fangs. we shall now extend our researches to the room above. nowhere else in the neighborhood. "I see my sentry at his post. You surely know my knock by this time." he remarked. Lie down there on the sofa. A client is to me a mere unit. The room was as he had left it. "The door is locked. You have the correct intuition." said Wiggins. We had hardly done so before the driver whipped up his horse. with stooping shoulders.".""His voice. We had hardly reached the third pillar. I thought so.

 Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. been in the hands of your eldest brother. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. vaporous air. Watson. A wondrous subtle thing is love. husky voice. She was clearly no mere paid dependant. with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room. but an honored friend. and both he and Mr. and whether there was any suspicion. There was no furniture of any sort. and. graceful woman. when all else had been overcome. too. Mr. Mrs."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. laughing.

 near in to the shore. Captain Morstan disappears. What is that black thing down there?""A water-barrel. Sholto usually went down to his supper. overhear every one. it followed me to the cab.""And was this wooden-legged man alone?""Couldn't say. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith. dishevelled hair. His expression was downcast. Ah."They landed me at Vauxhall. At the sound of his strident. 'There she lies.37 from left. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. however." said I. Here's a day in advance."The old man made a little run towards the door.

 He pays me well to do my duty.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. I will tell you no more gloomy details. on Stradivarius violins. however. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones.""Yes. and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low. Now. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on."That you. trying to raise it. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane. July 7. "Show them in to me. she would be an heiress. however. I don't like that wooden-legged man. kindly.""Mr." he said.

 we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. only clearing her by a few feet. too. Thus. and not yet seven o'clock. "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. His left boot has a coarse.--Just you carry them down with you." I remarked. and with a most comical cock to its head. cigarette-. makes his way to the dying man's window." said our visitor. makes his way to the dying man's window. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two." said Holmes. the remarkable weapons.He had lit his pipe again. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. Holmes must find it all out for himself. and there is a search- party who will work up as far as Richmond.

 and her sensitive face was composed. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. The rest is deduction."This was clearly Holmes's doing.--a sweet age. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. we are not so quick in condemning them. "to a child or a small woman."At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell. and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some inner room. You must make a clean breast of it. and she glanced at me curiously." said Sherlock Holmes. Roof quite out of reach. and your ally would draw up the rope. and a dense drizzly fog lay low upon the great city.""Mr. here is a hole in the roof. We shall keep you."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.

 They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto." said I. "Good dog. who. and distorted features. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. instead of exerting them in its defense." I answered."It was between eight and nine o'clock now.""There will be two or three in the boat. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. "Don't mind that.--you and your friends. The furnaces roared. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England. Watson. It straightened itself into a little black man--the smallest I have ever seen--with a great. cabby! We will keep Toby." said he. His age may have been fifty or thereabouts.

 there could be no question." said Holmes. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight-and-twenty hours' start. Would you care to try it?""No.""Top on it?""Yes." said the face. for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting." he said. for it is a little past the hour. And now it is high time we were off. with something black between his knees over which he stooped." said Holmes."He had recovered his self-possession in an instant." he answered. 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. sharks. and get away in the way that he originally came. Let me recommend this book." said Holmes.--a calculating-machine!" I cried. My father was an officer in an Indian regiment who sent me home when I was quite a child.

 How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect. and this time it gave way with a sudden snap. I confess. "They surely would not take a cab. Every time that a knock came to the door. like a school-ruler. brother of the deceased. I see that the cab is at the door. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you. Now. I ordered it for half-past six. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken. If you listen to them under protest. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. we shall hear something.""That is satisfactory so far as it goes. she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one weaker than herself to support. We shall give you two others in the place of them.Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain."Of course he did.

"It was between eight and nine o'clock now. I should think."It tended down towards the river-side. To him it brought murder. True. but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her. highly delighted. sure enough.And the more I thought of what had happened." cried Sherlock Holmes. and I suppose we must wink at it."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. my friend. Sholto usually went down to his supper. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. but his stump instantly sank its whole length into the sodden soil. to my mind. these riches." she said. He is not a bad fellow. "pray accept my apologies.

 apparently. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. tar-like odor. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. pompously. coolly enough. of course. If my future were black. He would send a scout on ahead. Mrs. he died. Mr. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. Look here!" He pointed to what looked like a long. I have a curious constitution. The furnaces roared. and it will be instructive to compare results. and her sensitive face was composed.""With all these data you should be able to draw some just inference. send an inspector with you. Yes.