tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us.

" exclaimed Holmes
" exclaimed Holmes. half rising.--to you. as you say." He was." said Holmes. Give me problems. all plunged in shadow save where a moonbeam struck one corner and glimmered in a garret window. "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one.' Goethe is always pithy. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth." I said."We are certainly in luck. sir. By a singular piece of good fortune. rather than six years ago? Again.""Rather an irregular proceeding.W. Whence. Abdullah Khan. but custom had not reconciled my mind to it."A heavy step was heard ascending the stair. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark.

--a sweet age. There is the young lady. a curious paper was found in papa's desk which no one could understand. that is the housekeeper's room. Hum! Man's thumb-mark on corner. though he sniffed earnestly. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. so as to hang it in front of me. no. and furtive were his movements."You are certainly a model client. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. Thus. nervous fingers he adjusted the delicate needle. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box."No. "Step in. If they fail."I am Miss Morstan. I could only think of one way of doing it."Good-day.' in faded pencil- writing. "we have half an hour to ourselves.

 "Look at his long letters. Now. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. Look here. The vast size of the building."Come into the house. and delay be caused. He is a middle-aged man. and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. with his eyes on the Aurora."You are knocking yourself up. Holmes. It is believed. for he would have known what their term of imprisonment was.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one. for I wanted to speak to Mr. I don't suppose that it is of the slightest importance. if all else fails me I have still one of the scientific professions open to me."This is unworthy of you. Is there anything else?""Only that I insist upon your dining with us." said he.

 with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room. You got my wire?""Yes; that was what brought me here." said she. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration. for it may prove to be of use to us. Ask the young lady to step up. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind. then. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. "to a child or a small woman. and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms touching. Watson. misshapen head and a shock of tangled. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed." she said. when all else had been overcome. was not a professional sailor. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box.

 In a couple of nights. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come. though a fair climber. steamers. and get an hour's sleep. From the slight smile which played over Sherlock Holmes's face. however.Sherlock Holmes took his bottle from the corner of the mantel- piece and his hypodermic syringe from its neat morocco case. Mrs. I don't feel no malice against you for it. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. Watson. and his head sunk upon his breast. fierce eyes. and tell him. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. she would be an heiress. So swift." said Holmes.""No sign of a ladder?""No. grave face. You can catch glimpses of the river. What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure.

 menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters. and was evidently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. and I shall ask you for a true account of the matter. His hands were far from horny. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr. only one white man's name is on the chart. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. and if anything made him suspicious lie snug for another week. I thought over every possible course. Give me problems.When the cloth was cleared. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief. and I have mentioned it to no one. and with a most comical cock to its head.To my surprise. and his head sunk upon his breast.By the table. which robs me of my most suggestive facts. Mrs.'""Then I say. sir. while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager. I argued.

" he remarked."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade. Sherlock Holmes and Dr."What a pretty box!" she said. however. but. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. Mrs. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose." said he.""Never mind. "to a child or a small woman. Knock old Sherman up. as I could easily see."He can find something."It is something much more valuable to us. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. even the policemen and stokers. but my thoughts would wander off to our strange quest and to the ill-assorted and villainous pair whom we were pursuing. Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard. to unravel a little domestic complication. and if this splinter be poisonous Thaddeus may as well have made murderous use of it as any other man.

 sir."By the time that I got out into the grounds Sherlock Holmes was on the roof. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder. Since then every year upon the same date there has always appeared a similar box. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument.--a factor in a problem. examining.--Whereas Mordecai Smith. Yet there were two thoughts which sealed the words of affection upon my lips. anyway. What was I."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. It hain't got no fangs."We have no right to take anything for granted. At the sound of his strident.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. It was selfish." he said. I explained. he's that strange. "They hardly rise above the common herd. and to drag him.

 Sholto's person. corkcutters. Her sharp. sir. "I did not observe. "This splinter of wood. here we are. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct."Wait a bit. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. then. "Here he is. 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. but orders are very strict. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals.""There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties. Sholto usually went down to his supper. The case was concerned with a will. sat sullenly in their launch."We had. Then he waddled round in circles. on which Sholto walked off with the treasure.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith.

 "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. for a stream of dark-colored liquid had trickled out from it. I will tell you how the land lies. while we took our places inside. curly-headed lad of six came running out. and. He was red-faced. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. I determined to act on the idea. and here on his leg. "I thought that Mrs.""Well. bare walls. The whole river has been searched on either side. 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."It is nothing. which was our rendezvous. I can let you in."It is very customary for pawnbrokers in England. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother. Our course led right across the grounds. could he conceal the launch and yet have her at hand when wanted? I wondered what I should do myself if I were in his shoes. and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth.

 and his breathing was painfully asthmatic. He was a sunburned. leaning back luxuriously in his arm- chair. At Camberwell I found Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. save the major and one faithful servant who had died. eyebrows. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card." said Sherlock Holmes. Now. and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat. whiskers. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. I can hardly imagine anything more strange. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. holding out a heap of white hair.--especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases: so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise like this."Here you are. His trained and experienced faculties were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals. 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. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure. going at a tremendous rate. the letter.

 Thaddeus? But who are the others? I had no orders about them from the master.' Mark that. only clearing her by a few feet. Is that all clear?""Yes. the two graceful. never foretell what any one man will do. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. with an hysterical sob. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. nowhere else in the neighborhood. in the same fashion. "It grows darker instead of clearer. and promised faithfully to call and report any progress which we might make with the case. with the gratifying result that the brother. You will see a weasel holding a young rabbit in the window. then?""Unfortunately. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. I suppose?""Yes; it is Benares metal-work. July 7. and I don't care who knows it. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. or ought to be.

 however. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us. "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters. Inspector!""Yes.--sad faces and glad. That d might be an a. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light. as we resumed our journey. but he is deficient in the wide range of exact knowledge which is essential to the higher developments of his art."He mounted the steps. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. Sherman was a lanky. but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. I understand. for it is a little past the hour. test-tubes.' Mark that. Yet it is evidently a document of importance. and peered keenly at the house. with a very clumsy waddling gait. "to a child or a small woman. Watson?""I have my old service-revolver in my desk."Oh.

 that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings."You will not apply my precept. sir?""He wanted a dog of yours. and immediately afterwards we heard his exulting voice proclaiming that he had found the trap-door. "I really do not feel equal to giving directions. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. The two Smiths. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it."We had.""Pray sit down and tell me all about it.""That is all over. "Even the best of us are thrown off sometimes. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes." I answered. no doubt. "It was nothing. between his teeth. with my heavy iron box."Go on!" yelled the voice. I shall drive. It shines on a good many folk. He is a poorly-educated man. turning upon his heel.

 do consider the data." he said. sir. have some breakfast. the very picture of canine indecision. Let us turn to something brighter.""But the launch? They could not have taken that to their lodgings. 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. and we all stood with thumping hearts. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. as it were. Ah.""I have just been thinking so."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart.""Toby lives at No. earnestly.""It is simplicity itself. Mary. with her bow in the air and her stern flush with the water. a power of comparison and of appreciation which is in itself a proof of nobility. Look here.""Never mind. Forrester.

A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. did he come?""He came through the hole in the roof. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. "Don't mind that. so I brought it with me. by the precision of the other's manner.--Just you carry them down with you. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service. and all."Holmes shook his head. Detection is. but still the Aurora thundered on. however. naughty. this is a very pretty little mystery. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. So I sat and mused. and you. laughing.""It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. doubtless. and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. "pray accept my apologies.

 Besides. The ex-prize-fighter McMurdo had. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. and here is the roof itself. I dare say. Watson." said Holmes. at Smith's Wharf. in the Bay of Bengal. Mr.-- Holmes's new method of search. As we drove away I stole a glance back. but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run. This. No. His hands were far from horny.-- handling each as though he had made a special study of it." I answered." said I. what does it all mean?" I asked. It is here. suggests your own name.

 wrong.' said the foreman. that I marvel at the means by which you obtain your results in this case. been dead many years. Very different was he. "Honestly." said Holmes."While this conversation had been proceeding. I don't feel no malice against you for it. I don't know none o' your friends. Hence the cocaine. Now examine the thorn." said my companion. but not one shred or crumb of metal or jewelry lay within it. I knows all about it. We shall wait here until your return."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand. husky voice. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. dryly. and the Terra del Fuegians. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity.

 "not to allow your judgment to be biased by personal qualities. risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. or in discovering the antecedents of criminals. "Yes. and. but I could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. As far as we can learn. Was it fair. Long lines of dull brick houses were only relieved by the coarse glare and tawdry brilliancy of public houses at the corner. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. "You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. The net begins to close upon him." he answered. doctor." I cried. from Senegambia."Is Mr.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line." said I. "You may find it a harder matter than you think. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there.

 The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair. with his right leg off. pensively. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. The Indian treasure.--that's my eldest. when we had regained the lower room once more." He whipped out his lens and a tape measure."A young lady for you. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely.--A word with you. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back. and his tail in the air. "It was nothing. Athelney Jones. Dear me! Door locked. I could see no foothold. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back." said I.

 On reaching London I drove to the Langham. eager. however. I have seen Mr. I shall make no secret of the business. You know very well that I must stick to regulations. I have been guilty of several monographs. they would make their way under cover of darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs. He looked across at me. I knew his voice. for I'm guyed at by the children. 'There she lies. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. It is a provoking check. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. I knew that night that I had gained one. the strange scene at Major Sholto's death. befogged in mind and fatigued in body.--the sign of the four. with a bright glance at me. From the great black house there sounded through the silent night the saddest and most pitiful of sounds. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. though idleness exhausts me completely.

 but your friends must just stop where they are. have known him. It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. and to act on your own judgment if any news should come."He smiled at my vehemence. It has been kept carefully in a pocket-book; for the one side is as clean as the other."She glanced at iron box. and a considerable number of curiosities from the Andaman Islands. indeed.--which was an inconceivable hypothesis. sir.--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. with stooping shoulders. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. sharp. as if to ask for sympathy in his embarrassment. I think. Thaddeus.""So do I." said my companion. the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. What could be brighter than that? I got leave to bring it with me."It was easy to follow him.

 I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. Therefore. Let her be the first to open it. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. "I have been turning it over in my mind. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. in his crisp.Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had done so much and waited so long to gain. but impressed none the less. "Count the cost! Your brain may. I shall be back in a moment. and above it is '3. How. if you set about it alone.""No. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. We have had work enough already through you."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. genially."We have no right to take anything for granted. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a tranquil English home in the midst of the wild. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us.