TheProjectGutenbergEBookofTheSignoftheFour,byArthurConanDoyle

ThiseBookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereatnocostandwith
almostnorestrictionswhatsoever.Youmaycopyit,giveitawayor
re-useitunderthetermsoftheProjectGutenbergLicenseincluded
withthiseBookoronlineatwww.gutenberg.net

Title:TheSignoftheFour

Author:ArthurConanDoyle

PostingDate:November19,2008[EBook#2097]
ReleaseDate:March,2000
[ThisfilelastupdatedMarch2,2011]

Language:English

***STARTOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKTHESIGNOFTHEFOUR***

TheSignoftheFour

By

SirArthurConanDoyle

CONTENTS

I

TheScienceofDeduction

II

TheStatementoftheCase

III

InQuestofaSolution

IV

TheStoryoftheBald-HeadedMan

V

TheTragedyofPondicherryLodge

VI

SherlockHolmesGivesaDemonstration

VII

TheEpisodeoftheBarrel

VIII

TheBakerStreetIrregulars

IX

ABreakintheChain

X

TheEndoftheIslander

XI

TheGreatAgraTreasure

XII

TheStrangeStoryofJonathanSmall

ChapterI

TheScienceofDeduction

SherlockHolmestookhisbottlefromthecornerofthemantel-pieceandhishypodermicsyringefrom

itsneatmoroccocase.Withhislong,white,nervousfingersheadjustedthedelicateneedle,androlled
backhisleftshirt-cuff.Forsomelittletimehiseyesrestedthoughtfullyuponthesinewyforearmandwrist
alldottedandscarredwithinnumerablepuncture-marks.Finallyhethrustthesharppointhome,pressed
downthetinypiston,andsankbackintothevelvet-linedarm-chairwithalongsighofsatisfaction.

ThreetimesadayformanymonthsIhadwitnessedthisperformance,butcustomhadnotreconciled

my mind to it. On the contrary, from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight, and my
conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest. Again and
againIhadregisteredavowthatIshoulddelivermysouluponthesubject,buttherewasthatinthecool,
nonchalantairofmycompanionwhichmadehimthelastmanwithwhomonewouldcaretotakeanything
approachingtoaliberty.Hisgreatpowers,hismasterlymanner,andtheexperiencewhichIhadhadofhis
manyextraordinaryqualities,allmademediffidentandbackwardincrossinghim.

Yetuponthatafternoon,whetheritwastheBeaunewhichIhadtakenwithmylunch,ortheadditional

exasperationproducedbytheextremedeliberationofhismanner,IsuddenlyfeltthatIcouldholdoutno
longer.

"Whichisitto-day?"Iasked,—"morphineorcocaine?"

Heraisedhiseyeslanguidlyfromtheoldblack-lettervolumewhichhehadopened."Itiscocaine,"

hesaid,—"aseven-per-cent.solution.Wouldyoucaretotryit?"

"No, indeed," I answered, brusquely. "My constitution has not got over the Afghan campaign yet. I

cannotaffordtothrowanyextrastrainuponit."

Hesmiledatmyvehemence."Perhapsyouareright,Watson,"hesaid."Isupposethatitsinfluenceis

physicallyabadone.Ifindit,however,sotranscendentlystimulatingandclarifyingtothemindthatits
secondaryactionisamatterofsmallmoment."

"Butconsider!"Isaid,earnestly."Countthecost!Yourbrainmay,asyousay,berousedandexcited,

butitisapathologicalandmorbidprocess,whichinvolvesincreasedtissue-changeandmayatlastleave
apermanentweakness.Youknow,too,whatablackreactioncomesuponyou.Surelythegameishardly
worththecandle.Whyshouldyou,foramerepassingpleasure,riskthelossofthosegreatpowerswith
which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another, but as a
medicalmantooneforwhoseconstitutionheistosomeextentanswerable."

Hedidnotseemoffended.Onthecontrary,heputhisfinger-tipstogetherandleanedhiselbowson

thearmsofhischair,likeonewhohasarelishforconversation.

"My mind," he said, "rebels at stagnation. Give me problems, give me work, give me the most

abstrusecryptogramorthemostintricateanalysis,andIaminmyownproperatmosphere.Icandispense
thenwithartificialstimulants.ButIabhorthedullroutineofexistence.Icraveformentalexaltation.That
is why I have chosen my own particular profession,—or rather created it, for I am the only one in the
world."

"Theonlyunofficialdetective?"Isaid,raisingmyeyebrows.

"Theonlyunofficialconsultingdetective,"heanswered."Iamthelastandhighestcourtofappealin

detection. When Gregson or Lestrade or Athelney Jones are out of their depths—which, by the way, is
their normal state—the matter is laid before me. I examine the data, as an expert, and pronounce a
specialist'sopinion.Iclaimnocreditinsuchcases.Mynamefiguresinnonewspaper.Theworkitself,
thepleasureoffindingafieldformypeculiarpowers,ismyhighestreward.Butyouhaveyourselfhad
someexperienceofmymethodsofworkintheJeffersonHopecase."

"Yes,indeed,"saidI,cordially."Iwasneversostruckbyanythinginmylife.Ievenembodieditina

smallbrochurewiththesomewhatfantastictitleof'AStudyinScarlet.'"

He shook his head sadly. "I glanced over it," said he. "Honestly, I cannot congratulate you upon it.

Detection is, or ought to be, an exact science, and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional
manner.Youhaveattemptedtotingeitwithromanticism,whichproducesmuchthesameeffectasifyou
workedalove-storyoranelopementintothefifthpropositionofEuclid."

"Buttheromancewasthere,"Iremonstrated."Icouldnottamperwiththefacts."

"Some facts should be suppressed, or at least a just sense of proportion should be observed in

treating them. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning
fromeffectstocausesbywhichIsucceededinunravelingit."

Iwasannoyedatthiscriticismofaworkwhichhadbeenspeciallydesignedtopleasehim.Iconfess,

too,thatIwasirritatedbytheegotismwhichseemedtodemandthateverylineofmypamphletshouldbe
devoted to his own special doings. More than once during the years that I had lived with him in Baker
StreetIhadobservedthatasmallvanityunderlaymycompanion'squietanddidacticmanner.Imadeno
remark,however,butsatnursingmywoundedleg.IhadaJezailbulletthroughitsometimebefore,and,
thoughitdidnotpreventmefromwalking,itachedwearilyateverychangeoftheweather.

"My practice has extended recently to the Continent," said Holmes, after a while, filling up his old

brier-rootpipe."IwasconsultedlastweekbyFrancoisLeVillard,who,asyouprobablyknow,hascome
rathertothefrontlatelyintheFrenchdetectiveservice.HehasalltheCelticpowerofquickintuition,but
heisdeficientinthewiderangeofexactknowledgewhichisessentialtothehigherdevelopmentsofhis
art.Thecasewasconcernedwithawill,andpossessedsomefeaturesofinterest.Iwasabletoreferhim
totwoparallelcases,theoneatRigain1857,andtheotheratSt.Louisin1871,whichhavesuggestedto
himthetruesolution.HereistheletterwhichIhadthismorningacknowledgingmyassistance."Hetossed
over,ashespoke,acrumpledsheetofforeignnotepaper.Iglancedmyeyesdownit,catchingaprofusion
ofnotesofadmiration,withstray"magnifiques,""coup-de-maitres,"and"tours-de-force,"alltestifyingto
theardentadmirationoftheFrenchman.

"Hespeaksasapupiltohismaster,"saidI.

"Oh, he rates my assistance too highly," said Sherlock Holmes, lightly. "He has considerable gifts

himself.Hepossessestwooutofthethreequalitiesnecessaryfortheidealdetective.Hehasthepowerof
observationandthatofdeduction.Heisonlywantinginknowledge;andthatmaycomeintime.Heisnow
translatingmysmallworksintoFrench."

"Yourworks?"

"Oh,didn'tyouknow?"hecried,laughing."Yes,Ihavebeenguiltyofseveralmonographs.Theyare

all upon technical subjects. Here, for example, is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the
Various Tobaccoes.' In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of cigar-, cigarette-, and pipe-tobacco,
with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. It is a point which is continually turning up in
criminal trials, and which is sometimes of supreme importance as a clue. If you can say definitely, for
example, that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah, it obviously
narrowsyourfieldofsearch.Tothetrainedeyethereisasmuchdifferencebetweentheblackashofa
Trichinopolyandthewhitefluffofbird's-eyeasthereisbetweenacabbageandapotato."

"Youhaveanextraordinarygeniusforminutiae,"Iremarked.

"I appreciate their importance. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps, with some

remarksupontheusesofplasterofParisasapreserverofimpresses.Here,too,isacuriouslittlework
upon the influence of a trade upon the form of the hand, with lithotypes of the hands of slaters, sailors,
corkcutters,compositors,weavers,anddiamond-polishers.Thatisamatterofgreatpracticalinterestto
the scientific detective,—especially in cases of unclaimed bodies, or in discovering the antecedents of
criminals.ButIwearyyouwithmyhobby."

"Notatall,"Ianswered,earnestly."Itisofthegreatestinteresttome,especiallysinceIhavehadthe

opportunity of observing your practical application of it. But you spoke just now of observation and
deduction.Surelytheonetosomeextentimpliestheother."

"Why, hardly," he answered, leaning back luxuriously in his arm-chair, and sending up thick blue

wreaths from his pipe. "For example, observation shows me that you have been to the Wigmore Street
Post-Officethismorning,butdeductionletsmeknowthatwhenthereyoudispatchedatelegram."

"Right!" said I. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it. It was a

suddenimpulseuponmypart,andIhavementionedittonoone."

"It is simplicity itself," he remarked, chuckling at my surprise,—"so absurdly simple that an

explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction.
Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep. Just opposite the
Seymour Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a
waythatitisdifficulttoavoidtreadinginitinentering.Theearthisofthispeculiarreddishtintwhichis
found,asfarasIknow,nowhereelseintheneighborhood.Somuchisobservation.Therestisdeduction."

"How,then,didyoudeducethetelegram?"

"Why,ofcourseIknewthatyouhadnotwrittenaletter,sinceIsatoppositetoyouallmorning.Isee

alsoinyouropendesktherethatyouhaveasheetofstampsandathickbundleofpost-cards.Whatcould
you go into the post-office for, then, but to send a wire? Eliminate all other factors, and the one which
remainsmustbethetruth."

"Inthiscaseitcertainlyisso,"Ireplied,afteralittlethought."Thething,however,is,asyousay,of

thesimplest.WouldyouthinkmeimpertinentifIweretoputyourtheoriestoamoreseveretest?"

"Onthecontrary,"heanswered,"itwouldpreventmefromtakingaseconddoseofcocaine.Ishould

bedelightedtolookintoanyproblemwhichyoumightsubmittome."

"Ihaveheardyousaythatitisdifficultforamantohaveanyobjectindailyusewithoutleavingthe

impressofhisindividualityuponitinsuchawaythatatrainedobservermightreadit.Now,Ihaveherea
watch which has recently come into my possession. Would you have the kindness to let me have an
opinionuponthecharacterorhabitsofthelateowner?"

Ihandedhimoverthewatchwithsomeslightfeelingofamusementinmyheart,forthetestwas,asI

thought, an impossible one, and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he
occasionally assumed. He balanced the watch in his hand, gazed hard at the dial, opened the back, and
examinedtheworks,firstwithhisnakedeyesandthenwithapowerfulconvexlens.Icouldhardlykeep
fromsmilingathiscrestfallenfacewhenhefinallysnappedthecasetoandhandeditback.

"Therearehardlyanydata,"heremarked."Thewatchhasbeenrecentlycleaned,whichrobsmeof

mymostsuggestivefacts."

"You are right," I answered. "It was cleaned before being sent to me." In my heart I accused my

companionofputtingforwardamostlameandimpotentexcusetocoverhisfailure.Whatdatacouldhe
expectfromanuncleanedwatch?

"Though unsatisfactory, my research has not been entirely barren," he observed, staring up at the

ceilingwithdreamy,lack-lustreeyes."Subjecttoyourcorrection,Ishouldjudgethatthewatchbelonged
toyourelderbrother,whoinheriteditfromyourfather."

"Thatyougather,nodoubt,fromtheH.W.upontheback?"

"Quiteso.TheW.suggestsyourownname.Thedateofthewatchisnearlyfiftyyearsback,andthe

initialsareasoldasthewatch:soitwasmadeforthelastgeneration.Jewelryusuallydescendstothe
eldestson,andheismostlikelytohavethesamenameasthefather.Yourfatherhas,ifIrememberright,
beendeadmanyyears.Ithas,therefore,beeninthehandsofyoureldestbrother."

"Right,sofar,"saidI."Anythingelse?"

"Hewasamanofuntidyhabits,—veryuntidyandcareless.Hewasleftwithgoodprospects,buthe

threwawayhischances,livedforsometimeinpovertywithoccasionalshortintervalsofprosperity,and
finally,takingtodrink,hedied.ThatisallIcangather."

I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my

heart.

"Thisisunworthyofyou,Holmes,"Isaid."Icouldnothavebelievedthatyouwouldhavedescended

tothis.Youhavemadeinquiresintothehistoryofmyunhappybrother,andyounowpretendtodeduce
thisknowledgeinsomefancifulway.Youcannotexpectmetobelievethatyouhavereadallthisfromhis
oldwatch!Itisunkind,and,tospeakplainly,hasatouchofcharlatanisminit."

"My dear doctor," said he, kindly, "pray accept my apologies. Viewing the matter as an abstract

problem,Ihadforgottenhowpersonalandpainfulathingitmightbetoyou.Iassureyou,however,thatI
neverevenknewthatyouhadabrotheruntilyouhandedmethewatch."

"Thenhowinthenameofallthatiswonderfuldidyougetthesefacts?Theyareabsolutelycorrectin

everyparticular."

"Ah,thatisgoodluck.Icouldonlysaywhatwasthebalanceofprobability.Ididnotatallexpectto

besoaccurate."

"Butitwasnotmereguess-work?"

"No,no:Ineverguess.Itisashockinghabit,—destructivetothelogicalfaculty.Whatseemsstrange

to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which
largeinferencesmaydepend.Forexample,Ibeganbystatingthatyourbrotherwascareless.Whenyou
observethelowerpartofthatwatch-caseyounoticethatitisnotonlydintedintwoplaces,butitiscut
and marked all over from the habit of keeping other hard objects, such as coins or keys, in the same
pocket.Surelyitisnogreatfeattoassumethatamanwhotreatsafifty-guineawatchsocavalierlymust
beacarelessman.Neitherisitaveryfar-fetchedinferencethatamanwhoinheritsonearticleofsuch
valueisprettywellprovidedforinotherrespects."

Inodded,toshowthatIfollowedhisreasoning.

"ItisverycustomaryforpawnbrokersinEngland,whentheytakeawatch,toscratchthenumberof

theticketwithapin-pointupontheinsideofthecase.Itismorehandythanalabel,asthereisnoriskof
thenumberbeinglostortransposed.Therearenolessthanfoursuchnumbersvisibletomylensonthe
insideofthiscase.Inference,—thatyourbrotherwasoftenatlowwater.Secondaryinference,—thathe

hadoccasionalburstsofprosperity,orhecouldnothaveredeemedthepledge.Finally,Iaskyoutolook
attheinnerplate,whichcontainsthekey-hole.Lookatthethousandsofscratchesallroundthehole,—
markswherethekeyhasslipped.Whatsoberman'skeycouldhavescoredthosegrooves?Butyouwill
neverseeadrunkard'swatchwithoutthem.Hewindsitatnight,andheleavesthesetracesofhisunsteady
hand.Whereisthemysteryinallthis?"

"Itisasclearasdaylight,"Ianswered."IregrettheinjusticewhichIdidyou.Ishouldhavehadmore

faithinyourmarvellousfaculty.MayIaskwhetheryouhaveanyprofessionalinquiryonfootatpresent?"

"None.Hencethecocaine.Icannotlivewithoutbrain-work.Whatelseistheretolivefor?Standat

the window here. Was ever such a dreary, dismal, unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls
down the street and drifts across the dun-colored houses. What could be more hopelessly prosaic and
material? What is the use of having powers, doctor, when one has no field upon which to exert them?
Crimeiscommonplace,existenceiscommonplace,andnoqualitiessavethosewhicharecommonplace
haveanyfunctionuponearth."

Ihadopenedmymouthtoreplytothistirade,whenwithacrispknockourlandladyentered,bearing

acarduponthebrasssalver.

"Ayoungladyforyou,sir,"shesaid,addressingmycompanion.

"MissMaryMorstan,"heread."Hum!Ihavenorecollectionofthename.Asktheyoungladytostep

up,Mrs.Hudson.Don'tgo,doctor.Ishouldpreferthatyouremain."

ChapterII

TheStatementoftheCase

Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner. She was a

blondeyounglady,small,dainty,wellgloved,anddressedinthemostperfecttaste.Therewas,however,
aplainnessandsimplicityabouthercostumewhichborewithitasuggestionoflimitedmeans.Thedress
wasasombregrayishbeige,untrimmedandunbraided,andsheworeasmallturbanofthesamedullhue,
relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. Her face had neither regularity of feature nor
beautyofcomplexion,butherexpressionwassweetandamiable,andherlargeblueeyesweresingularly
spiritualandsympathetic.Inanexperienceofwomenwhichextendsovermanynationsandthreeseparate
continents, I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive
nature. I could not but observe that as she took the seat which Sherlock Holmes placed for her, her lip
trembled,herhandquivered,andsheshowedeverysignofintenseinwardagitation.

"I have come to you, Mr. Holmes," she said, "because you once enabled my employer, Mrs. Cecil

Forrester,tounravelalittledomesticcomplication.Shewasmuchimpressedbyyourkindnessandskill."

"Mrs.CecilForrester,"herepeatedthoughtfully."IbelievethatIwasofsomeslightservicetoher.

Thecase,however,asIrememberit,wasaverysimpleone."

"She did not think so. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. I can hardly imagine anything

morestrange,moreutterlyinexplicable,thanthesituationinwhichIfindmyself."

Holmesrubbedhishands,andhiseyesglistened.Heleanedforwardinhischairwithanexpression

ofextraordinaryconcentrationuponhisclear-cut,hawklikefeatures."Stateyourcase,"saidhe,inbrisk,
businesstones.

Ifeltthatmypositionwasanembarrassingone."Youwill,Iamsure,excuseme,"Isaid,risingfrom

mychair.

To my surprise, the young lady held up her gloved hand to detain me. "If your friend," she said,

"wouldbegoodenoughtostop,hemightbeofinestimableservicetome."

Irelapsedintomychair.

"Briefly,"shecontinued,"thefactsarethese.MyfatherwasanofficerinanIndianregimentwhosent

mehomewhenIwasquiteachild.Mymotherwasdead,andIhadnorelativeinEngland.Iwasplaced,
however, in a comfortable boarding establishment at Edinburgh, and there I remained until I was
seventeen years of age. In the year 1878 my father, who was senior captain of his regiment, obtained
twelvemonths'leaveandcamehome.HetelegraphedtomefromLondonthathehadarrivedallsafe,and
directedmetocomedownatonce,givingtheLanghamHotelashisaddress.Hismessage,asIremember,
wasfullofkindnessandlove.OnreachingLondonIdrovetotheLangham,andwasinformedthatCaptain
Morstanwasstayingthere,butthathehadgoneoutthenightbeforeandhadnotyetreturned.Iwaitedall
daywithoutnewsofhim.Thatnight,ontheadviceofthemanagerofthehotel,Icommunicatedwiththe
police,andnextmorningweadvertisedinallthepapers.Ourinquiriesledtonoresult;andfromthatday
tothisnowordhaseverbeenheardofmyunfortunatefather.Hecamehomewithhisheartfullofhope,to
findsomepeace,somecomfort,andinstead—"Sheputherhandtoherthroat,andachokingsobcutshort
thesentence.

"Thedate?"askedHolmes,openinghisnote-book.

"Hedisappeareduponthe3dofDecember,1878,—nearlytenyearsago."

"Hisluggage?"

"Remainedatthehotel.Therewasnothinginittosuggestaclue,—someclothes,somebooks,anda

considerablenumberofcuriositiesfromtheAndamanIslands.Hehadbeenoneoftheofficersincharge
oftheconvict-guardthere."

"Hadheanyfriendsintown?"

"Only one that we know of,—Major Sholto, of his own regiment, the 34th Bombay Infantry. The

majorhadretiredsomelittletimebefore,andlivedatUpperNorwood.Wecommunicatedwithhim,of
course,buthedidnotevenknowthathisbrotherofficerwasinEngland."

"Asingularcase,"remarkedHolmes.

"Ihavenotyetdescribedtoyouthemostsingularpart.Aboutsixyearsago—tobeexact,uponthe4th

ofMay,1882—anadvertisementappearedintheTimesaskingfortheaddressofMissMaryMorstanand

statingthatitwouldbetoheradvantagetocomeforward.Therewasnonameoraddressappended.Ihad
atthattimejustenteredthefamilyofMrs.CecilForresterinthecapacityofgoverness.ByheradviceI
publishedmyaddressintheadvertisementcolumn.Thesamedaytherearrivedthroughthepostasmall
card-board box addressed to me, which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. No word of
writingwasenclosed.Sincetheneveryyearuponthesamedatetherehasalwaysappearedasimilarbox,
containingasimilarpearl,withoutanyclueastothesender.Theyhavebeenpronouncedbyanexpertto
beofararevarietyandofconsiderablevalue.Youcanseeforyourselvesthattheyareveryhandsome."
Sheopenedaflatboxasshespoke,andshowedmesixofthefinestpearlsthatIhadeverseen.

"Yourstatementismostinteresting,"saidSherlockHolmes."Hasanythingelseoccurredtoyou?"

"Yes, and no later than to-day. That is why I have come to you. This morning I received this letter,

whichyouwillperhapsreadforyourself."

"Thank you," said Holmes. "The envelope too, please. Postmark, London, S.W. Date, July 7. Hum!

Man's thumb-mark on corner,—probably postman. Best quality paper. Envelopes at sixpence a packet.
Particular man in his stationery. No address. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum
Theatreto-nightatseveno'clock.Ifyouaredistrustful,bringtwofriends.Youareawrongedwoman,and
shallhavejustice.Donotbringpolice.Ifyoudo,allwillbeinvain.Yourunknownfriend.'Well,really,
thisisaveryprettylittlemystery.Whatdoyouintendtodo,MissMorstan?"

"ThatisexactlywhatIwanttoaskyou."

"Then we shall most certainly go. You and I and—yes, why, Dr. Watson is the very man. Your

correspondentsaystwofriends.HeandIhaveworkedtogetherbefore."

"Butwouldhecome?"sheasked,withsomethingappealinginhervoiceandexpression.

"Ishouldbeproudandhappy,"saidI,fervently,"ifIcanbeofanyservice."

"Youarebothverykind,"sheanswered."Ihaveledaretiredlife,andhavenofriendswhomIcould

appealto.IfIamhereatsixitwilldo,Isuppose?"

"You must not be later," said Holmes. "There is one other point, however. Is this handwriting the

sameasthatuponthepearl-boxaddresses?"

"Ihavethemhere,"sheanswered,producinghalfadozenpiecesofpaper.

"Youarecertainlyamodelclient.Youhavethecorrectintuition.Letussee,now."Hespreadoutthe

papers upon the table, and gave little darting glances from one to the other. "They are disguised hands,
except the letter," he said, presently, "but there can be no question as to the authorship. See how the
irrepressibleGreekewillbreakout,andseethetwirlofthefinals.Theyareundoubtedlybythesame
person.Ishouldnotliketosuggestfalsehopes,MissMorstan,butisthereanyresemblancebetweenthis
handandthatofyourfather?"

"Nothingcouldbemoreunlike."

"I expected to hear you say so. We shall look out for you, then, at six. Pray allow me to keep the

papers.Imaylookintothematterbeforethen.Itisonlyhalf-pastthree.Aurevoir,then."

"Au revoir," said our visitor, and, with a bright, kindly glance from one to the other of us, she

replacedherpearl-boxinherbosomandhurriedaway.Standingatthewindow,Iwatchedherwalking
brisklydownthestreet,untilthegrayturbanandwhitefeatherwerebutaspeckinthesombrecrowd.

"Whataveryattractivewoman!"Iexclaimed,turningtomycompanion.

Hehadlithispipeagain,andwasleaningbackwithdroopingeyelids."Isshe?"hesaid,languidly."I

didnotobserve."

"You really are an automaton,—a calculating-machine!" I cried. "There is something positively

inhumaninyouattimes."

Hesmiledgently."Itisofthefirstimportance,"hesaid,"nottoallowyourjudgmenttobebiasedby

personal qualities. A client is to me a mere unit,—a factor in a problem. The emotional qualities are
antagonistic to clear reasoning. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for
poisoningthreelittlechildrenfortheirinsurance-money,andthemostrepellantmanofmyacquaintanceis
aphilanthropistwhohasspentnearlyaquarterofamillionupontheLondonpoor."

"Inthiscase,however—"

"I never make exceptions. An exception disproves the rule. Have you ever had occasion to study

characterinhandwriting?Whatdoyoumakeofthisfellow'sscribble?"

"Itislegibleandregular,"Ianswered."Amanofbusinesshabitsandsomeforceofcharacter."

Holmesshookhishead."Lookathislongletters,"hesaid."Theyhardlyriseabovethecommonherd.

That d might be an a, and that l an e. Men of character always differentiate their long letters, however
illegiblytheymaywrite.Thereisvacillationinhisk'sandself-esteeminhiscapitals.Iamgoingoutnow.
I have some few references to make. Let me recommend this book,—one of the most remarkable ever
penned.ItisWinwoodReade's'MartyrdomofMan.'Ishallbebackinanhour."

I sat in the window with the volume in my hand, but my thoughts were far from the daring

speculations of the writer. My mind ran upon our late visitor,—her smiles, the deep rich tones of her
voice, the strange mystery which overhung her life. If she were seventeen at the time of her father's
disappearance she must be seven-and-twenty now,—a sweet age, when youth has lost its self-
consciousness and become a little sobered by experience. So I sat and mused, until such dangerous
thoughtscameintomyheadthatIhurriedawaytomydeskandplungedfuriouslyintothelatesttreatise
uponpathology.WhatwasI,anarmysurgeonwithaweaklegandaweakerbanking-account,thatIshould
daretothinkofsuchthings?Shewasaunit,afactor,—nothingmore.Ifmyfuturewereblack,itwasbetter
surelytofaceitlikeamanthantoattempttobrightenitbymerewill-o'-the-wispsoftheimagination.

ChapterIII

InQuestofaSolution

Itwashalf-pastfivebeforeHolmesreturned.Hewasbright,eager,andinexcellentspirits,—amood

whichinhiscasealternatedwithfitsoftheblackestdepression.

"Thereisnogreatmysteryinthismatter,"hesaid,takingthecupofteawhichIhadpouredoutfor

him."Thefactsappeartoadmitofonlyoneexplanation."

"What!youhavesolveditalready?"

"Well,thatwouldbetoomuchtosay.Ihavediscoveredasuggestivefact,thatisall.Itis,however,

VERYsuggestive.Thedetailsarestilltobeadded.Ihavejustfound,onconsultingthebackfilesofthe
Times, that Major Sholto, of Upper Norword, late of the 34th Bombay Infantry, died upon the 28th of
April,1882."

"Imaybeveryobtuse,Holmes,butIfailtoseewhatthissuggests."

"No?Yousurpriseme.Lookatitinthisway,then.CaptainMorstandisappears.Theonlypersonin

London whom he could have visited is Major Sholto. Major Sholto denies having heard that he was in
London. Four years later Sholto dies. WITHIN A WEEK OF HIS DEATH Captain Morstan's daughter
receives a valuable present, which is repeated from year to year, and now culminates in a letter which
describesherasawrongedwoman.Whatwrongcanitrefertoexceptthisdeprivationofherfather?And
why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death, unless it is that Sholto's heir knows
somethingofthemysteryanddesirestomakecompensation?Haveyouanyalternativetheorywhichwill
meetthefacts?"

"Butwhatastrangecompensation!Andhowstrangelymade!Why,too,shouldhewritealetternow,

ratherthansixyearsago?Again,theletterspeaksofgivingherjustice.Whatjusticecanshehave?Itis
toomuchtosupposethatherfatherisstillalive.Thereisnootherinjusticeinhercasethatyouknowof."

"There are difficulties; there are certainly difficulties," said Sherlock Holmes, pensively. "But our

expedition of to-night will solve them all. Ah, here is a four-wheeler, and Miss Morstan is inside. Are
youallready?Thenwehadbettergodown,foritisalittlepastthehour."

I picked up my hat and my heaviest stick, but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his

drawerandslippeditintohispocket.Itwasclearthathethoughtthatournight'sworkmightbeaserious
one.

MissMorstanwasmuffledinadarkcloak,andhersensitivefacewascomposed,butpale.Shemust

havebeenmorethanwomanifshedidnotfeelsomeuneasinessatthestrangeenterpriseuponwhichwe
wereembarking,yetherself-controlwasperfect,andshereadilyansweredthefewadditionalquestions
whichSherlockHolmesputtoher.

"MajorSholtowasaveryparticularfriendofpapa's,"shesaid."Hisletterswerefullofallusionsto

themajor.HeandpapawereincommandofthetroopsattheAndamanIslands,sotheywerethrowna
greatdealtogether.Bytheway,acuriouspaperwasfoundinpapa'sdeskwhichnoonecouldunderstand.
Idon'tsupposethatitisoftheslightestimportance,butIthoughtyoumightcaretoseeit,soIbroughtit
withme.Itishere."

Holmes unfolded the paper carefully and smoothed it out upon his knee. He then very methodically

examineditalloverwithhisdoublelens.

"ItispaperofnativeIndianmanufacture,"heremarked."Ithasatsometimebeenpinnedtoaboard.

Thediagramuponitappearstobeaplanofpartofalargebuildingwithnumeroushalls,corridors,and
passages.Atonepointisasmallcrossdoneinredink,andaboveitis'3.37fromleft,'infadedpencil-
writing. In the left-hand corner is a curious hieroglyphic like four crosses in a line with their arms
touching.Besideitiswritten,inveryroughandcoarsecharacters,'Thesignofthefour,—JonathanSmall,
Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, Dost Akbar.' No, I confess that I do not see how this bears upon the
matter.Yetitisevidentlyadocumentofimportance.Ithasbeenkeptcarefullyinapocket-book;forthe
onesideisascleanastheother."

"Itwasinhispocket-bookthatwefoundit."

"Preserveitcarefully,then,MissMorstan,foritmayprovetobeofusetous.Ibegintosuspectthat

thismattermayturnouttobemuchdeeperandmoresubtlethanIatfirstsupposed.Imustreconsidermy
ideas." He leaned back in the cab, and I could see by his drawn brow and his vacant eye that he was
thinkingintently.MissMorstanandIchattedinanundertoneaboutourpresentexpeditionanditspossible
outcome,butourcompanionmaintainedhisimpenetrablereserveuntiltheendofourjourney.

ItwasaSeptemberevening,andnotyetseveno'clock,butthedayhadbeenadrearyone,andadense

drizzlyfoglaylowuponthegreatcity.Mud-coloredcloudsdroopedsadlyoverthemuddystreets.Down
the Strand the lamps were but misty splotches of diffused light which threw a feeble circular glimmer
upon the slimy pavement. The yellow glare from the shop-windows streamed out into the steamy,
vaporous air, and threw a murky, shifting radiance across the crowded thoroughfare. There was, to my
mind,somethingeerieandghost-likeintheendlessprocessionoffaceswhichflittedacrossthesenarrow
bars of light,—sad faces and glad, haggard and merry. Like all human kind, they flitted from the gloom
intothelight,andsobackintothegloomoncemore.Iamnotsubjecttoimpressions,butthedull,heavy
evening, with the strange business upon which we were engaged, combined to make me nervous and
depressed.IcouldseefromMissMorstan'smannerthatshewassufferingfromthesamefeeling.Holmes
alonecouldrisesuperiortopettyinfluences.Heheldhisopennote-bookuponhisknee,andfromtimeto
timehejotteddownfiguresandmemorandainthelightofhispocket-lantern.

At the Lyceum Theatre the crowds were already thick at the side-entrances. In front a continuous

streamofhansomsandfour-wheelerswererattlingup,dischargingtheircargoesofshirt-frontedmenand
beshawled, bediamonded women. We had hardly reached the third pillar, which was our rendezvous,
beforeasmall,dark,briskmaninthedressofacoachmanaccostedus.

"AreyouthepartieswhocomewithMissMorstan?"heasked.

"IamMissMorstan,andthesetwogentlemenaremyfriends,"saidshe.

Hebentapairofwonderfullypenetratingandquestioningeyesuponus."Youwillexcuseme,miss,"

he said with a certain dogged manner, "but I was to ask you to give me your word that neither of your
companionsisapolice-officer."

"Igiveyoumywordonthat,"sheanswered.

Hegaveashrillwhistle,onwhichastreetArabledacrossafour-wheelerandopenedthedoor.The

manwhohadaddressedusmountedtothebox,whilewetookourplacesinside.Wehadhardlydoneso
beforethedriverwhippeduphishorse,andweplungedawayatafuriouspacethroughthefoggystreets.

Thesituationwasacuriousone.Weweredrivingtoanunknownplace,onanunknownerrand.Yet

our invitation was either a complete hoax,—which was an inconceivable hypothesis,—or else we had
goodreasontothinkthatimportantissuesmighthanguponourjourney.MissMorstan'sdemeanorwasas
resoluteandcollectedasever.Iendeavoredtocheerandamuseherbyreminiscencesofmyadventuresin
Afghanistan; but, to tell the truth, I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our
destination that my stories were slightly involved. To this day she declares that I told her one moving
anecdoteastohowamusketlookedintomytentatthedeadofnight,andhowIfiredadouble-barrelled
tigercubatit.AtfirstIhadsomeideaastothedirectioninwhichweweredriving;butsoon,whatwith
ourpace,thefog,andmyownlimitedknowledgeofLondon,Ilostmybearings,andknewnothing,save
that we seemed to be going a very long way. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault, however, and he
mutteredthenamesasthecabrattledthroughsquaresandinandoutbytortuousby-streets.

"Rochester Row," said he. "Now Vincent Square. Now we come out on the Vauxhall Bridge Road.

WearemakingfortheSurreyside,apparently.Yes,Ithoughtso.Nowweareonthebridge.Youcancatch
glimpsesoftheriver."

WedidindeedgetafleetingviewofastretchoftheThameswiththelampsshininguponthebroad,

silentwater;butourcabdashedon,andwassooninvolvedinalabyrinthofstreetsupontheotherside.

"Wordsworth Road," said my companion. "Priory Road. Lark Hall Lane. Stockwell Place. Robert

Street.ColdHarborLane.Ourquestdoesnotappeartotakeustoveryfashionableregions."

Wehad,indeed,reachedaquestionableandforbiddingneighborhood.Longlinesofdullbrickhouses

wereonlyrelievedbythecoarseglareandtawdrybrilliancyofpublichousesatthecorner.Thencame
rowsoftwo-storiedvillaseachwithafrontingofminiaturegarden,andthenagaininterminablelinesof
newstaringbrickbuildings,—themonstertentacleswhichthegiantcitywasthrowingoutintothecountry.
Atlastthecabdrewupatthethirdhouseinanewterrace.Noneoftheotherhouseswereinhabited,and
thatatwhichwestoppedwasasdarkasitsneighbors,saveforasingleglimmerinthekitchenwindow.
On our knocking, however, the door was instantly thrown open by a Hindoo servant clad in a yellow
turban,whiteloose-fittingclothes,andayellowsash.Therewassomethingstrangelyincongruousinthis
Orientalfigureframedinthecommonplacedoor-wayofathird-ratesuburbandwelling-house.

"The Sahib awaits you," said he, and even as he spoke there came a high piping voice from some

innerroom."Showthemintome,khitmutgar,"itcried."Showthemstraightintome."

ChapterIV

TheStoryoftheBald-HeadedMan

We followed the Indian down a sordid and common passage, ill lit and worse furnished, until he

cametoadoorupontheright,whichhethrewopen.Ablazeofyellowlightstreamedoutuponus,andin
thecentreoftheglaretherestoodasmallmanwithaveryhighhead,abristleofredhairallroundthe
fringeofit,andabald,shiningscalpwhichshotoutfromamongitlikeamountain-peakfromfir-trees.He
writhed his hands together as he stood, and his features were in a perpetual jerk, now smiling, now
scowling,butneverforaninstantinrepose.Naturehadgivenhimapendulouslip,andatoovisibleline
ofyellowandirregularteeth,whichhestrovefeeblytoconcealbyconstantlypassinghishandoverthe
lowerpartofhisface.Inspiteofhisobtrusivebaldness,hegavetheimpressionofyouth.Inpointoffact
hehadjustturnedhisthirtiethyear.

"Yourservant,MissMorstan,"hekeptrepeating,inathin,highvoice."Yourservant,gentlemen.Pray

step into my little sanctum. A small place, miss, but furnished to my own liking. An oasis of art in the
howlingdesertofSouthLondon."

We were all astonished by the appearance of the apartment into which he invited us. In that sorry

house it looked as out of place as a diamond of the first water in a setting of brass. The richest and
glossiestofcurtainsandtapestriesdrapedthewalls,loopedbackhereandtheretoexposesomerichly-
mountedpaintingorOrientalvase.Thecarpetwasofamber-and-black,sosoftandsothickthatthefoot
sank pleasantly into it, as into a bed of moss. Two great tiger-skins thrown athwart it increased the
suggestionofEasternluxury,asdidahugehookahwhichstooduponamatinthecorner.Alampinthe
fashionofasilverdovewashungfromanalmostinvisiblegoldenwireinthecentreoftheroom.Asit
burneditfilledtheairwithasubtleandaromaticodor.

"Mr.ThaddeusSholto,"saidthelittleman,stilljerkingandsmiling."Thatismyname.YouareMiss

Morstan,ofcourse.Andthesegentlemen—"

"ThisisMr.SherlockHolmes,andthisisDr.Watson."

"A doctor, eh?" cried he, much excited. "Have you your stethoscope? Might I ask you—would you

havethekindness?Ihavegravedoubtsastomymitralvalve,ifyouwouldbesoverygood.TheaorticI
mayrelyupon,butIshouldvalueyouropinionuponthemitral."

Ilistenedtohisheart,asrequested,butwasunabletofindanythingamiss,saveindeedthathewasin

anecstasyoffear,forheshiveredfromheadtofoot."Itappearstobenormal,"Isaid."Youhavenocause
foruneasiness."

"Youwillexcusemyanxiety,MissMorstan,"heremarked,airily."Iamagreatsufferer,andIhave

long had suspicions as to that valve. I am delighted to hear that they are unwarranted. Had your father,
MissMorstan,refrainedfromthrowingastrainuponhisheart,hemighthavebeenalivenow."

Icouldhavestruckthemanacrosstheface,sohotwasIatthiscallousandoff-handreferencetoso

delicateamatter.MissMorstansatdown,andherfacegrewwhitetothelips."Iknewinmyheartthathe
wasdead,"saidshe.

"Icangiveyoueveryinformation,"saidhe,"and,whatismore,Icandoyoujustice;andIwill,too,

whateverBrotherBartholomewmaysay.Iamsogladtohaveyourfriendshere,notonlyasanescortto
you, but also as witnesses to what I am about to do and say. The three of us can show a bold front to
Brother Bartholomew. But let us have no outsiders,—no police or officials. We can settle everything

satisfactorily among ourselves, without any interference. Nothing would annoy Brother Bartholomew
more than any publicity." He sat down upon a low settee and blinked at us inquiringly with his weak,
wateryblueeyes.

"Formypart,"saidHolmes,"whateveryoumaychoosetosaywillgonofurther."

Inoddedtoshowmyagreement.

"That is well! That is well!" said he. "May I offer you a glass of Chianti, Miss Morstan? Or of

Tokay?Ikeepnootherwines.ShallIopenaflask?No?Well,then,Itrustthatyouhavenoobjectionto
tobacco-smoke, to the mild balsamic odor of the Eastern tobacco. I am a little nervous, and I find my
hookah an invaluable sedative." He applied a taper to the great bowl, and the smoke bubbled merrily
throughtherose-water.Wesatallthreeinasemicircle,withourheadsadvanced,andourchinsuponour
hands,whilethestrange,jerkylittlefellow,withhishigh,shininghead,puffeduneasilyinthecentre.

"When I first determined to make this communication to you," said he, "I might have given you my

address,butIfearedthatyoumightdisregardmyrequestandbringunpleasantpeoplewithyou.Itookthe
liberty,therefore,ofmakinganappointmentinsuchawaythatmymanWilliamsmightbeabletoseeyou
first.Ihavecompleteconfidenceinhisdiscretion,andhehadorders,ifheweredissatisfied,toproceed
no further in the matter. You will excuse these precautions, but I am a man of somewhat retiring, and I
might even say refined, tastes, and there is nothing more unaesthetic than a policeman. I have a natural
shrinkingfromallformsofroughmaterialism.Iseldomcomeincontactwiththeroughcrowd.Ilive,as
yousee,withsomelittleatmosphereofelegancearoundme.Imaycallmyselfapatronofthearts.Itismy
weakness.ThelandscapeisagenuineCorot,and,thoughaconnoisseurmightperhapsthrowadoubtupon
that Salvator Rosa, there cannot be the least question about the Bouguereau. I am partial to the modern
Frenchschool."

"You will excuse me, Mr. Sholto," said Miss Morstan, "but I am here at your request to learn

somethingwhichyoudesiretotellme.Itisverylate,andIshoulddesiretheinterviewtobeasshortas
possible."

"Atthebestitmusttakesometime,"heanswered;"forweshallcertainlyhavetogotoNorwoodand

seeBrotherBartholomew.WeshallallgoandtryifwecangetthebetterofBrotherBartholomew.Heis
veryangrywithmefortakingthecoursewhichhasseemedrighttome.Ihadquitehighwordswithhim
lastnight.Youcannotimaginewhataterriblefellowheiswhenheisangry."

"IfwearetogotoNorwooditwouldperhapsbeaswelltostartatonce,"Iventuredtoremark.

He laughed until his ears were quite red. "That would hardly do," he cried. "I don't know what he

wouldsayifIbroughtyouinthatsuddenway.No,Imustprepareyoubyshowingyouhowweallstandto
eachother.Inthefirstplace,ImusttellyouthatthereareseveralpointsinthestoryofwhichIammyself
ignorant.IcanonlylaythefactsbeforeyouasfarasIknowthemmyself.

"My father was, as you may have guessed, Major John Sholto, once of the Indian army. He retired

someelevenyearsago,andcametoliveatPondicherryLodgeinUpperNorwood.Hehadprosperedin
India,andbroughtbackwithhimaconsiderablesumofmoney,alargecollectionofvaluablecuriosities,
andastaffofnativeservants.Withtheseadvantagesheboughthimselfahouse,andlivedingreatluxury.
Mytwin-brotherBartholomewandIweretheonlychildren.

"IverywellrememberthesensationwhichwascausedbythedisappearanceofCaptainMorstan.We

read the details in the papers, and, knowing that he had been a friend of our father's, we discussed the
casefreelyinhispresence.Heusedtojoininourspeculationsastowhatcouldhavehappened.Neverfor
aninstantdidwesuspectthathehadthewholesecrethiddeninhisownbreast,—thatofallmenhealone
knewthefateofArthurMorstan.

"We did know, however, that some mystery—some positive danger—overhung our father. He was

very fearful of going out alone, and he always employed two prize-fighters to act as porters at
Pondicherry Lodge. Williams, who drove you to-night, was one of them. He was once light-weight
champion of England. Our father would never tell us what it was he feared, but he had a most marked
aversion to men with wooden legs. On one occasion he actually fired his revolver at a wooden-legged
man,whoprovedtobeaharmlesstradesmancanvassingfororders.Wehadtopayalargesumtohushthe
matterup.MybrotherandIusedtothinkthisamerewhimofmyfather's,buteventshavesinceledusto
changeouropinion.

"Early in 1882 my father received a letter from India which was a great shock to him. He nearly

faintedatthebreakfast-tablewhenheopenedit,andfromthatdayhesickenedtohisdeath.Whatwasin
theletterwecouldneverdiscover,butIcouldseeashehelditthatitwasshortandwritteninascrawling
hand.Hehadsufferedforyearsfromanenlargedspleen,buthenowbecamerapidlyworse,andtowards
the end of April we were informed that he was beyond all hope, and that he wished to make a last
communicationtous.

"Whenweenteredhisroomhewasproppedupwithpillowsandbreathingheavily.Hebesoughtusto

lockthedoorandtocomeuponeithersideofthebed.Then,graspingourhands,hemadearemarkable
statementtous,inavoicewhichwasbrokenasmuchbyemotionasbypain.Ishalltryandgiveittoyou
inhisownverywords.

"'I have only one thing,' he said, 'which weighs upon my mind at this supreme moment. It is my

treatment of poor Morstan's orphan. The cursed greed which has been my besetting sin through life has
withheldfromherthetreasure,halfatleastofwhichshouldhavebeenhers.AndyetIhavemadenouse
ofitmyself,—soblindandfoolishathingisavarice.Themerefeelingofpossessionhasbeensodearto
methatIcouldnotbeartoshareitwithanother.Seethatchapletdippedwithpearlsbesidethequinine-
bottle.EventhatIcouldnotbeartopartwith,althoughIhadgotitoutwiththedesignofsendingittoher.
You,mysons,willgiveherafairshareoftheAgratreasure.Butsendhernothing—noteventhechaplet
—untilIamgone.Afterall,menhavebeenasbadasthisandhaverecovered.

"'IwilltellyouhowMorstandied,'hecontinued.'Hehadsufferedforyearsfromaweakheart,buthe

concealed it from every one. I alone knew it. When in India, he and I, through a remarkable chain of
circumstances,cameintopossessionofaconsiderabletreasure.IbroughtitovertoEngland,andonthe
nightofMorstan'sarrivalhecamestraightoverheretoclaimhisshare.Hewalkedoverfromthestation,
and was admitted by my faithful Lal Chowdar, who is now dead. Morstan and I had a difference of
opinionastothedivisionofthetreasure,andwecametoheatedwords.Morstanhadsprungoutofhis
chairinaparoxysmofanger,whenhesuddenlypressedhishandtohisside,hisfaceturnedaduskyhue,
andhefellbackwards,cuttinghisheadagainstthecornerofthetreasure-chest.WhenIstoopedoverhimI
found,tomyhorror,thathewasdead.

"'ForalongtimeIsathalfdistracted,wonderingwhatIshoulddo.Myfirstimpulsewas,ofcourse,

tocallforassistance;butIcouldnotbutrecognizethattherewaseverychancethatIwouldbeaccusedof

his murder. His death at the moment of a quarrel, and the gash in his head, would be black against me.
Again,anofficialinquirycouldnotbemadewithoutbringingoutsomefactsaboutthetreasure,whichI
wasparticularlyanxioustokeepsecret.Hehadtoldmethatnosouluponearthknewwherehehadgone.
Thereseemedtobenonecessitywhyanysoulevershouldknow.

"'I was still pondering over the matter, when, looking up, I saw my servant, Lal Chowdar, in the

doorway.Hestoleinandboltedthedoorbehindhim."Donotfear,Sahib,"hesaid."Nooneneedknow
thatyouhavekilledhim.Letushidehimaway,andwhoisthewiser?""Ididnotkillhim,"saidI.Lal
Chowdarshookhisheadandsmiled."Ihearditall,Sahib,"saidhe."Iheardyouquarrel,andIheardthe
blow.Butmylipsaresealed.Allareasleepinthehouse.Letusputhimawaytogether."Thatwasenough
todecideme.Ifmyownservantcouldnotbelievemyinnocence,howcouldIhopetomakeitgoodbefore
twelvefoolishtradesmeninajury-box?LalChowdarandIdisposedofthebodythatnight,andwithina
fewdaystheLondonpaperswerefullofthemysteriousdisappearanceofCaptainMorstan.Youwillsee
fromwhatIsaythatIcanhardlybeblamedinthematter.Myfaultliesinthefactthatweconcealednot
onlythebody,butalsothetreasure,andthatIhaveclungtoMorstan'sshareaswellastomyown.Iwish
you,therefore,tomakerestitution.Putyourearsdowntomymouth.Thetreasureishiddenin—'Atthis
instant a horrible change came over his expression; his eyes stared wildly, his jaw dropped, and he
yelled,inavoicewhichIcanneverforget,'Keephimout!ForChrist'ssakekeephimout!'Webothstared
round at the window behind us upon which his gaze was fixed. A face was looking in at us out of the
darkness.Wecouldseethewhiteningofthenosewhereitwaspressedagainsttheglass.Itwasabearded,
hairyface,withwildcrueleyesandanexpressionofconcentratedmalevolence.MybrotherandIrushed
towardsthewindow,butthemanwasgone.Whenwereturnedtomyfatherhisheadhaddroppedandhis
pulsehadceasedtobeat.

"Wesearchedthegardenthatnight,butfoundnosignoftheintruder,savethatjustunderthewindowa

single footmark was visible in the flower-bed. But for that one trace, we might have thought that our
imaginationshadconjuredupthatwild,fierceface.Wesoon,however,hadanotherandamorestriking
proofthatthereweresecretagenciesatworkallroundus.Thewindowofmyfather'sroomwasfound
openinthemorning,hiscupboardsandboxeshadbeenrifled,anduponhischestwasfixedatornpiece
of paper, with the words 'The sign of the four' scrawled across it. What the phrase meant, or who our
secretvisitormayhavebeen,weneverknew.Asfaraswecanjudge,noneofmyfather'spropertyhad
been actually stolen, though everything had been turned out. My brother and I naturally associated this
peculiarincidentwiththefearwhichhauntedmyfatherduringhislife;butitisstillacompletemysteryto
us."

Thelittlemanstoppedtorelighthishookahandpuffedthoughtfullyforafewmoments.Wehadallsat

absorbed,listeningtohisextraordinarynarrative.Attheshortaccountofherfather'sdeathMissMorstan
hadturneddeadlywhite,andforamomentIfearedthatshewasabouttofaint.Sheralliedhowever,on
drinkingaglassofwaterwhichIquietlypouredoutforherfromaVenetiancarafeupontheside-table.
SherlockHolmesleanedbackinhischairwithanabstractedexpressionandthelidsdrawnlowoverhis
glitteringeyes.AsIglancedathimIcouldnotbutthinkhowonthatverydayhehadcomplainedbitterly
ofthecommonplacenessoflife.Hereatleastwasaproblemwhichwouldtaxhissagacitytotheutmost.
Mr.ThaddeusSholtolookedfromonetotheotherofuswithanobviousprideattheeffectwhichhisstory
hadproduced,andthencontinuedbetweenthepuffsofhisovergrownpipe.

"My brother and I," said he, "were, as you may imagine, much excited as to the treasure which my

fatherhadspokenof.Forweeksandformonthsweduganddelvedineverypartofthegarden,without

discoveringitswhereabouts.Itwasmaddeningtothinkthatthehiding-placewasonhisverylipsatthe
momentthathedied.Wecouldjudgethesplendorofthemissingrichesbythechapletwhichhehadtaken
out. Over this chaplet my brother Bartholomew and I had some little discussion. The pearls were
evidently of great value, and he was averse to part with them, for, between friends, my brother was
himselfalittleinclinedtomyfather'sfault.Hethought,too,thatifwepartedwiththechapletitmightgive
risetogossipandfinallybringusintotrouble.ItwasallthatIcoulddotopersuadehimtoletmefindout
MissMorstan'saddressandsendheradetachedpearlatfixedintervals,sothatatleastshemightnever
feeldestitute."

"Itwasakindlythought,"saidourcompanion,earnestly."Itwasextremelygoodofyou."

Thelittlemanwavedhishanddeprecatingly."Wewereyourtrustees,"hesaid."Thatwastheview

whichItookofit,thoughBrotherBartholomewcouldnotaltogetherseeitinthatlight.Wehadplentyof
moneyourselves.Idesirednomore.Besides,itwouldhavebeensuchbadtastetohavetreatedayoung
ladyinsoscurvyafashion.'Lemauvaisgoutmeneaucrime.'TheFrenchhaveaveryneatwayofputting
thesethings.OurdifferenceofopiniononthissubjectwentsofarthatIthoughtitbesttosetuproomsfor
myself:soIleftPondicherryLodge,takingtheoldkhitmutgarandWilliamswithme.Yesterday,however,
I learn that an event of extreme importance has occurred. The treasure has been discovered. I instantly
communicated with Miss Morstan, and it only remains for us to drive out to Norwood and demand our
share.IexplainedmyviewslastnighttoBrotherBartholomew:soweshallbeexpected,ifnotwelcome,
visitors."

Mr.ThaddeusSholtoceased,andsattwitchingonhisluxurioussettee.Weallremainedsilent,with

ourthoughtsuponthenewdevelopmentwhichthemysteriousbusinesshadtaken.Holmeswasthefirstto
springtohisfeet.

"Youhavedonewell,sir,fromfirsttolast,"saidhe."Itispossiblethatwemaybeabletomakeyou

some small return by throwing some light upon that which is still dark to you. But, as Miss Morstan
remarkedjustnow,itislate,andwehadbestputthematterthroughwithoutdelay."

Ournewacquaintanceverydeliberatelycoiledupthetubeofhishookah,andproducedfrombehinda

curtainaverylongbefroggedtopcoatwithAstrakhancollarandcuffs.Thishebuttonedtightlyup,inspite
oftheextremeclosenessofthenight,andfinishedhisattirebyputtingonarabbit-skincapwithhanging
lappetswhichcoveredtheears,sothatnopartofhimwasvisiblesavehismobileandpeakyface."My
healthissomewhatfragile,"heremarked,asheledthewaydownthepassage."Iamcompelledtobea
valetudinarian."

Our cab was awaiting us outside, and our programme was evidently prearranged, for the driver

startedoffatonceatarapidpace.ThaddeusSholtotalkedincessantly,inavoicewhichrosehighabove
therattleofthewheels.

"Bartholomewisacleverfellow,"saidhe."Howdoyouthinkhefoundoutwherethetreasurewas?

Hehadcometotheconclusionthatitwassomewhereindoors:soheworkedoutallthecubicspaceofthe
house,andmademeasurementseverywhere,sothatnotoneinchshouldbeunaccountedfor.Amongother
things,hefoundthattheheightofthebuildingwasseventy-fourfeet,butonaddingtogethertheheightsof
all the separate rooms, and making every allowance for the space between, which he ascertained by
borings, he could not bring the total to more than seventy feet. There were four feet unaccounted for.
Thesecouldonlybeatthetopofthebuilding.Heknockedahole,therefore,inthelath-and-plasterceiling

ofthehighestroom,andthere,sureenough,hecameuponanotherlittlegarretaboveit,whichhadbeen
sealedupandwasknowntonoone.Inthecentrestoodthetreasure-chest,restingupontworafters.He
lowereditthroughthehole,andthereitlies.Hecomputesthevalueofthejewelsatnotlessthanhalfa
millionsterling."

Atthementionofthisgiganticsumweallstaredatoneanotheropen-eyed.MissMorstan,couldwe

secureherrights,wouldchangefromaneedygovernesstotherichestheiressinEngland.Surelyitwas
theplaceofaloyalfriendtorejoiceatsuchnews;yetIamashamedtosaythatselfishnesstookmebythe
soul, and that my heart turned as heavy as lead within me. I stammered out some few halting words of
congratulation,andthensatdowncast,withmyheaddrooped,deaftothebabbleofournewacquaintance.
He was clearly a confirmed hypochondriac, and I was dreamily conscious that he was pouring forth
interminable trains of symptoms, and imploring information as to the composition and action of
innumerablequacknostrums,someofwhichheboreaboutinaleathercaseinhispocket.Itrustthathe
maynotrememberanyoftheanswerswhichIgavehimthatnight.Holmesdeclaresthatheoverheardme
caution him against the great danger of taking more than two drops of castor oil, while I recommended
strychnine in large doses as a sedative. However that may be, I was certainly relieved when our cab
pulledupwithajerkandthecoachmansprangdowntoopenthedoor.

"This,MissMorstan,isPondicherryLodge,"saidMr.ThaddeusSholto,ashehandedherout.

ChapterV

TheTragedyofPondicherryLodge

Itwasnearlyeleveno'clockwhenwereachedthisfinalstageofournight'sadventures.Wehadleft

the damp fog of the great city behind us, and the night was fairly fine. A warm wind blew from the
westward,andheavycloudsmovedslowlyacrossthesky,withhalfamoonpeepingoccasionallythrough
therifts.Itwasclearenoughtoseeforsomedistance,butThaddeusSholtotookdownoneoftheside-
lampsfromthecarriagetogiveusabetterlightuponourway.

PondicherryLodgestoodinitsowngrounds,andwasgirtroundwithaveryhighstonewalltopped

with broken glass. A single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance. On this our
guideknockedwithapeculiarpostman-likerat-tat.

"Whoisthere?"criedagruffvoicefromwithin.

"ItisI,McMurdo.Yousurelyknowmyknockbythistime."

Therewasagrumblingsoundandaclankingandjarringofkeys.Thedoorswungheavilyback,anda

short, deep-chested man stood in the opening, with the yellow light of the lantern shining upon his
protrudedfaceandtwinklingdistrustfuleyes.

"Thatyou,Mr.Thaddeus?Butwhoaretheothers?Ihadnoordersaboutthemfromthemaster."

"No,McMurdo?Yousurpriseme!ItoldmybrotherlastnightthatIshouldbringsomefriends."

"Heain'tbeenouto'hisroomto-day,Mr.Thaddeus,andIhavenoorders.YouknowverywellthatI

muststicktoregulations.Icanletyouin,butyourfriendsmustjuststopwheretheyare."

This was an unexpected obstacle. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless

manner."Thisistoobadofyou,McMurdo!"hesaid."IfIguaranteethem,thatisenoughforyou.Thereis
theyounglady,too.Shecannotwaitonthepublicroadatthishour."

"Very sorry, Mr. Thaddeus," said the porter, inexorably. "Folk may be friends o' yours, and yet no

friends o' the master's. He pays me well to do my duty, and my duty I'll do. I don't know none o' your
friends."

"Oh,yesyoudo,McMurdo,"criedSherlockHolmes,genially."Idon'tthinkyoucanhaveforgotten

me.Don'tyouremembertheamateurwhofoughtthreeroundswithyouatAlison'sroomsonthenightof
yourbenefitfouryearsback?"

"NotMr.SherlockHolmes!"roaredtheprize-fighter."God'struth!howcouldIhavemistookyou?If

insteado'standin'theresoquietyouhadjuststeppedupandgivenmethatcross-hitofyoursunderthe
jaw,I'dha'knownyouwithoutaquestion.Ah,you'reonethathaswastedyourgifts,youhave!Youmight
haveaimedhigh,ifyouhadjoinedthefancy."

"Yousee,Watson,ifallelsefailsmeIhavestilloneofthescientificprofessionsopentome,"said

Holmes,laughing."Ourfriendwon'tkeepusoutinthecoldnow,Iamsure."

"Inyoucome,sir,inyoucome,—youandyourfriends,"heanswered."Verysorry,Mr.Thaddeus,but

ordersareverystrict.HadtobecertainofyourfriendsbeforeIletthemin."

Inside,agravelpathwoundthroughdesolategroundstoahugeclumpofahouse,squareandprosaic,

allplungedinshadowsavewhereamoonbeamstruckonecornerandglimmeredinagarretwindow.The
vastsizeofthebuilding,withitsgloomanditsdeathlysilence,struckachilltotheheart.EvenThaddeus
Sholtoseemedillatease,andthelanternquiveredandrattledinhishand.

"Icannotunderstandit,"hesaid."Theremustbesomemistake.IdistinctlytoldBartholomewthatwe

shouldbehere,andyetthereisnolightinhiswindow.Idonotknowwhattomakeofit."

"Doeshealwaysguardthepremisesinthisway?"askedHolmes.

"Yes;hehasfollowedmyfather'scustom.Hewasthefavoriteson,youknow,andIsometimesthink

that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. That is Bartholomew's window up there
wherethemoonshinestrikes.Itisquitebright,butthereisnolightfromwithin,Ithink."

"None,"saidHolmes."ButIseetheglintofalightinthatlittlewindowbesidethedoor."

"Ah,thatisthehousekeeper'sroom.ThatiswhereoldMrs.Bernstonesits.Shecantellusallabout

it.Butperhapsyouwouldnotmindwaitinghereforaminuteortwo,forifweallgointogetherandshe
hasnowordofourcomingshemaybealarmed.Buthush!whatisthat?"

Heheldupthelantern,andhishandshookuntilthecirclesoflightflickeredandwaveredallround

us. Miss Morstan seized my wrist, and we all stood with thumping hearts, straining our ears. From the
greatblackhousetheresoundedthroughthesilentnightthesaddestandmostpitifulofsounds,—theshrill,
brokenwhimperingofafrightenedwoman.

"ItisMrs.Bernstone,"saidSholto."Sheistheonlywomaninthehouse.Waithere.Ishallbebackin

a moment." He hurried for the door, and knocked in his peculiar way. We could see a tall old woman
admithim,andswaywithpleasureattheverysightofhim.

"Oh,Mr.Thaddeus,sir,Iamsogladyouhavecome!Iamsogladyouhavecome,Mr.Thaddeus,sir!"

We heard her reiterated rejoicings until the door was closed and her voice died away into a muffled
monotone.

Ourguidehadleftusthelantern.Holmesswungitslowlyround,andpeeredkeenlyatthehouse,and

atthegreatrubbish-heapswhichcumberedthegrounds.MissMorstanandIstoodtogether,andherhand
was in mine. A wondrous subtle thing is love, for here were we two who had never seen each other
beforethatday,betweenwhomnowordorevenlookofaffectionhadeverpassed,andyetnowinanhour
of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. I have marvelled at it since, but at the time it
seemedthemostnaturalthingthatIshouldgoouttoherso,and,asshehasoftentoldme,therewasinher
alsotheinstincttoturntomeforcomfortandprotection.Sowestoodhandinhand,liketwochildren,and
therewaspeaceinourheartsforallthedarkthingsthatsurroundedus.

"Whatastrangeplace!"shesaid,lookinground.

"ItlooksasthoughallthemolesinEnglandhadbeenletlooseinit.Ihaveseensomethingofthesort

onthesideofahillnearBallarat,wheretheprospectorshadbeenatwork."

"And from the same cause," said Holmes. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. You must

rememberthattheyweresixyearslookingforit.Nowonderthatthegroundslooklikeagravel-pit."

At that moment the door of the house burst open, and Thaddeus Sholto came running out, with his

handsthrownforwardandterrorinhiseyes.

"There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand

it." He was, indeed, half blubbering with fear, and his twitching feeble face peeping out from the great
Astrakhancollarhadthehelplessappealingexpressionofaterrifiedchild.

"Comeintothehouse,"saidHolmes,inhiscrisp,firmway.

"Yes,do!"pleadedThaddeusSholto."Ireallydonotfeelequaltogivingdirections."

Weallfollowedhimintothehousekeeper'sroom,whichstoodupontheleft-handsideofthepassage.

Theoldwomanwaspacingupanddownwithascaredlookandrestlesspickingfingers,butthesightof
MissMorstanappearedtohaveasoothingeffectuponher.

"Godblessyoursweetcalmface!"shecried,withanhystericalsob."Itdoesmegoodtoseeyou.Oh,

butIhavebeensorelytriedthisday!"

Ourcompanionpattedherthin,work-wornhand,andmurmuredsomefewwordsofkindlywomanly

comfortwhichbroughtthecolorbackintotheothersbloodlesscheeks.

"Masterhaslockedhimselfinandwillnotanswerme,"sheexplained."AlldayIhavewaitedtohear

fromhim,forheoftenlikestobealone;butanhouragoIfearedthatsomethingwasamiss,soIwentup
andpeepedthroughthekey-hole.Youmustgoup,Mr.Thaddeus,—youmustgoupandlookforyourself.I
haveseenMr.BartholomewSholtoinjoyandinsorrowfortenlongyears,butIneversawhimwithsuch
afaceonhimasthat."

SherlockHolmestookthelampandledtheway,forThaddeusSholto'steethwerechatteringinhis

head.SoshakenwashethatIhadtopassmyhandunderhisarmaswewentupthestairs,forhisknees
were trembling under him. Twice as we ascended Holmes whipped his lens out of his pocket and
carefullyexaminedmarkswhichappearedtometobemereshapelesssmudgesofdustuponthecocoa-nut
matting which served as a stair-carpet. He walked slowly from step to step, holding the lamp, and
shooting keen glances to right and left. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened
housekeeper.

The third flight of stairs ended in a straight passage of some length, with a great picture in Indian

tapestryupontherightofitandthreedoorsupontheleft.Holmesadvancedalongitinthesameslowand
methodical way, while we kept close at his heels, with our long black shadows streaming backwards
downthecorridor.Thethirddoorwasthatwhichwewereseeking.Holmesknockedwithoutreceiving
anyanswer,andthentriedtoturnthehandleandforceitopen.Itwaslockedontheinside,however,and
byabroadandpowerfulbolt,aswecouldseewhenwesetourlampupagainstit.Thekeybeingturned,
however,theholewasnotentirelyclosed.SherlockHolmesbentdowntoit,andinstantlyroseagainwith
asharpintakingofthebreath.

"Thereissomethingdevilishinthis,Watson,"saidhe,moremovedthanIhadeverbeforeseenhim.

"Whatdoyoumakeofit?"

I stooped to the hole, and recoiled in horror. Moonlight was streaming into the room, and it was

brightwithavagueandshiftyradiance.Lookingstraightatme,andsuspended,asitwere,intheair,for
allbeneathwasinshadow,therehungaface,—theveryfaceofourcompanionThaddeus.Therewasthe
same high, shining head, the same circular bristle of red hair, the same bloodless countenance. The
featureswereset,however,inahorriblesmile,afixedandunnaturalgrin,whichinthatstillandmoonlit
roomwasmorejarringtothenervesthananyscowlorcontortion.Solikewasthefacetothatofourlittle
friendthatIlookedroundathimtomakesurethathewasindeedwithus.ThenIrecalledtomindthathe
hadmentionedtousthathisbrotherandheweretwins.

"Thisisterrible!"IsaidtoHolmes."Whatistobedone?"

"The door must come down," he answered, and, springing against it, he put all his weight upon the

lock.Itcreakedandgroaned,butdidnotyield.Togetherweflungourselvesuponitoncemore,andthis
timeitgavewaywithasuddensnap,andwefoundourselveswithinBartholomewSholto'schamber.

Itappearedtohavebeenfittedupasachemicallaboratory.Adoublelineofglass-stopperedbottles

wasdrawnupuponthewalloppositethedoor,andthetablewaslitteredoverwithBunsenburners,test-
tubes,andretorts.Inthecornersstoodcarboysofacidinwickerbaskets.Oneoftheseappearedtoleakor
tohavebeenbroken,forastreamofdark-coloredliquidhadtrickledoutfromit,andtheairwasheavy
withapeculiarlypungent,tar-likeodor.Asetofstepsstoodatonesideoftheroom,inthemidstofalitter
of lath and plaster, and above them there was an opening in the ceiling large enough for a man to pass
through.Atthefootofthestepsalongcoilofropewasthrowncarelesslytogether.

Bythetable,inawoodenarm-chair,themasterofthehousewasseatedallinaheap,withhishead

sunkuponhisleftshoulder,andthatghastly,inscrutablesmileuponhisface.Hewasstiffandcold,and
hadclearlybeendeadmanyhours.Itseemedtomethatnotonlyhisfeaturesbutallhislimbsweretwisted
and turned in the most fantastic fashion. By his hand upon the table there lay a peculiar instrument,—a
brown,close-grainedstick,withastoneheadlikeahammer,rudelylashedonwithcoarsetwine.Beside
it was a torn sheet of note-paper with some words scrawled upon it. Holmes glanced at it, and then
handedittome.

"Yousee,"hesaid,withasignificantraisingoftheeyebrows.

InthelightofthelanternIread,withathrillofhorror,"Thesignofthefour."

"InGod'sname,whatdoesitallmean?"Iasked.

"Itmeansmurder,"saidhe,stoopingoverthedeadman."Ah,Iexpectedit.Lookhere!"Hepointedto

whatlookedlikealong,darkthornstuckintheskinjustabovetheear.

"Itlookslikeathorn,"saidI.

"Itisathorn.Youmaypickitout.Butbecareful,foritispoisoned."

Itookitupbetweenmyfingerandthumb.Itcameawayfromtheskinsoreadilythathardlyanymark

wasleftbehind.Onetinyspeckofbloodshowedwherethepuncturehadbeen.

"Thisisallaninsolublemysterytome,"saidI."Itgrowsdarkerinsteadofclearer."

"Onthecontrary,"heanswered,"itclearseveryinstant.Ionlyrequireafewmissinglinkstohavean

entirelyconnectedcase."

We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. He was still

standinginthedoor-way,theverypictureofterror,wringinghishandsandmoaningtohimself.Suddenly,
however,hebrokeoutintoasharp,querulouscry.

"The treasure is gone!" he said. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through

whichweloweredit.Ihelpedhimtodoit!Iwasthelastpersonwhosawhim!Ilefthimherelastnight,

andIheardhimlockthedoorasIcamedown-stairs."

"Whattimewasthat?"

"Itwasteno'clock.Andnowheisdead,andthepolicewillbecalledin,andIshallbesuspectedof

havinghadahandinit.Oh,yes,IamsureIshall.Butyoudon'tthinkso,gentlemen?Surelyyoudon'tthink
thatitwasI?IsitlikelythatIwouldhavebroughtyouhereifitwereI?Oh,dear!oh,dear!IknowthatI
shallgomad!"Hejerkedhisarmsandstampedhisfeetinakindofconvulsivefrenzy.

"Youhavenoreasonforfear,Mr.Sholto,"saidHolmes,kindly,puttinghishanduponhisshoulder.

"Takemyadvice,anddrivedowntothestationtoreportthismattertothepolice.Offertoassistthemin
everyway.Weshallwaithereuntilyourreturn."

Thelittlemanobeyedinahalf-stupefiedfashion,andweheardhimstumblingdownthestairsinthe

dark.

ChapterVI

SherlockHolmesGivesaDemonstration

"Now, Watson," said Holmes, rubbing his hands, "we have half an hour to ourselves. Let us make

gooduseofit.Mycaseis,asIhavetoldyou,almostcomplete;butwemustnoterronthesideofover-
confidence.Simpleasthecaseseemsnow,theremaybesomethingdeeperunderlyingit."

"Simple!"Iejaculated.

"Surely,"saidhe,withsomethingoftheairofaclinicalprofessorexpoundingtohisclass."Justsitin

thecornerthere,thatyourfootprintsmaynotcomplicatematters.Nowtowork!Inthefirstplace,howdid
these folk come, and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. How of the
window?" He carried the lamp across to it, muttering his observations aloud the while, but addressing
themtohimselfratherthantome."Windowissnibbedontheinnerside.Frameworkissolid.Nohingesat
the side. Let us open it. No water-pipe near. Roof quite out of reach. Yet a man has mounted by the
window. It rained a little last night. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. And here is a
circularmuddymark,andhereagainuponthefloor,andhereagainbythetable.Seehere,Watson!Thisis
reallyaveryprettydemonstration."

Ilookedattheround,well-definedmuddydiscs."Thisisnotafootmark,"saidI.

"Itissomethingmuchmorevaluabletous.Itistheimpressionofawoodenstump.Youseehereon

thesillistheboot-mark,aheavybootwiththebroadmetalheel,andbesideitisthemarkofthetimber-
toe."

"Itisthewooden-leggedman."

"Quite so. But there has been some one else,—a very able and efficient ally. Could you scale that

wall,doctor?"

Ilookedoutoftheopenwindow.Themoonstillshonebrightlyonthatangleofthehouse.Wewerea

good sixty feet from the ground, and, look where I would, I could see no foothold, nor as much as a
creviceinthebrick-work.

"Itisabsolutelyimpossible,"Ianswered.

"Without aid it is so. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope

whichIseeinthecorner,securingoneendofittothisgreathookinthewall.Then,Ithink,ifyouwerean
activeman,Youmightswarmup,woodenlegandall.Youwoulddepart,ofcourse,inthesamefashion,
andyourallywoulddrawuptherope,untieitfromthehook,shutthewindow,snibitontheinside,and
getawayinthewaythatheoriginallycame.Asaminorpointitmaybenoted,"hecontinued,fingeringthe
rope,"thatourwooden-leggedfriend,thoughafairclimber,wasnotaprofessionalsailor.Hishandswere
farfromhorny.Mylensdisclosesmorethanoneblood-mark,especiallytowardstheendoftherope,from
whichIgatherthatheslippeddownwithsuchvelocitythathetooktheskinoffhishand."

"Thisisallverywell,"saidI,"butthethingbecomesmoreunintelligiblethanever.Howaboutthis

mysteriousally?Howcameheintotheroom?"

"Yes,theally!"repeatedHolmes,pensively."Therearefeaturesofinterestaboutthisally.Heliftsthe

casefromtheregionsofthecommonplace.Ifancythatthisallybreaksfreshgroundintheannalsofcrime
inthiscountry,—thoughparallelcasessuggestthemselvesfromIndia,and,ifmymemoryservesme,from
Senegambia."

"Howcamehe,then?"Ireiterated."Thedoorislocked,thewindowisinaccessible.Wasitthrough

thechimney?"

"Thegrateismuchtoosmall,"heanswered."Ihadalreadyconsideredthatpossibility."

"Howthen?"Ipersisted.

"Youwillnotapplymyprecept,"hesaid,shakinghishead."HowoftenhaveIsaidtoyouthatwhen

youhaveeliminatedtheimpossiblewhateverremains,HOWEVERIMPROBABLE,mustbethetruth?We
knowthathedidnotcomethroughthedoor,thewindow,orthechimney.Wealsoknowthathecouldnot
havebeenconcealedintheroom,asthereisnoconcealmentpossible.Whence,then,didhecome?"

"Hecamethroughtheholeintheroof,"Icried.

"Ofcoursehedid.Hemusthavedoneso.Ifyouwillhavethekindnesstoholdthelampforme,we

shallnowextendourresearchestotheroomabove,—thesecretroominwhichthetreasurewasfound."

Hemountedthesteps,and,seizingarafterwitheitherhand,heswunghimselfupintothegarret.Then,

lyingonhisface,hereacheddownforthelampandhelditwhileIfollowedhim.

The chamber in which we found ourselves was about ten feet one way and six the other. The floor

was formed by the rafters, with thin lath-and-plaster between, so that in walking one had to step from
beamtobeam.Theroofranuptoanapex,andwasevidentlytheinnershellofthetrueroofofthehouse.

Therewasnofurnitureofanysort,andtheaccumulateddustofyearslaythickuponthefloor.

"Hereyouare,yousee,"saidSherlockHolmes,puttinghishandagainsttheslopingwall."Thisisa

trap-doorwhichleadsoutontotheroof.Icanpressitback,andhereistheroofitself,slopingatagentle
angle.This,then,isthewaybywhichNumberOneentered.Letusseeifwecanfindanyothertracesof
hisindividuality."

Hehelddownthelamptothefloor,andashedidsoIsawforthesecondtimethatnightastartled,

surprisedlookcomeoverhisface.Formyself,asIfollowedhisgazemyskinwascoldundermyclothes.
Thefloorwascoveredthicklywiththeprintsofanakedfoot,—clear,welldefined,perfectlyformed,but
scarcehalfthesizeofthoseofanordinaryman.

"Holmes,"Isaid,inawhisper,"achildhasdonethehorridthing."

Hehadrecoveredhisself-possessioninaninstant."Iwasstaggeredforthemoment,"hesaid,"butthe

thing is quite natural. My memory failed me, or I should have been able to foretell it. There is nothing
moretobelearnedhere.Letusgodown."

"Whatisyourtheory,then,astothosefootmarks?"Iasked,eagerly,whenwehadregainedthelower

roomoncemore.

"MydearWatson,tryalittleanalysisyourself,"saidhe,withatouchofimpatience."Youknowmy

methods.Applythem,anditwillbeinstructivetocompareresults."

"Icannotconceiveanythingwhichwillcoverthefacts,"Ianswered.

"Itwillbeclearenoughtoyousoon,"hesaid,inanoff-handway."Ithinkthatthereisnothingelseof

importancehere,butIwilllook."Hewhippedouthislensandatapemeasure,andhurriedabouttheroom
onhisknees,measuring,comparing,examining,withhislongthinnoseonlyafewinchesfromtheplanks,
and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. So swift, silent, and furtive were his
movements, like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent, that I could not but think what a
terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law, instead of
exertingtheminitsdefense.Ashehuntedabout,hekeptmutteringtohimself,andfinallyhebrokeoutinto
aloudcrowofdelight.

"Wearecertainlyinluck,"saidhe."Weoughttohaveverylittletroublenow.NumberOnehashad

themisfortunetotreadinthecreosote.Youcanseetheoutlineoftheedgeofhissmallfoothereattheside
ofthisevil-smellingmess.Thecarboyhasbeencracked,Yousee,andthestuffhasleakedout."

"Whatthen?"Iasked.

"Why,wehavegothim,that'sall,"saidhe."Iknowadogthatwouldfollowthatscenttotheworld's

end.Ifapackcantrackatrailedherringacrossashire,howfarcanaspecially-trainedhoundfollowso
pungent a smell as this? It sounds like a sum in the rule of three. The answer should give us the—But
halloo!herearetheaccreditedrepresentativesofthelaw."

Heavystepsandtheclamorofloudvoiceswereaudiblefrombelow,andthehalldoorshutwitha

loudcrash.

"Beforetheycome,"saidHolmes,"justputyourhandhereonthispoorfellow'sarm,andhereonhis

leg.Whatdoyoufeel?"

"Themusclesareashardasaboard,"Ianswered.

"Quiteso.Theyareinastateofextremecontraction,farexceedingtheusualrigormortis.Coupled

withthisdistortionoftheface,thisHippocraticsmile,or'risussardonicus,'astheoldwriterscalledit,
whatconclusionwoulditsuggesttoyourmind?"

"Death from some powerful vegetable alkaloid," I answered,—"some strychnine-like substance

whichwouldproducetetanus."

"ThatwastheideawhichoccurredtometheinstantIsawthedrawnmusclesoftheface.Ongetting

intotheroomIatoncelookedforthemeansbywhichthepoisonhadenteredthesystem.Asyousaw,I
discoveredathornwhichhadbeendrivenorshotwithnogreatforceintothescalp.Youobservethatthe
partstruckwasthatwhichwouldbeturnedtowardstheholeintheceilingifthemanwereerectinhis
chair.Nowexaminethethorn."

Itookitupgingerlyandhelditinthelightofthelantern.Itwaslong,sharp,andblack,withaglazed

looknearthepointasthoughsomegummysubstancehaddrieduponit.Thebluntendhadbeentrimmed
androundedoffwithaknife.

"IsthatanEnglishthorn?"heasked.

"No,itcertainlyisnot."

"Withallthesedatayoushouldbeabletodrawsomejustinference.Butherearetheregulars:sothe

auxiliaryforcesmaybeataretreat."

Ashespoke,thestepswhichhadbeencomingnearersoundedloudlyonthepassage,andaverystout,

portlymaninagraysuitstrodeheavilyintotheroom.Hewasred-faced,burlyandplethoric,withapair
ofverysmalltwinklingeyeswhichlookedkeenlyoutfrombetweenswollenandpuffypouches.Hewas
closelyfollowedbyaninspectorinuniform,andbythestillpalpitatingThaddeusSholto.

"Here'sabusiness!"hecried,inamuffled,huskyvoice."Here'saprettybusiness!Butwhoareall

these?Why,thehouseseemstobeasfullasarabbit-warren!"

"Ithinkyoumustrecollectme,Mr.AthelneyJones,"saidHolmes,quietly.

"Why,ofcourseIdo!"hewheezed."It'sMr.SherlockHolmes,thetheorist.Rememberyou!I'llnever

forgethowyoulecturedusalloncausesandinferencesandeffectsintheBishopgatejewelcase.It'strue
yousetusontherighttrack;butyou'llownnowthatitwasmorebygoodluckthangoodguidance."

"Itwasapieceofverysimplereasoning."

"Oh, come, now, come! Never be ashamed to own up. But what is all this? Bad business! Bad

business!Sternfactshere,—noroomfortheories.HowluckythatIhappenedtobeoutatNorwoodover
anothercase!Iwasatthestationwhenthemessagearrived.Whatd'youthinkthemandiedof?"

"Oh,thisishardlyacaseformetotheorizeover,"saidHolmes,dryly.

"No, no. Still, we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Dear me! Door locked, I

understand.Jewelsworthhalfamillionmissing.Howwasthewindow?"

"Fastened;buttherearestepsonthesill."

"Well, well, if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. That's common

sense.Manmighthavediedinafit;butthenthejewelsaremissing.Ha!Ihaveatheory.Theseflashes
comeuponmeattimes.—Juststepoutside,sergeant,andyou,Mr.Sholto.Yourfriendcanremain.—What
doyouthinkofthis,Holmes?Sholtowas,onhisownconfession,withhisbrotherlastnight.Thebrother
diedinafit,onwhichSholtowalkedoffwiththetreasure.How'sthat?"

"Onwhichthedeadmanveryconsideratelygotupandlockedthedoorontheinside."

"Hum! There's a flaw there. Let us apply common sense to the matter. This Thaddeus Sholto WAS

withhisbrother;thereWASaquarrel;somuchweknow.Thebrotherisdeadandthejewelsaregone.So
muchalsoweknow.NoonesawthebrotherfromthetimeThaddeuslefthim.Hisbedhadnotbeenslept
in.Thaddeusisevidentlyinamostdisturbedstateofmind.Hisappearanceis—well,notattractive.You
seethatIamweavingmywebroundThaddeus.Thenetbeginstocloseuponhim."

"Youarenotquiteinpossessionofthefactsyet,"saidHolmes."Thissplinterofwood,whichIhave

every reason to believe to be poisoned, was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card,
inscribed as you see it, was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument.
Howdoesallthatfitintoyourtheory?"

"Confirmsitineveryrespect,"saidthefatdetective,pompously."HouseisfullofIndiancuriosities.

Thaddeusbroughtthisup,andifthissplinterbepoisonousThaddeusmayaswellhavemademurderous
useofitasanyotherman.Thecardissomehocus-pocus,—ablind,aslikeasnot.Theonlyquestionis,
howdidhedepart?Ah,ofcourse,hereisaholeintheroof."Withgreatactivity,consideringhisbulk,he
sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret, and immediately afterwards we heard his
exultingvoiceproclaimingthathehadfoundthetrap-door.

"Hecanfindsomething,"remarkedHolmes,shrugginghisshoulders."Hehasoccasionalglimmerings

ofreason.Iln'yapasdessotssiincommodesqueceuxquiontdel'esprit!"

"You see!" said Athelney Jones, reappearing down the steps again. "Facts are better than mere

theories,afterall.Myviewofthecaseisconfirmed.Thereisatrap-doorcommunicatingwiththeroof,
anditispartlyopen."

"ItwasIwhoopenedit."

"Oh,indeed!Youdidnoticeit,then?"Heseemedalittlecrestfallenatthediscovery."Well,whoever

noticedit,itshowshowourgentlemangotaway.Inspector!"

"Yes,sir,"fromthepassage.

"Ask Mr. Sholto to step this way.—Mr. Sholto, it is my duty to inform you that anything which you

maysaywillbeusedagainstyou.Iarrestyouinthequeen'snameasbeingconcernedinthedeathofyour

brother."

"There,now! Didn't Itell you!" criedthe poor little man,throwing out hishands, and looking from

onetotheotherofus.

"Don'ttroubleyourselfaboutit,Mr.Sholto,"saidHolmes."IthinkthatIcanengagetoclearyouof

thecharge."

"Don'tpromisetoomuch,Mr.Theorist,—don'tpromisetoomuch!"snappedthedetective."Youmay

finditahardermatterthanyouthink."

"NotonlywillIclearhim,Mr.Jones,butIwillmakeyouafreepresentofthenameanddescription

ofoneofthetwopeoplewhowereinthisroomlastnight.Hisname,Ihaveeveryreasontobelieve,is
JonathanSmall.Heisapoorly-educatedman,small,active,withhisrightlegoff,andwearingawooden
stumpwhichiswornawayupontheinnerside.Hisleftboothasacoarse,square-toedsole,withaniron
band round the heel. He is a middle-aged man, much sunburned, and has been a convict. These few
indications may be of some assistance to you, coupled with the fact that there is a good deal of skin
missingfromthepalmofhishand.Theotherman—"

"Ah!theotherman—?"askedAthelneyJones,inasneeringvoice,butimpressednonetheless,asI

couldeasilysee,bytheprecisionoftheother'smanner.

"Isarathercuriousperson,"saidSherlockHolmes,turninguponhisheel."Ihopebeforeverylongto

beabletointroduceyoutothepairofthem.—Awordwithyou,Watson."

Heledmeouttotheheadofthestair."Thisunexpectedoccurrence,"hesaid,"hascausedusratherto

losesightoftheoriginalpurposeofourjourney."

"I have just been thinking so," I answered. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this

strickenhouse."

"No.Youmustescortherhome.SheliveswithMrs.CecilForrester,inLowerCamberwell:soitis

notveryfar.Iwillwaitforyouhereifyouwilldriveoutagain.Orperhapsyouaretootired?"

"By no means. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. I have seen

somethingoftheroughsideoflife,butIgiveyoumywordthatthisquicksuccessionofstrangesurprises
to-nighthasshakenmynervecompletely.Ishouldlike,however,toseethematterthroughwithyou,now
thatIhavegotsofar."

"Your presence will be of great service to me," he answered. "We shall work the case out

independently, and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to
construct.WhenyouhavedroppedMissMorstanIwishyoutogoontoNo.3PinchinLane,downnear
the water's edge at Lambeth. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the
name.Youwillseeaweaselholdingayoungrabbitinthewindow.KnockoldShermanup,andtellhim,
withmycompliments,thatIwantTobyatonce.YouwillbringTobybackinthecabwithyou."

"Adog,Isuppose."

"Yes,—aqueermongrel,withamostamazingpowerofscent.IwouldratherhaveToby'shelpthan

thatofthewholedetectiveforceofLondon."

"I shall bring him, then," said I. "It is one now. I ought to be back before three, if I can get a fresh

horse."

"AndI,"saidHolmes,"shallseewhatIcanlearnfromMrs.Bernstone,andfromtheIndianservant,

who, Mr. Thaddeus tell me, sleeps in the next garret. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and
listentohisnottoodelicatesarcasms.'WirsindgewohntdasdieMenschenverhoehnenwassienicht
verstehen.'Goetheisalwayspithy."

ChapterVII

TheEpisodeoftheBarrel

Thepolicehadbroughtacabwiththem,andinthisIescortedMissMorstanbacktoherhome.After

the angelic fashion of women, she had borne trouble with a calm face as long as there was some one
weaker than herself to support, and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened
housekeeper. In the cab, however, she first turned faint, and then burst into a passion of weeping,—so
sorelyhadshebeentriedbytheadventuresofthenight.Shehastoldmesincethatshethoughtmecold
anddistantuponthatjourney.Shelittleguessedthestrugglewithinmybreast,ortheeffortofself-restraint
whichheldmeback.Mysympathiesandmylovewentouttoher,evenasmyhandhadinthegarden.Ifelt
thatyearsoftheconventionalitiesoflifecouldnotteachmetoknowhersweet,bravenatureashadthis
onedayofstrangeexperiences.Yetthereweretwothoughtswhichsealedthewordsofaffectionuponmy
lips.Shewasweakandhelpless,shakeninmindandnerve.Itwastotakeheratadisadvantagetoobtrude
loveuponheratsuchatime.Worsestill,shewasrich.IfHolmes'sresearchesweresuccessful,shewould
be an heiress. Was it fair, was it honorable, that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an
intimacywhichchancehadbroughtabout?Mightshenotlookuponmeasamerevulgarfortune-seeker?I
could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. This Agra treasure intervened like an
impassablebarrierbetweenus.

It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servants had retired hours

ago,butMrs.ForresterhadbeensointerestedbythestrangemessagewhichMissMorstanhadreceived
thatshehadsatupinthehopeofherreturn.Sheopenedthedoorherself,amiddle-aged,gracefulwoman,
anditgavemejoytoseehowtenderlyherarmstoleroundtheother'swaistandhowmotherlywasthe
voice in which she greeted her. She was clearly no mere paid dependant, but an honored friend. I was
introduced, and Mrs. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. I explained,
however,theimportanceofmyerrand,andpromisedfaithfullytocallandreportanyprogresswhichwe
mightmakewiththecase.AswedroveawayIstoleaglanceback,andIstillseemtoseethatlittlegroup
onthestep,thetwograceful,clingingfigures,thehalf-openeddoor,thehalllightshiningthroughstained
glass, the barometer, and the bright stair-rods. It was soothing to catch even that passing glimpse of a
tranquilEnglishhomeinthemidstofthewild,darkbusinesswhichhadabsorbedus.

AndthemoreIthoughtofwhathadhappened,thewilderanddarkeritgrew.Ireviewedthewhole

extraordinarysequenceofeventsasIrattledonthroughthesilentgas-litstreets.Therewastheoriginal
problem:thatatleastwasprettyclearnow.ThedeathofCaptainMorstan,thesendingofthepearls,the
advertisement, the letter,—we had had light upon all those events. They had only led us, however, to a
deeperandfarmoretragicmystery.TheIndiantreasure,thecuriousplanfoundamongMorstan'sbaggage,
the strange scene at Major Sholto's death, the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the
murder of the discoverer, the very singular accompaniments to the crime, the footsteps, the remarkable
weapons, the words upon the card, corresponding with those upon Captain Morstan's chart,—here was
indeedalabyrinthinwhichamanlesssingularlyendowedthanmyfellow-lodgermightwelldespairof
everfindingtheclue.

PinchinLanewasarowofshabbytwo-storiedbrickhousesinthelowerquarterofLambeth.Ihadto

knockforsometimeatNo.3beforeIcouldmakemyimpression.Atlast,however,therewastheglintof
acandlebehindtheblind,andafacelookedoutattheupperwindow.

"Goon,youdrunkenvagabone,"saidtheface."IfyoukickupanymorerowI'llopenthekennelsand

letoutforty-threedogsuponyou."

"Ifyou'llletoneoutit'sjustwhatIhavecomefor,"saidI.

"Goon!"yelledthevoice."Sohelpmegracious,Ihaveawiperinthebag,an'I'lldropitonyour'ead

ifyoudon'thookit."

"ButIwantadog,"Icried.

"Iwon'tbearguedwith!"shoutedMr.Sherman."Nowstandclear,forwhenIsay'three,'downgoes

thewiper."

"Mr.SherlockHolmes—"Ibegan,butthewordshadamostmagicaleffect,forthewindowinstantly

slammeddown,andwithinaminutethedoorwasunbarredandopen.Mr.Shermanwasalanky,leanold
man,withstoopingshoulders,astringyneck,andblue-tintedglasses.

"AfriendofMr.Sherlockisalwayswelcome,"saidhe."Stepin,sir.Keepclearofthebadger;forhe

bites.Ah,naughty,naughty,wouldyoutakeanipatthegentleman?"Thistoastoatwhichthrustitswicked
headandredeyesbetweenthebarsofitscage."Don'tmindthat,sir:it'sonlyaslow-worm.Ithain'tgot
nofangs,soIgivesittheruno'theroom,foritkeepsthebeetlesdown.Youmustnotmindmybein'justa
littleshortwi'youatfirst,forI'mguyedatbythechildren,andthere'smanyaonejustcomesdownthis
lanetoknockmeup.WhatwasitthatMr.SherlockHolmeswanted,sir?"

"Hewantedadogofyours."

"Ah!thatwouldbeToby."

"Yes,Tobywasthename."

"Toby lives at No. 7 on the left here." He moved slowly forward with his candle among the queer

animal family which he had gathered round him. In the uncertain, shadowy light I could see dimly that
therewereglancing,glimmeringeyespeepingdownatusfromeverycrannyandcorner.Eventherafters
aboveourheadswerelinedbysolemnfowls,wholazilyshiftedtheirweightfromonelegtotheotheras

ourvoicesdisturbedtheirslumbers.

Tobyprovedtobeanugly,long-haired,lop-earedcreature,halfspanielandhalflurcher,brown-and-

whiteincolor,withaveryclumsywaddlinggait.Itacceptedaftersomehesitationalumpofsugarwhich
theoldnaturalisthandedtome,and,havingthussealedanalliance,itfollowedmetothecab,andmade
nodifficultiesaboutaccompanyingme.IthadjuststruckthreeonthePalaceclockwhenIfoundmyself
backoncemoreatPondicherryLodge.Theex-prize-fighterMcMurdohad,Ifound,beenarrestedasan
accessory,andbothheandMr.Sholtohadbeenmarchedofftothestation.Twoconstablesguardedthe
narrowgate,buttheyallowedmetopasswiththedogonmymentioningthedetective'sname.

Holmeswasstandingonthedoor-step,withhishandsinhispockets,smokinghispipe.

"Ah, you have him there!" said he. "Good dog, then! Atheney Jones has gone. We have had an

immensedisplayofenergysinceyouleft.HehasarrestednotonlyfriendThaddeus,butthegatekeeper,
the housekeeper, and the Indian servant. We have the place to ourselves, but for a sergeant up-stairs.
Leavethedoghere,andcomeup."

WetiedTobytothehalltable,andreascendedthestairs.Theroomwasashehadleftit,savethata

sheethadbeendrapedoverthecentralfigure.Aweary-lookingpolice-sergeantreclinedinthecorner.

"Lendmeyourbull's-eye,sergeant,"saidmycompanion."Nowtiethisbitofcardroundmyneck,so

astohangitinfrontofme.Thankyou.NowImustkickoffmybootsandstockings.—Justyoucarrythem
down with you, Watson. I am going to do a little climbing. And dip my handkerchief into the creasote.
Thatwilldo.Nowcomeupintothegarretwithmeforamoment."

Weclamberedupthroughthehole.Holmesturnedhislightoncemoreuponthefootstepsinthedust.

"I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks," he said. "Do you observe anything noteworthy

aboutthem?"

"Theybelong,"Isaid,"toachildorasmallwoman."

"Apartfromtheirsize,though.Istherenothingelse?"

"Theyappeartobemuchasotherfootmarks."

"Notatall.Lookhere!Thisistheprintofarightfootinthedust.NowImakeonewithmynakedfoot

besideit.Whatisthechiefdifference?"

"Yourtoesareallcrampedtogether.Theotherprinthaseachtoedistinctlydivided."

"Quiteso.Thatisthepoint.Bearthatinmind.Now,wouldyoukindlystepovertothatflap-window

andsmelltheedgeofthewood-work?Ishallstayhere,asIhavethishandkerchiefinmyhand."

Ididashedirected,andwasinstantlyconsciousofastrongtarrysmell.

"Thatiswhereheputhisfootingettingout.IfYOUcantracehim,IshouldthinkthatTobywillhave

nodifficulty.Nowrundown-stairs,loosethedog,andlookoutforBlondin."

BythetimethatIgotoutintothegroundsSherlockHolmeswasontheroof,andIcouldseehimlike

an enormous glow-worm crawling very slowly along the ridge. I lost sight of him behind a stack of
chimneys,buthepresentlyreappeared,andthenvanishedoncemoreupontheoppositeside.WhenImade
mywayroundthereIfoundhimseatedatoneofthecornereaves.

"Thatyou,Watson?"hecried.

"Yes."

"Thisistheplace.Whatisthatblackthingdownthere?"

"Awater-barrel."

"Toponit?"

"Yes."

"Nosignofaladder?"

"No."

"Confoundthefellow!It'samostbreak-neckplace.Ioughttobeabletocomedownwherehecould

climbup.Thewater-pipefeelsprettyfirm.Heregoes,anyhow."

Therewasascufflingoffeet,andthelanternbegantocomesteadilydownthesideofthewall.Then

withalightspringhecameontothebarrel,andfromtheretotheearth.

"Itwaseasytofollowhim,"hesaid,drawingonhisstockingsandboots."Tileswereloosenedthe

wholewayalong,andinhishurryhehaddroppedthis.Itconfirmsmydiagnosis,asyoudoctorsexpress
it."

Theobjectwhichhehelduptomewasasmallpocketorpouchwovenoutofcoloredgrassesand

withafewtawdrybeadsstrungroundit.Inshapeandsizeitwasnotunlikeacigarette-case.Insidewere
halfadozenspinesofdarkwood,sharpatoneendandroundedattheother,likethatwhichhadstruck
BartholomewSholto.

"Theyarehellishthings,"saidhe."Lookoutthatyoudon'tprickyourself.I'mdelightedtohavethem,

for the chances are that they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin
beforelong.IwouldsoonerfaceaMartinibullet,myself.Areyougameforasix-miletrudge,Watson?"

"Certainly,"Ianswered.

"Yourlegwillstandit?"

"Oh,yes."

"Hereyouare,doggy!GoodoldToby!Smellit,Toby,smellit!"Hepushedthecreasotehandkerchief

underthedog'snose,whilethecreaturestoodwithitsfluffylegsseparated,andwithamostcomicalcock
to its head, like a connoisseur sniffing the bouquet of a famous vintage. Holmes then threw the

handkerchief to a distance, fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar, and led him to the foot of the
water-barrel.Thecreatureinstantlybrokeintoasuccessionofhigh,tremulousyelps,and,withhisnose
ontheground,andhistailintheair,patteredoffuponthetrailatapacewhichstrainedhisleashandkept
usatthetopofourspeed.

Theeasthadbeengraduallywhitening,andwecouldnowseesomedistanceinthecoldgraylight.

The square, massive house, with its black, empty windows and high, bare walls, towered up, sad and
forlorn,behindus.Ourcourseledrightacrossthegrounds,inandoutamongthetrenchesandpitswith
which they were scarred and intersected. The whole place, with its scattered dirt-heaps and ill-grown
shrubs,hadablighted,ill-omenedlookwhichharmonizedwiththeblacktragedywhichhungoverit.

OnreachingtheboundarywallTobyranalong,whiningeagerly,underneathitsshadow,andstopped

finally in a corner screened by a young beech. Where the two walls joined, several bricks had been
loosened, and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side, as though they had
frequentlybeenusedasaladder.Holmesclamberedup,and,takingthedogfromme,hedroppeditover
upontheotherside.

"There's the print of wooden-leg's hand," he remarked, as I mounted up beside him. "You see the

slightsmudgeofblooduponthewhiteplaster.Whataluckythingitisthatwehavehadnoveryheavyrain
sinceyesterday!Thescentwilllieupontheroadinspiteoftheireight-and-twentyhours'start."

IconfessthatIhadmydoubtsmyselfwhenIreflecteduponthegreattrafficwhichhadpassedalong

the London road in the interval. My fears were soon appeased, however. Toby never hesitated or
swerved,butwaddledoninhispeculiarrollingfashion.Clearly,thepungentsmellofthecreasoterose
highaboveallothercontendingscents.

"Donotimagine,"saidHolmes,"thatIdependformysuccessinthiscaseuponthemerechanceof

oneofthesefellowshavingputhisfootinthechemical.Ihaveknowledgenowwhichwouldenablemeto
trace them in many different ways. This, however, is the readiest and, since fortune has put it into our
hands,IshouldbeculpableifIneglectedit.Ithas,however,preventedthecasefrombecomingthepretty
littleintellectualproblemwhichitatonetimepromisedtobe.Theremighthavebeensomecredittobe
gainedoutofit,butforthistoopalpableclue."

"Thereiscredit,andtospare,"saidI."Iassureyou,Holmes,thatImarvelatthemeansbywhichyou

obtainyourresultsinthiscase,evenmorethanIdidintheJeffersonHopeMurder.Thethingseemstome
to be deeper and more inexplicable. How, for example, could you describe with such confidence the
wooden-leggedman?"

"Pshaw,mydearboy!itwassimplicityitself.Idon'twishtobetheatrical.Itisallpatentandabove-

board. Two officers who are in command of a convict-guard learn an important secret as to buried
treasure.AmapisdrawnforthembyanEnglishmannamedJonathanSmall.Yourememberthatwesaw
the name upon the chart in Captain Morstan's possession. He had signed it in behalf of himself and his
associates,—thesignofthefour,ashesomewhatdramaticallycalledit.Aidedbythischart,theofficers
—oroneofthem—getsthetreasureandbringsittoEngland,leaving,wewillsuppose,somecondition
underwhichhereceiveditunfulfilled.Now,then,whydidnotJonathanSmallgetthetreasurehimself?
Theanswerisobvious.ThechartisdatedatatimewhenMorstanwasbroughtintocloseassociationwith
convicts.JonathanSmalldidnotgetthetreasurebecauseheandhisassociateswerethemselvesconvicts
andcouldnotgetaway."

"Butthatismerespeculation,"saidI.

"Itismorethanthat.Itistheonlyhypothesiswhichcoversthefacts.Letusseehowitfitsinwiththe

sequel.MajorSholtoremainsatpeaceforsomeyears,happyinthepossessionofhistreasure.Thenhe
receivesaletterfromIndiawhichgiveshimagreatfright.Whatwasthat?"

"Alettertosaythatthemenwhomhehadwrongedhadbeensetfree."

"Orhadescaped.Thatismuchmorelikely,forhewouldhaveknownwhattheirtermofimprisonment

was. It would not have been a surprise to him. What does he do then? He guards himself against a
wooden-legged man,—a white man, mark you, for he mistakes a white tradesman for him, and actually
fires a pistol at him. Now, only one white man's name is on the chart. The others are Hindoos or
Mohammedans. There is no other white man. Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden-
leggedmanisidenticalwithJonathanSmall.Doesthereasoningstrikeyouasbeingfaulty?"

"No:itisclearandconcise."

"Well, now, let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small. Let us look at it from his point of

view.HecomestoEnglandwiththedoubleideaofregainingwhathewouldconsidertobehisrightsand
of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. He found out where Sholto lived, and very
possibly he established communications with some one inside the house. There is this butler, Lal Rao,
whomwehavenotseen.Mrs.Bernstonegiveshimfarfromagoodcharacter.Smallcouldnotfindout,
however,wherethetreasurewashid,fornooneeverknew,savethemajorandonefaithfulservantwho
had died. Suddenly Small learns that the major is on his death-bed. In a frenzy lest the secret of the
treasurediewithhim,herunsthegauntletoftheguards,makeshiswaytothedyingman'swindow,andis
only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. Mad with hate, however, against the dead
man, he enters the room that night, searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some
memorandum relating to the treasure, and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription
uponthecard.Hehaddoubtlessplannedbeforehandthatshouldheslaythemajorhewouldleavesome
suchrecorduponthebodyasasignthatitwasnotacommonmurder,but,fromthepointofviewofthe
fourassociates,somethinginthenatureofanactofjustice.Whimsicalandbizarreconceitsofthiskind
arecommonenoughintheannalsofcrime,andusuallyaffordvaluableindicationsastothecriminal.Do
youfollowallthis?"

"Veryclearly."

"Now,whatcouldJonathanSmalldo?Hecouldonlycontinuetokeepasecretwatchupontheefforts

madetofindthetreasure.PossiblyheleavesEnglandandonlycomesbackatintervals.Thencomesthe
discoveryofthegarret,andheisinstantlyinformedofit.Weagaintracethepresenceofsomeconfederate
inthehousehold.Jonathan,withhiswoodenleg,isutterlyunabletoreachtheloftyroomofBartholomew
Sholto.Hetakeswithhim,however,arathercuriousassociate,whogetsoverthisdifficulty,butdipshis
nakedfootintocreasote,whencecomesToby,andasix-milelimpforahalf-payofficerwithadamaged
tendoAchillis."

"Butitwastheassociate,andnotJonathan,whocommittedthecrime."

"Quiteso.AndrathertoJonathan'sdisgust,tojudgebythewayhestampedaboutwhenhegotintothe

room.HeborenogrudgeagainstBartholomewSholto,andwouldhavepreferredifhecouldhavebeen

simplyboundandgagged.Hedidnotwishtoputhisheadinahalter.Therewasnohelpforit,however:
thesavageinstinctsofhiscompanionhadbrokenout,andthepoisonhaddoneitswork:soJonathanSmall
left his record, lowered the treasure-box to the ground, and followed it himself. That was the train of
eventsasfarasIcandecipherthem.Ofcourseastohispersonalappearancehemustbemiddle-aged,and
mustbesunburnedafterservinghistimeinsuchanovenastheAndamans.Hisheightisreadilycalculated
fromthelengthofhisstride,andweknowthathewasbearded.Hishairinesswastheonepointwhich
impresseditselfuponThaddeusSholtowhenhesawhimatthewindow.Idon'tknowthatthereisanything
else."

"Theassociate?"

"Ah,well,thereisnogreatmysteryinthat.Butyouwillknowallaboutitsoonenough.Howsweet

themorningairis!Seehowthatonelittlecloudfloatslikeapinkfeatherfromsomegiganticflamingo.
NowtheredrimofthesunpushesitselfovertheLondoncloud-bank.Itshinesonagoodmanyfolk,buton
none,Idarebet,whoareonastrangererrandthanyouandI.Howsmallwefeelwithourpettyambitions
andstrivingsinthepresenceofthegreatelementalforcesofnature!AreyouwellupinyourJeanPaul?"

"Fairlyso.IworkedbacktohimthroughCarlyle."

"Thatwaslikefollowingthebrooktotheparentlake.Hemakesonecuriousbutprofoundremark.It

isthatthechiefproofofman'srealgreatnessliesinhisperceptionofhisownsmallness.Itargues,you
see,apowerofcomparisonandofappreciationwhichisinitselfaproofofnobility.Thereismuchfood
forthoughtinRichter.Youhavenotapistol,haveyou?"

"Ihavemystick."

"Itisjustpossiblethatwemayneedsomethingofthesortifwegettotheirlair.JonathanIshallleave

to you, but if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead." He took out his revolver as he spoke, and,
havingloadedtwoofthechambers,heputitbackintotheright-handpocketofhisjacket.

We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads

which lead to the metropolis. Now, however, we were beginning to come among continuous streets,
where laborers and dockmen were already astir, and slatternly women were taking down shutters and
brushingdoor-steps.Atthesquare-toppedcornerpublichousesbusinesswasjustbeginning,andrough-
looking men were emerging, rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet. Strange
dogssaunteredupandstaredwonderinglyatusaswepassed,butourinimitableTobylookedneitherto
the right nor to the left, but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine
whichspokeofahotscent.

We had traversed Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell, and now found ourselves in Kennington Lane,

havingborneawaythroughtheside-streetstotheeastoftheOval.Themenwhomwepursuedseemedto
havetakenacuriouslyzigzagroad,withtheideaprobablyofescapingobservation.Theyhadneverkept
tothemainroadifaparallelside-streetwouldservetheirturn.AtthefootofKenningtonLanetheyhad
edged away to the left through Bond Street and Miles Street. Where the latter street turns into Knight's
Place, Toby ceased to advance, but began to run backwards and forwards with one ear cocked and the
otherdrooping,theverypictureofcanineindecision.Thenhewaddledroundincircles,lookinguptous
fromtimetotime,asiftoaskforsympathyinhisembarrassment.

"Whatthedeuceisthematterwiththedog?"growledHolmes."Theysurelywouldnottakeacab,or

gooffinaballoon."

"Perhapstheystoodhereforsometime,"Isuggested.

"Ah!it'sallright.He'soffagain,"saidmycompanion,inatoneofrelief.

Hewasindeedoff,foraftersniffingroundagainhesuddenlymadeuphismind,anddartedawaywith

an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown. The scent appeared to be much hotter than
before,forhehadnoteventoputhisnoseontheground,buttuggedathisleashandtriedtobreakintoa
run.IcoldseebythegleaminHolmes'seyesthathethoughtwewerenearingtheendofourjourney.

OurcoursenowrandownNineElmsuntilwecametoBroderickandNelson'slargetimber-yard,just

pasttheWhiteEagletavern.Herethedog,franticwithexcitement,turneddownthroughtheside-gateinto
theenclosure,wherethesawyerswerealreadyatwork.Onthedogracedthroughsawdustandshavings,
down an alley, round a passage, between two wood-piles, and finally, with a triumphant yelp, sprang
upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. With lolling
tongueandblinkingeyes,Tobystooduponthecask,lookingfromonetotheotherofusforsomesignof
appreciation.Thestavesofthebarrelandthewheelsofthetrolleyweresmearedwithadarkliquid,and
thewholeairwasheavywiththesmellofcreasote.

Sherlock Holmes and I looked blankly at each other, and then burst simultaneously into an

uncontrollablefitoflaughter.

ChapterVIII

TheBakerStreetIrregulars

"Whatnow?"Iasked."Tobyhaslosthischaracterforinfallibility."

"Heactedaccordingtohislights,"saidHolmes,liftinghimdownfromthebarrelandwalkinghimout

ofthetimber-yard."IfyouconsiderhowmuchcreasoteiscartedaboutLondoninoneday,itisnogreat
wonder that our trail should have been crossed. It is much used now, especially for the seasoning of
wood.PoorTobyisnottoblame."

"Wemustgetonthemainscentagain,Isuppose."

"Yes. And, fortunately, we have no distance to go. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of

Knight'sPlacewasthatthereweretwodifferenttrailsrunninginoppositedirections.Wetookthewrong
one.Itonlyremainstofollowtheother."

Therewasnodifficultyaboutthis.OnleadingTobytotheplacewherehehadcommittedhisfault,he

castaboutinawidecircleandfinallydashedoffinafreshdirection.

"Wemusttakecarethathedoesnotnowbringustotheplacewherethecreasote-barrelcamefrom,"I

observed.

"Ihadthoughtofthat.Butyounoticethathekeepsonthepavement,whereasthebarrelpasseddown

theroadway.No,weareonthetruescentnow."

Ittendeddowntowardstheriver-side,runningthroughBelmontPlaceandPrince'sStreet.Attheend

ofBroadStreetitranrightdowntothewater'sedge,wheretherewasasmallwoodenwharf.Tobyledus
totheveryedgeofthis,andtherestoodwhining,lookingoutonthedarkcurrentbeyond.

"Weareoutofluck,"saidHolmes."Theyhavetakentoaboathere."Severalsmallpuntsandskiffs

were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. We took Toby round to each in turn, but,
thoughhesniffedearnestly,hemadenosign.

Closetotherudelanding-stagewasasmallbrickhouse,withawoodenplacardslungoutthroughthe

secondwindow."MordecaiSmith"wasprintedacrossitinlargeletters,and,underneath,"Boatstohire
bythehourorday."Asecondinscriptionabovethedoorinformedusthatasteamlaunchwaskept,—a
statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly
round,andhisfaceassumedanominousexpression.

"This looks bad," said he. "These fellows are sharper than I expected. They seem to have covered

theirtracks.Therehas,Ifear,beenpreconcertedmanagementhere."

Hewasapproachingthedoorofthehouse,whenitopened,andalittle,curly-headedladofsixcame

runningout,followedbyastoutish,red-facedwomanwithalargespongeinherhand.

"Youcomebackandbewashed,Jack,"sheshouted."Comeback,youyoungimp;forifyourfather

comeshomeandfindsyoulikethat,he'llletushearofit."

"Dear little chap!" said Holmes, strategically. "What a rosy-cheeked young rascal! Now, Jack, is

thereanythingyouwouldlike?"

Theyouthponderedforamoment."I'dlikeashillin',"saidhe.

"Nothingyouwouldlikebetter?"

"I'dliketwoshillin'better,"theprodigyanswered,aftersomethought.

"Hereyouare,then!Catch!—Afinechild,Mrs.Smith!"

"Lor' bless you, sir, he is that, and forward. He gets a'most too much for me to manage, 'specially

whenmymanisawaydaysatatime."

"Away,ishe?"saidHolmes,inadisappointedvoice."Iamsorryforthat,forIwantedtospeakto

Mr.Smith."

"He'sbeenawaysinceyesterdaymornin',sir,and,truthtotell,Iambeginnin'tofeelfrightenedabout

him.Butifitwasaboutaboat,sir,maybeIcouldserveaswell."

"Iwantedtohirehissteamlaunch."

"Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam launch that he has gone. That's what puzzles me; for I know

thereain'tmorecoalsinherthanwouldtakehertoaboutWoolwichandback.Ifhe'dbeenawayinthe
bargeI'dha'thoughtnothin';formanyatimeajobhastakenhimasfarasGravesend,andtheniftherewas
muchdoin'therehemightha'stayedover.Butwhatgoodisasteamlaunchwithoutcoals?"

"Hemighthaveboughtsomeatawharfdowntheriver."

"Hemight,sir,butitweren'thisway.ManyatimeI'veheardhimcalloutatthepricestheychargefor

afewoddbags.Besides,Idon'tlikethatwooden-leggedman,wi'hisuglyfaceandoutlandishtalk.What
didhewantalwaysknockin'aboutherefor?"

"Awooden-leggedman?"saidHolmes,withblandsurprise.

"Yes, sir, a brown, monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. It was him that

roused him up yesternight, and, what's more, my man knew he was comin', for he had steam up in the
launch.Itellyoustraight,sir,Idon'tfeeleasyinmymindaboutit."

"But,mydearMrs.Smith,"saidHolmes,shrugginghisshoulders,"Youarefrighteningyourselfabout

nothing.Howcouldyoupossiblytellthatitwasthewooden-leggedmanwhocameinthenight?Idon't
quiteunderstandhowyoucanbesosure."

"Hisvoice,sir.Iknewhisvoice,whichiskindo'thickandfoggy.Hetappedatthewinder,—about

threeitwouldbe.'Showaleg,matey,'sayshe:'timetoturnoutguard.'MyoldmanwokeupJim,—that's
myeldest,—andawaytheywent,withoutsomuchasawordtome.Icouldhearthewoodenlegclackin'
onthestones."

"Andwasthiswooden-leggedmanalone?"

"Couldn'tsay,Iamsure,sir.Ididn'thearnooneelse."

"Iamsorry,Mrs.Smith,forIwantedasteamlaunch,andIhaveheardgoodreportsofthe—Letme

see,whatishername?"

"TheAurora,sir."

"Ah!She'snotthatoldgreenlaunchwithayellowline,verybroadinthebeam?"

"No,indeed.She'sastrimalittlethingasanyontheriver.She'sbeenfreshpainted,blackwithtwo

redstreaks."

"Thanks.IhopethatyouwillhearsoonfromMr.Smith.Iamgoingdowntheriver;andifIshouldsee

anythingoftheAuroraIshalllethimknowthatyouareuneasy.Ablackfunnel,yousay?"

"No,sir.Blackwithawhiteband."

"Ah,ofcourse.Itwasthesideswhichwereblack.Good-morning,Mrs.Smith.—Thereisaboatman

herewithawherry,Watson.Weshalltakeitandcrosstheriver.

"The main thing with people of that sort," said Holmes, as we sat in the sheets of the wherry, "is

nevertoletthemthinkthattheirinformationcanbeoftheslightestimportancetoyou.Ifyoudo,theywill
instantlyshutuplikeanoyster.Ifyoulistentothemunderprotest,asitwere,youareverylikelytoget
whatyouwant."

"Ourcoursenowseemsprettyclear,"saidI.

"Whatwouldyoudo,then?"

"IwouldengagealaunchandgodowntheriveronthetrackoftheAurora."

"Mydearfellow,itwouldbeacolossaltask.Shemayhavetouchedatanywharfoneithersideofthe

streambetweenhereandGreenwich.Belowthebridgethereisaperfectlabyrinthoflanding-placesfor
miles.Itwouldtakeyoudaysanddaystoexhaustthem,ifyousetaboutitalone."

"Employthepolice,then."

"No.IshallprobablycallAthelneyJonesinatthelastmoment.Heisnotabadfellow,andIshould

not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. But I have a fancy for working it out
myself,nowthatwehavegonesofar."

"Couldweadvertise,then,askingforinformationfromwharfingers?"

"Worseandworse!Ourmenwouldknowthatthechasewashotattheirheels,andtheywouldbeoff

outofthecountry.Asitis,theyarelikelyenoughtoleave,butaslongastheythinktheyareperfectlysafe
theywillbeinnohurry.Jones'senergywillbeofusetousthere,forhisviewofthecaseissuretopush
itselfintothedailypress,andtherunawayswillthinkthateveryoneisoffonthewrongscent."

"Whatarewetodo,then?"Iasked,aswelandednearMillbankPenitentiary.

"Takethishansom,drivehome,havesomebreakfast,andgetanhour'ssleep.Itisquiteonthecards

thatwemaybeafootto-nightagain.Stopatatelegraph-office,cabby!WewillkeepToby,forhemaybe
ofusetousyet."

WepulledupattheGreatPeterStreetpost-office,andHolmesdespatchedhiswire."Whomdoyou

thinkthatisto?"heasked,asweresumedourjourney.

"IamsureIdon'tknow."

"You remember the Baker Street division of the detective police force whom I employed in the

JeffersonHopecase?"

"Well,"saidI,laughing.

"Thisisjustthecasewheretheymightbeinvaluable.Iftheyfail,Ihaveotherresources;butIshall

trythemfirst.Thatwirewastomydirtylittlelieutenant,Wiggins,andIexpectthatheandhisgangwillbe
withusbeforewehavefinishedourbreakfast."

It was between eight and nine o'clock now, and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the

successiveexcitementsofthenight.Iwaslimpandweary,befoggedinmindandfatiguedinbody.Ihad
nottheprofessionalenthusiasmwhichcarriedmycompanionon,norcouldIlookatthematterasamere
abstractintellectualproblem.AsfarasthedeathofBartholomewSholtowent,Ihadheardlittlegoodof
him,andcouldfeelnointenseantipathytohismurderers.Thetreasure,however,wasadifferentmatter.
That,orpartofit,belongedrightfullytoMissMorstan.WhiletherewasachanceofrecoveringitIwas
readytodevotemylifetotheoneobject.True,ifIfoundititwouldprobablyputherforeverbeyondmy
reach. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. If
Holmescouldworktofindthecriminals,Ihadatenfoldstrongerreasontourgemeontofindthetreasure.

AbathatBakerStreetandacompletechangefreshenedmeupwonderfully.WhenIcamedowntoour

roomIfoundthebreakfastlaidandHomespouringoutthecoffee.

"Here it is," said he, laughing, and pointing to an open newspaper. "The energetic Jones and the

ubiquitousreporterhavefixeditupbetweenthem.Butyouhavehadenoughofthecase.Betterhaveyour
hamandeggsfirst."

Itookthepaperfromhimandreadtheshortnotice,whichwasheaded"MysteriousBusinessatUpper

Norwood."

"About twelve o'clock last night," said the Standard, "Mr. Bartholomew Sholto, of Pondicherry

Lodge,UpperNorwood,wasfounddeadinhisroomundercircumstanceswhichpointtofoulplay.Asfar
as we can learn, no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. Sholto's person, but a valuable
collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried
off.ThediscoverywasfirstmadebyMr.SherlockHolmesandDr.Watson,whohadcalledatthehouse
with Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, brother of the deceased. By a singular piece of good fortune, Mr. Athelney
Jones, the well-known member of the detective police force, happened to be at the Norwood Police
Station,andwasonthegroundwithinhalfanhourofthefirstalarm.Histrainedandexperiencedfaculties
were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals, with the gratifying result that the brother,
Thaddeus Sholto, has already been arrested, together with the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, an Indian
butler named Lal Rao, and a porter, or gatekeeper, named McMurdo. It is quite certain that the thief or
thieves were well acquainted with the house, for Mr. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his
powersofminuteobservationhaveenabledhimtoproveconclusivelythatthemiscreantscouldnothave
enteredbythedoororbythewindow,butmusthavemadetheirwayacrosstheroofofthebuilding,and
sothroughatrap-doorintoaroomwhichcommunicatedwiththatinwhichthebodywasfound.Thisfact,
whichhasbeenveryclearlymadeout,provesconclusivelythatitwasnomerehaphazardburglary.The
promptandenergeticactionoftheofficersofthelawshowsthegreatadvantageofthepresenceonsuch
occasions of a single vigorous and masterful mind. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to
those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized, and so brought into closer and more
effectivetouchwiththecaseswhichitistheirdutytoinvestigate."

"Isn'titgorgeous!"saidHolmes,grinningoverhiscoffee-cup."Whatdoyouthinkofit?"

"Ithinkthatwehavehadacloseshaveourselvesofbeingarrestedforthecrime."

"SodoI.Iwouldn'tanswerforoursafetynow,ifheshouldhappentohaveanotherofhisattacksof

energy."

Atthismomenttherewasaloudringatthebell,andIcouldhearMrs.Hudson,ourlandlady,raising

hervoiceinawailofexpostulationanddismay.

"Byheaven,Holmes,"Isaid,halfrising,"Ibelievethattheyarereallyafterus."

"No,it'snotquitesobadasthat.Itistheunofficialforce,—theBakerStreetirregulars."

Ashespoke,therecameaswiftpatteringofnakedfeetuponthestairs,aclatterofhighvoices,andin

rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. There was some show of discipline among them,
despitetheirtumultuousentry,fortheyinstantlydrewupinlineandstoodfacinguswithexpectantfaces.
One of their number, taller and older than the others, stood forward with an air of lounging superiority
whichwasveryfunnyinsuchadisreputablelittlescarecrow.

"Gotyourmessage,sir,"saidhe,"andbrought'emonsharp.Threebobandatannerfortickets."

"Hereyouare,"saidHolmes,producingsomesilver."Infuturetheycanreporttoyou,Wiggins,and

youtome.Icannothavethehouseinvadedinthisway.However,itisjustaswellthatyoushouldallhear
the instructions. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora, owner Mordecai
Smith,blackwithtworedstreaks,funnelblackwithawhiteband.Sheisdowntheriversomewhere.I
wantoneboytobeatMordecaiSmith'slanding-stageoppositeMillbanktosayiftheboatcomesback.
You must divide it out among yourselves, and do both banks thoroughly. Let me know the moment you
havenews.Isthatallclear?"

"Yes,guv'nor,"saidWiggins.

"Theoldscaleofpay,andaguineatotheboywhofindstheboat.Here'sadayinadvance.Nowoff

yougo!"Hehandedthemashillingeach,andawaytheybuzzeddownthestairs,andIsawthemamoment
laterstreamingdownthestreet.

"Ifthelaunchisabovewatertheywillfindher,"saidHolmes,asherosefromthetableandlithis

pipe."Theycangoeverywhere,seeeverything,overheareveryone.Iexpecttohearbeforeeveningthat
they have spotted her. In the mean while, we can do nothing but await results. We cannot pick up the
brokentrailuntilwefindeithertheAuroraorMr.MordecaiSmith."

"Tobycouldeatthesescraps,Idaresay.Areyougoingtobed,Holmes?"

"No: I am not tired. I have a curious constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work, though

idlenessexhaustsmecompletely.Iamgoingtosmokeandtothinkoverthisqueerbusinesstowhichmy
fairclienthasintroducedus.Ifevermanhadaneasytask,thisofoursoughttobe.Wooden-leggedmen
arenotsocommon,buttheothermanmust,Ishouldthink,beabsolutelyunique."

"Thatothermanagain!"

"I have no wish to make a mystery of him,—to you, anyway. But you must have formed your own

opinion.Now,doconsiderthedata.Diminutivefootmarks,toesneverfetteredbyboots,nakedfeet,stone-
headedwoodenmace,greatagility,smallpoisoneddarts.Whatdoyoumakeofallthis?"

"Asavage!"Iexclaimed."PerhapsoneofthoseIndianswhoweretheassociatesofJonathanSmall."

"Hardlythat,"saidhe."WhenfirstIsawsignsofstrangeweaponsIwasinclinedtothinkso;butthe

remarkablecharacterofthefootmarkscausedmetoreconsidermyviews.Someoftheinhabitantsofthe
IndianPeninsulaaresmallmen,butnonecouldhaveleftsuchmarksasthat.TheHindooproperhaslong
andthinfeet.Thesandal-wearingMohammedanhasthegreattoewellseparatedfromtheothers,because
thethongiscommonlypassedbetween.Theselittledarts,too,couldonlybeshotinoneway.Theyare
fromablow-pipe.Now,then,wherearewetofindoursavage?"

"SouthAmerican,"Ihazarded.

Hestretchedhishandup,andtookdownabulkyvolumefromtheshelf."Thisisthefirstvolumeofa

gazetteerwhichisnowbeingpublished.Itmaybelookeduponastheverylatestauthority.Whathavewe
here? 'Andaman Islands, situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra, in the Bay of Bengal.' Hum! hum!
What's all this? Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict-barracks, Rutland Island,
cottonwoods—Ah, here we are. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the
distinctionofbeingthesmallestraceuponthisearth,thoughsomeanthropologistsprefertheBushmenof
Africa, the Digger Indians of America, and the Terra del Fuegians. The average height is rather below
fourfeet,althoughmanyfull-grownadultsmaybefoundwhoareverymuchsmallerthanthis.Theyarea
fierce, morose, and intractable people, though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their
confidence has once been gained.' Mark that, Watson. Now, then, listen to this. 'They are naturally
hideous,havinglarge,misshapenheads,small,fierceeyes,anddistortedfeatures.Theirfeetandhands,
however,areremarkablysmall.SointractableandfiercearetheythatalltheeffortsoftheBritishofficial
have failed to win them over in any degree. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews,
brainingthesurvivorswiththeirstone-headedclubs,orshootingthemwiththeirpoisonedarrows.These
massacresareinvariablyconcludedbyacannibalfeast.'Nice,amiablepeople,Watson!Ifthisfellowhad
beenlefttohisownunaideddevicesthisaffairmighthavetakenanevenmoreghastlyturn.Ifancythat,
evenasitis,JonathanSmallwouldgiveagooddealnottohaveemployedhim."

"Buthowcamehetohavesosingularacompanion?"

"Ah, that is more than I can tell. Since, however, we had already determined that Small had come

fromtheAndamans,itisnotsoverywonderfulthatthisislandershouldbewithhim.Nodoubtweshall
knowallaboutitintime.Lookhere,Watson;youlookregularlydone.Liedownthereonthesofa,andsee
ifIcanputyoutosleep."

He took up his violin from the corner, and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low,

dreamy,melodiousair,—hisown,nodoubt,forhehadaremarkablegiftforimprovisation.Ihaveavague
remembranceofhisgauntlimbs,hisearnestface,andtheriseandfallofhisbow.ThenIseemedtobe
floatedpeacefullyawayuponasoftseaofsound,untilIfoundmyselfindream-land,withthesweetface
ofMaryMorstanlookingdownuponme.

ChapterIX

ABreakintheChain

It was late in the afternoon before I woke, strengthened and refreshed. Sherlock Holmes still sat

exactlyasIhadlefthim,savethathehadlaidasidehisviolinandwasdeepinabook.Helookedacross
atme,asIstirred,andInoticedthathisfacewasdarkandtroubled.

"Youhavesleptsoundly,"hesaid."Ifearedthatourtalkwouldwakeyou."

"Iheardnothing,"Ianswered."Haveyouhadfreshnews,then?"

"Unfortunately, no. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. I expected something definite by

this time. Wiggins has just been up to report. He says that no trace can be found of the launch. It is a
provokingcheck,foreveryhourisofimportance."

"CanIdoanything?Iamperfectlyfreshnow,andquitereadyforanothernight'souting."

"No, we can do nothing. We can only wait. If we go ourselves, the message might come in our

absence,anddelaybecaused.Youcandowhatyouwill,butImustremainonguard."

"Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. Cecil Forrester. She asked me to,

yesterday."

"OnMrs.CecilForrester?"askedHolmes,withthetwinkleofasmileinhiseyes.

"Well,ofcourseMissMorstantoo.Theywereanxioustohearwhathappened."

"Iwouldnottellthemtoomuch,"saidHolmes."Womenarenevertobeentirelytrusted,—notthebest

ofthem."

Ididnotpausetoargueoverthisatrocioussentiment."Ishallbebackinanhourortwo,"Iremarked.

"Allright!Goodluck!But,Isay,ifyouarecrossingtheriveryoumayaswellreturnToby,forIdon't

thinkitisatalllikelythatweshallhaveanyuseforhimnow."

Itookourmongrelaccordingly,andlefthim,togetherwithahalf-sovereign,attheoldnaturalist'sin

PinchinLane.AtCamberwellIfoundMissMorstanalittlewearyafterhernight'sadventures,butvery
eager to hear the news. Mrs. Forrester, too, was full of curiosity. I told them all that we had done,
suppressing,however,themoredreadfulpartsofthetragedy.Thus,althoughIspokeofMr.Sholto'sdeath,
Isaidnothingoftheexactmannerandmethodofit.Withallmyomissions,however,therewasenoughto
startleandamazethem.

"Itisaromance!"criedMrs.Forrester."Aninjuredlady,halfamillionintreasure,ablackcannibal,

andawooden-leggedruffian.Theytaketheplaceoftheconventionaldragonorwickedearl."

"Andtwoknight-errantstotherescue,"addedMissMorstan,withabrightglanceatme.

"Why, Mary, your fortune depends upon the issue of this search. I don't think that you are nearly

excitedenough.Justimaginewhatitmustbetobesorich,andtohavetheworldatyourfeet!"

Itsentalittlethrillofjoytomyhearttonoticethatsheshowednosignofelationattheprospect.On

the contrary, she gave a toss of her proud head, as though the matter were one in which she took small

interest.

"ItisforMr.ThaddeusSholtothatIamanxious,"shesaid."Nothingelseisofanyconsequence;butI

thinkthathehasbehavedmostkindlyandhonorablythroughout.Itisourdutytoclearhimofthisdreadful
andunfoundedcharge."

ItwaseveningbeforeIleftCamberwell,andquitedarkbythetimeIreachedhome.Mycompanion's

bookandpipelaybyhischair,buthehaddisappeared.Ilookedaboutinthehopeofseeinganote,but
therewasnone.

"IsupposethatMr.SherlockHolmeshasgoneout,"IsaidtoMrs.Hudsonasshecameuptolower

theblinds.

"No, sir. He has gone to his room, sir. Do you know, sir," sinking her voice into an impressive

whisper,"Iamafraidforhishealth?"

"Whyso,Mrs.Hudson?"

"Well,he'sthatstrange,sir.Afteryouwasgonehewalkedandhewalked,upanddown,andupand

down,untilIwaswearyofthesoundofhisfootstep.ThenIheardhimtalkingtohimselfandmuttering,
andeverytimethebellrangouthecameonthestairhead,with'Whatisthat,Mrs.Hudson?'Andnowhe
hasslammedofftohisroom,butIcanhearhimwalkingawaythesameasever.Ihopehe'snotgoingtobe
ill,sir.Iventuredtosaysomethingtohimaboutcoolingmedicine,butheturnedonme,sir,withsucha
lookthatIdon'tknowhoweverIgotoutoftheroom."

"Idon'tthinkthatyouhaveanycausetobeuneasy,Mrs.Hudson,"Ianswered."Ihaveseenhimlike

thisbefore.Hehassomesmallmatteruponhismindwhichmakeshimrestless."Itriedtospeaklightlyto
ourworthylandlady,butIwasmyselfsomewhatuneasywhenthroughthelongnightIstillfromtimeto
timeheardthedullsoundofhistread,andknewhowhiskeenspiritwaschafingagainstthisinvoluntary
inaction.

Atbreakfast-timehelookedwornandhaggard,withalittlefleckoffeverishcoloruponeithercheek.

"Youareknockingyourselfup,oldman,"Iremarked."Iheardyoumarchingaboutinthenight."

"No,Icouldnotsleep,"heanswered."Thisinfernalproblemisconsumingme.Itistoomuchtobe

balkedbysopettyanobstacle,whenallelsehadbeenovercome.Iknowthemen,thelaunch,everything;
andyetIcangetnonews.Ihavesetotheragenciesatwork,andusedeverymeansatmydisposal.The
whole river has been searched on either side, but there is no news, nor has Mrs. Smith heard of her
husband.Ishallcometotheconclusionsoonthattheyhavescuttledthecraft.Butthereareobjectionsto
that."

"OrthatMrs.Smithhasputusonawrongscent."

"No,Ithinkthatmaybedismissed.Ihadinquiriesmade,andthereisalaunchofthatdescription."

"Couldithavegoneuptheriver?"

"I have considered that possibility too, and there is a search-party who will work up as far as

Richmond.Ifnonewscomesto-day,Ishallstartoffmyselfto-morrow,andgoforthemenratherthanthe
boat.Butsurely,surely,weshallhearsomething."

Wedidnot,however.NotawordcametouseitherfromWigginsorfromtheotheragencies.There

werearticlesinmostofthepapersupontheNorwoodtragedy.Theyallappearedtoberatherhostileto
theunfortunateThaddeusSholto.Nofreshdetailsweretobefound,however,inanyofthem,savethatan
inquestwastobehelduponthefollowingday.IwalkedovertoCamberwellintheeveningtoreportour
ill success to the ladies, and on my return I found Holmes dejected and somewhat morose. He would
hardly reply to my questions, and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which
involvedmuchheatingofretortsanddistillingofvapors,endingatlastinasmellwhichfairlydroveme
outoftheapartment.UptothesmallhoursofthemorningIcouldheartheclinkingofhistest-tubeswhich
toldmethathewasstillengagedinhismalodorousexperiment.

IntheearlydawnIwokewithastart,andwassurprisedtofindhimstandingbymybedside,cladina

rudesailordresswithapea-jacket,andacoarseredscarfroundhisneck.

"Iamoffdowntheriver,Watson,"saidhe."Ihavebeenturningitoverinmymind,andIcanseeonly

onewayoutofit.Itisworthtrying,atallevents."

"SurelyIcancomewithyou,then?"saidI.

"No;youcanbemuchmoreusefulifyouwillremainhereasmyrepresentative.Iamloathtogo,for

itisquiteonthecardsthatsomemessagemaycomeduringtheday,thoughWigginswasdespondentabout
it last night. I want you to open all notes and telegrams, and to act on your own judgment if any news
shouldcome.CanIrelyuponyou?"

"Mostcertainly."

"Iamafraidthatyouwillnotbeabletowiretome,forIcanhardlytellyetwhereImayfindmyself.

IfIaminluck,however,Imaynotbegonesoverylong.IshallhavenewsofsomesortorotherbeforeI
getback."

I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. On opening the Standard, however, I found that there

wasafreshallusiontothebusiness."WithreferencetotheUpperNorwoodtragedy,"itremarked,"we
have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was
originallysupposed.FreshevidencehasshownthatitisquiteimpossiblethatMr.ThaddeusSholtocould
have been in any way concerned in the matter. He and the housekeeper, Mrs. Bernstone, were both
releasedyesterdayevening.Itisbelieved,however,thatthepolicehaveaclueastotherealculprits,and
thatitisbeingprosecutedbyMr.AthelneyJones,ofScotlandYard,withallhiswell-knownenergyand
sagacity.Furtherarrestsmaybeexpectedatanymoment."

"Thatissatisfactorysofarasitgoes,"thoughtI."FriendSholtoissafe,atanyrate.Iwonderwhatthe

freshcluemaybe;thoughitseemstobeastereotypedformwheneverthepolicehavemadeablunder."

I tossed the paper down upon the table, but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the

agonycolumn.Itraninthisway:

"Lost.—Whereas Mordecai Smith, boatman, and his son, Jim, left Smith's Wharf at or about three

o'clocklastTuesdaymorninginthesteamlaunchAurora,blackwithtworedstripes,funnelblackwitha
whiteband,thesumoffivepoundswillbepaidtoanyonewhocangiveinformationtoMrs.Smith,at
Smith'sWharf,orat221bBakerStreet,astothewhereaboutsofthesaidMordecaiSmithandthelaunch
Aurora."

ThiswasclearlyHolmes'sdoing.TheBakerStreetaddresswasenoughtoprovethat.Itstruckmeas

ratheringenious,becauseitmightbereadbythefugitiveswithouttheirseeinginitmorethanthenatural
anxietyofawifeforhermissinghusband.

It was a long day. Every time that a knock came to the door, or a sharp step passed in the street, I

imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement. I tried to read, but my
thoughtswouldwanderofftoourstrangequestandtotheill-assortedandvillainouspairwhomwewere
pursuing. Could there be, I wondered, some radical flaw in my companion's reasoning. Might he be
suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had
builtupthiswildtheoryuponfaultypremises?Ihadneverknownhimtobewrong;andyetthekeenest
reasoner may occasionally be deceived. He was likely, I thought, to fall into error through the over-
refinement of his logic,—his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more
commonplaceonelayreadytohishand.Yet,ontheotherhand,Ihadmyselfseentheevidence,andIhad
heard the reasons for his deductions. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances,
manyofthemtrivialinthemselves,butalltendinginthesamedirection,Icouldnotdisguisefrommyself
thatevenifHolmes'sexplanationwereincorrectthetruetheorymustbeequallyoutreandstartling.

Atthreeo'clockintheafternoontherewasaloudpealatthebell,anauthoritativevoiceinthehall,

and,tomysurprise,nolessapersonthanMr.AthelneyJoneswasshownuptome.Verydifferentwashe,
however, from the brusque and masterful professor of common sense who had taken over the case so
confidentlyatUpperNorwood.Hisexpressionwasdowncast,andhisbearingmeekandevenapologetic.

"Good-day,sir;good-day,"saidhe."Mr.SherlockHolmesisout,Iunderstand."

"Yes,andIcannotbesurewhenhewillbeback.Butperhapsyouwouldcaretowait.Takethatchair

andtryoneofthesecigars."

"Thankyou;Idon'tmindifIdo,"saidhe,moppinghisfacewitharedbandannahandkerchief.

"Andawhiskey-and-soda?"

"Well,halfaglass.Itisveryhotforthetimeofyear;andIhavehadagooddealtoworryandtryme.

YouknowmytheoryaboutthisNorwoodcase?"

"Irememberthatyouexpressedone."

"Well, I have been obliged to reconsider it. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Sholto, sir, when

pophewentthroughaholeinthemiddleofit.Hewasabletoproveanalibiwhichcouldnotbeshaken.
Fromthetimethathelefthisbrother'sroomhewasneveroutofsightofsomeoneorother.Soitcouldnot
behewhoclimbedoverroofsandthroughtrap-doors.It'saverydarkcase,andmyprofessionalcreditis
atstake.Ishouldbeverygladofalittleassistance."

"Weallneedhelpsometimes,"saidI.

"Your friend Mr. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man, sir," said he, in a husky and confidential

voice."He'samanwhoisnottobebeat.Ihaveknownthatyoungmangointoagoodmanycases,butI
never saw the case yet that he could not throw a light upon. He is irregular in his methods, and a little
quick perhaps in jumping at theories, but, on the whole, I think he would have made a most promising
officer,andIdon'tcarewhoknowsit.Ihavehadawirefromhimthismorning,bywhichIunderstandthat
hehasgotsomecluetothisSholtobusiness.Hereisthemessage."

He took the telegram out of his pocket, and handed it to me. It was dated from Poplar at twelve

o'clock."GotoBakerStreetatonce,"itsaid."IfIhavenotreturned,waitforme.Iamcloseonthetrack
oftheSholtogang.Youcancomewithusto-nightifyouwanttobeinatthefinish."

"Thissoundswell.Hehasevidentlypickedupthescentagain,"saidI.

"Ah,thenhehasbeenatfaulttoo,"exclaimedJones,withevidentsatisfaction."Eventhebestofus

arethrownoffsometimes.Ofcoursethismayprovetobeafalsealarm;butitismydutyasanofficerof
thelawtoallownochancetoslip.Butthereissomeoneatthedoor.Perhapsthisishe."

A heavy step was heard ascending the stair, with a great wheezing and rattling as from a man who

wassorelyputtoitforbreath.Onceortwicehestopped,asthoughtheclimbweretoomuchforhim,but
atlasthemadehiswaytoourdoorandentered.Hisappearancecorrespondedtothesoundswhichwe
hadheard.Hewasanagedman,cladinseafaringgarb,withanoldpea-jacketbuttoneduptohisthroat.
Hisbackwasbowed,hiskneeswereshaky,andhisbreathingwaspainfullyasthmatic.Asheleanedupon
athickoakencudgelhisshouldersheavedintheefforttodrawtheairintohislungs.Hehadacolored
scarfroundhischin,andIcouldseelittleofhisfacesaveapairofkeendarkeyes,overhungbybushy
whitebrows,andlonggrayside-whiskers.Altogetherhegavemetheimpressionofarespectablemaster
marinerwhohadfallenintoyearsandpoverty.

"Whatisit,myman?"Iasked.

Helookedabouthimintheslowmethodicalfashionofoldage.

"IsMr.SherlockHolmeshere?"saidhe.

"No;butIamactingforhim.Youcantellmeanymessageyouhaveforhim."

"ItwastohimhimselfIwastotellit,"saidhe.

"ButItellyouthatIamactingforhim.WasitaboutMordecaiSmith'sboat?"

"Yes. I knows well where it is. An' I knows where the men he is after are. An' I knows where the

treasureis.Iknowsallaboutit."

"Thentellme,andIshalllethimknow."

"ItwastohimIwastotellit,"herepeated,withthepetulantobstinacyofaveryoldman.

"Well,youmustwaitforhim."

"No,no;Iain'tgoin'toloseawholedaytopleasenoone.IfMr.Holmesain'there,thenMr.Holmes

mustfinditalloutforhimself.Idon'tcareaboutthelookofeitherofyou,andIwon'ttellaword."

Heshuffledtowardsthedoor,butAthelneyJonesgotinfrontofhim.

"Waitabit,myfriend,"saidhe."Youhaveimportantinformation,andyoumustnotwalkoff.Weshall

keepyou,whetheryoulikeornot,untilourfriendreturns."

Theoldmanmadealittleruntowardsthedoor,but,asAthelneyJonesputhisbroadbackupagainst

it,herecognizedtheuselessnessofresistance.

"Prettysorto'treatmentthis!"hecried,stampinghisstick."Icomeheretoseeagentleman,andyou

two,whoIneversawinmylife,seizemeandtreatmeinthisfashion!"

"Youwillbenonetheworse,"Isaid."Weshallrecompenseyouforthelossofyourtime.Sitover

hereonthesofa,andyouwillnothavelongtowait."

Hecame across sullenlyenough, and seatedhimself with his faceresting on hishands. Jones and I

resumedourcigarsandourtalk.Suddenly,however,Holmes'svoicebrokeinuponus.

"Ithinkthatyoumightoffermeacigartoo,"hesaid.

Webothstartedinourchairs.TherewasHolmessittingclosetouswithanairofquietamusement.

"Holmes!"Iexclaimed."Youhere!Butwhereistheoldman?"

"Here is the old man," said he, holding out a heap of white hair. "Here he is,—wig, whiskers,

eyebrows,andall.Ithoughtmydisguisewasprettygood,butIhardlyexpectedthatitwouldstandthat
test."

"Ah,Yourogue!"criedJones,highlydelighted."Youwouldhavemadeanactor,andarareone.You

hadtheproperworkhousecough,andthoseweaklegsofyoursareworthtenpoundaweek.IthoughtI
knewtheglintofyoureye,though.Youdidn'tgetawayfromussoeasily,Yousee."

"Ihavebeenworkinginthatget-upallday,"saidhe,lightinghiscigar."Yousee,agoodmanyofthe

criminal classes begin to know me,—especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my
cases:soIcanonlygoonthewar-pathundersomesimpledisguiselikethis.Yougotmywire?"

"Yes;thatwaswhatbroughtmehere."

"Howhasyourcaseprospered?"

"Ithasallcometonothing.Ihavehadtoreleasetwoofmyprisoners,andthereisnoevidenceagainst

theothertwo."

"Nevermind.Weshallgiveyoutwoothersintheplaceofthem.Butyoumustputyourselfundermy

orders. You are welcome to all the official credit, but you must act on the line that I point out. Is that
agreed?"

"Entirely,ifyouwillhelpmetothemen."

"Well, then, in the first place I shall want a fast police-boat—a steam launch—to be at the

WestminsterStairsatseveno'clock."

"Thatiseasilymanaged.Thereisalwaysoneaboutthere;butIcanstepacrosstheroadandtelephone

tomakesure."

"ThenIshallwanttwostanchmen,incaseofresistance."

"Therewillbetwoorthreeintheboat.Whatelse?"

"Whenwesecurethemenweshallgetthetreasure.Ithinkthatitwouldbeapleasuretomyfriend

heretotaketheboxroundtotheyoungladytowhomhalfofitrightfullybelongs.Letherbethefirstto
openit.—Eh,Watson?"

"Itwouldbeagreatpleasuretome."

"Rather an irregular proceeding," said Jones, shaking his head. "However, the whole thing is

irregular,andIsupposewemustwinkatit.Thetreasuremustafterwardsbehandedovertotheauthorities
untilaftertheofficialinvestigation."

"Certainly.Thatiseasilymanaged.Oneotherpoint.Ishouldmuchliketohaveafewdetailsabout

thismatterfromthelipsofJonathanSmallhimself.YouknowIliketoworkthedetailofmycasesout.
There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him, either here in my rooms or
elsewhere,aslongasheisefficientlyguarded?"

"Well,youaremasterofthesituation.IhavehadnoproofyetoftheexistenceofthisJonathanSmall.

However,ifyoucancatchhimIdon'tseehowIcanrefuseyouaninterviewwithhim."

"Thatisunderstood,then?"

"Perfectly.Isthereanythingelse?"

"OnlythatIinsistuponyourdiningwithus.Itwillbereadyinhalfanhour.Ihaveoystersandabrace

of grouse, with something a little choice in white wines.—Watson, you have never yet recognized my
meritsasahousekeeper."

ChapterX

TheEndoftheIslander

Ourmealwasamerryone.Holmescouldtalkexceedinglywellwhenhechose,andthatnighthedid

choose.Heappearedtobeinastateofnervousexaltation.Ihaveneverknownhimsobrilliant.Hespoke

onaquicksuccessionofsubjects,—onmiracle-plays,onmedievalpottery,onStradivariusviolins,onthe
BuddhismofCeylon,andonthewar-shipsofthefuture,—handlingeachasthoughhehadmadeaspecial
study of it. His bright humor marked the reaction from his black depression of the preceding days.
AthelneyJonesprovedtobeasociablesoulinhishoursofrelaxation,andfacedhisdinnerwiththeairof
abonvivant.Formyself,Ifeltelatedatthethoughtthatwewerenearingtheendofourtask,andIcaught
something of Holmes's gaiety. None of us alluded during dinner to the cause which had brought us
together.

Whentheclothwascleared,Holmesglancedathiswatch,andfilledupthreeglasseswithport."One

bumper,"saidhe,"tothesuccessofourlittleexpedition.Andnowitishightimewewereoff.Haveyoua
pistol,Watson?"

"Ihavemyoldservice-revolverinmydesk."

"Youhadbesttakeit,then.Itiswelltobeprepared.Iseethatthecabisatthedoor.Iordereditfor

half-pastsix."

ItwasalittlepastsevenbeforewereachedtheWestminsterwharf,andfoundourlaunchawaitingus.

Holmeseyeditcritically.

"Isthereanythingtomarkitasapolice-boat?"

"Yes,—thatgreenlampattheside."

"Thentakeitoff."

Thesmallchangewasmade,westeppedonboard,andtheropeswerecastoff.Jones,Holmes,andI

satinthestern.Therewasonemanattherudder,onetotendtheengines,andtwoburlypolice-inspectors
forward.

"Whereto?"askedJones.

"TotheTower.TellthemtostopoppositeJacobson'sYard."

Ourcraftwasevidentlyaveryfastone.Weshotpastthelonglinesofloadedbargesasthoughthey

werestationary.Holmessmiledwithsatisfactionasweoverhauledariversteamerandleftherbehindus.

"Weoughttobeabletocatchanythingontheriver,"hesaid.

"Well,hardlythat.Buttherearenotmanylaunchestobeatus."

"WeshallhavetocatchtheAurora,andshehasanameforbeingaclipper.Iwilltellyouhowthe

landlies,Watson.YourecollecthowannoyedIwasatbeingbalkedbysosmallathing?"

"Yes."

"Well, I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis. One of our greatest

statesmenhassaidthatachangeofworkisthebestrest.Soitis.WhenIhadsucceededindissolvingthe
hydrocarbonwhichIwasatworkat,IcamebacktoourproblemoftheSholtos,andthoughtthewhole

matteroutagain.Myboyshadbeenuptheriveranddowntheriverwithoutresult.Thelaunchwasnotat
anylanding-stageorwharf,norhaditreturned.Yetitcouldhardlyhavebeenscuttledtohidetheirtraces,
—though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. I knew this man Small had a
certaindegreeoflowcunning,butIdidnotthinkhimcapableofanythinginthenatureofdelicatefinesse.
Thatisusuallyaproductofhighereducation.IthenreflectedthatsincehehadcertainlybeeninLondon
sometime—aswehadevidencethathemaintainedacontinualwatchoverPondicherryLodge—hecould
hardlyleaveatamoment'snotice,butwouldneedsomelittletime,ifitwereonlyaday,toarrangehis
affairs.Thatwasthebalanceofprobability,atanyrate."

"Itseemstometobealittleweak,"saidI."Itismoreprobablethathehadarrangedhisaffairsbefore

everhesetoutuponhisexpedition."

"No,Ihardlythinkso.Thislairofhiswouldbetoovaluablearetreatincaseofneedforhimtogive

itupuntilhewassurethathecoulddowithoutit.Butasecondconsiderationstruckme.JonathanSmall
musthavefeltthatthepeculiarappearanceofhiscompanion,howevermuchhemayhavetop-coatedhim,
would give rise to gossip, and possibly be associated with this Norwood tragedy. He was quite sharp
enoughtoseethat.Theyhadstartedfromtheirhead-quartersundercoverofdarkness,andhewouldwish
togetbackbeforeitwasbroadlight.Now,itwaspastthreeo'clock,accordingtoMrs.Smith,whenthey
gottheboat.Itwouldbequitebright,andpeoplewouldbeaboutinanhourorso.Therefore,Iargued,
theydidnotgoveryfar.TheypaidSmithwelltoholdhistongue,reservedhislaunchforthefinalescape,
andhurriedtotheirlodgingswiththetreasure-box.Inacoupleofnights,whentheyhadtimetoseewhat
viewthepaperstook,andwhethertherewasanysuspicion,theywouldmaketheirwayundercoverof
darkness to some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs, where no doubt they had already arranged for
passagestoAmericaortheColonies."

"Butthelaunch?Theycouldnothavetakenthattotheirlodgings."

"Quite so. I argued that the launch must be no great way off, in spite of its invisibility. I then put

myself in the place of Small, and looked at it as a man of his capacity would. He would probably
considerthattosendbackthelaunchortokeepitatawharfwouldmakepursuiteasyifthepolicedid
happentogetonhistrack.How,then,couldheconcealthelaunchandyethaveherathandwhenwanted?
Iwondered what I should do myself ifI were in his shoes. I could onlythink of one way of doing it. I
mightlandthelaunchovertosomeboat-builderorrepairer,withdirectionstomakeatriflingchangein
her.Shewouldthenberemovedtohisshedoryard,andsobeeffectuallyconcealed,whileatthesame
timeIcouldhaveheratafewhours'notice."

"Thatseemssimpleenough."

"It is just these very simple things which are extremely liable to be overlooked. However, I

determinedtoactontheidea.Istartedatonceinthisharmlessseaman'srigandinquiredatalltheyards
down the river. I drew blank at fifteen, but at the sixteenth—Jacobson's—I learned that the Aurora had
beenhandedovertothemtwodaysagobyawooden-leggedman,withsometrivialdirectionsastoher
rudder.'Thereain'tnaughtamisswithherrudder,'saidtheforeman.'Thereshelies,withtheredstreaks.'
AtthatmomentwhoshouldcomedownbutMordecaiSmith,themissingowner?Hewasrathertheworse
for liquor. I should not, of course, have known him, but he bellowed out his name and the name of his
launch.'Iwantherto-nightateighto'clock,'saidhe,—'eighto'clocksharp,mind,forIhavetwogentlemen
whowon'tbekeptwaiting.'Theyhadevidentlypaidhimwell,forhewasveryflushofmoney,chucking
shillings about to the men. I followed him some distance, but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went

backtotheyard,and,happeningtopickuponeofmyboysontheway,Istationedhimasasentryoverthe
launch.Heistostandatwater'sedgeandwavehishandkerchieftouswhentheystart.Weshallbelying
offinthestream,anditwillbeastrangethingifwedonottakemen,treasure,andall."

"You have planned it all very neatly, whether they are the right men or not," said Jones; "but if the

affairwereinmyhandsIshouldhavehadabodyofpoliceinJacobson'sYard,andarrestedthemwhen
theycamedown."

"Whichwouldhavebeennever.ThismanSmallisaprettyshrewdfellow.Hewouldsendascouton

ahead,andifanythingmadehimsuspiciousliesnugforanotherweek."

"ButyoumighthavestucktoMordecaiSmith,andsobeenledtotheirhiding-place,"saidI.

"InthatcaseIshouldhavewastedmyday.IthinkthatitisahundredtooneagainstSmithknowing

where they live. As long as he has liquor and good pay, why should he ask questions? They send him
messageswhattodo.No,Ithoughtovereverypossiblecourse,andthisisthebest."

Whilethisconversationhadbeenproceeding,wehadbeenshootingthelongseriesofbridgeswhich

spantheThames.AswepassedtheCitythelastraysofthesunweregildingthecrossuponthesummitof
St.Paul's.ItwastwilightbeforewereachedtheTower.

"ThatisJacobson'sYard,"saidHolmes,pointingtoabristleofmastsandriggingontheSurreyside.

"Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters." He took a pair of night-glasses
fromhispocketandgazedsometimeattheshore."Iseemysentryathispost,"heremarked,"butnosign
ofahandkerchief."

"Supposewegodown-streamashortwayandlieinwaitforthem,"saidJones,eagerly.Wewereall

eager by this time, even the policemen and stokers, who had a very vague idea of what was going
forward.

"Wehavenorighttotakeanythingforgranted,"Holmesanswered."Itiscertainlytentoonethatthey

godown-stream,butwecannotbecertain.Fromthispointwecanseetheentranceoftheyard,andthey
canhardlyseeus.Itwillbeaclearnightandplentyoflight.Wemuststaywhereweare.Seehowthefolk
swarmoveryonderinthegaslight."

"Theyarecomingfromworkintheyard."

"Dirty-lookingrascals,butIsupposeeveryonehassomelittleimmortalsparkconcealedabouthim.

Youwouldnotthinkit,tolookatthem.Thereisnoaprioriprobabilityaboutit.Astrangeenigmaisman!"

"Someonecallshimasoulconcealedinananimal,"Isuggested.

"WinwoodReadeisgooduponthesubject,"saidHolmes."Heremarksthat,whiletheindividualman

isaninsolublepuzzle,intheaggregatehebecomesamathematicalcertainty.Youcan,forexample,never
foretellwhatanyonemanwilldo,butyoucansaywithprecisionwhatanaveragenumberwillbeupto.
Individualsvary,butpercentagesremainconstant.Sosaysthestatistician.ButdoIseeahandkerchief?
Surelythereisawhiteflutteroveryonder."

"Yes,itisyourboy,"Icried."Icanseehimplainly."

"AndthereistheAurora,"exclaimedHolmes,"andgoinglikethedevil!Fullspeedahead,engineer.

Makeafterthatlaunchwiththeyellowlight.Byheaven,Ishallneverforgivemyselfifsheprovestohave
theheelsofus!"

Shehadslippedunseenthroughtheyard-entranceandpassedbehindtwoorthreesmallcraft,sothat

shehadfairlygotherspeedupbeforewesawher.Nowshewasflyingdownthestream,nearintothe
shore,goingatatremendousrate.Joneslookedgravelyatherandshookhishead.

"Sheisveryfast,"hesaid."Idoubtifweshallcatchher."

"WeMUST catch her!"cried Holmes, betweenhis teeth. "Heap iton, stokers! Makeher do all she

can!Ifweburntheboatwemusthavethem!"

Wewerefairlyafterhernow.Thefurnacesroared,andthepowerfulengineswhizzedandclanked,

likeagreatmetallicheart.Hersharp,steepprowcutthroughtheriver-waterandsenttworollingwaves
torightandtoleftofus.Witheverythroboftheengineswesprangandquiveredlikealivingthing.One
greatyellowlanterninourbowsthrewalong,flickeringfunneloflightinfrontofus.Rightaheadadark
bluruponthewatershowedwheretheAuroralay,andtheswirlofwhitefoambehindherspokeofthe
paceatwhichshewasgoing.Weflashedpastbarges,steamers,merchant-vessels,inandout,behindthis
oneandroundtheother.Voiceshailedusoutofthedarkness,butstilltheAurorathunderedon,andstill
wefollowedcloseuponhertrack.

"Pileiton,men,pileiton!"criedHolmes,lookingdownintotheengine-room,whilethefierceglow

frombelowbeatuponhiseager,aquilineface."Geteverypoundofsteamyoucan."

"Ithinkwegainalittle,"saidJones,withhiseyesontheAurora.

"Iamsureofit,"saidI."Weshallbeupwithherinaveryfewminutes."

Atthatmoment,however,asourevilfatewouldhaveit,atugwiththreebargesintowblunderedin

betweenus.Itwasonlybyputtingourhelmharddownthatweavoidedacollision,andbeforewecould
round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. She was still,
however,wellinview,andthemurkyuncertaintwilightwassettingintoaclearstarlitnight.Ourboilers
werestrainedtotheirutmost,andthefrailshellvibratedandcreakedwiththefierceenergywhichwas
drivingusalong.WehadshotthroughthePool,pasttheWestIndiaDocks,downthelongDeptfordReach,
and up again after rounding the Isle of Dogs. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora. Jones turned our search-light upon her, so that we could plainly see the
figuresuponherdeck.Onemansatbythestern,withsomethingblackbetweenhiskneesoverwhichhe
stooped. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. The boy held the tiller,
whileagainsttheredglareofthefurnaceIcouldseeoldSmith,strippedtothewaist,andshovellingcoals
fordearlife.Theymayhavehadsomedoubtatfirstastowhetherwewerereallypursuingthem,butnow
aswefollowedeverywindingandturningwhichtheytooktherecouldnolongerbeanyquestionaboutit.
At Greenwich we were about three hundred paces behind them. At Blackwall we could not have been
morethantwohundredandfifty.Ihavecoursedmanycreaturesinmanycountriesduringmycheckered
career, but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad, flying man-hunt down the Thames.
Steadilywedrewinuponthem,yardbyyard.Inthesilenceofthenightwecouldhearthepantingand
clankingoftheirmachinery.Themaninthesternstillcroucheduponthedeck,andhisarmsweremoving

as though he were busy, while every now and then he would look up and measure with a glance the
distancewhichstillseparatedus.Nearerwecameandnearer.Jonesyelledtothemtostop.Wewerenot
morethanfourboat'slengthsbehindthem,bothboatsflyingatatremendouspace.Itwasaclearreachof
theriver,withBarkingLevelupononesideandthemelancholyPlumsteadMarshesupontheother.Atour
hailthemaninthesternsprangupfromthedeckandshookhistwoclinchedfistsatus,cursingthewhile
inahigh,crackedvoice.Hewasagood-sized,powerfulman,andashestoodpoisinghimselfwithlegs
astrideIcouldseethatfromthethighdownwardstherewasbutawoodenstumpupontherightside.At
the sound of his strident, angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. It
straighteneditselfintoalittleblackman—thesmallestIhaveeverseen—withagreat,misshapenhead
andashockoftangled,dishevelledhair.Holmeshadalreadydrawnhisrevolver,andIwhippedoutmine
at the sight of this savage, distorted creature. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket,
whichleftonlyhisfaceexposed;butthatfacewasenoughtogiveamanasleeplessnight.NeverhaveI
seenfeaturessodeeplymarkedwithallbestialityandcruelty.Hissmalleyesglowedandburnedwitha
sombrelight,andhisthicklipswerewrithedbackfromhisteeth,whichgrinnedandchatteredatuswitha
halfanimalfury.

"Fire if he raises his hand," said Holmes, quietly. We were within a boat's-length by this time, and

almostwithintouchofourquarry.Icanseethetwoofthemnowastheystood,thewhitemanwithhislegs
far apart, shrieking out curses, and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face, and his strong yellow
teethgnashingatusinthelightofourlantern.

It was well that we had so clear a view of him. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his

coveringashort,roundpieceofwood,likeaschool-ruler,andclappedittohislips.Ourpistolsrangout
together.Hewhirledround,threwuphisarms,andwithakindofchokingcoughfellsidewaysintothe
stream.Icaughtoneglimpseofhisvenomous,menacingeyesamidthewhiteswirlofthewaters.Atthe
samemomentthewooden-leggedmanthrewhimselfupontherudderandputitharddown,sothathisboat
madestraightinforthesouthernbank,whileweshotpastherstern,onlyclearingherbyafewfeet.We
were round after her in an instant, but she was already nearly at the bank. It was a wild and desolate
place,wherethemoonglimmereduponawideexpanseofmarsh-land,withpoolsofstagnantwaterand
bedsofdecayingvegetation.Thelaunchwithadullthudranupuponthemud-bank,withherbowinthe
airandhersternflushwiththewater.Thefugitivesprangout,buthisstumpinstantlysankitswholelength
intothesoddensoil.Invainhestruggledandwrithed.Notonestepcouldhepossiblytakeeitherforwards
orbackwards.Heyelledinimpotentrage,andkickedfranticallyintothemudwithhisotherfoot,buthis
struggles only bored his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank. When we brought our launch
alongsidehewassofirmlyanchoredthatitwasonlybythrowingtheendofaropeoverhisshouldersthat
wewereabletohaulhimout,andtodraghim,likesomeevilfish,overourside.ThetwoSmiths,father
and son, sat sullenly in their launch, but came aboard meekly enough when commanded. The Aurora
herselfwehauledoffandmadefasttoourstern.AsolidironchestofIndianworkmanshipstooduponthe
deck. This, there could be no question, was the same that had contained the ill-omened treasure of the
Sholtos.Therewasnokey,butitwasofconsiderableweight,sowetransferreditcarefullytoourown
little cabin. As we steamed slowly up-stream again, we flashed our search-light in every direction, but
therewasnosignoftheIslander.SomewhereinthedarkoozeatthebottomoftheThamesliethebonesof
thatstrangevisitortoourshores.

"Seehere,"saidHolmes,pointingtothewoodenhatchway."Wewerehardlyquickenoughwithour

pistols."There,sureenough,justbehindwherewehadbeenstanding,stuckoneofthosemurderousdarts
whichweknewsowell.Itmusthavewhizzedbetweenusattheinstantthatwefired.Holmessmiledatit
andshruggedhisshouldersinhiseasyfashion,butIconfessthatitturnedmesicktothinkofthehorrible
deathwhichhadpassedsoclosetousthatnight.

ChapterXI

TheGreatAgraTreasure

Ourcaptivesatinthecabinoppositetotheironboxwhichhehaddonesomuchandwaitedsolong

to gain. He was a sunburned, reckless-eyed fellow, with a net-work of lines and wrinkles all over his
mahogany features, which told of a hard, open-air life. There was a singular prominence about his
beardedchinwhichmarkedamanwhowasnottobeeasilyturnedfromhispurpose.Hisagemayhave
beenfiftyorthereabouts,forhisblack,curlyhairwasthicklyshotwithgray.Hisfaceinreposewasnot
anunpleasingone,thoughhisheavybrowsandaggressivechingavehim,asIhadlatelyseen,aterrible
expressionwhenmovedtoanger.Hesatnowwithhishandcuffedhandsuponhislap,andhisheadsunk
uponhisbreast,whilehelookedwithhiskeen,twinklingeyesattheboxwhichhadbeenthecauseofhis
ill-doings.Itseemedtomethattherewasmoresorrowthanangerinhisrigidandcontainedcountenance.
Oncehelookedupatmewithagleamofsomethinglikehumorinhiseyes.

"Well,JonathanSmall,"saidHolmes,lightingacigar,"Iamsorrythatithascometothis."

"AndsoamI,sir,"heanswered,frankly."Idon'tbelievethatIcanswingoverthejob.Igiveyoumy

wordonthebookthatIneverraisedhandagainstMr.Sholto.Itwasthatlittlehell-houndTongawhoshot
one of his cursed darts into him. I had no part in it, sir. I was as grieved as if it had been my blood-
relation.Iweltedthelittledevilwiththeslackendoftheropeforit,butitwasdone,andIcouldnotundo
itagain."

"Haveacigar,"saidHolmes;"andyouhadbesttakeapulloutofmyflask,foryouareverywet.How

couldyouexpectsosmallandweakamanasthisblackfellowtooverpowerMr.Sholtoandholdhim
whileyouwereclimbingtherope?"

"Youseemtoknowasmuchaboutitasifyouwerethere,sir.ThetruthisthatIhopedtofindtheroom

clear.Iknewthehabitsofthehouseprettywell,anditwasthetimewhenMr.Sholtousuallywentdown
tohissupper.Ishallmakenosecretofthebusiness.ThebestdefencethatIcanmakeisjustthesimple
truth. Now, if it had been the old major I would have swung for him with a light heart. I would have
thoughtnomoreofknifinghimthanofsmokingthiscigar.Butit'scursedhardthatIshouldbelaggedover
thisyoungSholto,withwhomIhadnoquarrelwhatever."

"YouareunderthechargeofMr.AthelneyJones,ofScotlandYard.Heisgoingtobringyouuptomy

rooms,andIshallaskyouforatrueaccountofthematter.Youmustmakeacleanbreastofit,forifyoudo
IhopethatImaybeofusetoyou.IthinkIcanprovethatthepoisonactssoquicklythatthemanwasdead
beforeeveryoureachedtheroom."

"Thathewas,sir.InevergotsuchaturninmylifeaswhenIsawhimgrinningatmewithhisheadon

hisshoulderasIclimbedthroughthewindow.Itfairlyshookme,sir.I'dhavehalfkilledTongaforitifhe
hadnotscrambledoff.Thatwashowhecametoleavehisclub,andsomeofhisdartstoo,ashetellsme,
whichIdaresayhelpedtoputyouonourtrack;thoughhowyoukeptonitismorethanIcantell.Idon't
feelnomaliceagainstyouforit.Butitdoesseemaqueerthing,"headded,withabittersmile,"thatIwho
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, and am like to spend the other half digging drains at Dartmoor. It was an
evildayformewhenfirstIclappedeyesuponthemerchantAchmetandhadtodowiththeAgratreasure,
which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. To him it brought murder, to
MajorSholtoitbroughtfearandguilt,tomeithasmeantslaveryforlife."

AtthismomentAthelneyJonesthrusthisbroadfaceandheavyshouldersintothetinycabin."Quitea

family party," he remarked. "I think I shall have a pull at that flask, Holmes. Well, I think we may all
congratulateeachother.Pitywedidn'ttaketheotheralive;buttherewasnochoice.Isay,Holmes,you
mustconfessthatyoucutitratherfine.Itwasallwecoulddotooverhaulher."

"Alliswellthatendswell,"saidHolmes."ButIcertainlydidnotknowthattheAurorawassucha

clipper."

"Smithsayssheisoneofthefastestlaunchesontheriver,andthatifhehadhadanothermantohelp

him with the engines we should never have caught her. He swears he knew nothing of this Norwood
business."

"Neitherhedid,"criedourprisoner,—"notaword.IchosehislaunchbecauseIheardthatshewasa

flier.Wetoldhimnothing,butwepaidhimwell,andhewastogetsomethinghandsomeifwereachedour
vessel,theEsmeralda,atGravesend,outwardboundfortheBrazils."

"Well,ifhehasdonenowrongweshallseethatnowrongcomestohim.Ifweareprettyquickin

catching our men, we are not so quick in condemning them." It was amusing to notice how the
consequential Jones was already beginning to give himself airs on the strength of the capture. From the
slightsmilewhichplayedoverSherlockHolmes'sface,Icouldseethatthespeechhadnotbeenlostupon
him.

"We will be at Vauxhall Bridge presently," said Jones, "and shall land you, Dr. Watson, with the

treasure-box.IneedhardlytellyouthatIamtakingaverygraveresponsibilityuponmyselfindoingthis.
Itismostirregular;butofcourseanagreementisanagreement.Imust,however,asamatterofduty,send
aninspectorwithyou,sinceyouhavesovaluableacharge.Youwilldrive,nodoubt?"

"Yes,Ishalldrive."

"It is a pity there is no key, that we may make an inventory first. You will have to break it open.

Whereisthekey,myman?"

"Atthebottomoftheriver,"saidSmall,shortly.

"Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. We have had work enough already

throughyou.However,doctor,Ineednotwarnyoutobecareful.BringtheboxbackwithyoutotheBaker
Streetrooms.Youwillfindusthere,onourwaytothestation."

They landed me at Vauxhall, with my heavy iron box, and with a bluff, genial inspector as my

companion. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. Cecil Forrester's. The servant seemed
surprisedatsolateavisitor.Mrs.CecilForresterwasoutfortheevening,sheexplained,andlikelytobe
verylate.MissMorstan,however,wasinthedrawing-room:sotothedrawing-roomIwent,boxinhand,
leavingtheobliginginspectorinthecab.

Shewasseatedbytheopenwindow,dressedinsomesortofwhitediaphanousmaterial,withalittle

touchofscarletattheneckandwaist.Thesoftlightofashadedlampfelluponherassheleanedbackin
thebasketchair,playingoverhersweet,graveface,andtintingwithadull,metallicsparkletherichcoils
ofherluxurianthair.Onewhitearmandhanddroopedoverthesideofthechair,andherwholeposeand
figurespokeofanabsorbingmelancholy.Atthesoundofmyfoot-fallshesprangtoherfeet,however,and
abrightflushofsurpriseandofpleasurecoloredherpalecheeks.

"Iheardacabdriveup,"shesaid."IthoughtthatMrs.Forresterhadcomebackveryearly,butInever

dreamedthatitmightbeyou.Whatnewshaveyoubroughtme?"

"Ihavebroughtsomethingbetterthannews,"saidI,puttingdowntheboxuponthetableandspeaking

joviallyandboisterously,thoughmyheartwasheavywithinme."Ihavebroughtyousomethingwhichis
worthallthenewsintheworld.Ihavebroughtyouafortune."

Sheglancedattheironbox."Isthatthetreasure,then?"sheasked,coollyenough.

"Yes,thisisthegreatAgratreasure.HalfofitisyoursandhalfisThaddeusSholto's.Youwillhavea

couple of hundred thousand each. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. There will be few
richeryoungladiesinEngland.Isitnotglorious?"

IthinkthatImusthavebeenratheroveractingmydelight,andthatshedetectedahollowringinmy

congratulations,forIsawhereyebrowsrisealittle,andsheglancedatmecuriously.

"IfIhaveit,"saidshe,"Ioweittoyou."

"No,no,"Ianswered,"nottome,buttomyfriendSherlockHolmes.Withallthewillintheworld,I

could never have followed up a clue which has taxed even his analytical genius. As it was, we very
nearlylostitatthelastmoment."

"Praysitdownandtellmeallaboutit,Dr.Watson,"saidshe.

InarratedbrieflywhathadoccurredsinceIhadseenherlast,—Holmes'snewmethodofsearch,the

discoveryoftheAurora,theappearanceofAthelneyJones,ourexpeditionintheevening,andthewild
chasedowntheThames.Shelistenedwithpartedlipsandshiningeyestomyrecitalofouradventures.
WhenIspokeofthedartwhichhadsonarrowlymissedus,sheturnedsowhitethatIfearedthatshewas
abouttofaint.

"Itisnothing,"shesaid,asIhastenedtopourheroutsomewater."Iamallrightagain.Itwasashock

tometohearthatIhadplacedmyfriendsinsuchhorribleperil."

"Thatisallover,"Ianswered."Itwasnothing.Iwilltellyounomoregloomydetails.Letusturnto

somethingbrighter.Thereisthetreasure.Whatcouldbebrighterthanthat?Igotleavetobringitwithme,

thinkingthatitwouldinterestyoutobethefirsttoseeit."

"Itwouldbeofthegreatestinteresttome,"shesaid.Therewasnoeagernessinhervoice,however.

Ithadstruckher,doubtless,thatitmightseemungraciousuponherparttobeindifferenttoaprizewhich
hadcostsomuchtowin.

"Whataprettybox!"shesaid,stoopingoverit."ThisisIndianwork,Isuppose?"

"Yes;itisBenaresmetal-work."

"Andsoheavy!"sheexclaimed,tryingtoraiseit."Theboxalonemustbeofsomevalue.Whereisthe

key?"

"SmallthrewitintotheThames,"Ianswered."ImustborrowMrs.Forrester'spoker."Therewasin

thefrontathickandbroadhasp,wroughtintheimageofasittingBuddha.UnderthisIthrusttheendofthe
pokerandtwisteditoutwardasalever.Thehaspsprangopenwithaloudsnap.WithtremblingfingersI
flungbackthelid.Webothstoodgazinginastonishment.Theboxwasempty!

No wonder that it was heavy. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round. It was

massive,wellmade,andsolid,likeachestconstructedtocarrythingsofgreatprice,butnotoneshredor
crumbofmetalorjewelrylaywithinit.Itwasabsolutelyandcompletelyempty.

"Thetreasureislost,"saidMissMorstan,calmly.

AsIlistenedtothewordsandrealizedwhattheymeant,agreatshadowseemedtopassfrommysoul.

I did not know how this Agra treasure had weighed me down, until now that it was finally removed. It
wasselfish,nodoubt,disloyal,wrong,butIcouldrealizenothingsavethatthegoldenbarrierwasgone
frombetweenus."ThankGod!"Iejaculatedfrommyveryheart.

Shelookedatmewithaquick,questioningsmile."Whydoyousaythat?"sheasked.

"Becauseyouarewithinmyreachagain,"Isaid,takingherhand.Shedidnotwithdrawit."BecauseI

loveyou,Mary,astrulyaseveramanlovedawoman.Becausethistreasure,theseriches,sealedmylips.
NowthattheyaregoneIcantellyouhowIloveyou.ThatiswhyIsaid,'ThankGod.'"

"ThenIsay,'ThankGod,'too,"shewhispered,asIdrewhertomyside.Whoeverhadlostatreasure,

IknewthatnightthatIhadgainedone.

ChapterXII

TheStrangeStoryofJonathanSmall

Averypatientmanwasthatinspectorinthecab,foritwasawearytimebeforeIrejoinedhim.His

facecloudedoverwhenIshowedhimtheemptybox.

"There goes the reward!" said he, gloomily. "Where there is no money there is no pay. This night's

workwouldhavebeenworthatennereachtoSamBrownandmeifthetreasurehadbeenthere."

"Mr.ThaddeusSholtoisarichman,"Isaid."Hewillseethatyouarerewarded,treasureorno."

The inspector shook his head despondently, however. "It's a bad job," he repeated; "and so Mr.

AthelneyJoneswillthink."

Hisforecastprovedtobecorrect,forthedetectivelookedblankenoughwhenIgottoBakerStreet

and showed him the empty box. They had only just arrived, Holmes, the prisoner, and he, for they had
changedtheirplanssofarastoreportthemselvesatastationupontheway.Mycompanionloungedinhis
arm-chairwithhisusuallistlessexpression,whileSmallsatstolidlyoppositetohimwithhiswoodenleg
cockedoverhissoundone.AsIexhibitedtheemptyboxheleanedbackinhischairandlaughedaloud.

"Thisisyourdoing,Small,"saidAthelneyJones,angrily.

"Yes, I have put it away where you shall never lay hand upon it," he cried, exultantly. "It is my

treasure; and if I can't have the loot I'll take darned good care that no one else does. I tell you that no
livingmanhasanyrighttoit,unlessitisthreemenwhoareintheAndamanconvict-barracksandmyself.
IknownowthatIcannothavetheuseofit,andIknowthattheycannot.Ihaveactedallthroughforthem
asmuchasformyself.It'sbeenthesignoffourwithusalways.WellIknowthattheywouldhavehadme
do just what I have done, and throw the treasure into the Thames rather than let it go to kith or kin of
SholtoorofMorstan.ItwasnottomakethemrichthatwedidforAchmet.You'llfindthetreasurewhere
thekeyis,andwherelittleTongais.WhenIsawthatyourlaunchmustcatchus,Iputthelootawayina
safeplace.Therearenorupeesforyouthisjourney."

"Youaredeceivingus,Small,"saidAthelneyJones,sternly."Ifyouhadwishedtothrowthetreasure

intotheThamesitwouldhavebeeneasierforyoutohavethrownboxandall."

"Easierformetothrow,andeasierforyoutorecover,"heanswered,withashrewd,sidelonglook.

"Themanthatwascleverenoughtohuntmedowniscleverenoughtopickanironboxfromthebottomof
ariver.Nowthattheyarescatteredoverfivemilesorso,itmaybeaharderjob.Itwenttomyhearttodo
it,though.Iwashalfmadwhenyoucameupwithus.However,there'snogoodgrievingoverit.I'vehad
upsinmylife,andI'vehaddowns,butI'velearnednottocryoverspilledmilk."

"This is a very serious matter, Small," said the detective. "If you had helped justice, instead of

thwartingitinthisway,youwouldhavehadabetterchanceatyourtrial."

"Justice!"snarledtheex-convict."Aprettyjustice!Whoselootisthis,ifitisnotours?Whereisthe

justicethatIshouldgiveituptothosewhohaveneverearnedit?LookhowIhaveearnedit!Twentylong
years in that fever-ridden swamp, all day at work under the mangrove-tree, all night chained up in the
filthy convict-huts, bitten by mosquitoes, racked with ague, bullied by every cursed black-faced
policemanwholovedtotakeitoutofawhiteman.ThatwashowIearnedtheAgratreasure;andyoutalk
tomeofjusticebecauseIcannotbeartofeelthatIhavepaidthispriceonlythatanothermayenjoyit!I
wouldratherswingascoreoftimes,orhaveoneofTonga'sdartsinmyhide,thanliveinaconvict'scell
and feel that another man is at his ease in a palace with the money that should be mine." Small had
droppedhismaskofstoicism,andallthiscameoutinawildwhirlofwords,whilehiseyesblazed,and
thehandcuffsclankedtogetherwiththeimpassionedmovementofhishands.Icouldunderstand,asIsaw

the fury and the passion of the man, that it was no groundless or unnatural terror which had possessed
MajorSholtowhenhefirstlearnedthattheinjuredconvictwasuponhistrack.

"Youforgetthatweknownothingofallthis,"saidHolmesquietly."Wehavenotheardyourstory,and

wecannottellhowfarjusticemayoriginallyhavebeenonyourside."

"Well,sir,youhavebeenveryfair-spokentome,thoughIcanseethatIhaveyoutothankthatIhave

thesebraceletsuponmywrists.Still,Ibearnogrudgeforthat.Itisallfairandabove-board.Ifyouwant
tohearmystoryIhavenowishtoholditback.WhatIsaytoyouisGod'struth,everywordofit.Thank
you;youcanputtheglassbesidemehere,andI'llputmylipstoitifIamdry.

"IamaWorcestershiremanmyself,—bornnearPershore.IdaresayyouwouldfindaheapofSmalls

livingtherenowifyouweretolook.Ihaveoftenthoughtoftakingalookroundthere,butthetruthisthatI
wasnevermuchofacredittothefamily,andIdoubtiftheywouldbesoverygladtoseeme.Theywere
allsteady,chapel-goingfolk,smallfarmers,wellknownandrespectedoverthecountry-side,whileIwas
alwaysabitofarover.Atlast,however,whenIwasabouteighteen,Igavethemnomoretrouble,forI
gotintoamessoveragirl,andcouldonlygetoutofitagainbytakingthequeen'sshillingandjoiningthe
3dBuffs,whichwasjuststartingforIndia.

"Iwasn'tdestinedtodomuchsoldiering,however.Ihadjustgotpastthegoose-step,andlearnedto

handlemymusket,whenIwasfoolenoughtogoswimmingintheGanges.Luckilyforme,mycompany
sergeant,JohnHolder,wasinthewateratthesametime,andhewasoneofthefinestswimmersinthe
service. A crocodile took me, just as I was half-way across, and nipped off my right leg as clean as a
surgeoncouldhavedoneit,justabovetheknee.Whatwiththeshockandthelossofblood,Ifainted,and
shouldhavedrownedifHolderhadnotcaughtholdofmeandpaddledforthebank.Iwasfivemonthsin
hospitaloverit,andwhenatlastIwasabletolimpoutofitwiththistimbertoestrappedtomystumpI
foundmyselfinvalidedoutofthearmyandunfittedforanyactiveoccupation.

"Iwas,asyoucanimagine,prettydownonmyluckatthistime,forIwasauselesscripplethoughnot

yetinmytwentiethyear.However,mymisfortunesoonprovedtobeablessingindisguise.Amannamed
Abelwhite,whohadcomeoutthereasanindigo-planter,wantedanoverseertolookafterhiscooliesand
keepthemuptotheirwork.Hehappenedtobeafriendofourcolonel's,whohadtakenaninterestinme
sincetheaccident.Tomakealongstoryshort,thecolonelrecommendedmestronglyforthepostand,as
theworkwasmostlytobedoneonhorseback,mylegwasnogreatobstacle,forIhadenoughkneeleftto
keepgoodgriponthesaddle.WhatIhadtodowastorideovertheplantation,tokeepaneyeonthemen
as they worked, and to report the idlers. The pay was fair, I had comfortable quarters, and altogether I
wascontenttospendtheremainderofmylifeinindigo-planting.Mr.Abelwhitewasakindman,andhe
wouldoftendropintomylittleshantyandsmokeapipewithme,forwhitefolkouttherefeeltheirhearts
warmtoeachotherastheyneverdohereathome.

"Well, I was never in luck's way long. Suddenly, without a note of warning, the great mutiny broke

upon us. One month India lay as still and peaceful, to all appearance, as Surrey or Kent; the next there
weretwohundredthousandblackdevilsletloose,andthecountrywasaperfecthell.Ofcourseyouknow
all about it, gentlemen,—a deal more than I do, very like, since reading is not in my line. I only know
what I saw with my own eyes. Our plantation was at a place called Muttra, near the border of the
NorthwestProvinces.Nightafternightthewholeskywasalightwiththeburningbungalows,anddayafter
daywehadsmallcompaniesofEuropeanspassingthroughourestatewiththeirwivesandchildren,on
theirwaytoAgra,wherewerethenearesttroops.Mr.Abelwhitewasanobstinateman.Hehaditinhis

headthattheaffairhadbeenexaggerated,andthatitwouldblowoverassuddenlyasithadsprungup.
There he sat on his veranda, drinking whiskey-pegs and smoking cheroots, while the country was in a
blazeabouthim.Ofcoursewestuckbyhim,IandDawson,who,withhiswife,usedtodothebook-work
and the managing. Well, one fine day the crash came. I had been away on a distant plantation, and was
ridingslowlyhomeintheevening,whenmyeyefelluponsomethingallhuddledtogetheratthebottomof
asteepnullah.Irodedowntoseewhatitwas,andthecoldstruckthroughmyheartwhenIfounditwas
Dawson'swife,allcutintoribbons,andhalfeatenbyjackalsandnativedogs.Alittlefurtheruptheroad
Dawsonhimselfwaslyingonhisface,quitedead,withanemptyrevolverinhishandandfourSepoys
lyingacrosseachotherinfrontofhim.Ireinedupmyhorse,wonderingwhichwayIshouldturn,butat
thatmomentIsawthicksmokecurlingupfromAbelwhite'sbungalowandtheflamesbeginningtoburst
through the roof. I knew then that I could do my employer no good, but would only throw my own life
awayifImeddledinthematter.FromwhereIstoodIcouldseehundredsoftheblackfiends,withtheir
redcoatsstillontheirbacks,dancingandhowlingroundtheburninghouse.Someofthempointedatme,
andacoupleofbulletssangpastmyhead;soIbrokeawayacrossthepaddy-fields,andfoundmyselflate
atnightsafewithinthewallsatAgra.

"As it proved, however, there was no great safety there, either. The whole country was up like a

swarmofbees.WherevertheEnglishcouldcollectinlittlebandstheyheldjustthegroundthattheirguns
commanded. Everywhere else they were helpless fugitives. It was a fight of the millions against the
hundreds;andthecruellestpartofitwasthatthesementhatwefoughtagainst,foot,horse,andgunners,
wereourownpickedtroops,whomwehadtaughtandtrained,handlingourownweapons,andblowing
ourownbugle-calls.AtAgratherewerethe3dBengalFusiliers,someSikhs,twotroopsofhorse,anda
batteryofartillery.Avolunteercorpsofclerksandmerchantshadbeenformed,andthisIjoined,wooden
legandall.WewentouttomeettherebelsatShahgungeearlyinJuly,andwebeatthembackforatime,
butourpowdergaveout,andwehadtofallbackuponthecity.Nothingbuttheworstnewscametous
fromeveryside,—whichisnottobewonderedat,forifyoulookatthemapyouwillseethatwewere
rightintheheartofit.Lucknowisratherbetterthanahundredmilestotheeast,andCawnporeaboutas
fartothesouth.Fromeverypointonthecompasstherewasnothingbuttortureandmurderandoutrage.

"ThecityofAgraisagreatplace,swarmingwithfanaticsandfiercedevil-worshippersofallsorts.

Our handful of men were lost among the narrow, winding streets. Our leader moved across the river,
therefore,andtookuphispositionintheoldfortatAgra.Idon'tknowifanyofyougentlemenhaveever
readorheardanythingofthatoldfort.Itisaveryqueerplace,—thequeerestthateverIwasin,andIhave
beeninsomerumcorners,too.Firstofall,itisenormousinsize.Ishouldthinkthattheenclosuremustbe
acres and acres. There is a modern part, which took all our garrison, women, children, stores, and
everythingelse,withplentyofroomover.Butthemodernpartisnothinglikethesizeoftheoldquarter,
where nobody goes, and which is given over to the scorpions and the centipedes. It is all full of great
desertedhalls,andwindingpassages,andlongcorridorstwistinginandout,sothatitiseasyenoughfor
folktogetlostinit.Forthisreasonitwasseldomthatanyonewentintoit,thoughnowandagainaparty
withtorchesmightgoexploring.

"Theriverwashesalongthefrontoftheoldfort,andsoprotectsit,butonthesidesandbehindthere

aremanydoors,andthesehadtobeguarded,ofcourse,intheoldquarteraswellasinthatwhichwas
actually held by our troops. We were short-handed, with hardly men enough to man the angles of the
buildingandtoservetheguns.Itwasimpossibleforus,therefore,tostationastrongguardateveryoneof
theinnumerablegates.Whatwedidwastoorganizeacentralguard-houseinthemiddleofthefort,andto
leaveeachgateunderthechargeofonewhitemanandtwoorthreenatives.Iwasselectedtotakecharge

during certain hours of the night of a small isolated door upon the southwest side of the building. Two
Sikh troopers were placed under my command, and I was instructed if anything went wrong to fire my
musket,whenImightrelyuponhelpcomingatoncefromthecentralguard.Astheguardwasagoodtwo
hundred paces away, however, and as the space between was cut up into a labyrinth of passages and
corridors,Ihadgreatdoubtsastowhethertheycouldarriveintimetobeofanyuseincaseofanactual
attack.

"Well,Iwasprettyproudathavingthissmallcommandgivenme,sinceIwasarawrecruit,anda

game-legged one at that. For two nights I kept the watch with my Punjaubees. They were tall, fierce-
lookingchaps,MahometSinghandAbdullahKhanbyname,botholdfighting-menwhohadbornearms
againstusatChilian-wallah.TheycouldtalkEnglishprettywell,butIcouldgetlittleoutofthem.They
preferred to stand together and jabber all night in their queer Sikh lingo. For myself, I used to stand
outsidethe gate-way, lookingdown on thebroad, winding river andon the twinklinglights of the great
city.Thebeatingofdrums,therattleoftomtoms,andtheyellsandhowlsoftherebels,drunkwithopium
andwithbang,wereenoughtoremindusallnightofourdangerousneighborsacrossthestream.Every
twohourstheofficerofthenightusedtocomeroundtoalltheposts,tomakesurethatallwaswell.

"The third night of my watch was dark and dirty, with a small, driving rain. It was dreary work

standinginthegate-wayhourafterhourinsuchweather.ItriedagainandagaintomakemySikhstalk,but
withoutmuchsuccess.Attwointhemorningtheroundspassed,andbrokeforamomentthewearinessof
the night. Finding that my companions would not be led into conversation, I took out my pipe, and laid
downmymuskettostrikethematch.InaninstantthetwoSikhswereuponme.Oneofthemsnatchedmy
firelockupandlevelleditatmyhead,whiletheotherheldagreatknifetomythroatandsworebetween
histeeththathewouldplungeitintomeifImovedastep.

"My first thought was that these fellows were in league with the rebels, and that this was the

beginningofanassault.IfourdoorwereinthehandsoftheSepoystheplacemustfall,andthewomen
andchildrenbetreatedastheywereinCawnpore.MaybeyougentlementhinkthatIamjustmakingouta
caseformyself,butIgiveyoumywordthatwhenIthoughtofthat,thoughIfeltthepointoftheknifeatmy
throat,Iopenedmymouthwiththeintentionofgivingascream,ifitwasmylastone,whichmightalarm
themainguard.Themanwhoheldmeseemedtoknowmythoughts;for,evenasIbracedmyselftoit,he
whispered,'Don'tmakeanoise.Thefortissafeenough.Therearenorebeldogsonthissideoftheriver.'
Therewastheringoftruthinwhathesaid,andIknewthatifIraisedmyvoiceIwasadeadman.Icould
readitinthefellow'sbrowneyes.Iwaited,therefore,insilence,toseewhatitwasthattheywantedfrom
me.

"'Listentome,Sahib,'saidthetallerandfiercerofthepair,theonewhomtheycalledAbdullahKhan.

'Youmusteitherbewithusnoworyoumustbesilencedforever.Thethingistoogreataoneforusto
hesitate.EitheryouareheartandsoulwithusonyouroathonthecrossoftheChristians,oryourbody
thisnightshallbethrownintotheditchandweshallpassovertoourbrothersintherebelarmy.Thereis
nomiddleway.Whichisittobe,deathorlife?Wecanonlygiveyouthreeminutestodecide,forthetime
ispassing,andallmustbedonebeforetheroundscomeagain.'

"'HowcanIdecide?'saidI.'Youhavenottoldmewhatyouwantofme.ButItellyounowthatifitis

anythingagainstthesafetyofthefortIwillhavenotruckwithit,soyoucandrivehomeyourknifeand
welcome.'

"'Itisnothingagainstthefort,'saidhe.'Weonlyaskyoutodothatwhichyourcountrymencometo

this land for. We ask you to be rich. If you will be one of us this night, we will swear to you upon the
nakedknife,andbythethreefoldoathwhichnoSikhwaseverknowntobreak,thatyoushallhaveyour
fairshareoftheloot.Aquarterofthetreasureshallbeyours.Wecansaynofairer.'

"'Butwhatisthetreasure,then?'Iasked.'Iamasreadytoberichasyoucanbe,ifyouwillbutshow

mehowitcanbedone.'

"'Youwillswear,then,'saidhe,'bythebonesofyourfather,bythehonorofyourmother,bythecross

ofyourfaith,toraisenohandandspeaknowordagainstus,eithernoworafterwards?'

"'Iwillswearit,'Ianswered,'providedthatthefortisnotendangered.'

"'Then my comrade and I will swear that you shall have a quarter of the treasure which shall be

equallydividedamongthefourofus.'

"'Therearebutthree,'saidI.

"'No;DostAkbarmusthavehisshare.Wecantellthetaletoyouwhileweawaitthem.Doyoustand

atthegate,MahometSingh,andgivenoticeoftheircoming.Thethingstandsthus,Sahib,andItellitto
youbecauseIknowthatanoathisbindinguponaFeringhee,andthatwemaytrustyou.Hadyoubeena
lyingHindoo,thoughyouhadswornbyallthegodsintheirfalsetemples,yourbloodwouldhavebeen
upontheknife,andyourbodyinthewater.ButtheSikhknowstheEnglishman,andtheEnglishmanknows
theSikh.Hearken,then,towhatIhavetosay.

"'Thereisarajahinthenorthernprovinceswhohasmuchwealth,thoughhislandsaresmall.Much

hascometohimfromhisfather,andmorestillhehassetbyhimself,forheisofalownatureandhoards
hisgoldratherthanspendit.Whenthetroublesbrokeouthewouldbefriendsbothwiththelionandthe
tiger,—withtheSepoyandwiththeCompany'sRaj.Soon,however,itseemedtohimthatthewhitemen's
daywascome,forthroughallthelandhecouldhearofnothingbutoftheirdeathandtheiroverthrow.Yet,
beingacarefulman,hemadesuchplansthat,comewhatmight,halfatleastofhistreasureshouldbeleft
tohim.Thatwhichwasingoldandsilverhekeptbyhiminthevaultsofhispalace,butthemostprecious
stonesandthechoicestpearlsthathehadheputinanironbox,andsentitbyatrustyservantwho,under
theguiseofamerchant,shouldtakeittothefortatAgra,theretolieuntilthelandisatpeace.Thus,ifthe
rebelswonhewouldhavehismoney,butiftheCompanyconqueredhisjewelswouldbesavedtohim.
Havingthusdividedhishoard,hethrewhimselfintothecauseoftheSepoys,sincetheywerestrongupon
hisborders.Bydoingthis,markyou,Sahib,hispropertybecomesthedueofthosewhohavebeentrueto
theirsalt.

"'This pretended merchant, who travels under the name of Achmet, is now in the city of Agra, and

desires to gain his way into the fort. He has with him as travelling-companion my foster-brother Dost
Akbar,whoknowshissecret.DostAkbarhaspromisedthisnighttoleadhimtoaside-posternofthefort,
and has chosen this one for his purpose. Here he will come presently, and here he will find Mahomet
Singhandmyselfawaitinghim.Theplaceislonely,andnoneshallknowofhiscoming.Theworldshall
knowofthemerchantAchmetnomore,butthegreattreasureoftherajahshallbedividedamongus.What
sayyoutoit,Sahib?'

"In Worcestershire the life of a man seems a great and a sacred thing; but it is very different when

there is fire and blood all round you and you have been used to meeting death at every turn. Whether

Achmetthemerchantlivedordiedwasathingaslightasairtome,butatthetalkaboutthetreasuremy
heartturnedtoit,andIthoughtofwhatImightdointheoldcountrywithit,andhowmyfolkwouldstare
whentheysawtheirne'er-do-wellcomingbackwithhispocketsfullofgoldmoidores.Ihad,therefore,
already made up my mind. Abdullah Khan, however, thinking that I hesitated, pressed the matter more
closely.

"'Consider,Sahib,'saidhe,'thatifthismanistakenbythecommandanthewillbehungorshot,and

hisjewelstakenbythegovernment,sothatnomanwillbearupeethebetterforthem.Now,sincewedo
thetakingofhim,whyshouldwenotdotherestaswell?Thejewelswillbeaswellwithusasinthe
Company'scoffers.Therewillbeenoughtomakeeveryoneofusrichmenandgreatchiefs.Noonecan
knowaboutthematter,forherewearecutofffromallmen.Whatcouldbebetterforthepurpose?Say
again,then,Sahib,whetheryouarewithus,orifwemustlookuponyouasanenemy.'

"'Iamwithyouheartandsoul,'saidI.

"'Itiswell,'heanswered,handingmebackmyfirelock.'Youseethatwetrustyou,foryourword,like

ours,isnottobebroken.Wehavenowonlytowaitformybrotherandthemerchant.'

"'Doesyourbrotherknow,then,ofwhatyouwilldo?'Iasked.

"'Theplanishis.Hehasdevisedit.WewillgotothegateandsharethewatchwithMahometSingh.'

"The rain was still falling steadily, for it was just the beginning of the wet season. Brown, heavy

cloudsweredriftingacrossthesky,anditwashardtoseemorethanastone-cast.Adeepmoatlayinfront
ofourdoor,butthewaterwasinplacesnearlydriedup,anditcouldeasilybecrossed.Itwasstrangeto
metobestandingtherewiththosetwowildPunjaubeeswaitingforthemanwhowascomingtohisdeath.

"Suddenlymyeyecaughttheglintofashadedlanternattheothersideofthemoat.Itvanishedamong

themound-heaps,andthenappearedagaincomingslowlyinourdirection.

"'Heretheyare!'Iexclaimed.

"'Youwillchallengehim,Sahib,asusual,'whisperedAbdullah.'Givehimnocauseforfear.Sendus

inwithhim,andweshalldotherestwhileyoustayhereonguard.Havethelanternreadytouncover,that
wemaybesurethatitisindeedtheman.'

"The light had flickered onwards, now stopping and now advancing, until I could see two dark

figures upon the other side of the moat. I let them scramble down the sloping bank, splash through the
mire,andclimbhalf-wayuptothegate,beforeIchallengedthem.

"'Whogoesthere?'saidI,inasubduedvoice.

"'Friends,'cametheanswer.Iuncoveredmylanternandthrewafloodoflightuponthem.Thefirst

was an enormous Sikh, with a black beard which swept nearly down to his cummerbund. Outside of a
showIhaveneverseensotallaman.Theotherwasalittle,fat,roundfellow,withagreatyellowturban,
and a bundle in his hand, done up in a shawl. He seemed to be all in a quiver with fear, for his hands
twitchedasifhehadtheague,andhisheadkeptturningtoleftandrightwithtwobrightlittletwinkling
eyes,likeamousewhenheventuresoutfromhishole.Itgavemethechillstothinkofkillinghim,butI

thoughtofthetreasure,andmyheartsetashardasaflintwithinme.Whenhesawmywhitefacehegave
alittlechirrupofjoyandcamerunninguptowardsme.

"'Your protection, Sahib,' he panted,—'your protection for the unhappy merchant Achmet. I have

travelledacrossRajpootanathatImightseektheshelterofthefortatAgra.Ihavebeenrobbedandbeaten
andabusedbecauseIhavebeenthefriendoftheCompany.ItisablessednightthiswhenIamoncemore
insafety,—Iandmypoorpossessions.'

"'Whathaveyouinthebundle?'Iasked.

"'Anironbox,'heanswered,'whichcontainsoneortwolittlefamilymatterswhichareofnovalueto

others,butwhichIshouldbesorrytolose.YetIamnotabeggar;andIshallrewardyou,youngSahib,
andyourgovernoralso,ifhewillgivemetheshelterIask.'

"Icouldnottrustmyselftospeaklongerwiththeman.ThemoreIlookedathisfat,frightenedface,

theharderdiditseemthatweshouldslayhimincoldblood.Itwasbesttogetitover.

"'Takehimtothemainguard,'saidI.ThetwoSikhsclosedinuponhimoneachside,andthegiant

walkedbehind,whiletheymarchedinthroughthedarkgate-way.Neverwasamansocompassedround
withdeath.Iremainedatthegate-waywiththelantern.

"Icouldhearthemeasuredtrampoftheirfootstepssoundingthroughthelonelycorridors.Suddenlyit

ceased, and I heard voices, and a scuffle, with the sound of blows. A moment later there came, to my
horror,arushoffootstepscominginmydirection,withtheloudbreathingofarunningman.Iturnedmy
lanterndownthelong,straightpassage,andtherewasthefatman,runninglikethewind,withasmearof
bloodacrosshisface,andcloseathisheels,boundinglikeatiger,thegreatblack-beardedSikh,witha
knifeflashinginhishand.Ihaveneverseenamanrunsofastasthatlittlemerchant.Hewasgainingon
theSikh,andIcouldseethatifheoncepassedmeandgottotheopenairhewouldsavehimselfyet.My
heart softened to him, but again the thought of his treasure turned me hard and bitter. I cast my firelock
betweenhislegsasheracedpast,andherolledtwiceoverlikeashotrabbit.Erehecouldstaggertohis
feettheSikhwasuponhim,andburiedhisknifetwiceinhisside.Themanneverutteredmoannormoved
muscle,butlaywerehehadfallen.Ithinkmyselfthathemayhavebrokenhisneckwiththefall.Yousee,
gentlemen, that I am keeping my promise. I am telling you every work of the business just exactly as it
happened,whetheritisinmyfavorornot."

Hestopped,andheldouthismanacledhandsforthewhiskey-and-waterwhichHolmeshadbrewed

for him. For myself, I confess that I had now conceived the utmost horror of the man, not only for this
cold-blooded business in which he had been concerned, but even more for the somewhat flippant and
carelesswayinwhichhenarratedit.Whateverpunishmentwasinstoreforhim,Ifeltthathemightexpect
nosympathyfromme.SherlockHolmesandJonessatwiththeirhandsupontheirknees,deeplyinterested
inthestory,butwiththesamedisgustwrittenupontheirfaces.Hemayhaveobservedit,fortherewasa
touchofdefianceinhisvoiceandmannerasheproceeded.

"Itwasallverybad,nodoubt,"saidhe."Ishouldliketoknowhowmanyfellowsinmyshoeswould

have refused a share of this loot when they knew that they would have their throats cut for their pains.
Besides,itwasmylifeorhiswhenoncehewasinthefort.Ifhehadgotout,thewholebusinesswould
cometolight,andIshouldhavebeencourt-martialledandshotaslikelyasnot;forpeoplewerenotvery
lenientatatimelikethat."

"Goonwithyourstory,"saidHolmes,shortly.

"Well,wecarriedhimin,Abdullah,Akbar,andI.Afineweighthewas,too,forallthathewasso

short. Mahomet Singh was left to guard the door. We took him to a place which the Sikhs had already
prepared.Itwassomedistanceoff,whereawindingpassageleadstoagreatemptyhall,thebrickwalls
ofwhichwereallcrumblingtopieces.Theearthfloorhadsunkinatoneplace,makinganaturalgrave,
soweleftAchmetthemerchantthere,havingfirstcoveredhimoverwithloosebricks.Thisdone,weall
wentbacktothetreasure.

"Itlaywherehehaddroppeditwhenhewasfirstattacked.Theboxwasthesamewhichnowlies

openuponyourtable.Akeywashungbyasilkencordtothatcarvedhandleuponthetop.Weopenedit,
andthelightofthelanterngleameduponacollectionofgemssuchasIhavereadofandthoughtabout
whenIwasalittleladatPershore.Itwasblindingtolookuponthem.Whenwehadfeastedoureyeswe
tookthemalloutandmadealistofthem.Therewereonehundredandforty-threediamondsofthefirst
water, including one which has been called, I believe, 'the Great Mogul' and is said to be the second
largeststoneinexistence.Thentherewereninety-sevenveryfineemeralds,andonehundredandseventy
rubies, some of which, however, were small. There were forty carbuncles, two hundred and ten
sapphires,sixty-oneagates,andagreatquantityofberyls,onyxes,cats'-eyes,turquoises,andotherstones,
theverynamesofwhichIdidnotknowatthetime,thoughIhavebecomemorefamiliarwiththemsince.
Besides this, there were nearly three hundred very fine pearls, twelve of which were set in a gold
coronet.Bytheway,theselasthadbeentakenoutofthechestandwerenottherewhenIrecoveredit.

"Afterwehadcountedourtreasuresweputthembackintothechestandcarriedthemtothegate-way

toshowthemtoMahometSingh.Thenwesolemnlyrenewedouroathtostandbyeachotherandbetrueto
oursecret.Weagreedtoconcealourlootinasafeplaceuntilthecountryshouldbeatpeaceagain,and
then to divide it equally among ourselves. There was no use dividing it at present, for if gems of such
valuewerefounduponusitwouldcausesuspicion,andtherewasnoprivacyinthefortnoranyplace
where we could keep them. We carried the box, therefore, into the same hall where we had buried the
body,andthere,undercertainbricksinthebest-preservedwall,wemadeahollowandputourtreasure.
Wemadecarefulnoteoftheplace,andnextdayIdrewfourplans,oneforeachofus,andputthesignof
thefourofusatthebottom,forwehadswornthatweshouldeachalwaysactforall,sothatnonemight
takeadvantage.ThatisanoaththatIcanputmyhandtomyheartandswearthatIhaveneverbroken.

"Well, there's no use my telling you gentlemen what came of the Indian mutiny. After Wilson took

DelhiandSirColinrelievedLucknowthebackofthebusinesswasbroken.Freshtroopscamepouringin,
and Nana Sahib made himself scarce over the frontier. A flying column under Colonel Greathed came
roundtoAgraandclearedthePandiesawayfromit.Peaceseemedtobesettlinguponthecountry,andwe
fourwerebeginningtohopethatthetimewasathandwhenwemightsafelygooffwithoursharesofthe
plunder. In a moment, however, our hopes were shattered by our being arrested as the murderers of
Achmet.

"Itcameaboutinthisway.WhentherajahputhisjewelsintothehandsofAchmethediditbecause

heknewthathewasatrustyman.TheyaresuspiciousfolkintheEast,however:sowhatdoesthisrajah
dobuttakeasecondevenmoretrustyservantandsethimtoplaythespyuponthefirst?Thissecondman
wasorderednevertoletAchmetoutofhissight,andhefollowedhimlikehisshadow.Hewentafterhim
thatnightandsawhimpassthroughthedoorway.Ofcoursehethoughthehadtakenrefugeinthefort,and
appliedforadmissiontherehimselfnextday,butcouldfindnotraceofAchmet.Thisseemedtohimso
strange that he spoke about it to a sergeant of guides, who brought it to the ears of the commandant. A
thoroughsearchwasquicklymade,andthebodywasdiscovered.Thusattheverymomentthatwethought
thatallwassafewewereallfourseizedandbroughttotrialonachargeofmurder,—threeofusbecause
wehadheldthegatethatnight,andthefourthbecausehewasknowntohavebeeninthecompanyofthe
murdered man. Not a word about the jewels came out at the trial, for the rajah had been deposed and
drivenoutofIndia:sonoonehadanyparticularinterestinthem.Themurder,however,wasclearlymade
out,anditwascertainthatwemustallhavebeenconcernedinit.ThethreeSikhsgotpenalservitudefor
life,and I wascondemned to death,though my sentence wasafterwards commuted intothe same as the
others.

"Itwasratheraqueerpositionthatwefoundourselvesinthen.Therewewereallfourtiedbytheleg

andwithpreciouslittlechanceofevergettingoutagain,whileweeachheldasecretwhichmighthave
puteachofusinapalaceifwecouldonlyhavemadeuseofit.Itwasenoughtomakeamaneathisheart
out to have to stand the kick and the cuff of every petty jack-in-office, to have rice to eat and water to
drink,whenthatgorgeousfortunewasreadyforhimoutside,justwaitingtobepickedup.Itmighthave
drivenmemad;butIwasalwaysaprettystubbornone,soIjustheldonandbidedmytime.

"Atlastitseemedtometohavecome.IwaschangedfromAgratoMadras,andfromtheretoBlair

IslandintheAndamans.Thereareveryfewwhiteconvictsatthissettlement,and,asIhadbehavedwell
fromthefirst,Isoonfoundmyselfasortofprivilegedperson.IwasgivenahutinHopeTown,whichisa
small place on the slopes of Mount Harriet, and I was left pretty much to myself. It is a dreary, fever-
stricken place, and all beyond our little clearings was infested with wild cannibal natives, who were

readyenoughtoblowapoisoneddartatusiftheysawachance.Therewasdigging,andditching,and
yam-planting,andadozenotherthingstobedone,sowewerebusyenoughallday;thoughintheevening
we had a little time to ourselves. Among other things, I learned to dispense drugs for the surgeon, and
pickedupasmatteringofhisknowledge.AllthetimeIwasonthelookoutforachanceofescape;butitis
hundreds of miles from any other land, and there is little or no wind in those seas: so it was a terribly
difficultjobtogetaway.

"Thesurgeon,Dr.Somerton,wasafast,sportingyoungchap,andtheotheryoungofficerswouldmeet

inhisroomsofaneveningandplaycards.Thesurgery,whereIusedtomakeupmydrugs,wasnexttohis
sitting-room,withasmallwindowbetweenus.Often,ifIfeltlonesome,Iusedtoturnoutthelampinthe
surgery,andthen,standingthere,Icouldheartheirtalkandwatchtheirplay.Iamfondofahandatcards
myself,anditwasalmostasgoodashavingonetowatchtheothers.TherewasMajorSholto,Captain
Morstan,andLieutenantBromleyBrown,whowereincommandofthenativetroops,andtherewasthe
surgeonhimself,andtwoorthreeprison-officials,craftyoldhandswhoplayedaniceslysafegame.A
verysnuglittlepartytheyusedtomake.

"Well,therewasonethingwhichverysoonstruckme,andthatwasthatthesoldiersusedalwaysto

loseandthecivilianstowin.Mind,Idon'tsaythattherewasanythingunfair,butsoitwas.Theseprison-
chapshaddonelittleelsethanplaycardseversincetheyhadbeenattheAndamans,andtheykneweach
other'sgametoapoint,whiletheothersjustplayedtopassthetimeandthrewtheircardsdownanyhow.
Nightafternightthesoldiersgotuppoorermen,andthepoorertheygotthemorekeentheyweretoplay.
MajorSholtowasthehardesthit.Heusedtopayinnotesandgoldatfirst,butsoonitcametonotesof
handandforbigsums.Hesometimeswouldwinforafewdeals,justtogivehimheart,andthentheluck
wouldsetinagainsthimworsethanever.Alldayhewouldwanderaboutasblackasthunder,andhetook
todrinkingadealmorethanwasgoodforhim.

"Onenighthelostevenmoreheavilythanusual.IwassittinginmyhutwhenheandCaptainMorstan

came stumbling along on the way to their quarters. They were bosom friends, those two, and never far
apart.Themajorwasravingabouthislosses.

"'It'sallup,Morstan,'hewassaying,astheypassedmyhut.'Ishallhavetosendinmypapers.Iama

ruinedman.'

"'Nonsense,oldchap!'saidtheother,slappinghimupontheshoulder.'I'vehadanastyfacermyself,

but—'ThatwasallIcouldhear,butitwasenoughtosetmethinking.

"AcoupleofdayslaterMajorSholtowasstrollingonthebeach:soItookthechanceofspeakingto

him.

"'Iwishtohaveyouradvice,major,'saidI.

"'Well,Small,whatisit?'heasked,takinghischerootfromhislips.

"'I wanted to ask you, sir,' said I, 'who is the proper person to whom hidden treasure should be

handedover.Iknowwherehalfamillionworthlies,and,asIcannotuseitmyself,Ithoughtperhapsthe
bestthingthatIcoulddowouldbetohanditovertotheproperauthorities,andthenperhapstheywould
getmysentenceshortenedforme.'

"'Halfamillion,Small?'hegasped,lookinghardatmetoseeifIwasinearnest.

"'Quitethat,sir,—injewelsandpearls.Itliestherereadyforanyone.Andthequeerthingaboutitis

thattherealownerisoutlawedandcannotholdproperty,sothatitbelongstothefirstcomer.'

"'To government, Small,' he stammered,—'to government.' But he said it in a halting fashion, and I

knewinmyheartthatIhadgothim.

"'Youthink,then,sir,thatIshouldgivetheinformationtotheGovernor-General?'saidI,quietly.

"'Well,well,youmustnotdoanythingrash,orthatyoumightrepent.Letmehearallaboutit,Small.

Givemethefacts.'

"Itoldhimthewholestory,withsmallchangessothathecouldnotidentifytheplaces.WhenIhad

finishedhestoodstockstillandfullofthought.Icouldseebythetwitchofhislipthattherewasastruggle
goingonwithinhim.

"'Thisisaveryimportantmatter,Small,'hesaid,atlast.'Youmustnotsayawordtoanyoneaboutit,

andIshallseeyouagainsoon.'

"TwonightslaterheandhisfriendCaptainMorstancametomyhutinthedeadofthenightwitha

lantern.

"'IwantyoujusttoletCaptainMorstanhearthatstoryfromyourownlips,Small,'saidhe.

"IrepeateditasIhadtolditbefore.

"'Itringstrue,eh?'saidhe.'It'sgoodenoughtoactupon?'

"CaptainMorstannodded.

"'Lookhere,Small,'saidthemajor.'Wehavebeentalkingitover,myfriendhereandI,andwehave

cometotheconclusionthatthissecretofyoursishardlyagovernmentmatter,afterall,butisaprivate
concern of your own, which of course you have the power of disposing of as you think best. Now, the
questionis,whatpricewouldyouaskforit?Wemightbeinclinedtotakeitup,andatleastlookintoit,if
we could agree as to terms.' He tried to speak in a cool, careless way, but his eyes were shining with
excitementandgreed.

"'Why,astothat,gentlemen,'Ianswered,tryingalsotobecool,butfeelingasexcitedashedid,'there

isonlyonebargainwhichamaninmypositioncanmake.Ishallwantyoutohelpmetomyfreedom,and
tohelpmythreecompanionstotheirs.Weshallthentakeyouintopartnership,andgiveyouafifthshareto
dividebetweenyou.'

"'Hum!'saidhe.'Afifthshare!Thatisnotverytempting.'

"'Itwouldcometofiftythousandapiece,'saidI.

"'Buthowcanwegainyourfreedom?Youknowverywellthatyouaskanimpossibility.'

"'Nothing of the sort,' I answered. 'I have thought it all out to the last detail. The only bar to our

escapeisthatwecangetnoboatfitforthevoyage,andnoprovisionstolastusforsolongatime.There
areplentyoflittleyachtsandyawlsatCalcuttaorMadraswhichwouldserveourturnwell.Doyoubring
one over. We shall engage to get aboard her by night, and if you will drop us on any part of the Indian
coastyouwillhavedoneyourpartofthebargain.'

"'Iftherewereonlyone,'hesaid.

"'Noneorall,'Ianswered.'Wehaveswornit.Thefourofusmustalwaysacttogether.'

"'Yousee,Morstan,'saidhe,'Smallisamanofhisword.Hedoesnotflinchfromhisfriend.Ithink

wemayverywelltrusthim.'

"'It'sadirtybusiness,'theotheranswered.'Yet,asyousay,themoneywouldsaveourcommissions

handsomely.'

"'Well,Small,'saidthemajor,'wemust,Isuppose,tryandmeetyou.Wemustfirst,ofcourse,testthe

truthofyourstory.Tellmewheretheboxishid,andIshallgetleaveofabsenceandgobacktoIndiain
themonthlyrelief-boattoinquireintotheaffair.'

"'Notsofast,'saidI,growingcolderashegothot.'Imusthavetheconsentofmythreecomrades.I

tellyouthatitisfourornonewithus.'

"'Nonsense!'hebrokein.'Whathavethreeblackfellowstodowithouragreement?'

"'Blackorblue,'saidI,'theyareinwithme,andweallgotogether.'

"Well, the matter ended by a second meeting, at which Mahomet Singh, Abdullah Khan, and Dost

Akbarwereallpresent.Wetalkedthematteroveragain,andatlastwecametoanarrangement.Wewere
toprovideboththeofficerswithchartsofthepartoftheAgrafortandmarktheplaceinthewallwhere
thetreasurewashid.MajorSholtowastogotoIndiatotestourstory.Ifhefoundtheboxhewastoleave
itthere,tosendoutasmallyachtprovisionedforavoyage,whichwastolieoffRutlandIsland,andto
whichweweretomakeourway,andfinallytoreturntohisduties.CaptainMorstanwasthentoapplyfor
leaveofabsence,tomeetusatAgra,andthereweweretohaveafinaldivisionofthetreasure,hetaking
the major's share as well as his own. All this we sealed by the most solemn oaths that the mind could
thinkor the lips utter. I sat upall night with paper and ink, and bythe morning I had the two charts all
ready,signedwiththesignoffour,—thatis,ofAbdullah,Akbar,Mahomet,andmyself.

"Well,gentlemen,Iwearyyouwithmylongstory,andIknowthatmyfriendMr.Jonesisimpatientto

getmesafelystowedinchokey.I'llmakeitasshortasIcan.ThevillainSholtowentofftoIndia,buthe
never came back again. Captain Morstan showed me his name among a list of passengers in one of the
mail-boatsveryshortlyafterwards.Hisunclehaddied,leavinghimafortune,andhehadleftthearmy,yet
hecouldstooptotreatfivemenashehadtreatedus.MorstanwentovertoAgrashortlyafterwards,and
found,asweexpected,thatthetreasurewasindeedgone.Thescoundrelhadstolenitall,withoutcarrying
outoneoftheconditionsonwhichwehadsoldhimthesecret.FromthatdayIlivedonlyforvengeance.I
thought of it by day and I nursed it by night. It became an overpowering, absorbing passion with me. I
cared nothing for the law,—nothing for the gallows. To escape, to track down Sholto, to have my hand
uponhisthroat,—thatwasmyonethought.EventheAgratreasurehadcometobeasmallerthinginmy

mindthantheslayingofSholto.

"Well,Ihavesetmymindonmanythingsinthislife,andneveronewhichIdidnotcarryout.Butit

waswearyyearsbeforemytimecame.IhavetoldyouthatIhadpickedupsomethingofmedicine.One
day when Dr. Somerton was down with a fever a little Andaman Islander was picked up by a convict-
ganginthewoods.Hewassicktodeath,andhadgonetoalonelyplacetodie.Itookhiminhand,though
hewasasvenomousasayoungsnake,andafteracoupleofmonthsIgothimallrightandabletowalk.
Hetookakindoffancytomethen,andwouldhardlygobacktohiswoods,butwasalwayshangingabout
myhut.Ilearnedalittleofhislingofromhim,andthismadehimallthefonderofme.

"Tonga—for that was his name—was a fine boatman, and owned a big, roomy canoe of his own.

WhenIfoundthathewasdevotedtomeandwoulddoanythingtoserveme,Isawmychanceofescape.I
talkeditoverwithhim.Hewastobringhisboatroundonacertainnighttoanoldwharfwhichwasnever
guarded,andtherehewastopickmeup.Igavehimdirectionstohaveseveralgourdsofwaterandalot
ofyams,cocoa-nuts,andsweetpotatoes.

"Hewasstanchandtrue,waslittleTonga.Nomaneverhadamorefaithfulmate.Atthenightnamed

hehadhisboatatthewharf.Asitchanced,however,therewasoneoftheconvict-guarddownthere,—a
vilePathanwhohadnevermissedachanceofinsultingandinjuringme.Ihadalwaysvowedvengeance,
andnowIhadmychance.ItwasasiffatehadplacedhiminmywaythatImightpaymydebtbeforeIleft
theisland.Hestoodonthebankwithhisbacktome,andhiscarbineonhisshoulder.Ilookedaboutfora
stone to beat out his brains with, but none could I see. Then a queer thought came into my head and
showed me where I could lay my hand on a weapon. I sat down in the darkness and unstrapped my
woodenleg.WiththreelonghopsIwasonhim.Heputhiscarbinetohisshoulder,butIstruckhimfull,
andknockedthewholefrontofhisskullin.YoucanseethesplitinthewoodnowwhereIhithim.We
bothwentdowntogether,forIcouldnotkeepmybalance,butwhenIgotupIfoundhimstilllyingquiet
enough. I made for the boat, and in an hour we were well out at sea. Tonga had brought all his earthly
possessionswithhim,hisarmsandhisgods.Amongotherthings,hehadalongbamboospear,andsome
Andaman cocoa-nut matting, with which I made a sort of sail. For ten days we were beating about,
trustingtoluck,andontheeleventhwewerepickedupbyatraderwhichwasgoingfromSingaporeto
JiddahwithacargoofMalaypilgrims.Theywerearumcrowd,andTongaandIsoonmanagedtosettle
downamongthem.Theyhadoneverygoodquality:theyletyoualoneandaskednoquestions.

"Well,ifIweretotellyoualltheadventuresthatmylittlechumandIwentthrough,youwouldnot

thankme,forIwouldhaveyouhereuntilthesunwasshining.Hereandtherewedriftedabouttheworld,
something always turning up to keep us from London. All the time, however, I never lost sight of my
purpose. I would dream of Sholto at night. A hundred times I have killed him in my sleep. At last,
however,somethreeorfouryearsago,wefoundourselvesinEngland.Ihadnogreatdifficultyinfinding
whereSholtolived,andIsettoworktodiscoverwhetherhehadrealizedthetreasure,orifhestillhadit.
Imadefriendswithsomeonewhocouldhelpme,—Inamenonames,forIdon'twanttogetanyoneelse
inahole,—andIsoonfoundthathestillhadthejewels.ThenItriedtogetathiminmanyways;buthe
wasprettysly,andhadalwaystwoprize-fighters,besideshissonsandhiskhitmutgar,onguardoverhim.

"Oneday,however,Igotwordthathewasdying.Ihurriedatoncetothegarden,madthatheshould

slip out of my clutches like that, and, looking through the window, I saw him lying in his bed, with his
sonsoneachsideofhim.I'dhavecomethroughandtakenmychancewiththethreeofthem,onlyevenasI
lookedathimhisjawdropped,andIknewthathewasgone.Igotintohisroomthatsamenight,though,

andIsearchedhispaperstoseeiftherewasanyrecordofwherehehadhiddenourjewels.Therewas
notaline,however:soIcameaway,bitterandsavageasamancouldbe.BeforeIleftIbethoughtmethat
if I ever met my Sikh friends again it would be a satisfaction to know that I had left some mark of our
hatred:soIscrawleddownthesignofthefourofus,asithadbeenonthechart,andIpinneditonhis
bosom.Itwastoomuchthatheshouldbetakentothegravewithoutsometokenfromthemenwhomhe
hadrobbedandbefooled.

"We earned a living at this time by my exhibiting poor Tonga at fairs and other such places as the

blackcannibal.Hewouldeatrawmeatanddancehiswar-dance:sowealwayshadahatfulofpennies
afteraday'swork.IstillheardallthenewsfromPondicherryLodge,andforsomeyearstherewasno
newstohear,exceptthattheywerehuntingforthetreasure.Atlast,however,camewhatwehadwaited
forsolong.Thetreasurehadbeenfound.Itwasupatthetopofthehouse,inMr.BartholomewSholto's
chemicallaboratory.Icameatonceandhadalookattheplace,butIcouldnotseehowwithmywooden
legIwastomakemywayuptoit.Ilearned,however,aboutatrap-doorintheroof,andalsoaboutMr.
Sholto'ssupper-hour.ItseemedtomethatIcouldmanagethethingeasilythroughTonga.Ibroughthimout
withmewithalongropewoundroundhiswaist.Hecouldclimblikeacat,andhesoonmadehisway
through the roof, but, as ill luck would have it, Bartholomew Sholto was still in the room, to his cost.
Tongathoughthehaddonesomethingverycleverinkillinghim,forwhenIcameupbytheropeIfound
himstruttingaboutasproudasapeacock.VerymuchsurprisedwashewhenImadeathimwiththerope's
end and cursed him for a little blood-thirsty imp. I took the treasure-box and let it down, and then slid
downmyself,havingfirstleftthesignofthefouruponthetable,toshowthatthejewelshadcomebackat
lasttothosewhohadmostrighttothem.Tongathenpulleduptherope,closedthewindow,andmadeoff
thewaythathehadcome.

"I don't know that I have anything else to tell you. I had heard a waterman speak of the speed of

Smith's launch the Aurora, so I thought she would be a handy craft for our escape. I engaged with old
Smith,andwastogivehimabigsumifhegotussafetoourship.Heknew,nodoubt,thattherewassome
screwloose,buthewasnotinoursecrets.Allthisisthetruth,andifItellittoyou,gentlemen,itisnotto
amuseyou,—foryouhavenotdonemeaverygoodturn,—butitisbecauseIbelievethebestdefenceI
canmakeisjusttoholdbacknothing,butletalltheworldknowhowbadlyIhavemyselfbeenservedby
MajorSholto,andhowinnocentIamofthedeathofhisson."

"A very remarkable account," said Sherlock Holmes. "A fitting wind-up to an extremely interesting

case.Thereisnothingatallnewtomeinthelatterpartofyournarrative,exceptthatyoubroughtyour
ownrope.ThatIdidnotknow.Bytheway,IhadhopedthatTongahadlostallhisdarts;yethemanaged
toshootoneatusintheboat."

"Hehadlostthemall,sir,excepttheonewhichwasinhisblow-pipeatthetime."

"Ah,ofcourse,"saidHolmes."Ihadnotthoughtofthat."

"Isthereanyotherpointwhichyouwouldliketoaskabout?"askedtheconvict,affably.

"Ithinknot,thankyou,"mycompanionanswered.

"Well,Holmes,"saidAthelneyJones,"Youareamantobehumored,andweallknowthatyouarea

connoisseurofcrime,butdutyisduty,andIhavegoneratherfarindoingwhatyouandyourfriendasked
me.Ishallfeelmoreateasewhenwehaveourstory-tellerheresafeunderlockandkey.Thecabstill

waits,and there aretwo inspectors down-stairs.I am much obligedto you bothfor your assistance. Of
courseyouwillbewantedatthetrial.Good-nighttoyou."

"Good-night,gentlemenboth,"saidJonathanSmall.

"Youfirst,Small,"remarkedthewaryJonesastheylefttheroom."I'lltakeparticularcarethatyou

don'tclubmewithyourwoodenleg,whateveryoumayhavedonetothegentlemanattheAndamanIsles."

"Well, and there is the end of our little drama," I remarked, after we had set some time smoking in

silence. "I fear that it may be the last investigation in which I shall have the chance of studying your
methods.MissMorstanhasdonemethehonortoacceptmeasahusbandinprospective."

Hegaveamostdismalgroan."Ifearedasmuch,"saidhe."Ireallycannotcongratulateyou."

Iwasalittlehurt."Haveyouanyreasontobedissatisfiedwithmychoice?"Iasked.

"Notatall.IthinksheisoneofthemostcharmingyoungladiesIevermet,andmighthavebeenmost

usefulinsuchworkaswehavebeendoing.Shehadadecidedgeniusthatway:witnessthewayinwhich
shepreservedthatAgraplanfromalltheotherpapersofherfather.Butloveisanemotionalthing,and
whateverisemotionalisopposedtothattruecoldreasonwhichIplaceaboveallthings.Ishouldnever
marrymyself,lestIbiasmyjudgment."

"Itrust,"saidI,laughing,"thatmyjudgmentmaysurvivetheordeal.Butyoulookweary."

"Yes,thereactionisalreadyuponme.Ishallbeaslimpasaragforaweek."

"Strange,"saidI,"howtermsofwhatinanothermanIshouldcalllazinessalternatewithyourfitsof

splendidenergyandvigor."

"Yes,"heanswered,"thereareinmethemakingsofaveryfineloaferandalsoofaprettysprysortof

fellow.IoftenthinkofthoselinesofoldGoethe,—

SchadedassdieNaturnurEINENMenschausDirschuf,
DennzumwuerdigenMannwarundzumSchelmenderStoff.

"Bytheway,aproposofthisNorwoodbusiness,youseethattheyhad,asIsurmised,aconfederate

inthehouse,whocouldbenoneotherthanLalRao,thebutler:soJonesactuallyhastheundividedhonor
ofhavingcaughtonefishinhisgreathaul."

"Thedivisionseemsratherunfair,"Iremarked."Youhavedonealltheworkinthisbusiness.Igeta

wifeoutofit,Jonesgetsthecredit,praywhatremainsforyou?"

"Forme,"saidSherlockHolmes,"therestillremainsthecocaine-bottle."Andhestretchedhislong

whitehandupforit.

EndofProjectGutenberg'sTheSignoftheFour,byArthurConanDoyle

***ENDOFTHISPROJECTGUTENBERGEBOOKTHESIGNOFTHEFOUR***

*****Thisfileshouldbenamed2097-h.htmor2097-h.zip*****
Thisandallassociatedfilesofvariousformatswillbefoundin:
http://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/9/2097/

Updatededitionswillreplacethepreviousone--theoldeditions
willberenamed.

Creatingtheworksfrompublicdomainprinteditionsmeansthatno
oneownsaUnitedStatescopyrightintheseworks,sotheFoundation
(andyou!)cancopyanddistributeitintheUnitedStateswithout
permissionandwithoutpayingcopyrightroyalties.Specialrules,
setforthintheGeneralTermsofUsepartofthislicense,applyto
copyinganddistributingProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksto
protectthePROJECTGUTENBERG-tmconceptandtrademark.Project
Gutenbergisaregisteredtrademark,andmaynotbeusedifyou
chargefortheeBooks,unlessyoureceivespecificpermission.Ifyou
donotchargeanythingforcopiesofthiseBook,complyingwiththe
rulesisveryeasy.YoumayusethiseBookfornearlyanypurpose
suchascreationofderivativeworks,reports,performancesand
research.Theymaybemodifiedandprintedandgivenaway--youmaydo
practicallyANYTHINGwithpublicdomaineBooks.Redistributionis
subjecttothetrademarklicense,especiallycommercial
redistribution.

***START:FULLLICENSE***

THEFULLPROJECTGUTENBERGLICENSE
PLEASEREADTHISBEFOREYOUDISTRIBUTEORUSETHISWORK

ToprotecttheProjectGutenberg-tmmissionofpromotingthefree
distributionofelectronicworks,byusingordistributingthiswork
(oranyotherworkassociatedinanywaywiththephrase"Project
Gutenberg"),youagreetocomplywithallthetermsoftheFullProject
Gutenberg-tmLicense(availablewiththisfileoronlineat
http://gutenberg.net/license).

Section1.GeneralTermsofUseandRedistributingProjectGutenberg-tm
electronicworks

1.A.ByreadingorusinganypartofthisProjectGutenberg-tm
electronicwork,youindicatethatyouhaveread,understand,agreeto
andacceptallthetermsofthislicenseandintellectualproperty
(trademark/copyright)agreement.Ifyoudonotagreetoabidebyall
thetermsofthisagreement,youmustceaseusingandreturnordestroy
allcopiesofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksinyourpossession.
IfyoupaidafeeforobtainingacopyoforaccesstoaProject
Gutenberg-tmelectronicworkandyoudonotagreetobeboundbythe
termsofthisagreement,youmayobtainarefundfromthepersonor
entitytowhomyoupaidthefeeassetforthinparagraph1.E.8.

1.B."ProjectGutenberg"isaregisteredtrademark.Itmayonlybe
usedonorassociatedinanywaywithanelectronicworkbypeoplewho
agreetobeboundbythetermsofthisagreement.Thereareafew
thingsthatyoucandowithmostProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks
evenwithoutcomplyingwiththefulltermsofthisagreement.See
paragraph1.Cbelow.TherearealotofthingsyoucandowithProject
Gutenberg-tmelectronicworksifyoufollowthetermsofthisagreement
andhelppreservefreefutureaccesstoProjectGutenberg-tmelectronic
works.Seeparagraph1.Ebelow.

1.C.TheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation("theFoundation"
orPGLAF),ownsacompilationcopyrightinthecollectionofProject
Gutenberg-tmelectronicworks.Nearlyalltheindividualworksinthe

collectionareinthepublicdomainintheUnitedStates.Ifan
individualworkisinthepublicdomainintheUnitedStatesandyouare
locatedintheUnitedStates,wedonotclaimarighttopreventyoufrom
copying,distributing,performing,displayingorcreatingderivative
worksbasedontheworkaslongasallreferencestoProjectGutenberg
areremoved.Ofcourse,wehopethatyouwillsupporttheProject
Gutenberg-tmmissionofpromotingfreeaccesstoelectronicworksby
freelysharingProjectGutenberg-tmworksincompliancewiththetermsof
thisagreementforkeepingtheProjectGutenberg-tmnameassociatedwith
thework.Youcaneasilycomplywiththetermsofthisagreementby
keepingthisworkinthesameformatwithitsattachedfullProject
Gutenberg-tmLicensewhenyoushareitwithoutchargewithothers.

1.D.Thecopyrightlawsoftheplacewhereyouarelocatedalsogovern
whatyoucandowiththiswork.Copyrightlawsinmostcountriesarein
aconstantstateofchange.IfyouareoutsidetheUnitedStates,check
thelawsofyourcountryinadditiontothetermsofthisagreement
beforedownloading,copying,displaying,performing,distributingor
creatingderivativeworksbasedonthisworkoranyotherProject
Gutenberg-tmwork.TheFoundationmakesnorepresentationsconcerning
thecopyrightstatusofanyworkinanycountryoutsidetheUnited
States.

1.E.UnlessyouhaveremovedallreferencestoProjectGutenberg:

1.E.1.Thefollowingsentence,withactivelinksto,orotherimmediate
accessto,thefullProjectGutenberg-tmLicensemustappearprominently
wheneveranycopyofaProjectGutenberg-tmwork(anyworkonwhichthe
phrase"ProjectGutenberg"appears,orwithwhichthephrase"Project
Gutenberg"isassociated)isaccessed,displayed,performed,viewed,
copiedordistributed:

ThiseBookisfortheuseofanyoneanywhereatnocostandwith
almostnorestrictionswhatsoever.Youmaycopyit,giveitawayor
re-useitunderthetermsoftheProjectGutenbergLicenseincluded
withthiseBookoronlineatwww.gutenberg.net

1.E.2.IfanindividualProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkisderived
fromthepublicdomain(doesnotcontainanoticeindicatingthatitis
postedwithpermissionofthecopyrightholder),theworkcanbecopied
anddistributedtoanyoneintheUnitedStateswithoutpayinganyfees
orcharges.Ifyouareredistributingorprovidingaccesstoawork
withthephrase"ProjectGutenberg"associatedwithorappearingonthe
work,youmustcomplyeitherwiththerequirementsofparagraphs1.E.1
through1.E.7orobtainpermissionfortheuseoftheworkandthe
ProjectGutenberg-tmtrademarkassetforthinparagraphs1.E.8or
1.E.9.

1.E.3.IfanindividualProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworkisposted
withthepermissionofthecopyrightholder,youruseanddistribution
mustcomplywithbothparagraphs1.E.1through1.E.7andanyadditional
termsimposedbythecopyrightholder.Additionaltermswillbelinked
totheProjectGutenberg-tmLicenseforallworkspostedwiththe
permissionofthecopyrightholderfoundatthebeginningofthiswork.

1.E.4.DonotunlinkordetachorremovethefullProjectGutenberg-tm
Licensetermsfromthiswork,oranyfilescontainingapartofthis
workoranyotherworkassociatedwithProjectGutenberg-tm.

1.E.5.Donotcopy,display,perform,distributeorredistributethis
electronicwork,oranypartofthiselectronicwork,without
prominentlydisplayingthesentencesetforthinparagraph1.E.1with
activelinksorimmediateaccesstothefulltermsoftheProject
Gutenberg-tmLicense.

1.E.6.Youmayconverttoanddistributethisworkinanybinary,
compressed,markedup,nonproprietaryorproprietaryform,includingany
wordprocessingorhypertextform.However,ifyouprovideaccesstoor
distributecopiesofaProjectGutenberg-tmworkinaformatotherthan
"PlainVanillaASCII"orotherformatusedintheofficialversion
postedontheofficialProjectGutenberg-tmwebsite(www.gutenberg.net),
youmust,atnoadditionalcost,feeorexpensetotheuser,providea
copy,ameansofexportingacopy,orameansofobtainingacopyupon
request,oftheworkinitsoriginal"PlainVanillaASCII"orother
form.AnyalternateformatmustincludethefullProjectGutenberg-tm
Licenseasspecifiedinparagraph1.E.1.

1.E.7.Donotchargeafeeforaccessto,viewing,displaying,
performing,copyingordistributinganyProjectGutenberg-tmworks
unlessyoucomplywithparagraph1.E.8or1.E.9.

1.E.8.Youmaychargeareasonablefeeforcopiesoforproviding
accesstoordistributingProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksprovided
that

-Youpayaroyaltyfeeof20%ofthegrossprofitsyouderivefrom
theuseofProjectGutenberg-tmworkscalculatedusingthemethod
youalreadyusetocalculateyourapplicabletaxes.Thefeeis
owedtotheowneroftheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademark,buthe
hasagreedtodonateroyaltiesunderthisparagraphtothe
ProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation.Royaltypayments
mustbepaidwithin60daysfollowingeachdateonwhichyou
prepare(orarelegallyrequiredtoprepare)yourperiodictax
returns.Royaltypaymentsshouldbeclearlymarkedassuchand
senttotheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationatthe
addressspecifiedinSection4,"Informationaboutdonationsto
theProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation."

-Youprovideafullrefundofanymoneypaidbyauserwhonotifies
youinwriting(orbye-mail)within30daysofreceiptthats/he
doesnotagreetothetermsofthefullProjectGutenberg-tm
License.Youmustrequiresuchausertoreturnor
destroyallcopiesoftheworkspossessedinaphysicalmedium
anddiscontinuealluseofandallaccesstoothercopiesof
ProjectGutenberg-tmworks.

-Youprovide,inaccordancewithparagraph1.F.3,afullrefundofany
moneypaidforaworkorareplacementcopy,ifadefectinthe
electronicworkisdiscoveredandreportedtoyouwithin90days
ofreceiptofthework.

-Youcomplywithallothertermsofthisagreementforfree
distributionofProjectGutenberg-tmworks.

1.E.9.IfyouwishtochargeafeeordistributeaProjectGutenberg-tm
electronicworkorgroupofworksondifferenttermsthanareset
forthinthisagreement,youmustobtainpermissioninwritingfrom
boththeProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationandMichael
Hart,theowneroftheProjectGutenberg-tmtrademark.Contactthe
FoundationassetforthinSection3below.

1.F.

1.F.1.ProjectGutenbergvolunteersandemployeesexpendconsiderable
efforttoidentify,docopyrightresearchon,transcribeandproofread
publicdomainworksincreatingtheProjectGutenberg-tm
collection.Despitetheseefforts,ProjectGutenberg-tmelectronic
works,andthemediumonwhichtheymaybestored,maycontain
"Defects,"suchas,butnotlimitedto,incomplete,inaccurateor
corruptdata,transcriptionerrors,acopyrightorotherintellectual
propertyinfringement,adefectiveordamageddiskorothermedium,a
computervirus,orcomputercodesthatdamageorcannotbereadby
yourequipment.

1.F.2.LIMITEDWARRANTY,DISCLAIMEROFDAMAGES-Exceptforthe"Right
ofReplacementorRefund"describedinparagraph1.F.3,theProject
GutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation,theowneroftheProject
Gutenberg-tmtrademark,andanyotherpartydistributingaProject
Gutenberg-tmelectronicworkunderthisagreement,disclaimall
liabilitytoyoufordamages,costsandexpenses,includinglegal
fees.YOUAGREETHATYOUHAVENOREMEDIESFORNEGLIGENCE,STRICT
LIABILITY,BREACHOFWARRANTYORBREACHOFCONTRACTEXCEPTTHOSE
PROVIDEDINPARAGRAPHF3.YOUAGREETHATTHEFOUNDATION,THE
TRADEMARKOWNER,ANDANYDISTRIBUTORUNDERTHISAGREEMENTWILLNOTBE
LIABLETOYOUFORACTUAL,DIRECT,INDIRECT,CONSEQUENTIAL,PUNITIVEOR
INCIDENTALDAMAGESEVENIFYOUGIVENOTICEOFTHEPOSSIBILITYOFSUCH
DAMAGE.

1.F.3.LIMITEDRIGHTOFREPLACEMENTORREFUND-Ifyoudiscovera
defectinthiselectronicworkwithin90daysofreceivingit,youcan
receivearefundofthemoney(ifany)youpaidforitbysendinga
writtenexplanationtothepersonyoureceivedtheworkfrom.Ifyou
receivedtheworkonaphysicalmedium,youmustreturnthemediumwith
yourwrittenexplanation.Thepersonorentitythatprovidedyouwith

thedefectiveworkmayelecttoprovideareplacementcopyinlieuofa
refund.Ifyoureceivedtheworkelectronically,thepersonorentity
providingittoyoumaychoosetogiveyouasecondopportunityto
receivetheworkelectronicallyinlieuofarefund.Ifthesecondcopy
isalsodefective,youmaydemandarefundinwritingwithoutfurther
opportunitiestofixtheproblem.

1.F.4.Exceptforthelimitedrightofreplacementorrefundsetforth
inparagraph1.F.3,thisworkisprovidedtoyou'AS-IS'WITHNOOTHER
WARRANTIESOFANYKIND,EXPRESSORIMPLIED,INCLUDINGBUTNOTLIMITEDTO
WARRANTIESOFMERCHANTIBILITYORFITNESSFORANYPURPOSE.

1.F.5.Somestatesdonotallowdisclaimersofcertainimplied
warrantiesortheexclusionorlimitationofcertaintypesofdamages.
Ifanydisclaimerorlimitationsetforthinthisagreementviolatesthe
lawofthestateapplicabletothisagreement,theagreementshallbe
interpretedtomakethemaximumdisclaimerorlimitationpermittedby
theapplicablestatelaw.Theinvalidityorunenforceabilityofany
provisionofthisagreementshallnotvoidtheremainingprovisions.

1.F.6.INDEMNITY-YouagreetoindemnifyandholdtheFoundation,the
trademarkowner,anyagentoremployeeoftheFoundation,anyone
providingcopiesofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworksinaccordance
withthisagreement,andanyvolunteersassociatedwiththeproduction,
promotionanddistributionofProjectGutenberg-tmelectronicworks,
harmlessfromallliability,costsandexpenses,includinglegalfees,
thatarisedirectlyorindirectlyfromanyofthefollowingwhichyoudo
orcausetooccur:(a)distributionofthisoranyProjectGutenberg-tm
work,(b)alteration,modification,oradditionsordeletionstoany
ProjectGutenberg-tmwork,and(c)anyDefectyoucause.

Section2.InformationabouttheMissionofProjectGutenberg-tm

ProjectGutenberg-tmissynonymouswiththefreedistributionof
electronicworksinformatsreadablebythewidestvarietyofcomputers
includingobsolete,old,middle-agedandnewcomputers.Itexists
becauseoftheeffortsofhundredsofvolunteersanddonationsfrom
peopleinallwalksoflife.

Volunteersandfinancialsupporttoprovidevolunteerswiththe
assistancetheyneed,iscriticaltoreachingProjectGutenberg-tm's
goalsandensuringthattheProjectGutenberg-tmcollectionwill
remainfreelyavailableforgenerationstocome.In2001,theProject
GutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationwascreatedtoprovideasecure
andpermanentfutureforProjectGutenberg-tmandfuturegenerations.
TolearnmoreabouttheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundation
andhowyoureffortsanddonationscanhelp,seeSections3and4
andtheFoundationwebpageathttp://www.pglaf.org.

Section3.InformationabouttheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchive
Foundation

TheProjectGutenbergLiteraryArchiveFoundationisanonprofit
501(c)(3)educationalcorporationorganizedunderthelawsofthe
stateofMississippiandgrantedtaxexemptstatusbytheInternal
RevenueService.TheFoundation'sEINorfederaltaxidentification
numberis64-6221541.Its501(c)(3)letterispostedat
http://pglaf.org/fundraising.ContributionstotheProjectGutenberg
LiteraryArchiveFoundationaretaxdeductibletothefullextent
permittedbyU.S.federallawsandyourstate'slaws.

TheFoundation'sprincipalofficeislocatedat4557MelanDr.S.
Fairbanks,AK,99712.,butitsvolunteersandemployeesarescattered
throughoutnumerouslocations.Itsbusinessofficeislocatedat
809North1500West,SaltLakeCity,UT84116,[phone],email
[e-mail]datecontact
informationcanbefoundattheFoundation'swebsiteandofficial
pageathttp://pglaf.org

Foradditionalcontactinformation:
Dr.GregoryB.Newby
ChiefExecutiveandDirector
[e-mail]

Section4.InformationaboutDonationstotheProjectGutenberg
LiteraryArchiveFoundation

ProjectGutenberg-tmdependsuponandcannotsurvivewithoutwide
spreadpublicsupportanddonationstocarryoutitsmissionof
increasingthenumberofpublicdomainandlicensedworksthatcanbe
freelydistributedinmachinereadableformaccessiblebythewidest
arrayofequipmentincludingoutdatedequipment.Manysmalldonations
($1to$5,000)areparticularlyimportanttomaintainingtaxexempt
statuswiththeIRS.

TheFoundationiscommittedtocomplyingwiththelawsregulating
charitiesandcharitabledonationsinall50statesoftheUnited
States.Compliancerequirementsarenotuniformandittakesa
considerableeffort,muchpaperworkandmanyfeestomeetandkeepup
withtheserequirements.Wedonotsolicitdonationsinlocations
wherewehavenotreceivedwrittenconfirmationofcompliance.To
SENDDONATIONSordeterminethestatusofcomplianceforany
particularstatevisithttp://pglaf.org

Whilewecannotanddonotsolicitcontributionsfromstateswherewe
havenotmetthesolicitationrequirements,weknowofnoprohibition
againstacceptingunsoliciteddonationsfromdonorsinsuchstateswho
approachuswithofferstodonate.

Internationaldonationsaregratefullyaccepted,butwecannotmake
anystatementsconcerningtaxtreatmentofdonationsreceivedfrom
outsidetheUnitedStates.U.S.lawsaloneswampoursmallstaff.

PleasechecktheProjectGutenbergWebpagesforcurrentdonation
methodsandaddresses.Donationsareacceptedinanumberofother
waysincludingincludingchecks,onlinepaymentsandcreditcard
donations.Todonate,pleasevisit:http://pglaf.org/donate

Section5.GeneralInformationAboutProjectGutenberg-tmelectronic
works.

ProfessorMichaelS.HartistheoriginatoroftheProjectGutenberg-tm
conceptofalibraryofelectronicworksthatcouldbefreelyshared
withanyone.Forthirtyyears,heproducedanddistributedProject
Gutenberg-tmeBookswithonlyaloosenetworkofvolunteersupport.

ProjectGutenberg-tmeBooksareoftencreatedfromseveralprinted
editions,allofwhichareconfirmedasPublicDomainintheU.S.
unlessacopyrightnoticeisincluded.Thus,wedonotnecessarily
keepeBooksincompliancewithanyparticularpaperedition.

MostpeoplestartatourWebsitewhichhasthemainPGsearchfacility:

http://www.gutenberg.net

ThisWebsiteincludesinformationaboutProjectGutenberg-tm,
includinghowtomakedonationstotheProjectGutenbergLiterary
ArchiveFoundation,howtohelpproduceourneweBooks,andhowto
subscribetoouremailnewslettertohearaboutneweBooks.