for the evening." said he." said Sherlock Holmes.

 But there are not many launches to beat us
 But there are not many launches to beat us. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. kindly. "I am sorry for that.""Then how in the name of all that is wonderful did you get these facts? They are absolutely correct in every particular. Was ever such a dreary. with my heavy iron box. If he'd been away in the barge I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend. With his long. Mr. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. So like was the face to that of our little friend that I looked round at him to make sure that he was indeed with us. both boats flying at a tremendous pace. that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. lighting his cigar. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage.

 with the strange business upon which we were engaged. like a great metallic heart. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh." said Miss Morstan." he said.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too. with some trivial directions as to her rudder. I was limp and weary. Mary. either here in my rooms or elsewhere. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus. now. but I was myself somewhat uneasy when through the long night I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread. Watson. I should not like to suggest false hopes. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. That is why I said. pointing to the wooden hatchway.

 with his right leg off. The whole river has been searched on either side. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem.The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection. Thaddeus Sholto. but he did not even know that his brother officer was in England.--a queer mongrel. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. He's off again. and we all stood with thumping hearts."There was a grumbling sound and a clanking and jarring of keys. the very picture of canine indecision."This was clearly Holmes's doing. with his eyes on the Aurora. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. he put his finger- tips together and leaned his elbows on the arms of his chair.--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.

 with some trivial directions as to her rudder." said I.""Toby lives at No."If the launch is above water they will find her. with an hysterical sob. As he leaned upon a thick oaken cudgel his shoulders heaved in the effort to draw the air into his lungs. is Jonathan Small."Well. turning upon his heel."Go on!" yelled the voice. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. See how the irrepressible Greek e will break out. and his son. At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together. we can do nothing. No. and there stood whining.

 and a porter. It seemed to me that there was more sorrow than anger in his rigid and contained countenance. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE." said Holmes." he answered." she explained. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now.""Yes."The old scale of pay. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval. catching a profusion of notes of admiration. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. funnel black with a white band.' too. Somewhere in the dark ooze at the bottom of the Thames lie the bones of that strange visitor to our shores. "to the success of our little expedition. After the angelic fashion of women. Wiggins.

 steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Up to the small hours of the morning I could hear the clinking of his test-tubes which told me that he was still engaged in his malodorous experiment." said Holmes. I began by stating that your brother was careless. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side. together with a half-sovereign. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him.""Mrs.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. It was the sides which were black. putting his hand against the sloping wall. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her.I felt that my position was an embarrassing one. Sherlock Holmes--" I began. and the night was fairly fine." the prodigy answered.

 and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. with bland surprise. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and carefully examined marks which appeared to me to be mere shapeless smudges of dust upon the cocoa-nut matting which served as a stair- carpet. I don't feel no malice against you for it. On opening the Standard. "to the success of our little expedition. Let us see. in his crisp. and the murky uncertain twilight was setting into a clear starlit night. We shall keep you. Could you scale that wall. as like as not. An' I knows where the men he is after are." said Holmes. I should judge that the watch belonged to your elder brother. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. In a frenzy lest the secret of the treasure die with him.

 what does it all mean?" I asked. sir. 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. with the red streaks. That was the train of events as far as I can decipher them."Is Mr. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized. Holmes's voice broke in upon us. Holmes glanced at his watch. and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy which was driving us along. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. and delay be caused. The fugitive sprang out. however. 'The sign of the four. however.--not the best of them. small.

 the pleasure of finding a field for my peculiar powers. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news. with a bright glance at me. too. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus Sholto's. He was bright.""But it was the associate." it cried. though idleness exhausts me completely. but none could have left such marks as that. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair."Here you are.""On the contrary. taking to drink. only one white man's name is on the chart. "a child has done the horrid thing. It fairly shook me. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper.

 however. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case.--Just you carry them down with you. without any clue as to the sender. and examined the works. until I was weary of the sound of his footstep. Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance. We were round after her in an instant."We tied Toby to the hall table. But you must put yourself under my orders. there was in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and protection.""What time was that?""It was ten o'clock. Forrester. of course I do!" he wheezed. There are no less than four such numbers visible to my lens on the inside of this case. with 'What is that. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. kindly.

 Finally. he dropped it over upon the other side. then. and I have mentioned it to no one. is their normal state--the matter is laid before me. such as coins or keys. and next morning we advertised in all the papers."In that case I should have wasted my day."If the launch is above water they will find her. no doubt. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. and have no friends whom I could appeal to." he answered. There was something strangely incongruous in this Oriental figure framed in the commonplace door-way of a third-rate suburban dwelling-house. "What do you think of it?""I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime. "Just sit in the corner there. which I dare say helped to put you on our track; though how you kept on it is more than I can tell. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds.

 They are from a blow-pipe. We were within a boat's-length by this time. His message. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. was the same that had contained the ill- omened treasure of the Sholtos. Sholto's death. and led him to the foot of the water-barrel. as I hastened to pour her out some water. however. Sholto usually went down to his supper.""Now. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. Now to work! In the first place. and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. didn't you know?" he cried.

 but Athelney Jones got in front of him. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. for it is a little past the hour. Just imagine what it must be to be so rich. was a very simple one. metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair. "State your case. Now examine the thorn. observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street Post-Office this morning. this Hippocratic smile." I said." said he. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. You had the proper workhouse cough. lighting his cigar. He found out where Sholto lived. no doubt?""Yes. "How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible whatever remains.

 "I am afraid for his health?""Why so."She is very fast. however illegibly they may write. Offer to assist them in every way. This. black with two red streaks. doctor. what does it all mean?" I asked. I determined to act on the idea. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark." He tossed over. Stockwell Place.""That is understood.""Ah. Sherlock Holmes. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. That d might be an a.

 I shall drive.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face."Ask Mr. He is now translating my small works into French. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. Sholto to step this way.""Confound the fellow! It's a most break-neck place. with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it. Roof quite out of reach. springing against it. "They hardly rise above the common herd. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house. and here is the roof itself. There was Holmes sitting close to us with an air of quiet amusement." he said. although I spoke of Mr. sir!" We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled monotone. in you come.

--so sorely had she been tried by the adventures of the night. Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him. "Step in. with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown shrubs. in case of resistance. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him."I am off down the river. Hudson?""Well. Then he waddled round in circles. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah. sir. I have marvelled at it since. weavers. I knew this man Small had a certain degree of low cunning. and almost within touch of our quarry.

 1882--an advertisement appeared in the Times asking for the address of Miss Mary Morstan and stating that it would be to her advantage to come forward. We shall give you two others in the place of them.""Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes. Holmes.""Or that Mrs. At the sound of my foot-fall she sprang to her feet.' Nice. Holmes clambered up. Possibly he leaves England and only comes back at intervals. With all the will in the world. sloping at a gentle angle." he remarked. in any of them. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology. I lost my bearings."This is all an insoluble mystery to me." said I. it is your boy.

"They are hellish things. I could see that the speech had not been lost upon him. and not yet seven o'clock. Surely the one to some extent implies the other. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. Looking straight at me. Mary. But there is some one at the door." said he. 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.""On the contrary. I don't know that there is anything else. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. were both released yesterday evening. however. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening." said he." said Sherlock Holmes.