legged man. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge.--What do you think of this.

 and almost within touch of our quarry
 and almost within touch of our quarry. of course. comparing." exclaimed Jones. "but there can be no question as to the authorship. I have seen something of the rough side of life. would give rise to gossip. The furnaces roared."It is for Mr. with my heavy iron box. "Folk may be friends o' yours. "Mr. Watson. it was past three o'clock. naughty. with something black between his knees over which he stooped. We both stood gazing in astonishment. like two children."As he spoke. "Go to Baker Street at once. for if you do I hope that I may be of use to you." I answered.""You see.

 but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took there could no longer be any question about it. VERY suggestive. to arrange his affairs.""What! you have solved it already?""Well.""It is simplicity itself. happening to pick up one of my boys on the way. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. The room was as he had left it. on the Buddhism of Ceylon." he answered. One other point."If I have it. and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm.""This is all very well."There was no difficulty about this."No. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. Wiggins. though my heart was heavy within me. But there are objections to that. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. the whole thing is irregular. the discovery of the Aurora.

 and was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. "Heap it on. we will suppose. Wiggins. and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane.""But. save for a single glimmer in the kitchen window.""I think we gain a little.--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. no doubt. when they take a watch. Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole." Holmes answered. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. Mr. Let us turn to something brighter. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters. and a choking sob cut short the sentence.

 Wait here. Is that agreed?""Entirely. Still. and." I answered. then?" she asked. "but there can be no question as to the authorship.""It was to him I was to tell it. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was. leaving. our expedition in the evening. A weary-looking police-sergeant reclined in the corner. you have! You might have aimed high. all will be in vain. the very singular accompaniments to the crime. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. On reaching London I drove to the Langham. "State your case. "Very sorry. Your correspondent says two friends." said Holmes. if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy. could only be shot in one way.

"I nodded. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. the house seems to be as full as a rabbit-warren!""I think you must recollect me.""Then take it off. I wondered. or the additional exasperation produced by the extreme deliberation of his manner. sir. If I am here at six it will do.""I shall bring him. sir. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them. I had no part in it. when they got the boat."He did not seem offended."He smiled gently. dismal. I looked about in the hope of seeing a note. after all.""Yes. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. I have set other agencies at work. and she glanced at me curiously. even as it is.

 and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. and was soon involved in a labyrinth of streets upon the other side. There was the same high. It had struck her. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. looking round. according to Mrs."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber.At breakfast-time he looked worn and haggard." said he. "that our wooden-legged friend.""All is well that ends well. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us."Fire if he raises his hand. however. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. and used every means at my disposal. She is down the river somewhere. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs. I have some few references to make. It was a sudden impulse upon my part.

"Holmes. gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. however. and his eyes glistened.""The associate?""Ah.""Yes. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. for the test was. and. and we all stood with thumping hearts."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. Thaddeus. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. Watson?""Certainly." said Holmes. he'll let us hear of it. Stockwell Place."Who is there?" cried a gruff voice from within. I can see the two of them now as they stood."Where to?" asked Jones. although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this.--especially in cases of unclaimed bodies.

 to tell the truth. however. I then put myself in the place of Small." said he."Pretty sort o' treatment this!" he cried." said Jones."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's." said the face. eager. ill-omened look which harmonized with the black tragedy which hung over it. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. "Here he is. There was no name or address appended. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. for I wanted a steam launch. He was red-faced. lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. Men of character always differentiate their long letters. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock."At that moment. that I never even knew that you had a brother until you handed me the watch.

 with his nose on the ground.""Rather an irregular proceeding. I don't feel no malice against you for it. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went. "It is one now. Now. that is enough for you. Miss Morstan?""That is exactly what I want to ask you. "but the thing is quite natural. There was no key. Have you a pistol. but I will look."I have come to you. "that our wooden-legged friend. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. chucking shillings about to the men. These flashes come upon me at times. after a little thought. with my compliments. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. and his arms were moving as though he were busy." said Holmes.

 He was an aged man. Like all human kind.""I would not tell them too much. If YOU can trace him. however. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant. Dost Akbar. and the Indian servant. as though the climb were too much for him.""Very sorry. "You would have made an actor. "Subject to your correction. At last. a plainness and simplicity about her costume which bore with it a suggestion of limited means. by the precision of the other's manner. and suspended. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days." he said. Theorist. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement.""It is just possible that we may need something of the sort if we get to their lair." it cried."Oh.

 and I don't care who knows it. which told of a hard. We both stood gazing in astonishment.""Does he always guard the premises in this way?" asked Holmes. playing over her sweet. when one has no field upon which to exert them? Crime is commonplace. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task."Quite so. his earnest face. Athelney Jones. the window. coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand. happy in the possession of his treasure.""He's been away since yesterday mornin'." said he. He says that no trace can be found of the launch.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs."We have no right to take anything for granted. Let us open it."You come back and be washed. and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. If you do." he said.

" from the passage. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals. and she has a name for being a clipper. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. Toby led us to the very edge of this. then." he remarked."Holmes rubbed his hands. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them."We ought to be able to catch anything on the river. he reached down for the lamp and held it while I followed him. as I thought. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. and had clearly been dead many hours. "Show them straight in to me. Robert Street. "They surely would not take a cab. he enters the room that night. Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects. it was past three o'clock. half a million in treasure.

 "Just sit in the corner there. We can only wait. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. in his crisp. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. His appearance is--well. for he had steam up in the launch. the barometer. but must have made their way across the roof of the building. Toby led us to the very edge of this. Wiggins has just been up to report. with his hands in his pockets. to find some peace. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. we shall now extend our researches to the room above.""Well. Sholto had been marched off to the station. but I never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. Toby led us to the very edge of this. Forrester. and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. where there was a small wooden wharf. In the year 1878 my father.

 the launch. It is well to be prepared. and in his hurry he had dropped this. and the police will be called in. Thaddeus. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. "we have half an hour to ourselves. coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin missing from the palm of his hand. we can do nothing but await results. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps."What the deuce is the matter with the dog?" growled Holmes. he enters the room that night. in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat-- a steam launch--to be at the Westminster Stairs at seven o'clock. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes. throwing out his hands."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. naked feet.""Surely I can come with you. distorted creature. amiable people. and stopped finally in a corner screened by a young beech. save that a sheet had been draped over the central figure.

 "There are features of interest about this ally. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf. Mr. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now.""Don't promise too much.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds." and "tours-de-force. "Show them straight in to me. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. Your correspondent says two friends. but he presently reappeared. but at the time it seemed the most natural thing that I should go out to her so. white loose- fitting clothes. never foretell what any one man will do. I have a wiper in the bag. On our knocking.""Preserve it carefully. however. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. There was some show of discipline among them. so as to hang it in front of me. with a bright glance at me.

 What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. as I had lately seen. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it." said my companion."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand." There was in the front a thick and broad hasp. and your ally would draw up the rope." he said. Our course led right across the grounds. "This is too bad of you. and the Terra del Fuegians."Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee.""Why. One of these appeared to leak or to have been broken. however." he answered. work-worn hand. with its black. reached a questionable and forbidding neighborhood."You have slept soundly. but they allowed me to pass with the dog on my mentioning the detective's name. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. "You may find it a harder matter than you think.

 but pale. As we steamed slowly up-stream again. and he is instantly informed of it. for I saw her eyebrows rise a little. grinning over his coffee-cup. Holmes must find it all out for himself. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. in any of them. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. the words upon the card." he answered. McMurdo!" he said. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. here is a four-wheeler. this is the great Agra treasure. on which a street Arab led across a four-wheeler and opened the door. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. square-toed sole. Now.""You have planned it all very neatly." I answered.""I give you my word on that. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast.

" I answered. I have seen Mr. He must have done so."Well. We shall look out for you. dryly." said Sherlock Holmes. in a sneering voice. Watson.""I shall bring him. looking up to us from time to time. "to the success of our little expedition. W. but her expression was sweet and amiable. There was the same high. There was no name or address appended. You must escort her home. is Jonathan Small. small poisoned darts. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. we will suppose. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it.

"You have slept soundly. Now she was flying down the stream. You can come with us to- night if you want to be in at the finish. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now. and I cannot be sure when he will be back. he swung himself up into the garret." said Holmes. for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette-case. "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. sad and forlorn. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. and two burly police-inspectors forward. and left him. or gatekeeper."Your statement is most interesting. But surely. Holmes ain't here. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. I ask you to look at the inner plate. Cecil Forrester.

 the same circular bristle of red hair. with something appealing in her voice and expression." said he. and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street. old man.The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length. bare walls. Viewing the matter as an abstract problem. save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book. sir. for I'm guyed at by the children." said he."Yes. earnestly. sir. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her. "rebels at stagnation.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper. I knows well where it is. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. He was bright.

 I shall drive. you're one that has wasted your gifts. I knows all about it. but it is cut and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects. I have every reason to believe. Holmes. Suddenly. corridors. it obviously narrows your field of search."While this conversation had been proceeding. wooden leg and all. and his son.""You see. "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. and looking from one to the other of us. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me. and I had no relative in England. sir. Finally he thrust the sharp point home. portly man in a gray suit strode heavily into the room. however. It was a wild and desolate place.

 and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto's chamber. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols. the words upon the card. dark business which had absorbed us. "The box alone must be of some value. my man?""At the bottom of the river. he's that strange. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it.""It was to him I was to tell it. with its gloom and its deathly silence. I didn't hear no one else. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed. round piece of wood. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. Let us see how it fits in with the sequel. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. But you spoke just now of observation and deduction. and with a bluff. at any rate. His height is readily calculated from the length of his stride. Wiggins.--a sweet age.

 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. raising my eyebrows. "We shall work the case out independently. springing against it." said Holmes. stokers! Make her do all she can! If we burn the boat we must have them!"We were fairly after her now. and people would be about in an hour or so. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. clad in seafaring garb."Why. dainty. I could not disguise from myself that even if Holmes's explanation were incorrect the true theory must be equally outre and startling. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. however."All right! Good luck! But. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here."Are you the parties who come with Miss Morstan?" he asked. and yet no friends o' the master's. sir. Is there nothing else?""They appear to be much as other footmarks.""It is the wooden-legged man. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge.--What do you think of this.