The Sign of Four

The Sign of Four By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Chapter 1 The Science of Deduction Sherloc& Holmes too& his 1ottle from the corner of the mantel+iece2 and his hy+odermic syrin"e from its neat morocco case. 3ith his lon"2 4hite2 ner(ous fin"ers he ad5usted the delicate needle and rolled 1ac& his left shirtcuff. 6or some little time his eyes rested thou"htfully u+on the sine4y forearm and 4rist2 all dotted and scarred 4ith innumera1le +uncture-mar&s. 6inally2 he thrust the shar+ +oint home2 +ressed do4n the tiny +iston2 and san& 1ac& into the (el(et-lined armchair 4ith a lon" si"h of satisfaction.
Table of Contents 1. The Science of Deduction 2. The Statement of the Case 3. In Quest of a Solution 4. The Story of the Bald-Headed an
!. The Tra"edy of #ondicherry $od"e %. Sherloc& Holmes 'i(es a Demonstration ). The *+isode of the Barrel ,. The Ba&er Street Irre"ulars -. . Brea& in the Chain 1/. The *nd of the Islander 11. The 'reat ."ra Treasure 12. The Stran"e Story of 0onathan Small
Three times a day for many months I had 4itnessed this +erformance2 1ut custom had not reconciled my mind to it. 7n the contrary2 from day to day I had 1ecome more irrita1le at the si"ht2 and my conscience s4elled ni"htly 4ithin me at the thou"ht that I had lac&ed the coura"e to +rotest. ."ain and a"ain I had re"istered a (o4 that I should deli(er my soul u+on the su15ect8 1ut there 4as that in the cool2 nonchalant air of my com+anion 4hich made him the last man 4ith 4hom one 4ould care to ta&e anythin" a++roachin" to a li1erty. His "reat +o4ers2 his masterly manner2 and the e9+erience 4hich I had had of his many e9traordinary :ualities2 all made me diffident and 1ac&4ard in crossin" him. ;et u+on that afternoon2 4hether it 4as the Beaune 4hich I had ta&en 4ith my lunch or the additional e9as+eration +roduced 1y the e9treme deli1eration of his manner2 I suddenly felt that I could hold out no lon"er. <3hich is it to-day2= I as&ed2 <mor+hine or cocaine>=
He raised his eyes lan"uidly from the old 1lac&-letter (olume 4hich he had o+ened. <It is cocaine2= he said2 <a se(en-+er-cent solution. 3ould you care to try it>= <?o2 indeed2= I ans4ered 1rus:uely. < y constitution has not "ot o(er the .f"han cam+ai"n yet. I cannot afford to thro4 any e9tra strain u+on it.= He smiled at my (ehemence. <#erha+s you are ri"ht2 3atson2= he said. <I su++ose that its influence is +hysically a 1ad one. I find it2 ho4e(er2 so transcendently stimulatin" and clarifyin" to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment.= <But consider@= I said earnestly. <Count the cost@ ;our 1rain may2 as you say2 1e roused and e9cited2 1ut it is a +atholo"ical and mor1id +rocess 4hich in(ol(es increased tissue-chan"e and may at least lea(e a +ermanent 4ea&ness. ;ou &no42 too2 4hat a 1lac& reaction comes u+on you. Surely the "ame is hardly 4orth the candle. 3hy should you2 for a mere +assin" +leasure2 ris& the loss of those "reat +o4ers 4ith 4hich you ha(e 1een endo4ed> Aemem1er that I s+ea& not only as one comrade to another 1ut as a medical man to one for 4hose constitution he is to some e9tent ans4era1le.= He did not seem offended. 7n the contrary2 he +ut his fin"erti+s to"ether2 and leaned his el1o4s on the arms of his chair2 li&e one 4ho has a relish for con(ersation. < y mind2= he said2 <re1els at sta"nation. 'i(e me +ro1lems2 "i(e me 4or&2 "i(e me the most a1struse cry+to"ram2 or the most intricate analysis2 and I am in my o4n +ro+er atmos+here. I can
dis+ense then 4ith artificial stimulants. But I a1hor the dull routine of e9istence. I cra(e for mental e9altation. That is 4hy I ha(e chosen my o4n +articular +rofession2 or rather created it2 for I am the only one in the 4orld.= <The only unofficial detecti(e>= I said2 raisin" my eye1ro4s. <The only unofficial consultin" detecti(e2= he ans4ered. <I am the last and hi"hest court of a++eal in detection. 3hen 're"son2 or $estrade2 or .thelney 0ones are out of their de+ths B 4hich2 1y the 4ay2 is their normal state B the matter is laid 1efore me. I e9amine the data2 as an e9+ert2 and +ronounce a s+ecialistCs o+inion. I claim no credit in such cases. y name fi"ures in no ne4s+a+er. The 4or& itself2 the +leasure of findin" a field for my +eculiar +o4ers2 is my hi"hest re4ard. But you ha(e yourself had some e9+erience of my methods of 4or& in the 0efferson Ho+e case.= <;es2 indeed2= said I cordially. <I 4as ne(er so struc& 1y anythin" in my life. I e(en em1odied it in a small 1rochure2 4ith the some4hat fantastic title of D. Study in Scarlet.C= He shoo& his head sadly. <I "lanced o(er it2= said he. <Honestly2 I cannot con"ratulate you u+on it. Detection is2 or ou"ht to 1e2 an e9act science and should 1e treated in the same cold and unemotional manner. ;ou ha(e attem+ted to tin"e it 4ith romanticism2 4hich +roduces much the same effect as if you 4or&ed a lo(e-story or an elo+ement into the fifth +ro+osition of *uclid.= <But the romance 4as there2= I remonstrated. <I could not tam+er 4ith the facts.=
<Some facts should 1e su++ressed2 or2 at least2 a 5ust sense of +ro+ortion should 1e o1ser(ed in treatin" them. The only +oint in the case 4hich deser(ed mention 4as the curious analytical reasonin" from effects to causes2 1y 4hich I succeeded in unra(ellin" it.= I 4as annoyed at this criticism of a 4or& 4hich had 1een s+ecially desi"ned to +lease him. I confess2 too2 that I 4as irritated 1y the e"otism 4hich seemed to demand that e(ery line of my +am+hlet should 1e de(oted to his o4n s+ecial doin"s. ore than once durin" the years that I had li(ed 4ith him in Ba&er Street I had o1ser(ed that a small (anity underlay my com+anionCs :uiet and didactic manner. I made no remar& ho4e(er2 1ut sat nursin" my 4ounded le". I had had a 0eEail 1ullet throu"h it some time 1efore2 and thou"h it did not +re(ent me from 4al&in" it ached 4earily at e(ery chan"e of the 4eather. < y +ractice has e9tended recently to the Continent2= said Holmes after a 4hile2 fillin" u+ his old 1rier-root +i+e. <I 4as consulted last 4ee& 1y 6rancois le Fillard2 4ho2 as you +ro1a1ly &no42 has come rather to the front lately in the 6rench detecti(e ser(ice. He has all the Celtic +o4er of :uic& intuition 1ut he is deficient in the 4ide ran"e of e9act &no4led"e 4hich is essential to the hi"her de(elo+ments of his art. The case 4as concerned 4ith a 4ill and +ossessed some features of interest. I 4as a1le to refer him to t4o +arallel cases2 the one at Ai"a in 1,!)2 and the other at St. $ouis in 1,)12 4hich ha(e su""ested to him the true solution. Here is the letter 4hich I had this mornin" ac&no4led"in" my assistance.= He tossed o(er2 as he s+o&e2 a crum+led sheet of forei"n note+a+er. I "lanced my eyes do4n it2 catchin" a +rofusion of notes
of admiration2 4ith stray ma"nifi:ues2 cou+-de-maitres and toursde-force2 all testifyin" to the ardent admiration of the 6renchman. <He s+ea&s as a +u+il to his master2= said I. <7h2 he rates my assistance too hi"hly2= said Sherloc& Holmes li"htly. <He has considera1le "ifts himself. He +ossesses t4o out of the three :ualities necessary for the ideal detecti(e. He has the +o4er of o1ser(ation and that of deduction. He is only 4antin" in &no4led"e2 and that may come in time. He is no4 translatin" my small 4or&s into 6rench.= <;our 4or&s>= <7h2 didnCt you &no4>= he cried2 lau"hin". <;es2 I ha(e 1een "uilty of se(eral mono"ra+hs. They are all u+on technical su15ects. Here2 for e9am+le2 is one DG+on the Distinction 1et4een the .shes of the Farious To1accos.C In it I enumerate a hundred and forty forms of ci"ar2 ci"arette2 and +i+e to1acco2 4ith coloured +lates illustratin" the difference in the ash. It is a +oint 4hich is continually turnin" u+ in criminal trials2 and 4hich is sometimes of su+reme im+ortance as a clue. If you can say definitely2 for e9am+le2 that some murder had 1een done 1y a man 4ho 4as smo&in" an Indian lun&ah2 it o1(iously narro4s your field of search. To the trained eye there is as much difference 1et4een the 1lac& ash of a Trichino+oly and the 4hite fluff of 1irdCs-eye as there is 1et4een a ca11a"e and a +otato.= <;ou ha(e an e9traordinary "enius for minutiae2= I remar&ed. <I a++reciate their im+ortance. Here is my mono"ra+h u+on the tracin" of footste+s2 4ith some remar&s u+on the uses of +laster of #aris as a +reser(er of im+resses. Here2 too2 is a curious little
4or& u+on the influence of a trade u+on the form of the hand2 4ith lithoty+es of the hands of slaters2 sailors2 cor&-cutters2 com+ositors2 4ea(ers2 and diamond-+olishers. That is a matter of "reat +ractical interest to the scientific detecti(e B es+ecially in cases of unclaimed 1odies2 or in disco(erin" the antecedents of criminals. But I 4eary you 4ith my ho11y.= <?ot at all2= I ans4ered earnestly. <It is of the "reatest interest to me2 es+ecially since I ha(e had the o++ortunity of o1ser(in" your +ractical a++lication of it. But you s+o&e 5ust no4 of o1ser(ation and deduction. Surely the one to some e9tent im+lies the other.= <3hy2 hardly2= he ans4ered2 leanin" 1ac& lu9uriously in his armchair and sendin" u+ thic& 1lue 4reaths from his +i+e. <6or e9am+le2 o1ser(ation sho4s me that you ha(e 1een to the 3i"more Street #ost-7ffice this mornin"2 1ut deduction lets me &no4 that 4hen there you dis+atched a tele"ram.= <Ai"ht@= said I. <Ai"ht on 1oth +oints@ But I confess that I donCt see ho4 you arri(ed at it. It 4as a sudden im+ulse u+on my +art2 and I ha(e mentioned it to no one.= <It is sim+licity itself2= he remar&ed2 chuc&lin" at my sur+rise B <so a1surdly sim+le that an e9+lanation is su+erfluous8 and yet it may ser(e to define the limits of o1ser(ation and of deduction. 71ser(ation tells me that you ha(e a little reddish mould adherin" to your inste+. 0ust o++osite the 3i"more Street 7ffice they ha(e ta&en u+ the +a(ement and thro4n u+ some earth2 4hich lies in such a 4ay that it is difficult to a(oid treadin" in it in enterin". The earth is of this +eculiar reddish tint 4hich is found2 as far as I &no42
no4here else in the nei"h1ourhood. So much is o1ser(ation. The rest is deduction.= <Ho42 then2 did you deduce the tele"ram>= <3hy2 of course I &ne4 that you had not 4ritten a letter2 since I sat o++osite to you all mornin". I see also in your o+en des& there that you ha(e a sheet of stam+s and a thic& 1undle of +ostcards. 3hat could you "o into the +ost-office for2 then2 1ut to send a 4ire> *liminate all other factors2 and the one 4hich remains must 1e the truth.= <In this case it certainly is so2= I re+lied after a little thou"ht. <The thin"2 ho4e(er2 is2 as you say2 of the sim+lest. 3ould you thin& me im+ertinent if I 4ere to +ut your theories to a more se(ere test>= <7n the contrary2= he ans4ered2 <it 4ould +re(ent me from ta&in" a second dose of cocaine. I should 1e deli"hted to loo& into any +ro1lem 4hich you mi"ht su1mit to me.= <I ha(e heard you say it is difficult for a man to ha(e any o15ect in daily use 4ithout lea(in" the im+ress of his indi(iduality u+on it in such a 4ay that a trained o1ser(er mi"ht read it. ?o42 I ha(e here a 4atch 4hich has recently come into my +ossession. 3ould you ha(e the &indness to let me ha(e an o+inion u+on the character or ha1its of the late o4ner>= I handed him o(er the 4atch 4ith some sli"ht feelin" of amusement in my heart2 for the test 4as2 as I thou"ht2 an im+ossi1le one2 and I intended it as a lesson a"ainst the some4hat do"matic tone 4hich he occasionally assumed. He 1alanced the 4atch in his hand2 "aEed hard at the dial2 o+ened the 1ac&2 and
e9amined the 4or&s2 first 4ith his na&ed eyes and then 4ith a +o4erful con(e9 lens. I could hardly &ee+ from smilin" at his crestfallen face 4hen he finally sna++ed the case to and handed it 1ac&. <There are hardly any data2= he remar&ed. <The 4atch has 1een recently cleaned2 4hich ro1s me of my most su""esti(e facts. = <;ou are ri"ht2= I ans4ered. <It 4as cleaned 1efore 1ein" sent to me.= In my heart I accused my com+anion of +uttin" for4ard a most lame and im+otent e9cuse to co(er his failure. 3hat data could he e9+ect from an uncleaned 4atch> <Thou"h unsatisfactory2 my research has not 1een entirely 1arren2= he o1ser(ed2 starin" u+ at the ceilin" 4ith dreamy2 lac&lustre eyes. <Su15ect to your correction2 I should 5ud"e that the 4atch 1elon"ed to your elder 1rother2 4ho inherited it from your father.= <That you "ather2 no dou1t2 from the H. 3. u+on the 1ac&>= <Quite so. The 3 su""ests your o4n name. The date of the 4atch is nearly fifty years 1ac&2 and the initials are as old as the 4atchH so it 4as made for the last "eneration. 0e4ellery usually descends to the eldest son2 and he is most li&ely to ha(e the same name as the father. ;our father has2 if I remem1er ri"ht2 1een dead many years. It has2 therefore2 1een in the hands of your eldest 1rother.= <Ai"ht2 so far2= said I. <.nythin" else>=
<He 4as a man of untidy ha1its B (ery untidy and careless. He 4as left 4ith "ood +ros+ects2 1ut he thre4 a4ay his chances2 li(ed for some time in +o(erty 4ith occasional short inter(als of +ros+erity2 and finally2 ta&in" to drin&2 he died. That is all I can "ather.= I s+ran" from my chair and lim+ed im+atiently a1out the room 4ith considera1le 1itterness in my heart. <This is un4orthy of you2 Holmes2= I said. <I could not ha(e 1elie(ed that you 4ould ha(e descended to this. ;ou ha(e made in:uiries into the history of my unha++y 1rother2 and you no4 +retend to deduce this &no4led"e in some fanciful 4ay. ;ou cannot e9+ect me to 1elie(e that you ha(e read all this from his old 4atch@ It is un&ind and2 to s+ea& +lainly2 has a touch of charlatanism in it.= < y dear doctor2= said he &indly2 <+ray acce+t my a+olo"ies. Fie4in" the matter as an a1stract +ro1lem2 I had for"otten ho4 +ersonal and +ainful a thin" it mi"ht 1e to you. I assure you2 ho4e(er2 that I ne(er e(en &ne4 that you had a 1rother until you handed me the 4atch.= <Then ho4 in the name of all that is 4onderful did you "et these facts> They are a1solutely correct in e(ery +articular.= <.h2 that is "ood luc&. I could only say 4hat 4as the 1alance of +ro1a1ility. I did not at all e9+ect to 1e so accurate.= <But it 4as not mere "uess4or&>= <?o2 noH I ne(er "uess. It is a shoc&in" ha1it B destructi(e to the lo"ical faculty. 3hat seems stran"e to you is only so 1ecause you do not follo4 my train of thou"ht or o1ser(e the small facts
u+on 4hich lar"e inferences may de+end. 6or e9am+le2 I 1e"an 1y statin" that your 1rother 4as careless. 3hen you o1ser(e the lo4er +art of that 4atch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in t4o +laces 1ut it is cut and mar&ed all o(er from the ha1it of &ee+in" other hard o15ects2 such as coins or &eys2 in the same +oc&et. Surely it is no "reat feat to assume that a man 4ho treats a fifty"uinea 4atch so ca(alierly must 1e a careless man. ?either is it a (ery far-fetched inference that a man 4ho inherits one article of such (alue is +retty 4ell +ro(ided for in other res+ects.= I nodded to sho4 that I follo4ed his reasonin". <It is (ery customary for +a4n1ro&ers in *n"land2 4hen they ta&e a 4atch2 to scratch the num1ers of the tic&et 4ith a +in+oint u+on the inside of the case. It is more handy than a la1el as there is no ris& of the num1er 1ein" lost or trans+osed. There are no less than four such num1ers (isi1le to my lens on the inside of this case. Inference B that your 1rother 4as often at lo4 4ater. Secondary inference B that he had occasional 1ursts of +ros+erity2 or he could not ha(e redeemed the +led"e. 6inally2 I as& you to loo& at the inner +late2 4hich contains the &eyhole. $oo& at the thousands of scratches all round the hole B mar&s 4here the &ey has sli++ed. 3hat so1er manCs &ey could ha(e scored those "roo(es> But you 4ill ne(er see a drun&ardCs 4atch 4ithout them. He 4inds it at ni"ht2 and he lea(es these traces of his unsteady hand. 3here is the mystery in all this>= <It is as clear as dayli"ht2= I ans4ered. =
<?one. Hence the cocaine. I cannot li(e 4ithout 1rain4or&. 3hat else is there to li(e for> Stand at the 4indo4 here. 3as e(er such a dreary2 dismal2 un+rofita1le 4orld> See ho4 the yello4 fo" s4irls do4n the street and drifts across the duncoloured houses. 3hat could 1e more ho+elessly +rosaic and material> 3hat is the use of ha(in" +o4ers2 Doctor2 4hen one has no field u+on 4hich to e9ert them> Crime is common+lace2 e9istence is common+lace2 and no :ualities sa(e those 4hich are common+lace ha(e any function u+on earth.= I had o+ened my mouth to re+ly to this tirade 4hen2 4ith a cris+ &noc&2 our landlady entered2 1earin" a card u+on the 1rass sal(er. <. youn" lady for you2 sir2= she said2 addressin" my com+anion. < iss ary orstan2= he read. <Hum@ I ha(e no recollection of the name. .s& the youn" lady to ste+ u+2 rs. Hudson. DonCt "o2 Doctor. I should +refer that you remain.= Chapter 2 The Statement of the Case iss orstan entered the room 4ith a firm ste+ and an out4ard com+osure of manner. She 4as a 1londe youn" lady2 small2 dainty2 4ell "lo(ed2 and dressed in the most +erfect taste. There 4as2 ho4e(er2 a +lainness and sim+licity a1out her costume 4hich 1ore 4ith it a su""estion of limited means. The dress 4as a som1re "rayish 1ei"e2 untrimmed and un1raided2 and she 4ore a small tur1an of the same dull hue2 relie(ed only 1y a sus+icion of 4hite feather in the side. Her face had neither re"ularity of feature nor 1eauty of com+le9ion2 1ut her e9+ression 4as s4eet and
amia1le2 and her lar"e 1lue eyes 4ere sin"ularly s+iritual and sym+athetic. In an e9+erience of 4omen 4hich e9tends o(er many nations and three se+arate continents2 I ha(e ne(er loo&ed u+on a face 4hich "a(e a clearer +romise of a refined and sensiti(e nature. I could not 1ut o1ser(e that as she too& the seat 4hich Sherloc& Holmes +laced for her2 her li+ trem1led2 her hand :ui(ered2 and she sho4ed e(ery si"n of intense in4ard a"itation. <I ha(e come to you2 r. Holmes2= she said2<1ecause you once ena1led my em+loyer2 rs. Cecil 6orrester2 to unra(el a little domestic com+lication. She 4as much im+ressed 1y your &indness and s&ill.= < rs. Cecil 6orrester2= he re+eated thou"htfully. <I 1elie(e that I 4as of some sli"ht ser(ice to her. The case2 ho4e(er2 as I remem1er it2 4as a (ery sim+le one.= <She did not thin& so. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. I can hardly ima"ine anythin" more stran"e2 more utterly ine9+lica1le2 than the situation in 4hich I find myself.= Holmes ru11ed his hands2 and his eyes "listened. He leaned for4ard in his chair 4ith an e9+ression of e9traordinary concentration u+on his clear-cut2 ha4&li&e features. <State your case2= said he in 1ris& 1usiness tones. I felt that my +osition 4as an em1arrassin" one. <;ou 4ill2 I am sure2 e9cuse me2= I said2 risin" from my chair. To my sur+rise2 the youn" lady held u+ her "lo(ed hand to detain me.
<If your friend2= she said2 <4ould 1e "ood enou"h to sto+2 he mi"ht 1e of inestima1le ser(ice to me.= I rela+sed into my chair. <Briefly2= she continued2 <the facts are these. y father 4as an officer in an Indian re"iment2 4ho sent me home 4hen I 4as :uite a child. y mother 4as dead2 and I had no relati(e in *n"land. I 4as +laced2 ho4e(er2 in a comforta1le 1oardin" esta1lishment at *din1ur"h2 and there I remained until I 4as se(enteen years of a"e. In the year 1,), my father2 4ho 4as senior ca+tain of his re"iment2 o1tained t4el(e monthsC lea(e and came home. He tele"ra+hed to me from $ondon that he had arri(ed all safe and directed me to come do4n at once2 "i(in" the $an"ham Hotel as his address. His messa"e2 as I remem1er2 4as full of &indness and lo(e. 7n reachin" $ondon I dro(e to the $an"ham and 4as informed that Ca+tain orstan 4as stayin" there2 1ut that he had "one out the ni"ht 1efore and had not returned. I 4aited all day 4ithout ne4s of him. That ni"ht2 on the ad(ice of the mana"er of the hotel2 I communicated 4ith the +olice2 and ne9t mornin" 4e ad(ertised in all the +a+ers. 7ur in:uiries led to no result8 and from that day to this no 4ord has e(er 1een heard of my unfortunate father. He came home 4ith his heart full of ho+e to find some +eace2 some comfort2 and instead B= She +ut her hand to her throat2 and a cho&in" so1 cut short the sentence. <The date>= as&ed Holmes2 o+enin" his note1oo&. <He disa++eared u+on the third of Decem1er2 1,), B nearly ten years a"o.=
<His lu""a"e>= <Aemained at the hotel. There 4as nothin" in it to su""est a clue B some clothes2 some 1oo&s2 and a considera1le num1er of curiosities from the .ndaman Islands. He had 1een one of the officers in char"e of the con(ict-"uard there.= <Had he any friends in to4n>= <7nly one that 4e &no4 of B a5or Sholto2 of his o4n re"iment2 the Thirty-fourth Bom1ay Infantry. The ma5or had retired some little time 1efore and li(ed at G++er ?or4ood. 3e communicated 4ith him2 of course2 1ut he did not e(en &no4 that his 1rother officer 4as in *n"land.= <. sin"ular case2= remar&ed Holmes. <I ha(e not yet descri1ed to you the most sin"ular +art. .1out si9 years a"o B to 1e e9act2 u+on the fourth of ay2 1,,2 B an ad(ertisement a++eared in the Times as&in" for the address of iss ary orstan2 and statin" that it 4ould 1e to her ad(anta"e to come for4ard. There 4as no name or address a++ended. I had at that time 5ust entered the family of rs. Cecil 6orrester in the ca+acity of "o(erness. By her ad(ice I +u1lished my address in the ad(ertisement column. The same day there arri(ed throu"h the +ost a small card1oard 1o9 addressed to me2 4hich I found to contain a (ery lar"e and lustrous +earl. ?o 4ord of 4ritin" 4as enclosed. Since then e(ery year u+on the same date there has al4ays a++eared a similar 1o92 containin" a similar +earl2 4ithout any clue as to the sender. They ha(e 1een +ronounced 1y an e9+ert to 1e of a rare (ariety and of considera1le (alue. ;ou can see for yourself that they are (ery handsome.=
She o+ened a flat 1o9 as she s+o&e and sho4ed me si9 of the finest +earls that I had e(er seen. <;our statement is most interestin"2= said Sherloc& Holmes. <Has anythin" else occurred to you>= <;es2 and no later than to-day. That is 4hy I ha(e come to you. This mornin" I recei(ed this letter2 4hich you 4ill +erha+s read for yourself.= <Than& you2= said Holmes. <The en(elo+e2 too2 +lease. #ostmar&2 $ondon2 S. 3. Date2 0uly ). Hum@ anCs thum1mar& on corner B +ro1a1ly +ostman. Best :uality +a+er. *n(elo+es at si9+ence a +ac&et. #articular man in his stationery. ?o address. <Be at the third +illar from the left outside the $yceum Theatre to-ni"ht at se(en oCcloc&. If you are distrustful 1rin" t4o friends. ;ou are a 4ron"ed 4oman and shall ha(e 5ustice. Do not 1rin" +olice. If you do2 all 4ill 1e in (ain. ;our un&no4n friend. 3ell2 really2 this is a (ery +retty little mystery@ 3hat do you intend to do2 iss orstan>= That is e9actly 4hat I 4ant to as& you.= <Then 4e shall most certainly "o B you and I and B yes2 4hy Dr. 3atson is the (ery man. ;our corres+ondent says t4o friends. He and I ha(e 4or&ed to"ether 1efore.= <But 4ould he come>= she as&ed 4ith somethin" a++ealin" in her (oice and e9+ression. <I shall 1e +roud and ha++y2= said I fer(ently2 <if I can 1e of any ser(ice.=
<;ou are 1oth (ery &ind2= she ans4ered. = <;ou must not 1e later2= said Holmes. <There is one other +oint2 ho4e(er. Is this hand4ritin" the same as that u+on the +earl1o9 addresses>= <I ha(e them here2= she ans4ered2 +roducin" half a doEen +ieces of +a+er. <;ou are certainly a model client. ;ou ha(e the correct intuition. $et us see2 no4.= He s+read out the +a+ers u+on the ta1le and "a(e little dartin" "lances from one to the other. <They are dis"uised hands2 e9ce+t the letter2= he said +resently8 <1ut there can 1e no :uestion as to the authorshi+. See ho4 the irre+ressi1le 'ree& e 4ill 1rea& out2 and see the t4irl of the final s. They are undou1tedly 1y the same +erson. I should not li&e to su""est false ho+es2 iss orstan2 1ut is there any resem1lance 1et4een this hand and that of your father>= <?othin" could 1e more unli&e.= <I e9+ected to hear you say so. 3e shall loo& out for you2 then2 at si9. #ray allo4 me to &ee+ the +a+ers. I may loo& into the matter 1efore then. It is only half-+ast three. .u re(oir then.= <.u re(oir2= said our (isitor8 and 4ith a 1ri"ht2 &indly "lance from one to the other of us2 she re+laced her +earl-1o9 in her 1osom and hurried a4ay.
Standin" at the 4indo42 I 4atched her 4al&in" 1ris&ly do4n the street until the "ray tur1an and 4hite feather 4ere 1ut a s+ec& in the som1re cro4d. <3hat a (ery attracti(e 4oman@= I e9claimed2 turnin" to my com+anion. He had lit his +i+e a"ain and 4as leanin" 1ac& 4ith droo+in" eyelids. <Is she>= he said lan"uidly8 <I did not o1ser(e.= <;ou really are an automaton B a calculatin" machine2= I cried. <There is somethin" +ositi(ely inhuman in you at times.= He smiled "ently. <It is of the first im+ortance2= he cried2 <not to allo4 your 5ud"ment to 1e 1iased 1y +ersonal :ualities. . client is to me a mere unit2 a factor in a +ro1lem. The emotional :ualities are anta"onistic to clear reasonin". I assure you that the most 4innin" 4oman I e(er &ne4 4as han"ed for +oisonin" three little children for their insurance-money2 and the most re+ellent man of my ac:uaintance is a +hilanthro+ist 4ho has s+ent nearly a :uarter of a million u+on the $ondon +oor.= <In this case2 ho4e(er B= 3hat do you ma&e of this fello4Cs scri11le>= <It is le"i1le and re"ular2= I ans4ered. <. man of 1usiness ha1its and some force of character.= Holmes shoo& his head.
<$oo& at his lon" letters2= he said. <They hardly rise a1o(e the common herd. That d mi"ht 1e an a2 and that I an e. en of character al4ays differentiate their lon" letters2 ho4e(er ille"i1ly they may 4rite. There is (acillation in his &Cs and self-esteem in his ca+itals. I am "oin" out no4. I ha(e some fe4 references to ma&e. $et me recommend this 1oo& B one of the most remar&a1le e(er +enned. It is 3in4ood AeadeCs artyrdom of an. I shall 1e 1ac& in an hour.= I sat in the 4indo4 4ith the (olume in my hand2 1ut my thou"hts 4ere far from the darin" s+eculations of the 4riter. y mind ran u+on our late (isitor B her smiles2 the dee+ rich tones of her (oice2 the stran"e mystery 4hich o(erhun" her life. If she 4ere se(enteen at the time of her fatherCs disa++earance she must 1e se(en-and-t4enty no4 B a s4eet a"e2 4hen youth has lost its selfconsciousness and 1ecome a little so1ered 1y e9+erience. So I sat and mused until such dan"erous thou"hts came into my head that I hurried a4ay to my des& and +lun"ed furiously into the latest treatise u+on +atholo"y. 3hat 4as I2 an army sur"eon 4ith a 4ea& le" and a 4ea&er 1an&in" account2 that I should dare to thin& of such thin"s> She 4as a unit2 a factor B nothin" more. If my future 4ere 1lac&2 it 4as 1etter surely to face it li&e a man than to attem+t to 1ri"hten it 1y mere 4ill-oC-the-4is+s of the ima"ination. Chapter 3 In uest of a Solution
<There is no "reat mystery in this matter2= he said2 ta&in" the cu+ of tea 4hich I had +oured out for him8 <the facts a++ear to admit of only one e9+lanation.= <3hat@ you ha(e sol(ed it already>= <3ell2 that 4ould 1e too much to say. I ha(e disco(ered a su""esti(e fact2 that is all. It is2 ho4e(er2 (ery su""esti(e. The details are still to 1e added. I ha(e 5ust found2 on consultin" the 1ac& files of the Times2 that a5or Sholto2 of G++er ?or4ood2 late of the Thirty-fourth Bom1ay Infantry2 died u+on the t4enty-ei"hth of .+ril2 1,,2.= ;ou sur+rise me. $oo& at it in this 4ay2 then. Ca+tain orstan disa++ears. The only +erson in $ondon 4hom he could ha(e (isited is a5or Sholto. a5or Sholto denies ha(in" heard that he 4as in $ondon. 6our years later Sholto dies. 3ithin a 4ee& of his death Ca+tain orstanCs dau"hter recei(es a (alua1le +resent2 4hich is re+eated from year to year and no4 culminates in a letter 4hich descri1es her as a 4ron"ed 4oman. 3hat 4ron" can it refer to e9ce+t this de+ri(ation of her father> .nd 4hy should the +resents 1e"in immediately after SholtoCs death unless it is that SholtoDs heir &no4s somethin" of the mystery and desires to ma&e com+ensation> Ha(e you any alternati(e theory 4hich 4ill meet the facts>= <But 4hat a stran"e com+ensation@ .nd ho4 stran"ely made@ 3hy2 too2 should he 4rite a letter no42 rather than si9 years a"o> ."ain2 the letter s+ea&s of "i(in" her 5ustice. 3hat 5ustice can
It 4as half-+ast fi(e 1efore Holmes returned. He 4as 1ri"ht2 ea"er2 and in e9cellent s+irits2 a mood 4hich in his case alternated 4ith fits of the 1lac&est de+ression.
she ha(e> It is too much to su++ose that her father is still ali(e. There is no other in5ustice in her case that you &no4 of.= <There are difficulties8 there are certainly difficulties2= said Sherloc& Holmes +ensi(ely8 <1ut our e9+edition of to-ni"ht 4ill sol(e them all. .h2 here is a four-4heeler2 and iss orstan is inside. .re you all ready> Then 4e had 1etter "o do4n2 for it is a little +ast the hour.= I +ic&ed u+ my hat and my hea(iest stic&2 1ut I o1ser(ed that Holmes too& his re(ol(er from his dra4er and sli++ed it into his +oc&et. It 4as clear that he thou"ht that our ni"htCs 4or& mi"ht 1e a serious one. iss orstan 4as muffled in a dar& cloa&2 and her sensiti(e face 4as com+osed 1ut +ale. She must ha(e 1een more than 4oman if she did not feel some uneasiness at the stran"e enter+rise u+on 4hich 4e 4ere em1ar&in"2 yet her self-control 4as +erfect2 and she readily ans4ered the fe4 additional :uestions 4hich Sherloc& Holmes +ut to her. < a5or Sholto 4as a (ery +articular friend of #a+aCs2= she said. <His letters 4ere full of allusions to the ma5or. He and #a+a 4ere in command of the troo+s at the .ndaman Islands2 so they 4ere thro4n a "reat deal to"ether. By the 4ay2 a curious +a+er 4as found in #a+aCs des& 4hich no one could understand. I donDt su++ose that it is of the sli"htest im+ortance2 1ut I thou"ht you mi"ht care to see it2 so I 1rou"ht it 4ith me. It is here.= Holmes unfolded the +a+er carefully and smoothed it out u+on his &nee. He then (ery methodically e9amined it all o(er 4ith his dou1le lens.
<It is +a+er of nati(e Indian manufacture2= he remar&ed. <It has at some time 1een +inned to a 1oard. The dia"ram u+on it a++ears to 1e a +lan of +art of a lar"e 1uildin" 4ith numerous halls2 corridors2 and +assa"es. .t one +oint is a small cross done in red in&2 and a1o(e it is D3.3) from left2C in faded +encil-4ritin". In the lefthand corner is a curious hiero"ly+hic li&e four crosses in a line 4ith their arms touchin". Beside it is 4ritten2 in (ery rou"h and coarse characters2 DThe si"n of the four B 0onathan Small2 ahomet Sin"h2 .1dullah Ihan2 Dost .&1ar.C ?o2 I confess that I do not see ho4 this 1ears u+on the matter. ;et it is e(idently a document of im+ortance. It has 1een &e+t carefully in a +oc&et1oo&2 for the one side is as clean as the other.= <It 4as in his +oc&et1oo& that 4e found it.= <#reser(e it carefully2 then2 iss orstan2 for it may +ro(e to 1e of use to us. I 1e"in to sus+ect that this matter may turn out to 1e much dee+er and more su1tle than I at first su++osed. I must reconsider my ideas.= He leaned 1ac& in the ca12 and I could see 1y his dra4n 1ro4 and his (acant eye that he 4as thin&in" intently. iss orstan and I chatted in an undertone a1out our +resent e9+edition and its +ossi1le outcome2 1ut our com+anion maintained his im+enetra1le reser(e until the end of our 5ourney. It 4as a Se+tem1er e(enin" and not yet se(en oCcloc&2 1ut the day had 1een a dreary one2 and a dense driEEly fo" lay lo4 u+on the "reat city. ud-coloured clouds droo+ed sadly o(er the muddy streets. Do4n the Strand the lam+s 4ere 1ut misty s+lotches of diffused li"ht 4hich thre4 a fee1le circular "limmer u+on the slimy +a(ement. The yello4 "lare from the sho+-4indo4s
streamed out into the steamy2 (a+orous air and thre4 a mur&y2 shiftin" radiance across the cro4ded thorou"hfare. There 4as2 to my mind2 somethin" eerie and "hostli&e in the endless +rocession of faces 4hich flitted across these narro4 1ars of li"ht B sad faces and "lad2 ha""ard and merry. $i&e all human&ind2 they flitted from the "loom into the li"ht and so 1ac& into the "loom once more. I am not su15ect to im+ressions2 1ut the dull2 hea(y e(enin"2 4ith the stran"e 1usiness u+on 4hich 4e 4ere en"a"ed2 com1ined to ma&e me ner(ous and de+ressed. I could see from iss orstanCs manner that she 4as sufferin" from the same feelin". Holmes alone could rise su+erior to +etty influences. He held his o+en note1oo& u+on his &nee2 and from time to time he 5otted do4n fi"ures and memoranda in the li"ht of his +oc&et-lantern. .t the $yceum Theatre the cro4ds 4ere already thic& at the side-entrances. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four4heelers 4ere rattlin" u+2 dischar"in" their car"oes of shirtfronted men and 1esha4led2 1ediamonded 4omen. 3e had hardly reached the third +illar2 4hich 4as our rendeE(ous2 1efore a small2 dar&2 1ris& man in the dress of a coachman accosted us. <.re you the +arties 4ho come 4ith = he as&ed.
<I "i(e you my 4ord on that2= she ans4ered. He "a(e a shrill 4histle2 on 4hich a street .ra1 led across a four-4heeler and o+ened the door. The man 4ho had addressed us mounted to the 1o92 4hile 4e too& our +laces inside. 3e had hardly done so 1efore the dri(er 4hi++ed u+ his horse2 and 4e +lun"ed a4ay at a furious +ace throu"h the fo""y streets.
orstan2 and these t4o "entlemen are my friends2= said
He 1ent a +air of 4onderfully +enetratin" and :uestionin" eyes u+on us. <;ou 4ill e9cuse me2 miss2= he said 4ith a certain do""ed manner2 <1ut I 4as to as& you to "i(e me your 4ord that neither of your com+anions is a +olice-officer.=
The situation 4as a curious one. 3e 4ere dri(in" to an un&no4n +lace2 on an un&no4n errand. ;et our in(itation 4as either a com+lete hoa9 B 4hich 4as an inconcei(a1le hy+othesis B or else 4e had "ood reason to thin& that im+ortant issues mi"ht han" u+on our 5ourney. iss orstanCs demeanour 4as as resolute and collected as e(er. I endea(oured to cheer and amuse her 1y reminiscences of my ad(entures in .f"hanistan8 1ut2 to tell the truth2 I 4as myself so e9cited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories 4ere sli"htly in(ol(ed. To this day she declares that I told her one mo(in" anecdote as to ho4 a mus&et loo&ed into my tent at the dead of ni"ht2 and ho4 I fired a dou1le1arrelled ti"er cu1 at it. .t first I had some idea as to the direction in 4hich 4e 4ere dri(in"8 1ut soon2 4hat 4ith our +ace2 the fo"2 and my o4n limited &no4led"e of $ondon2 I lost my 1earin"s and &ne4 nothin" sa(e that 4e seemed to 1e "oin" a (ery lon" 4ay. Sherloc& Holmes 4as ne(er at fault2 ho4e(er2 and he muttered the names as the ca1 rattled throu"h s:uares and in and out 1y tortuous 1ystreets. <Aochester Ao42= said he. <?o4 Fincent S:uare. ?o4 4e come out on the Fau9hall Brid"e Aoad. 3e are ma&in" for the
Surrey side a++arently. ;es2 I thou"ht so. ?o4 4e are on the 1rid"e. ;ou can catch "lim+ses of the ri(er.= 3e did indeed "et a fleetin" (ie4 of a stretch of the Thames2 4ith the lam+s shinin" u+on the 1road2 silent 4ater8 1ut our ca1 dashed on and 4as soon in(ol(ed in a la1yrinth of streets u+on the other side. <3ords4orth Aoad2= said my com+anion. <#riory Aoad. $ar& Hall $ane. Stoc&4ell #lace. Ao1ert Street. Cold Har1our $ane. 7ur :uest does not a++ear to ta&e us to (ery fashiona1le re"ions.= 3e had indeed reached a :uestiona1le and for1iddin" nei"h1ourhood. $on" lines of dull 1ric& houses 4ere only relie(ed 1y the coarse "lare and ta4dry 1rilliancy of +u1lic-houses at the corner. Then came ro4s of t4o-storied (illas2 each 4ith a frontin" of miniature "arden2 and then a"ain intermina1le lines of ne42 starin" 1ric& 1uildin"s B the monster tentacles 4hich the "iant city 4as thro4in" out into the country. .t last the ca1 dre4 u+ at the third house in a ne4 terrace. ?one of the other houses 4ere inha1ited2 and that at 4hich 4e sto++ed 4as as dar& as its nei"h1ours2 sa(e for a sin"le "limmer in the &itchen-4indo4. 7n our &noc&in"2 ho4e(er2 the door 4as instantly thro4n o+en 1y a Hindoo ser(ant2 clad in a yello4 tur1an2 4hite loose-fittin" clothes2 and a yello4 sash. There 4as somethin" stran"ely incon"ruous in this 7riental fi"ure framed in the common+lace door4ay of a third-rate su1ur1an d4ellin"-house. <The sahi1 a4aits you2= said he2 and e(en as he s+o&e2 there came a hi"h2 +i+in" (oice from some inner room.
<Sho4 them in to-me2 &hitmut"ar2= it said. <Sho4 them strai"ht in to me. Chapter ! The Story of the Bald"#eaded $an 3e follo4ed the Indian do4n a sordid and common +assa"e2 ill-lit and 4orse furnished2 until he came to a door u+on the ri"ht2 4hich he thre4 o+en. . 1laEe of yello4 li"ht streamed out u+on us2 and in the centre of the "lare there stood a small man 4ith a (ery hi"h head2 a 1ristle of red hair all round the frin"e of it2 and a 1ald2 shinin" scal+ 4hich shot out from amon" it li&e a mountain+ea& from fir-trees. He 4rithed his hands to"ether as he stood2 and his features 4ere in a +er+etual 5er& B no4 smilin"2 no4 sco4lin"2 1ut ne(er for an instant in re+ose. ?ature had "i(en him a +endulous li+2 and a too (isi1le line of yello4 and irre"ular teeth2 4hich he stro(e fee1ly to conceal 1y constantly +assin" his hand o(er the lo4er +art of his face. In s+ite of his o1trusi(e 1aldness he "a(e the im+ression of youth. In +oint of fact2 he had 5ust turned his thirtieth year. <;our ser(ant2 iss orstan2= he &e+t re+eatin" in a thin2 hi"h (oice. <;our ser(ant2 "entlemen. #ray ste+ into my little sanctum. . small +lace2 miss2 1ut furnished to my o4n li&in". .n oasis of art in the ho4lin" desert of South $ondon.= 3e 4ere all astonished 1y the a++earance of the a+artment into 4hich he in(ited us. In that sorry house it loo&ed as out of +lace as a diamond of the first 4ater in a settin" of 1rass. The richest and "lossiest of curtains and ta+estries dra+ed the 4alls2 loo+ed 1ac& here and there to e9+ose some richly mounted +aintin" or 7riental
(ase. The car+et 4as of am1er and 1lac&2 so soft and so thic& that the foot san& +leasantly into it2 as into a 1ed of moss. T4o "reat ti"er-s&ins thro4n ath4art it increased the su""estion of *astern lu9ury2 as did a hu"e hoo&ah 4hich stood u+on a mat in the corner. . lam+ in the fashion of a sil(er do(e 4as hun" from an almost in(isi1le "olden 4ire in the centre of the room. .s it 1urned it filled the air 4ith a su1tle and aromatic odour. < r. Thaddeus Sholto2= said the little man2 still 5er&in" and smilin". <That is my name. ;ou are iss orstan2 of course. .nd these "entlemen B= <This is r. Sherloc& Holmes2 and this Dr. 3atson.=
your father2 iss orstan2 refrained from thro4in" a strain u+on his heart2 he mi"ht ha(e 1een ali(e no4.= I could ha(e struc& the man across the face2 so hot 4as I at this callous and offhand reference to so delicate a matter. iss orstan sat do4n2 and her face "re4 4hite to the li+s. <I &ne4 in my heart that he 4as dead2= said she. <I can "i(e you e(ery information2= said he8 <and2 4hat is more2 I can do you 5ustice8 and I 4ill2 too2 4hate(er Brother Bartholome4 may say. I am so "lad to ha(e your friends here not only as an escort to you 1ut also as 4itnesses to 4hat I am a1out to do and say. The three of us can sho4 a 1old front to Brother Bartholome4. But let us ha(e no outsiders B no +olice or officials. 3e can settle e(erythin" satisfactorily amon" oursel(es 4ithout any interference. ?othin" 4ould annoy Brother Bartholome4 more than any +u1licity.= He sat do4n u+on a lo4 settee and 1lin&ed at us in:uirin"ly 4ith his 4ea&2 4atery 1lue eyes. <6or my +art2= said Holmes2 <4hate(er you may choose to say 4ill "o no further.= I nodded to sho4 my a"reement. <That is 4ell@ That is 4ell= said he. < ay I offer you a "lass of Chianti2 iss orstan> 7r of To&ay> I &ee+ no other 4ines. Shall I o+en a flas&> ?o> 3ell2 then2 I trust that you ha(e no o15ection to to1acco-smo&e2 to the 1alsamic odour of the *astern to1acco. I am a little ner(ous2 and I find my hoo&ah an in(alua1le sedati(e.=
<. doctor2 eh>= cried he2 much e9cited. <Ha(e you your stethosco+e> i"ht I as& you B 4ould you ha(e the &indness> I ha(e "ra(e dou1ts as to my mitral (al(e2 if you 4ould 1e so (ery "ood. The aortic I may rely u+on2 1ut I should (alue your o+inion u+on the mitral.= I listened to his heart2 as re:uested2 1ut 4as una1le to find anythin" amiss2 sa(e2 indeed2 that he 4as in an ecstasy of fear2 for he shi(ered from head to foot. <It a++ears to 1e normal2= I said. <;ou ha(e no cause for uneasiness.= <;ou 4ill e9cuse my an9iety2 iss orstan2= he remar&ed airily. <I am a "reat sufferer2 and I ha(e lon" had sus+icions as to that (al(e. I am deli"hted to hear that they are un4arranted. Had
He a++lied a ta+er to the "reat 1o4l2 and the smo&e 1u11led merrily throu"h the rose-4ater. 3e sat all three in a semicircle2 4ith our heads ad(anced and our chins u+on our hands2 4hile the stran"e2 5er&y little fello42 4ith his hi"h2 shinin" head2 +uffed uneasily in the centre. <3hen I first determined to ma&e this communication to you2= said he2 <I mi"ht ha(e "i(en you my address8 1ut I feared that you mi"ht disre"ard my re:uest and 1rin" un+leasant +eo+le 4ith you. I too& the li1erty2 therefore2 of ma&in" an a++ointment in such a 4ay that my man 3illiams mi"ht 1e a1le to see you first. I ha(e com+lete confidence in his discretion2 and he had orders2 if he 4ere dissatisfied2 to +roceed no further in the matter. ;ou 4ill e9cuse these +recautions2 1ut I am a man of some4hat retirin"2 and I mi"ht e(en say refined2 tastes2 and there is nothin" more unaesthetic than a +oliceman. I ha(e a natural shrin&in" from all forms of rou"h materialism. I seldom come in contact 4ith the rou"h cro4d. I li(e2 as you see2 4ith some little atmos+here of ele"ance around me. I may call myself a +atron of the arts. It is my 4ea&ness. The landsca+e is a "enuine Corot2 and thou"h a connoisseur mi"ht +erha+s thro4 a dou1t u+on that Sal(ator Aosa2 there cannot 1e the least :uestion a1out the Bou"uereau. I am +artial to the modern 6rench school.= <;ou 4ill e9cuse me2 r. Sholto2= said iss orstan2 <1ut I am here at your re:uest to learn somethin" 4hich you desire to tell me. It is (ery late2 and I should desire the inter(ie4 to 1e as short as +ossi1le.= <.t the 1est it must ta&e some time2= he ans4ered8 <for 4e shall certainly ha(e to "o to ?or4ood and see Brother Bartholome4. 3e shall all "o and try if 4e can "et the 1etter of
Brother Bartholome4. He is (ery an"ry 4ith me for ta&in" the course 4hich has seemed ri"ht to me. I had :uite hi"h 4ords 4ith him last ni"ht. ;ou cannot ima"ine 4hat a terri1le fello4 he is 4hen he is an"ry.= <If 4e are to "o to ?or4ood2 it 4ould +erha+s 1e as 4ell to start at once2= I (entured to remar&. He lau"hed until his ears 4ere :uite red. <That 4ould hardly do2= he cried. <I donCt &no4 4hat he 4ould say if I 1rou"ht you in that sudden 4ay. ?o2 I must +re+are you 1y sho4in" you ho4 4e all stand to each other. In the first +lace2 I must tell you that there are se(eral +oints in the story of 4hich I am myself i"norant. I can only lay the facts 1efore you as far as I &no4 them myself. < y father 4as2 as you may ha(e "uessed2 a5or 0ohn Sholto2 once of the Indian .rmy. He retired some ele(en years a"o and came to li(e at #ondicherry $od"e in G++er ?or4ood. He had +ros+ered in India and 1rou"ht 1ac& 4ith him a considera1le sum of money2 a lar"e collection of (alua1le curiosities2 and a staff of nati(e ser(ants. 3ith these ad(anta"es he 1ou"ht himself a house2 and li(ed in "reat lu9ury. y t4in 1rother Bartholome4 and I 4ere the only children. <I (ery 4ell remem1er the sensation 4hich 4as caused 1y the disa++earance of Ca+tain orstan. 3e read the details in the +a+ers2 and &no4in" that he had 1een a friend of our fatherCs 4e discussed the case freely in his +resence. He used to 5oin in our s+eculations as to 4hat could ha(e ha++ened. ?e(er for an instant
did 4e sus+ect that he had the 4hole secret hidden in his o4n 1reast2 that of all men he alone &ne4 the fate of .rthur orstan. <3e did &no42 ho4e(er2 that some mystery2 some +ositi(e dan"er2 o(erhun" our father. He 4as (ery fearful of "oin" out alone2 and he al4ays em+loyed t4o +riEe-fi"hters to act as +orters at #ondicherry $od"e. 3illiams2 4ho dro(e you toni"ht2 4as one of them. He 4as once li"ht4ei"ht cham+ion of *n"land. 7ur father 4ould ne(er tell us 4hat it 4as he feared2 1ut he had a most mar&ed a(ersion to men 4ith 4ooden le"s. 7n one occasion he actually fired his re(ol(er at a 4ooden-le""ed man2 4ho +ro(ed to 1e a harmless tradesman can(assin" for orders. 3e had to +ay a lar"e sum to hush the matter u+. y 1rother and I used to thin& this a mere 4him of my fatherCs2 1ut e(ents ha(e since led us to chan"e our o+inion. <*arly in 1,,2 my father recei(ed a letter from India 4hich 4as a "reat shoc& to him. He nearly fainted at the 1rea&fast-ta1le 4hen he o+ened it2 and from that day he sic&ened to his death. 3hat 4as in the letter 4e could ne(er disco(er2 1ut I could see as he held it that it 4as short and 4ritten in a scra4lin" hand. He had suffered for years from an enlar"ed s+leen2 1ut he no4 1ecame ra+idly 4orse2 and to4ards the end of .+ril 4e 4ere informed that he 4as 1eyond all ho+e2 and that he 4ished to ma&e a last communication to us. <3hen 4e entered his room he 4as +ro++ed u+ 4ith +illo4s and 1reathin" hea(ily. He 1esou"ht us to loc& the door and to come u+on either side of the 1ed. Then "ras+in" our hands he made a remar&a1le statement to us in a (oice 4hich 4as 1ro&en as much 1y emotion as 1y +ain. I shall try and "i(e it to you in his o4n (ery 4ords.
<DI ha(e only one thin"2C he said2 D4hich 4ei"hs u+on my mind at this su+reme moment. It is my treatment of +oor orstanCs or+han. The cursed "reed 4hich has 1een my 1esettin" sin throu"h life has 4ithheld from her the treasure2 half at least of 4hich should ha(e 1een hers. .nd yet I ha(e made no use of it myself2 so 1lind and foolish a thin" is a(arice. The mere feelin" of +ossession has 1een so dear to me that I could not 1ear to share it 4ith another. See that cha+let ti++ed 4ith +earls 1eside the :uinine-1ottle. *(en that I could not 1ear to +art 4ith2 althou"h I had "ot it out 4ith the desi"n of sendin" it to her. ;ou2 my sons2 4ill "i(e her a fair share of the ."ra treasure. But send her nothin" B not e(en the cha+let B until I am "one. .fter all2 men ha(e 1een as 1ad as this and ha(e reco(ered. <DI 4ill tell you ho4 orstan died2C he continued. DHe had suffered for years from a 4ea& heart2 1ut he concealed it from e(ery one. I alone &ne4 it. 3hen in India2 he and I2 throu"h a remar&a1le chain of circumstances2 came into +ossession of a considera1le treasure. I 1rou"ht it o(er to *n"land2 and on the ni"ht of orstanCs arri(al he came strai"ht o(er here to claim his share. He 4al&ed o(er from the station and 4as admitted 1y my faithful old $al Cho4dar2 4ho is no4 dead. orstan and I had a difference of o+inion as to the di(ision of the treasure2 and 4e came to heated 4ords. orstan had s+run" out of his chair in a +aro9ysm of an"er2 4hen he suddenly +ressed his hand to his side2 his face turned a dus&y hue2 and he fell 1ac&4ard2 cuttin" his head a"ainst the corner of the treasure-chest. 3hen I stoo+ed o(er him I found2 to my horror2 that he 4as dead. <D6or a lon" time I sat half distracted2 4onderin" 4hat I should do. y first im+ulse 4as2 of course2 to call for assistance8
1ut I could not 1ut reco"niEe that there 4as e(ery chance that I 4ould 1e accused of his murder. His death at the moment of a :uarrel2 and the "ash in his head2 4ould 1e 1lac& a"ainst me. ."ain2 an official in:uiry could not 1e made 4ithout 1rin"in" out some facts a1out the treasure2 4hich I 4as +articularly an9ious to &ee+ secret. He had told me that no soul u+on earth &ne4 4here he had "one. There seemed to 1e no necessity 4hy any soul e(er should &no4. <DI 4as still +onderin" o(er the matter2 4hen2 loo&in" u+2 I sa4 my ser(ant2 $al Cho4dar2 in the door4ay. He stole in and 1olted the door 1ehind him. <Do not fear2 sahi12= he said8 <no one need &no4 that you ha(e &illed him. $et us hide him a4ay2 and 4ho is the 4iser>= <I did not &ill him2= said I. $al Cho4dar shoo& his head and smiled. <I heard it all2 sahi12= said he8 <I heard you :uarrel2 and I heard the 1lo4. But my li+s are sealed. .ll are aslee+ in the house. $et us +ut him a4ay to"ether.= That 4as enou"h to decide me. If my o4n ser(ant could not 1elie(e my innocence2 ho4 could I ho+e to ma&e it "ood 1efore t4el(e foolish tradesmen in a 5ury-1o9> $al Cho4dar and I dis+osed of the 1ody that ni"ht2 and 4ithin a fe4 days the $ondon +a+ers 4ere full of the mysterious disa++earance of Ca+tain orstan. ;ou 4ill see from 4hat I say that I can hardly 1e 1lamed in the matter. y fault lies in the fact that 4e concealed not only the 1ody 1ut also the treasure and that I ha(e clun" to orstanCs share as 4ell as to my o4n. I 4ish you2 therefore2 to ma&e restitution. #ut your ears do4n to my mouth. The treasure is hidden in BC <.t this instant a horri1le chan"e came o(er his e9+ression8 his eyes stared 4ildly2 his 5a4 dro++ed2 and he yelled in a (oice 4hich I can ne(er for"et2 DIee+ him out@ 6or ChristCs sa&e &ee+ him
out@C 3e 1oth stared round at the 4indo4 1ehind us u+on 4hich his "aEe 4as fi9ed. . face 4as loo&in" in at us out of the dar&ness. 3e could see the 4hitenin" of the nose 4here it 4as +ressed a"ainst the "lass. It 4as a 1earded2 hairy face2 4ith 4ild cruel eyes and an e9+ression of concentrated male(olence. y 1rother and I rushed to4ards the 4indo42 1ut the man 4as "one. 3hen 4e returned to my father his head had dro++ed and his +ulse had ceased to 1eat. <3e searched the "arden that ni"ht 1ut found no si"n of the intruder sa(e that 5ust under the 4indo4 a sin"le footmar& 4as (isi1le in the flo4er-1ed. But for that one trace2 4e mi"ht ha(e thou"ht that our ima"inations had con5ured u+ that 4ild2 fierce face. 3e soon2 ho4e(er2 had another and a more stri&in" +roof that there 4ere secret a"encies at 4or& all round us. The 4indo4 of my fatherCs room 4as found o+en in the mornin"2 his cu+1oards and 1o9es had 1een rifled2 and u+on his chest 4as fi9ed a torn +iece of +a+er 4ith the 4ords DThe si"n of the fourC scra4led across it. 3hat the +hrase meant or 4ho our secret (isitor may ha(e 1een2 4e ne(er &ne4. .s far as 4e can 5ud"e2 none of my fatherCs +ro+erty had 1een actually stolen2 thou"h e(erythin" had 1een turned out. y 1rother and I naturally associated this +eculiar incident 4ith the fear 4hich haunted my father durin" his life2 1ut it is still a com+lete mystery to us.= The little man sto++ed to reli"ht his hoo&ah and +uffed thou"htfully for a fe4 moments. 3e had all sat a1sor1ed2 listenin" to his e9traordinary narrati(e. .t the short account of her fatherCs death iss orstan had turned deadly 4hite2 and for a moment I feared that she 4as a1out to faint. She rallied2 ho4e(er2 on drin&in" a "lass of 4ater 4hich I :uietly +oured out for her from a Fenetian carafe u+on the side-ta1le. Sherloc& Holmes leaned 1ac& in his
chair 4ith an a1stracted e9+ression and the lids dra4n lo4 o(er his "litterin" eyes. .s I "lanced at him I could not 1ut thin& ho4 on that (ery day he had com+lained 1itterly of the common+laceness of life. Here at least 4as a +ro1lem 4hich 4ould ta9 his sa"acity to the utmost. r. Thaddeus Sholto loo&ed from one to the other of us 4ith an o1(ious +ride at the effect 4hich his story had +roduced and then continued 1et4een the +uffs of his o(er"ro4n +i+e. < y 1rother and I2= said he2 <4ere2 as you may ima"ine2 much e9cited as to the treasure 4hich my father had s+o&en of. 6or 4ee&s and for months 4e du" and del(ed in e(ery +art of the "arden 4ithout disco(erin" its 4herea1outs. It 4as maddenin" to thin& that the hidin"-+lace 4as on his (ery li+s at the moment that he died. 3e could 5ud"e the s+lendour of the missin" riches 1y the cha+let 4hich he had ta&en out. 7(er this cha+let my 1rother Bartholome4 and I had some little discussion. The +earls 4ere e(idently of "reat (alue2 and he 4as a(erse to +art 4ith them2 for2 1et4een friends2 my 1rother 4as himself a little inclined to my fatherCs fault. He thou"ht2 too2 that if 4e +arted 4ith the cha+let it mi"ht "i(e rise to "ossi+ and finally 1rin" us into trou1le. It 4as all that I could do to +ersuade him to let me find out iss orstanCs address and send her a detached +earl at fi9ed inter(als so that at least she mi"ht ne(er feel destitute.=
<3e 4ere your trustees2= he said8 <that 4as the (ie4 4hich I too& of it2 thou"h Brother Bartholome4 could not alto"ether see it in that li"ht. 3e had +lenty of money oursel(es. I desired no more. Besides2 it 4ould ha(e 1een such 1ad taste to ha(e treated a youn" lady in so scur(y a fashion. D$e mau(ais "odt mene au crime.C The 6rench ha(e a (ery neat 4ay of +uttin" these thin"s. 7ur difference of o+inion on this su15ect 4ent so far that I thou"ht it 1est to set u+ rooms for myself8 so I left #ondicherry $od"e2 ta&in" the old &hitmut"ar and 3illiams 4ith me. ;esterday2 ho4e(er2 I learned that an e(ent of e9treme im+ortance has occurred. The treasure has 1een disco(ered. I instantly communicated 4ith iss orstan2 and it only remains for us to dri(e out to ?or4ood and demand our share. I e9+lained my (ie4s last ni"ht to Brother Bartholome42 so 4e shall 1e e9+ected2 if not 4elcome2 (isitors.= r. Thaddeus Sholto ceased and sat t4itchin" on his lu9urious settee. 3e all remained silent2 4ith our thou"hts u+on the ne4 de(elo+ment 4hich the mysterious 1usiness had ta&en. Holmes 4as the first to s+rin" to his feet. <;ou ha(e done 4ell2 sir2 from first to last2= said he. <It is +ossi1le that 4e may 1e a1le to ma&e you some small return 1y thro4in" some li"ht u+on that 4hich is still dar& to you. But2 as iss orstan remar&ed 5ust no42 it is late2 and 4e had 1est +ut the matter throu"h 4ithout delay.=
<It 4as a &indly thou"ht2= said our com+anion earnestly8 <it 4as e9tremely "ood of you.= The little man 4a(ed his hand de+recatin"ly.
7ur ne4 ac:uaintance (ery deli1erately coiled u+ the tu1e of his hoo&ah and +roduced from 1ehind a curtain a (ery lon" 1efro""ed to+coat 4ith astra&han collar and cuffs. This he 1uttoned ti"htly u+ in s+ite of the e9treme closeness of the ni"ht and finished
his attire 1y +uttin" on a ra11it-s&in ca+ 4ith han"in" la++ets 4hich co(ered the ears2 so that no +art of him 4as (isi1le sa(e his mo1ile and +ea&y face. < y health is some4hat fra"ile2= he remar&ed as he led the 4ay do4n the +assa"e. <I am com+elled to 1e a (aletudinarian.= 7ur ca1 4as a4aitin" us outside2 and our +ro"ramme 4as e(idently +rearran"ed2 for the dri(er started off at once at a ra+id +ace. Thaddeus Sholto tal&ed incessantly in a (oice 4hich rose hi"h a1o(e the rattle of the 4heels. <Bartholome4 is a cle(er fello42= said he. <Ho4 do you thin& he found out 4here the treasure 4as> He had come to the conclusion that it 4as some4here indoors2 so he 4or&ed out all the cu1ic s+ace of the house and made measurements e(ery4here so that not one inch should 1e unaccounted for. .mon" other thin"s2 he found that the hei"ht of the 1uildin" 4as se(enty-four feet2 1ut on addin" to"ether the hei"hts of all the se+arate rooms and ma&in" e(ery allo4ance for the s+ace 1et4een2 4hich he ascertained 1y 1orin"s2 he could not 1rin" the total to more than se(enty feet. There 4ere four feet unaccounted for. These could only 1e at the to+ of the 1uildin". He &noc&ed a hole2 therefore2 in the lath and +laster ceilin" of the hi"hest room2 and there2 sure enou"h2 he came u+on another little "arret a1o(e it2 4hich had 1een sealed u+ and 4as &no4n to no one. In the centre stood the treasure-chest restin" u+on t4o rafters. He lo4ered it throu"h the hole2 and there it lies. He com+utes the (alue of the 5e4els at not less than half a million sterlin".= .t the mention of this "i"antic sum 4e all stared at one another o+en-eyed. iss orstan2 could 4e secure her ri"hts2
4ould chan"e from a needy "o(erness to the richest heiress in *n"land. Surely it 4as the +lace of a loyal friend to re5oice at such ne4s2 yet I am ashamed to say that selfishness too& me 1y the soul and that my heart turned as hea(y as lead 4ithin me. I stammered out some fe4 haltin" 4ords of con"ratulation and then sat do4ncast2 4ith my head droo+ed2 deaf to the 1a11le of our ne4 ac:uaintance. He 4as clearly a confirmed hy+ochondriac2 and I 4as dreamily conscious that he 4as +ourin" forth intermina1le trains of sym+toms2 and im+lorin" information as to the com+osition and action of innumera1le :uac& nostrums2 some of 4hich he 1ore a1out in a leather case in his +oc&et. I trust that he may not remem1er any of the ans4ers 4hich I "a(e him that ni"ht. Holmes declares that he o(erheard me caution him a"ainst the "reat dan"er of ta&in" more than t4o dro+s of castor-oil2 4hile I recommended strychnine in lar"e doses as a sedati(e. Ho4e(er that may 1e2 I 4as certainly relie(ed 4hen our ca1 +ulled u+ 4ith a 5er& and the coachman s+ran" do4n to o+en the door. <This2 iss orstan2 is #ondicherry $od"e2= said Thaddeus Sholto as he handed her out. Chapter % The Tragedy of &ondicherry 'odge It 4as nearly ele(en oCcloc& 4hen 4e reached this final sta"e of our ni"htCs ad(entures. 3e had left the dam+ fo" of the "reat city 1ehind us2 and the ni"ht 4as fairly fine. . 4arm 4ind 1le4 from the 4est4ard2 and hea(y clouds mo(ed slo4ly across the s&y2 4ith half a moon +ee+in" occasionally throu"h the rifts. It 4as clear enou"h to see for some distance2 1ut Thaddeus Sholto too& do4n r.
one of the sidelam+s from the carria"e to "i(e us a 1etter li"ht u+on our 4ay. #ondicherry $od"e stood in its o4n "rounds and 4as "irt round 4ith a (ery hi"h stone 4all to++ed 4ith 1ro&en "lass. . sin"le narro4 iron-clam+ed door formed the only means of entrance. 7n this our "uide &noc&ed 4ith a +eculiar +ostman-li&e rat-tat. <3ho is there>= cried a "ruff (oice from 4ithin. <It is I2 c urdo. ;ou surely &no4 my &noc& 1y this time.=
<This is too 1ad of you2 c urdo@= he said. <If I "uarantee them2 that is enou"h for you. There is the youn" lady2 too. She cannot 4ait on the +u1lic road at this hour.= <Fery sorry2 r. Thaddeus2= said the +orter ine9ora1ly. <6ol& may 1e friends oC yours2 and yet no friend oC the masterCs. He +ays me 4ell to do my duty2 and my duty ICll do. I donDt &no4 none oC your friends.= <7h2 yes you do2 c urdo2= cried Sherloc& Holmes "enially. = <?ot r. Sherloc& Holmes@= roared the +riEe-fi"hter. <'odCs truth@ ho4 could I ha(e mistoo& you> If instead oC standinC there so :uiet you had 5ust ste++ed u+ and "i(en me that cross-hit of yours under the 5a42 ICd haC &no4n you 4ithout a :uestion. .h2 youCre one that has 4asted your "ifts2 you ha(e@ ;ou mi"ht ha(e aimed hi"h2 if you had 5oined the fancy.= <;ou see2 3atson2 if all else fails me2 I ha(e still one of the scientific +rofessions o+en to me2= said Holmes2 lau"hin". <7ur friend 4onCt &ee+ us out in the cold no42 I am sure.= <In you come2 sir2 in you come B you and your friends2= he ans4ered. <Fery sorry2 r. Thaddeus2 1ut orders are (ery strict. Had to 1e certain of your friends 1efore I let them in.= Inside2 a "ra(el +ath 4ound throu"h desolate "rounds to a hu"e clum+ of a house2 s:uare and +rosaic2 all +lun"ed in shado4 sa(e 4here a moon1eam struc& one corner and "limmered in a "arret 4indo4. The (ast siEe of the 1uildin"2 4ith its "loom and its
There 4as a "rum1lin" sound and a clan&in" and 5arrin" of &eys. The door s4un" hea(ily 1ac&2 and a short2 dee+-chested man stood in the o+enin"2 4ith the yello4 li"ht of the lantern shinin" u+on his +rotruded face and t4in&lin"2 distrustful eyes. <That you2 r. Thaddeus> But 4ho are the others> I had no orders a1out them from the master.= <?o2 c urdo> ;ou sur+rise me@ I told my 1rother last ni"ht that I should 1rin" some friends.= <He hainCt 1een out oC his rooms to-day2 r. Thaddeus2 and I ha(e no orders. ;ou &no4 (ery 4ell that I must stic& to re"ulations. I can let you in2 1ut your friends they must 5ust sto+ 4here they are.= This 4as an une9+ected o1stacle. Thaddeus Sholto loo&ed a1out him in a +er+le9ed and hel+less manner.
deathly silence2 struc& a chill to the heart. *(en Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease2 and the lantern :ui(ered and rattled in his hand. <I cannot understand it2= he said. <There must 1e some mista&e. I distinctly told Bartholome4 that 4e should 1e here2 and yet there is no li"ht in his 4indo4. I do not &no4 4hat to ma&e of it.= <Does he al4ays "uard the +remises in this 4ay>= as&ed Holmes. <;es8 he has follo4ed my fatherCs custom. He 4as the fa(ourite son you &no42 and I sometimes thin& that my father may ha(e told him more than he e(er told me. That is Bartholome4Cs 4indo4 u+ there 4here the moonshine stri&es. It is :uite 1ri"ht2 1ut there is no li"ht from 4ithin2 I thin&.= <?one2= said Holmes. <But I see the "lint of a li"ht in that little 4indo4 1eside the door.= <.h2 that is the house&ee+erCs room. That is 4here old rs. Bernstone sits. She can tell us all a1out it. But +erha+s you 4ould not mind 4aitin" here for a minute or t4o2 for if 4e all "o in to"ether2 and she has had no 4ord of our comin"2 she may 1e alarmed. But2 hush@ 4hat is that>= He held u+ the lantern2 and his hand shoo& until the circles of li"ht flic&ered and 4a(ered all round us. iss orstan seiEed my 4rist2 and 4e all stood2 4ith thum+in" hearts2 strainin" our ears. 6rom the "reat 1lac& house there sounded throu"h the silent ni"ht the saddest and most +itiful of sounds B the shrill2 1ro&en 4him+erin" of a fri"htened 4oman. <It is rs. Bernstone2= said Sholto. <She is the only 4oman in the house. 3ait here. I shall 1e 1ac& in a moment.=
He hurried2 for the door and &noc&ed in his +eculiar 4ay. 3e could see a tall old 4oman admit him and s4ay 4ith +leasure at the (ery si"ht of him. <7h2 r. Thaddeus2 sir2 I am so "lad you ha(e come@ I am so "lad you ha(e come2 r. Thaddeus2 sir@= 3e heard her reiterated re5oicin"s until the door 4as closed and her (oice died a4ay into a muffled monotone. 7ur "uide had left us the lantern. Holmes s4un" it slo4ly round and +eered &eenly at the house and at the "reat ru11ishhea+s 4hich cum1ered the "rounds. iss orstan and I stood to"ether2 and her hand 4as in mine. . 4ondrous su1tle thin" is lo(e2 for here 4ere 4e t4o2 4ho had ne(er seen each other 1efore that day2 1et4een 4hom no 4ord or e(en loo& of affection had e(er +assed2 and yet no4 in an hour of trou1le our hands instincti(ely sou"ht for each other. I ha(e mar(elled at it since2 1ut at the time it seemed the most natural thin" that I should "o out to her so2 and2 as she has often told me2 there 4as in her also the instinct to turn to me for comfort and +rotection. So 4e stood hand in hand li&e t4o children2 and there 4as +eace in our hearts for all the dar& thin"s that surrounded us. <3hat a stran"e +lace@= she said2 loo&in" round. <It loo&s as thou"h all the moles in *n"land had 1een let loose in it. I ha(e seen somethin" of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat2 4here the +ros+ectors had 1een at 4or&.= <.nd from the same cause2= said Holmes. <These are the traces of the treasure-see&ers. ;ou must remem1er that they 4ere
si9 years loo&in" for it. ?o 4onder that the "rounds loo& li&e a "ra(el-+it. = .t that moment the door of the house 1urst o+en2 and Thaddeus Sholto came runnin" out2 4ith his hands thro4n for4ard and terror in his eyes. <There is somethin" amiss 4ith Bartholome4@= he cried. <I am fri"htened@ y ner(es cannot stand it.= He 4as2 indeed2 half 1lu11erin" 4ith fear2 and his t4itchin"2 fee1le face +ee+in" out from the "reat astra&han collar had the hel+less2 a++ealin" e9+ression of a terrified child. <Come into the house2= said Holmes in his cris+2 firm 4ay. <;es2 do@= +leaded Thaddeus Sholto. <I really do not feel e:ual to "i(in" directions.= 3e all follo4ed him into the house&ee+erCs room2 4hich stood u+on the lefthand side of the +assa"e. The old 4oman 4as +acin" u+ and do4n 4ith a scared loo& and restless2 +ic&in" fin"ers2 1ut the si"ht of iss orstan a++eared to ha(e a soothin" effect u+on her. <'od 1less your s4eet2 calm face@= she cried 4ith a hysterical so1. <It does me "ood to see you. 7h2 1ut I ha(e 1een sorely tried this day@= 7ur com+anion +atted her thin2 4or&-4orn hand and murmured some fe4 4ords of &indly2 4omanly comfort 4hich 1rou"ht the colour 1ac& into the otherCs 1loodless chee&s.
< aster has loc&ed himself in and 4ill not ans4er me2= she e9+lained. <.ll day I ha(e 4aited to hear from him2 for he often li&es to 1e alone- 1ut an hour a"o I feared that somethin" 4as amiss2 so I 4ent u+ and +ee+ed throu"h the &eyhole. ;ou must "o u+2 r. Thaddeus B you must "o u+ and loo& for yourself. I ha(e seen r. Bartholome4 Sholto in 5oy and in sorro4 for ten lon" years2 1ut I ne(er sa4 him 4ith such a face on him as that.= Sherloc& Holmes too& the lam+ and led the 4ay2 for Thaddeus SholtoCs teeth 4ere chatterin" in his head. So sha&en 4as he that I had to +ass my hand under his arm as 4e 4ent u+ the stairs2 for his &nees 4ere trem1lin" under him. T4ice as 4e ascended2 Holmes 4hi++ed his lens out of his +oc&et and carefully e9amined mar&s 4hich a++eared to me to 1e mere sha+eless smud"es of dust u+on the cocoanut-mattin" 4hich ser(ed as a stair-car+et. He 4al&ed slo4ly from ste+ to ste+2 holdin" the lam+ lo42 and shootin" &een "lances to ri"ht and left. iss orstan had remained 1ehind 4ith the fri"htened house&ee+er. The third fli"ht of stairs ended in a strai"ht +assa"e of some len"th2 4ith a "reat +icture in Indian ta+estry u+on the ri"ht of it and three doors u+on the left. Holmes ad(anced alon" it in the same slo4 and methodical 4ay2 4hile 4e &e+t close at his heels2 4ith our lon" 1lac& shado4s streamin" 1ac&4ard do4n the corridor. The third door 4as that 4hich 4e 4ere see&in". Holmes &noc&ed 4ithout recei(in" any ans4er2 and then tried to turn the handle and force it o+en. It 4as loc&ed on the inside2 ho4e(er2 and 1y a 1road and +o4erful 1olt2 as 4e could see 4hen 4e set our lam+ u+ a"ainst it. The &ey 1ein" turned2 ho4e(er2 the hole 4as not entirely closed. Sherloc& Holmes 1ent do4n to it and instantly rose a"ain 4ith a shar+ inta&in" of the 1reath.
<There is somethin" de(ilish in this2 3atson2= said he2 more mo(ed than I had e(er 1efore seen him. <3hat do you ma&e of it>= I stoo+ed to the hole and recoiled in horror. oonli"ht 4as streamin" into the room2 and it 4as 1ri"ht 4ith a (a"ue and shifty radiance. $oo&in" strai"ht at me and sus+ended2 as it 4ere2 in the air2 for all 1eneath 4as in shado42 there hun" a face B the (ery face of our com+anion Thaddeus. There 4as the same hi"h2 shinin" head2 the same circular 1ristle of red hair2 the same 1loodless countenance. The features 4ere set2 ho4e(er2 in a horri1le smile2 a fi9ed and unnatural "rin2 4hich in that still and moonlit room 4as more 5arrin" to the ner(es than any sco4l or contortion. So li&e 4as the face to that of our little friend that I loo&ed round at him to ma&e sure that he 4as indeed 4ith us. Then I recalled to mind that he had mentioned to us that his 1rother and he 4ere t4ins. <This is terri1le@= I said to Holmes. <3hat is to 1e done>= <The door must come do4n2= he ans4ered2 and s+rin"in" a"ainst it2 he +ut all his 4ei"ht u+on the loc&. It crea&ed and "roaned 1ut did not yield. To"ether 4e flun" oursel(es u+on it once more2 and this time it "a(e 4ay 4ith a sudden sna+2 and 4e found oursel(es 4ithin Bartholome4 SholtoCs cham1er. It a++eared to ha(e 1een fitted u+ as a chemical la1oratory. . dou1le line of "lass-sto++ered 1ottles 4as dra4n u+ u+on the 4all o++osite the door2 and the ta1le 4as littered o(er 4ith Bunsen 1urners2 test-tu1es2 and retorts. In the corners stood car1oys of acid in 4ic&er 1as&ets. 7ne of these a++eared to lea& or to ha(e 1een
1ro&en2 for a stream of dar&-coloured li:uid had tric&led out from it2 and the air 4as hea(y 4ith a +eculiarly +un"ent2 tarli&e odour. . set of ste+s stood at one side of the room in the midst of a litter of lath and +laster2 and a1o(e them there 4as an o+enin" in the ceilin" lar"e enou"h for a man to +ass throu"h. .t the foot of the ste+s a lon" coil of ro+e 4as thro4n carelessly to"ether. By the ta1le in a 4ooden armchair the master of the house 4as seated all in a hea+2 4ith his head sun& u+on his left shoulder and that "hastly2 inscruta1le smile u+on his face. He 4as stiff and cold and had clearly 1een dead many hours. It seemed to me that not only his features 1ut all his lim1s 4ere t4isted and turned in the most fantastic fashion. By his hand u+on the ta1le there lay a +eculiar instrument B a 1ro4n2 close-"rained stic&2 4ith a stone head li&e a hammer2 rudely lashed on 4ith coarse t4ine. Beside it 4as a torn sheet of note-+a+er 4ith some 4ords scra4led u+on it. Holmes "lanced at it and then handed it to me. <;ou see2= he said 4ith a si"nificant raisin" of the eye1ro4s. In the li"ht of the lantern I read 4ith a thrill of horror2 <The si"n of the four.= <In 'odCs name2 4hat does it all mean>= I as&ed. <It means murder2= said he2 stoo+in" o(er the dead man. <.h@ I e9+ected it. $oo& here@= He +ointed to 4hat loo&ed li&e a lon" dar& thorn stuc& in the s&in 5ust a1o(e the ear. <It loo&s li&e a thorn2= said I.
<It is a thorn. ;ou may +ic& it out. But 1e careful2 for it is +oisoned.= I too& it u+ 1et4een my fin"er and thum1. It came a4ay from the s&in so readily that hardly any mar& 4as left 1ehind. 7ne tiny s+ec& of 1lood sho4ed 4here the +uncture had 1een. <This is all an insolu1le mystery to me2= said I. <It "ro4s dar&er instead of clearer.= <7n the contrary2= he ans4ered2 <it clears e(ery instant. I only re:uire a fe4 missin" lin&s to ha(e an entirely connected case.= 3e had almost for"otten our com+anionCs +resence since 4e entered the cham1er. He 4as still standin" in the door4ay2 the (ery +icture of terror2 4rin"in" his hands and moanin" to himself. Suddenly2 ho4e(er2 he 1ro&e out it to a shar+2 :uerulous cry. <The treasure is "one@= he said. <They ha(e ro11ed him of the treasure@ There is the hole throu"h 4hich 4e lo4ered it. I hel+ed him to do it@ I 4as the last +erson 4ho sa4 him@ I left him here last ni"ht2 and I heard him loc& the door as I came do4nstairs.= <3hat time 4as that>= <It 4as ten oCcloc&. .nd no4 he is dead2 and the +olice 4ill 1e called in2 and I shall 1e sus+ected of ha(in" had a hand in it. 7h2 yes2 I am sure I shall. But you donCt thin& so2 "entlemen> Surely you donCt thin& that it 4as l> Is it li&ely that I 4ould ha(e 1rou"ht you here if it 4ere l> 7h2 dear@ oh2 dear@ I &no4 that I shall "o mad@= He 5er&ed his arms and stam+ed his feet in a &ind of con(ulsi(e frenEy.
<;ou ha(e no reason for fear2 r. Sholto2= said Holmes &indly2 +uttin" his hand u+on his shoulder8 <ta&e my ad(ice and dri(e do4n to the station to re+ort the matter to the +olice. 7ffer to assist them in e(ery 4ay. 3e shall 4ait here until your return.= The little man o1eyed in a half-stu+efied fashion2 and 4e heard him stum1lin" do4n the stairs in the dar&. Chapter ( Sherloc) #olmes *i+es a Demonstration <?o42 3atson2= said Holmes2 ru11in" his hands2 <4e ha(e half an hour to oursel(es. $et us ma&e "ood use of it. y case is2 as I ha(e told you2 almost com+lete8 1ut 4e must not err on the side of o(erconfidence. Sim+le as the case seems no42 there may 1e somethin" dee+er underlyin" it.= <Sim+le@= I e5aculated. <Surely2= said he 4ith somethin" of the air of a clinical +rofessor e9+oundin" to his class. <0ust sit in the corner there2 that your foot+rints may not com+licate matters. ?o4 to 4or&@ In the first +lace2 ho4 did these fol& come and ho4 did they "o> The door has not 1een o+ened since last ni"ht. Ho4 of the 4indo4>= He carried the lam+ across to it2 mutterin" his o1ser(ations aloud the 4hile 1ut addressin" them to himself rather than to me. <3indo4 is sni11ed on the inner side. 6rame-4or& is solid. ?o hin"es at the side. $et us o+en it. ?o 4ater-+i+e near. Aoof :uite out of reach. ;et a man has mounted 1y the 4indo4. It rained a little last ni"ht. Here is the +rint of a foot in mould u+on the sill. .nd here is a circular muddy mar&2 and here a"ain u+on the floor2 and here a"ain 1y the ta1le. See here2 3atson@ This is really a (ery +retty demonstration.=
I loo&ed at the round2 4ell-defined muddy discs. <That is not a foot-mar&2= said I. <It is somethin" much more (alua1le to us. It is the im+ression of a 4ooden stum+. ;ou see here on the sill is the 1ootmar&2 a hea(y 1oot 4ith a 1road metal heel2 and 1eside it is the mar& of the tim1er-toe.= <It is the 4ooden-le""ed man.= <Quite so. But there has 1een someone else B a (ery a1le and efficient ally. Could you scale that 4all2 Doctor>= I loo&ed out of the o+en 4indo4. The moon still shone 1ri"htly on that an"le of the house. 3e 4ere a "ood si9ty feet from the "round2 and2 loo& 4here I 4ould2 I could see no foothold2 nor as much as a cre(ice in the 1ric&4or&. <It is a1solutely im+ossi1le2= I ans4ered. <3ithout aid it is so. But su++ose you had a friend u+ here 4ho lo4ered you this "ood stout ro+e 4hich I see in the corner2 securin" one end of it to this "reat hoo& in the 4all. Then2 I thin&2 if you 4ere an acti(e man2 you mi"ht s4arm u+2 4ooden le" and all. ;ou 4ould de+art2 of course2 in the same fashion2 and your ally 4ould dra4 u+ the ro+e2 untie it from the hoo&2 shut the 4indo42 sni1 it on the inside2 and "et a4ay in the 4ay that he ori"inally came. .s a minor +oint2 it may 1e noted2= he continued2 fin"erin" the ro+e2 <that our 4ooden-le""ed friend2 thou"h a fair clim1er2 4as not a +rofessional sailor. His hands 4ere far from horny. y lens discloses more than one 1loodmar&2 es+ecially to4ards the end of
the ro+e2 from 4hich I "ather that he sli++ed do4n 4ith such (elocity that he too& the s&in off his hands.= <This is all (ery 4ell2= said I8 <1ut the thin" 1ecomes more unintelli"i1le than e(er. Ho4 a1out this mysterious ally> Ho4 came he into the room>= <;es2 the ally@= re+eated Holmes +ensi(ely. <There are features of interest a1out this ally. He lifts the case from the re"ions of the common+lace. I fancy that this ally 1rea&s fresh "round in the annals of crime in this country B thou"h +arallel cases su""est themsel(es from India and2 if my memory ser(es me2 from Sene"am1ia.= <Ho4 came he2 then>= I reiterated. <The door is loc&ed8 the 4indo4 is inaccessi1le. 3as it throu"h the chimney>= <The "rate is much too small2= he ans4ered. = I +ersisted. <;ou 4ill not a++ly my +rece+t2= he said2 sha&in" his head. <Ho4 often ha(e I said to you that 4hen you ha(e eliminated the im+ossi1le2 4hate(er remains2 ho4e(er im+ro1a1le2 must 1e the truth> 3e &no4 that he did not come throu"h the door2 the 4indo42 or the chimney. 3e also &no4 that he could not ha(e 1een concealed in the room2 as there is no concealment +ossi1le. 3hen2 then2 did he come>= <He came throu"h the hole in the roof@= I cried.
<7f course he did. He must ha(e done so. If you 4ill ha(e the &indness to hold the lam+ for me2 4e shall no4 e9tend our researches to the room a1o(e B the secret room in 4hich the treasure 4as found.= He mounted the ste+s2 and2 seiEin" a rafter 4ith either hand2 he s4un" himself u+ into the "arret. Then2 lyin" on his face2 he reached do4n for the lam+ and held it 4hile I follo4ed him. The cham1er in 4hich 4e found oursel(es 4as a1out ten feet one 4ay and si9 the other. The floor 4as formed 1y the rafters2 4ith thin lath and +laster 1et4een2 so that in 4al&in" one had to ste+ from 1eam to 1eam. The roof ran u+ to an a+e9 and 4as e(idently the inner shell of the true roof of the house. There 4as no furniture of any sort2 and the accumulated dust of years lay thic& u+on the floor. <Here you are2 you see2= said Sherloc& Holmes2 +uttin" his hand a"ainst the slo+in" 4all. <This is a tra+door 4hich leads out on to the roof. I can +ress it 1ac&2 and here is the roof itself2 slo+in" at a "entle an"le. This2 then2 is the 4ay 1y 4hich ?um1er 7ne entered. $et us see if 4e can find some other traces of his indi(iduality>= He held do4n the lam+ to the floor2 and as he did so I sa4 for the second time that ni"ht a startled2 sur+rised loo& come o(er his face. 6or myself2 as I follo4ed his "aEe2 my s&in 4as cold under my clothes. The floor 4as co(ered thic&ly 4ith the +rints of a na&ed foot B clear2 4ell-defined2 +erfectly formed2 1ut scarce half the siEe of those of an ordinary man. <Holmes2= I said in a 4his+er2 <a child has done this horrid thin".=
He had reco(ered his self-+ossession in an instant. <I 4as sta""ered for the moment2= he said2 <1ut the thin" is :uite natural. y memory failed me2 or I should ha(e 1een a1le to foretell it. There is nothin" more to 1e learned here. $et us "o do4n.= <3hat is your theory2 then2 as to those footmar&s>= I as&ed ea"erly 4hen 4e had re"ained the lo4er room once more. < y dear 3atson2 try a little analysis yourself2= said he 4ith a touch of im+atience. <;ou &no4 my methods. .++ly them2 and it 4ill 1e instructi(e to com+are results.= <I cannot concei(e anythin" 4hich 4ill co(er the facts2= I ans4ered. <It 4ill 1e clear enou"h to you soon2= he said2 in an offhand 4ay. <I thin& that there is nothin" else of im+ortance here2 1ut I 4ill loo&.= He 4hi++ed out his lens and a ta+e measure and hurried a1out the room on his &nees2 measurin"2 com+arin"2 e9aminin"2 4ith his lon" thin nose only a fe4 inches from the +lan&s and his 1eady eyes "leamin" and dee+-set li&e those of a 1ird. So s4ift2 silent2 and furti(e 4ere his mo(ements2 li&e those of a trained 1loodhound +ic&in" out a scent2 that I could not 1ut thin& 4hat a terri1le criminal he 4ould ha(e made had he turned his ener"y and sa"acity a"ainst the la4 instead of e9ertin" them in its defence. .s he hunted a1out2 he &e+t mutterin" to himself2 and finally he 1ro&e out into a loud cro4 of deli"ht.
<3e are certainly in luc&2= said he. <3e ou"ht to ha(e (ery little trou1le no4. ?um1er 7ne has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. ;ou can see the outline of the ed"e of his small foot here at the side of this e(il-smellin" mess. The car1oy has 1een crac&ed2 you see2 and the stuff has lea&ed out.= <3hat then>= I as&ed. <3hy2 4e ha(e "ot him2 thatCs all2= said he. It sounds li&e a sum in the rule of three. The ans4er should "i(e us the B But hallo@ here are the accredited re+resentati(es of the la4.= Hea(y ste+s and the clamour of loud (oices 4ere audi1le from 1elo42 and the hall door shut 4ith a loud crash. <Before they come2= said Holmes2 <5ust +ut your hand here on this +oor fello4Cs arm2 and here on his le". 3hat do you feel>= The muscles are as hard as a 1oard2= I ans4ered. <Quite so. They are in a state of e9treme contraction2 far e9ceedin" the usual ri"or mortis. Cou+led 4ith this distortion of the face2 this Hi++ocratic smile2 or Drisus sardonicus2C as the old 4riters called it2 4hat conclusion 4ould it su""est to your mind>= <Death from some +o4erful (e"eta1le al&aloid2= I ans4ered2 <some strychnine-li&e su1stance 4hich 4ould +roduce tetanus.= <That 4as the idea 4hich occurred to me the instant I sa4 the dra4n muscles of the face. 7n "ettin" into the room I at once
loo&ed for the means 1y 4hich the +oison had entered the system. .s you sa42 I disco(ered a thorn 4hich had 1een dri(en or shot 4ith no "reat force into the scal+. ;ou o1ser(e that the +art struc& 4as that 4hich 4ould 1e turned to4ards the hole in the ceilin" if the man 4ere erect in his chair. ?o4 e9amine this thorn.= I too& it u+ "in"erly and held it in the li"ht of the lantern. It 4as lon"2 shar+2 and 1lac&2 4ith a "laEed loo& near the +oint as thou"h some "ummy su1stance had dried u+on it. The 1lunt end had 1een trimmed and rounded off 4ith a &nife. <Is that an *n"lish thorn>= he as&ed. <?o2 it certainly is not.= <3ith all these data you should 1e a1le to dra4 some 5ust inference. But here are the re"ulars2 so the au9iliary forces may 1eat a retreat.= .s he s+o&e2 the ste+s 4hich had 1een comin" nearer sounded loudly on the +assa"e2 and a (ery stout2 +ortly man in a "ray suit strode hea(ily into the room. He 4as red-faced2 1urly2 and +lethoric2 4ith a +air of (ery small t4in&lin" eyes 4hich loo&ed &eenly out from 1et4een s4ollen and +uffy +ouches. He 4as closely follo4ed 1y an ins+ector in uniform and 1y the still +al+itatin" Thaddeus Sholto. <HereCs a 1usiness@= he cried in a muffled2 hus&y (oice. <HereDs a +retty 1usiness@ But 4ho are all these> 3hy2 the house seems to 1e as full as a ra11it-4arren@= <I thin& you must recollect me2 :uietly. r. .thelney 0ones2= said Holmes
<3hy2 of course I do@= he 4heeEed. <ItCs r. Sherloc& Holmes2 the theorist. Aemem1er you@ ICll ne(er for"et ho4 you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bisho+"ate 5e4el case. ItCs true you set us on the ri"ht trac&8 1ut youDll o4n no4 that it 4as more 1y "ood luc& than "ood "uidance.= <It 4as a +iece of (ery sim+le reasonin".= <7h2 come2 no42 come@ ?e(er 1e ashamed to o4n u+. But 4hat is all this> Bad 1usiness@ Bad 1usiness@ Stern facts here B no room for theories. Ho4 luc&y that I ha++ened to 1e out at ?or4ood o(er another case@ I 4as at the station 4hen the messa"e arri(ed. 3hat dCyou thin& the man died of>= <7h2 this is hardly a case for me to theoriEe o(er2= said Holmes dryly. <?o2 no. Still2 4e canCt deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. Dear me@ Door loc&ed2 I understand. 0e4els 4orth half a million missin". Ho4 4as the 4indo4>= <6astened8 1ut there are ste+s on the sill.= <3ell2 4ell2 if it 4as fastened the ste+s could ha(e nothin" to do 4ith the matter. ThatCs common sense. an mi"ht ha(e died in a fit8 1ut then the 5e4els are missin". Ha@ I ha(e a theory. These flashes come u+on me at times. B 0ust ste+ outside2 Ser"eant2 and you2 r. Sholto. ;our friend can remain. B 3hat do you thin& of this2 Holmes> Sholto 4as2 on his o4n confession2 4ith his 1rother last ni"ht. The 1rother died in a fit2 on 4hich Sholto 4al&ed off 4ith the treasure> Ho4Cs that>=
<7n 4hich the dead man (ery considerately "ot u+ and loc&ed the door on the inside.= <Hum@ ThereCs a fla4 there. $et us a++ly common sense to the matter. This Thaddeus Sholto 4as 4ith his 1rother8 there 4as a :uarrelH so much 4e &no4. The 1rother is dead and the 5e4els are "one. So much also 4e &no4. ?o one sa4 the 1rother from the time Thaddeus left him. His 1ed had not 1een sle+t in. Thaddeus is e(idently in a most distur1ed state of mind. His a++earance is B 4ell2 not attracti(e. ;ou see that I am 4ea(in" my 4e1 round Thaddeus. The net 1e"ins to close u+on him.= <;ou are not :uite in +ossession of the facts yet2= said Holmes. <This s+linter of 4ood2 4hich I ha(e e(ery reason to 1elie(e to 1e +oisoned2 4as in the manCs scal+ 4here you still see the mar&8 this card2 inscri1ed as you see it2 4as on the ta1le2 and 1eside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. Ho4 does all that fit into your theory>= <Confirms it in e(ery res+ect2= said the fat detecti(e +om+ously. <House is full of Indian curiosities. Thaddeus 1rou"ht this u+2 and if this s+linter 1e +oisonous Thaddeus may as 4ell ha(e made murderous use of it as any other man. The card is some hocus-+ocus B a 1lind2 as li&e as not. The only :uestion is2 ho4 did he de+art> .h2 of course2 here is a hole in the roof.= 3ith "reat acti(ity2 considerin" his 1ul&2 he s+ran" u+ the ste+s and s:ueeEed throu"h into the "arret2 and immediately after4ards 4e heard his e9ultin" (oice +roclaimin" that he had found the tra+door.
<He can find somethin"2= remar&ed Holmes2 shru""in" his shoulders8 <he has occasional "limmerin"s of reason. Il nCy a +as des sots si incommodes :ue ceu9 :ui ont de lCes+rit@= <;ou see@= said .thelney 0ones2 rea++earin" do4n the ste+s a"ain8 <facts are 1etter than theories2 after all. y (ie4 of the case is confirmed. There is a tra+door communicatin" 4ith the roof2 and it is +artly o+en.= <It 4as I 4ho o+ened it.= <7h2 indeed@ ;ou did notice it2 then>= He seemed a little crestfallen at the disco(ery. <3ell2 4hoe(er noticed it2 it sho4s ho4 our "entleman "ot a4ay. Ins+ector@= <;es2 sir2= from the +assa"e. <.s& r. Sholto to ste+ this 4ay. B r. Sholto2 it is my duty to inform you that anythin" 4hich you may say 4ill 1e used a"ainst you. I arrest you in the QueenCs name as 1ein" concerned in the death of your 1rother.= <There2 no4@ DidnCt I tell you@= cried the +oor little man thro4in" out his hands and loo&in" from one to the other of us. <DonCt trou1le yourself a1out it2 r. Sholto2= said Holmes8 <I thin& that I can en"a"e to clear you of the char"e.= <DonCt +romise too much2 r. Theorist2 donDt +romise too much@= sna++ed the detecti(e. <;ou may find it a harder matter than you thin&.= <?ot only 4ill I clear him2 r. 0ones2 1ut I 4ill ma&e you a free +resent of the name and descri+tion of one of the t4o +eo+le
4ho 4ere in this room last ni"ht. His name2 I ha(e e(ery reason to 1elie(e2 is 0onathan Small. He is a +oorly educated man2 small2 acti(e2 4ith his ri"ht le" off2 and 4earin" a 4ooden stum+ 4hich is 4orn a4ay u+on the inner side. His left 1oot has a coarse2 s:uaretoed sole2 4ith an iron 1and round the heel. He is a middle-a"ed man2 much sun1urned2 and has 1een a con(ict. These fe4 indications may 1e of some assistance to you2 cou+led 4ith the fact that there is a "ood deal of s&in missin" from the +alm of his hand. The other man B= <.h@ the other man>= as&ed .thelney 0ones in a sneerin" (oice2 1ut im+ressed none the less2 as I could easily see2 1y the +recision of the otherCs manner. <Is a rather curious +erson2= said Sherloc& Holmes2 turnin" u+on his heel. <I ho+e 1efore (ery lon" to 1e a1le to introduce you to the +air of them. . 4ord 4ith you2 3atson.= He led me out to the head of the stair. <This une9+ected occurrence2= he said2 <has caused us rather to lose si"ht of the ori"inal +ur+ose of our 5ourney.= iss <I ha(e 5ust 1een thin&in" so2= I ans4ered8 <it is not ri"ht that orstan should remain in this stric&en house.=
<?o. ;ou must escort her home. She li(es 4ith rs. Cecil 6orrester in $o4er Cam1er4ell2 so it is not (ery far. I 4ill 4ait for you here if you 4ill dri(e out a"ain. 7r +erha+s you are too tired>= <By no means. I donCt thin& I could rest until I &no4 more of this fantastic 1usiness. I ha(e seen somethin" of the rou"h side of life2 1ut I "i(e you my 4ord that this :uic& succession of stran"e
sur+rises to-ni"ht has sha&en my ner(e com+letely. I should li&e2 ho4e(er2 to see the matter throu"h 4ith you2 no4 that I ha(e "ot so far.= <;our +resence 4ill 1e of "reat ser(ice to me2= he ans4ered. <3e shall 4or& the case out inde+endently and lea(e this fello4 0ones to e9ult o(er any mareCs-nest 4hich he may choose to construct. 3hen you ha(e dro++ed iss orstan2 I 4ish you to "o on to ?o. 3 #inchin $ane2 do4n near the 4aterCs ed"e at $am1eth. The third house on the ri"ht-hand side is a 1irdstufferCs8 Sherman is the name. ;ou 4ill see a 4easel holdin" a youn" ra11it in the 4indo4. Inoc& old Sherman u+ and tell him2 4ith my com+liments2 that I 4ant To1y at once. ;ou 4ill 1rin" To1y 1ac& in the ca1 4ith you.= <. do"2 I su++ose.= <;es2 a :ueer mon"rel 4ith a most amaEin" +o4er of scent. I 4ould rather ha(e To1yCs hel+ than that of the 4hole detecti(e force of $ondon.= <I shall 1rin" him then2= said I. <It is one no4. I ou"ht to 1e 1ac& 1efore three if I can "et a fresh horse.= <.nd I2= said Holmes2 <shall see 4hat I can learn from rs. Bernstone and from the Indian ser(ant2 4ho2 r. Thaddeus tells me2 slee+s in the ne9t "arret. Then I shall study the "reat 0onesCs methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms. <D3ir sind "e4ohnt dass die nicht (erstehen.C <'oethe is al4ays +ithy= enschen (erhohnen 4as sie
Chapter , The -pisode of the Barrel The +olice had 1rou"ht a ca1 4ith them2 and in this I escorted iss orstan 1ac& to her home. .fter the an"elic fashion of 4omen2 she had 1orne trou1le 4ith a calm face as lon" as there 4as someone 4ea&er than herself to su++ort2 and I had found her 1ri"ht and +lacid 1y the side of the fri"htened house&ee+er. In the ca12 ho4e(er2 she first turned faint and then 1urst into a +assion of 4ee+in" B so sorely had she 1een tried 1y the ad(entures of the ni"ht. She has told me since that she thou"ht me cold and distant u+on that 5ourney. She little "uessed the stru""le 4ithin my 1reast2 or the effort of self-restraint 4hich held me 1ac&. y sym+athies and my lo(e 4ent out to her2 e(en as my hand had in the "arden. I felt that years of the con(entionalities of life could not teach me to &no4 her s4eet2 1ra(e nature as had this one day of stran"e e9+eriences. ;et there 4ere t4o thou"hts 4hich sealed the 4ords of affection u+on my li+s. She 4as 4ea& and hel+less2 sha&en in mind and ner(e. It 4as to ta&e her at a disad(anta"e to o1trude lo(e u+on her at such a time. 3orse still2 she 4as rich. If HolmesCs researches 4ere successful2 she 4ould 1e an heiress. 3as it fair2 4as it honoura1le2 that a half-+ay sur"eon should ta&e such ad(anta"e of an intimacy 4hich chance had 1rou"ht a1out> i"ht she not loo& u+on me as a mere (ul"ar fortune-see&er> I could not 1ear to ris& that such a thou"ht should cross her mind. This ."ra treasure inter(ened li&e an im+assa1le 1arrier 1et4een us. It 4as nearly t4o oCcloc& 4hen 4e reached rs. Cecil 6orresterCs. The ser(ants had retired hours a"o2 1ut rs. 6orrester had 1een so interested 1y the stran"e messa"e 4hich iss orstan had recei(ed that she had sat u+ in the ho+e of her return.
She o+ened the door herself2 a middle-a"ed2 "raceful 4oman2 and it "a(e me 5oy to see ho4 tenderly her arm stole round the otherCs 4aist and ho4 motherly 4as the (oice in 4hich she "reeted her. She 4as clearly no mere +aid de+endant 1ut an honoured friend. I 4as introduced2 and rs. 6orrester earnestly 1e""ed me to ste+ in and tell her our ad(entures. I e9+lained2 ho4e(er2 the im+ortance of my errand and +romised faithfully to call and re+ort any +ro"ress 4hich 4e mi"ht ma&e 4ith the case. .s 4e dro(e a4ay I stole a "lance 1ac&2 and I still seem to see that little "rou+ on the ste+ B the t4o "raceful2 clin"in" fi"ures2 the half-o+ened door2 the hall-li"ht shinin" throu"h stained "lass2 the 1arometer2 and the 1ri"ht stairrods. It 4as soothin" to catch e(en that +assin" "lim+se of a tran:uil *n"lish home in the midst of the 4ild2 dar& 1usiness 4hich had a1sor1ed us. .nd the more I thou"ht of 4hat had ha++ened2 the 4ilder and dar&er it "re4. I re(ie4ed the 4hole e9traordinary se:uence of e(ents as I rattled on throu"h the silent2 "as-lit streets. There 4as the ori"inal +ro1lemH that at least 4as +retty clear no4. The death of Ca+tain orstan2 the sendin" of the +earls2 the ad(ertisement2 the letter B 4e had had li"ht u+on all those e(ents. They had only led us2 ho4e(er2 to a dee+er and far more tra"ic mystery. The Indian treasure2 the curious +lan found amon" orstanCs 1a""a"e2 the stran"e scene at a5or SholtoDs death2 the redisco(ery of the treasure immediately follo4ed 1y the murder of the disco(erer2 the (ery sin"ular accom+animents to the crime2 the footste+s2 the remar&a1le 4ea+ons2 the 4ords u+on the card2 corres+ondin" 4ith those u+on Ca+tain orstanCs chart B here 4as indeed a la1yrinth in 4hich a man less sin"ularly endo4ed than my fello4-lod"er mi"ht 4ell des+air of e(er findin" the clue.
#inchin $ane 4as a ro4 of sha11y2 t4o-storied 1ric& houses in the lo4er :uarter of $am1eth. I had to &noc& for some time at ?o. 3 1efore I could ma&e any im+ression. .t last2 ho4e(er2 there 4as the "lint of a candle 1ehind the 1lind2 and a face loo&ed out at the u++er 4indo4. <'o on2 you drun&en (a"a1ond2= said the face. <If you &ic& u+ any more ro42 ICll o+en the &ennels and let out forty-three do"s u+on you.= <If youCll let one out2 itDs 5ust 4hat I ha(e come for2= said I. <'o on@= yelled the (oice. <So hel+ me "racious2 I ha(e a 4i+er in this 1a"2 and ICll dro+ it on your Dead if you donCt hoo& it@= <But I 4ant a do"2= I cried. <I 4onCt 1e ar"ued 4ith@= shouted r. Sherman. <?o4 stand clear2 for 4hen I say Dthree2C do4n "oes the 4i+er.= < r. Sherloc& Holmes < I 1e"an8 1ut the 4ords had a most ma"ical effect2 for the 4indo4 instantly slammed do4n2 and 4ithin a minute the door 4as un1arred and o+en. r. Sherman 4as a lan&y2 lean old man2 4ith stoo+in" shoulders2 a strin"y nec&2 and 1luetinted "lasses. <. friend of r. Sherloc& is al4ays 4elcome2= said he. <Ste+ in2 sir. Iee+ clear of the 1ad"er2 for he 1ites. .h2 nau"hty2 nau"hty8 4ould you ta&e a ni+ at the "entleman>= This to a stoat 4hich thrust its 4ic&ed head and red eyes 1et4een the 1ars of its ca"e. <DonCt mind that2 sir8 itDs only a slo44orm. It hainCt "ot no fan"s2 so I "i(es it the run oC the room2 for it &ee+s the 1eetles do4n. ;ou must not mind my 1einC 5ust a little short 4iC you at first2 for ICm "uyed at 1y
the children2 and thereDs many a one 5ust comes do4n this lane to &noc& me u+. 3hat 4as it that r. Sherloc& Holmes 4anted2 sir>= <He 4anted a do" of yours.= <.h@ that 4ould 1e To1y.= <;es2 To1y 4as the name.= <To1y li(es at ?o. ) on the left here.= He mo(ed slo4ly for4ard 4ith his candle amon" the :ueer animal family 4hich he had "athered round him. In the uncertain2 shado4y li"ht I could see dimly that there 4ere "lancin"2 "limmerin" eyes +ee+in" do4n at us from e(ery cranny and corner. *(en the rafters a1o(e our heads 4ere lined 1y solemn fo4ls2 4ho laEily shifted their 4ei"ht from one le" to the other as our (oices distur1ed their slum1ers. To1y +ro(ed to 1e an u"ly2 lon"-haired2 lo+-eared creature2 half s+aniel and half lurcher2 1ro4n and 4hite in colour2 4ith a (ery clumsy2 4addlin" "ait. It acce+ted2 after some hesitation2 a lum+ of su"ar 4hich the old naturalist handed to me2 and2 ha(in" thus sealed an alliance2 it follo4ed me to the ca1 and made no difficulties a1out accom+anyin" me. It had 5ust struc& three on the #alace cloc& 4hen I found myself 1ac& once more at #ondicherry $od"e. The e9-+riEe-fi"hter c urdo had2 I found2 1een arrested as an accessory2 and 1oth he and r. Sholto had 1een marched off to the station. T4o consta1les "uarded the narro4 "ate2 1ut they allo4ed me to +ass 4ith the do" on my mentionin" the detecti(eCs name.
Holmes 4as standin" on the doorste+ 4ith his hands in his +oc&ets2 smo&in" his +i+e. <.h2 you ha(e him there@= said he. <'ood do"2 then@ .thelney 0ones has "one. 3e ha(e had an immense dis+lay of ener"y since you left. He has arrested not only friend Thaddeus 1ut the "ate&ee+er2 the house&ee+er2 and the Indian ser(ant. 3e ha(e the +lace to oursel(es 1ut for a ser"eant u+stairs. $ea(e the do" here and come u+.= 3e tied To1y to the hall ta1le and reascended the stairs. The room 4as as 4e had left it2 sa(e that a sheet had 1een dra+ed o(er the central fi"ure. . 4eary-loo&in" +olice-ser"eant reclined in the corner. <$end me your 1ullCs eye2 Ser"eant2= said my com+anion. <?o4 tie this 1it of card round my nec&2 so as to han" it in front of me. Than& you. ?o4 I must &ic& off my 1oots and stoc&in"s. 0ust you carry them do4n 4ith you2 3atson. I am "oin" to do a little clim1in". .nd di+ my hand&erchief into the creosote. That 4ill do. ?o4 come u+ into the "arret 4ith me for a moment.= 3e clam1ered u+ throu"h the hole. Holmes turned his li"ht once more u+on the footste+s in the dust. = <They 1elon"2= I said2 <to a child or a small 4oman.= <.+art from their siEe2 thou"h. Is there nothin" else>=
<They a++ear to 1e much as other footmar&s.= <?ot at all. $oo& here@ This is the +rint of a ri"ht foot in the dust. ?o4 I ma&e one 4ith my na&ed foot 1eside it. 3hat is the chief difference>= <;our toes are all cram+ed to"ether. The other +rint has each toe distinctly di(ided.= <Quite so. That is the +oint. Bear that in mind. ?o42 4ould you &indly ste+ o(er to that fla+-4indo4 and smell the ed"e of the 4ood4or&> I shall stay o(er here2 as I ha(e this hand&erchief in my hand.= I did as he directed and 4as instantly conscious of a stron" tarry smell. <That is 4here he +ut his foot in "ettin" out. If you can trace him2 I should thin& that To1y 4ill ha(e no difficulty. ?o4 run do4nstairs2 loose the do"2 and loo& out for Blondin.= By the time that I "ot out into the "rounds Sherloc& Holmes 4as on the roof2 and I could see him li&e an enormous "lo44orm cra4lin" (ery slo4ly alon" the rid"e. I lost si"ht of him 1ehind a stac& of chimneys2 1ut he +resently rea++eared and then (anished once more u+on the o++osite side. 3hen I made my 4ay round there I found him seated at one of the corner ea(es. <That you2 3atson>= he cried. <;es.= <This is the +lace. 3hat is that 1lac& thin" do4n there>= <. 4ater-1arrel.= <To+ on it>= <;es.= <?o si"n of a ladder>= <?o.= <Confound the fello4@ ItCs a most 1rea&nec& +lace. I ou"ht to 1e a1le to come do4n 4here he could clim1 u+. The 4ater-+i+e feels +retty firm. Here "oes2 anyho4.= There 4as a scufflin" of feet2 and the lantern 1e"an to come steadily do4n the side of the 4all. Then 4ith a li"ht s+rin" he came on to the 1arrel2 and from there to the earth. <It 4as easy to follo4 him2= he said2 dra4in" on his stoc&in"s and 1oots. <Tiles 4ere loosened the 4hole 4ay alon"2 and in his hurry he had dro++ed this. It confirms my dia"nosis2 as you doctors e9+ress it.= The o15ect 4hich he held u+ to me 4as a small +oc&et or +ouch 4o(en out of coloured "rasses and 4ith a fe4 ta4dry 1eads strun" round it. In sha+e and siEe it 4as not unli&e a ci"arette-case. Inside 4ere half a doEen s+ines of dar& 4ood2 shar+ at one end and rounded at the other2 li&e that 4hich had struc& Bartholome4 Sholto. <They are hellish thin"s2= said he. <$oo& out that you donCt +ric& yourself. ICm deli"hted to ha(e them2 for the chances are that
they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or me findin" one in our s&in 1efore lon". I 4ould sooner face a artini 1ullet2 myself. .re you "ame for a si9-mile trud"e2 3atson>= <Certainly2= I ans4ered. <;our le" 4ill stand it>= <7h2 yes.= <Here you are2 do""y@ 'ood old To1y@ Smell it2 To1y2 smell it@= He +ushed the creosote hand&erchief under the do"Cs nose2 4hile the creature stood 4ith its fluffy le"s se+arated2 and 4ith a most comical coc& to its head2 li&e a connoisseur sniffin" the 1ou:uet of a famous (inta"e. Holmes then thre4 the hand&erchief to a distance2 fastened a stout cord to the mon"relCs collar2 and led him to the foot of the 4ater-1arrel. The creature instantly 1ro&e into a succession of hi"h2 tremulous yel+s and2 4ith his nose on the "round and his tail in the air2 +attered off u+on the trail at a +ace 4hich strained his leash and &e+t us at the to+ of our s+eed. The east had 1een "radually 4hitenin"2 and 4e could no4 see some distance in the cold "ray li"ht. The s:uare2 massi(e house2 4ith its 1lac&2 em+ty 4indo4s and hi"h2 1are 4alls2 to4ered u+2 sad and forlorn2 1ehind us. 7ur course led ri"ht across the "rounds2 in and out amon" the trenches and +its 4ith 4hich they 4ere scarred and intersected. The 4hole +lace2 4ith its scattered dirt-hea+s and ill-"ro4n shru1s2 had a 1li"hted2 ill-omened loo& 4hich harmoniEed 4ith the 1lac& tra"edy 4hich hun" o(er it.
7n reachin" the 1oundary 4all To1y ran alon"2 4hinin" ea"erly2 underneath its shado42 and sto++ed finally in a corner screened 1y a youn" 1eech. 3here the t4o 4alls 5oined2 se(eral 1ric&s had 1een loosened2 and the cre(ices left 4ere 4orn do4n and rounded u+on the lo4er side2 as thou"h they had fre:uently 1een used as a ladder. Holmes clam1ered u+2 and ta&in" the do" from me he dro++ed it o(er u+on the other side. <ThereCs the +rint of 3ooden-le"Ds hand2= he remar&ed as I mounted u+ 1eside him. <;ou see the sli"ht smud"e of 1lood u+on the 4hite +laster. 3hat a luc&y thin" it is that 4e ha(e had no (ery hea(y rain since yesterday@ The scent 4ili lie u+on the road in s+ite of their ei"ht-and-t4enty hoursC start.= I confess that I had my dou1ts myself 4hen I reflected u+on the "reat traffic 4hich had +assed alon" the $ondon road in the inter(al. y fears 4ere soon a++eased2 ho4e(er. To1y ne(er hesitated or s4er(ed 1ut 4addled on in his +eculiar rollin" fashion. Clearly the +un"ent smell of the creosote rose hi"h a1o(e all other contendin" scents. <Do not ima"ine2= said Holmes2 <that I de+end for my success in this case u+on the mere chance of one of these fello4s ha(in" +ut his foot in the chemical. I ha(e &no4led"e no4 4hich 4ould ena1le me to trace them in many different 4ays. This2 ho4e(er2 is the readiest2 and2 since fortune has +ut it into our hands2 I should 1e cul+a1le if I ne"lected it. It has2 ho4e(er +re(ented the case from 1ecomin" the +retty little intellectual +ro1lem 4hich it at one time +romised to 1e. There mi"ht ha(e 1een some credit to 1e "ained out of it 1ut for this too +al+a1le clue.=
<There is credit2 and to s+are2= said I. <I assure you2 Holmes2 that I mar(el at the means 1y 4hich you o1tain your results in this case e(en more than I did in the 0efferson Ho+e murder. The thin" seems to me to 1e dee+er and more ine9+lica1le. Ho42 for e9am+le2 could you descri1e 4ith such confidence the 4oodenle""ed man>= <#sha42 my dear 1oy@ it 4as sim+licity itself. I donCt 4ish to 1e theatrical. It is all +atent and a1o(e-1oard. T4o officers 4ho are in command of a con(ict-"uard learn an im+ortant secret as to 1uried treasure. . ma+ is dra4n for them 1y an *n"lishman named 0onathan Small. ;ou remem1er that 4e sa4 the name u+on the chart in Ca+tain orstanCs +ossession. He had si"ned it in 1ehalf of himself and his associates B the si"n of the four2 as he some4hat dramatically called it. .ided 1y this chart2 the officers B or one of them B "ets the treasure and 1rin"s it to *n"land2 lea(in"2 4e 4ill su++ose2 some condition under 4hich he recei(ed it unfulfilled. ?o42 then2 4hy did not 0onathan Small "et the treasure himself> The ans4er is o1(ious. The chart is dated at a time 4hen orstan 4as 1rou"ht into close association 4ith con(icts. 0onathan Small did not "et the treasure 1ecause he and his associates 4ere themsel(es con(icts and could not "et a4ay.= <But this is mere s+eculation2= said I. <It is more than that. It is the only hy+othesis 4hich co(ers the facts. $et us see ho4 it fits in 4ith the se:uel. a5or Sholto remains at +eace for some years2 ha++y in the +ossession of his treasure. Then he recei(es a letter from India 4hich "i(es him a "reat fri"ht. 3hat 4as that>=
<. letter to say that the men 4hom he had 4ron"ed had 1een set free.= <7r had esca+ed. That is much more li&ely2 for he 4ould ha(e &no4n 4hat their term of im+risonment 4as. It 4ould not ha(e 1een a sur+rise to him. 3hat does he do then> He "uards himself a"ainst a 4ooden-le""ed man B a 4hite man2 mar& you2 for he mista&es a 4hite tradesman for him and actually fires a +istol at him. ?o42 only one 4hite manCs name is on the chart. The others are Hindoos or ohammedans. There is no other 4hite man. Therefore 4e may say 4ith confidence that the 4ooden-le""ed man is identical 4ith 0onathan Small. Does the reasonin" stri&e you as 1ein" faulty>= <?oH it is clear and concise.= <3ell2 no42 let us +ut oursel(es in the +lace of 0onathan Small. $et us loo& at it from his +oint of (ie4. He comes to *n"land 4ith the dou1le idea of re"ainin" 4hat he 4ould consider to 1e his ri"hts and of ha(in" his re(en"e u+on the man 4ho had 4ron"ed him. He found out 4here Sholto li(ed2 and (ery +ossi1ly he esta1lished communications 4ith someone inside the house. There is this 1utler2 $al Aao2 4hom 4e ha(e not seen. rs. Bernstone "i(es him far from a "ood character. Small could not find out2 ho4e(er2 4here the treasure 4as hid2 for no one e(er &ne4 sa(e the ma5or and one faithful ser(ant 4ho had died. Suddenly Small learns that the ma5or is on his death1ed. In a frenEy lest the secret of the treasure die 4ith him2 he runs the "auntlet of the "uards2 ma&es his 4ay to the dyin" manCs 4indo42 and is only deterred from enterin" 1y the +resence of his t4o sons. ad 4ith hate2 ho4e(er2 a"ainst the dead man2 he enters the room that ni"ht2 searches his +ri(ate +a+ers in the ho+e of disco(erin" some
memorandum relatin" to the treasure2 and finally lea(es a memento of his (isit in the short inscri+tion u+on the card. He had dou1tless +lanned 1eforehand that2 should he slay the ma5or2 he 4ould lea(e some such record u+on the 1ody as a si"n that it 4as not a common murder 1ut2 from the +oint of (ie4 of the four associates2 somethin" in the nature of an act of 5ustice. 3himsical and 1iEarre conceits of this &ind are common enou"h in the annals of crime and usually afford (alua1le indications as to the criminal. Do you follo4 all this>= <Fery clearly.= <?o4 4hat could 0onathan Small do> He could only continue to &ee+ a secret 4atch u+on the efforts made to find the treasure. #ossi1ly he lea(es *n"land and only comes 1ac& at inter(als. Then comes the disco(ery of the "arret2 and he is instantly informed of it. 3e a"ain trace the +resence of some confederate in the household. 0onathan2 4ith his 4ooden le"2 is utterly una1le to reach the lofty room of Bartholome4 Sholto. He ta&es 4ith him2 ho4e(er2 a rather curious associate2 4ho "ets o(er this difficulty 1ut di+s his na&ed foot into creosote2 4hence come To1y2 and a si9-mile lim+ for a half-+ay officer 4ith a dama"ed tendo .chillis.= <But it 4as the associate and not 0onathan 4ho committed the crime.= <Quite so. .nd rather to 0onathanCs dis"ust2 to 5ud"e 1y the 4ay he stam+ed a1out 4hen he "ot into the room. He 1ore no "rud"e a"ainst Bartholome4 Sholto and 4ould ha(e +referred if he could ha(e 1een sim+ly 1ound and "a""ed. He did not 4ish to +ut his head in a halter. There 4as no hel+ for it2 ho4e(erH the sa(a"e
instincts of his com+anion had 1ro&en out2 and the +oison had done its 4or&H so 0onathan Small left his record2 lo4ered the treasure-1o9 to the "round2 and follo4ed it himself. That 4as the train of e(ents as far as I can deci+her them. 7f course2 as to his +ersonal a++earance2 he must 1e middle-a"ed and must 1e sun1urned after ser(in" his time in such an o(en as the .ndamans. His hei"ht is readily calculated from the len"th of his stride2 and 4e &no4 that he 4as 1earded. His hairiness 4as the one +oint 4hich im+ressed itself u+on Thaddeus Sholto 4hen he sa4 him at the 4indo4. I donCt &no4 that there is anythin" else.= <The associate>= <.h2 4ell2 there is no "reat mystery in that. But you 4ill &no4 all a1out it soon enou"h. Ho4 s4eet the mornin" air is@ See ho4 that one little cloud floats li&e a +in& feather from some "i"antic flamin"o. ?o4 the red rim of the sun +ushes itself o(er the $ondon cloud-1an&. It shines on a "ood many fol&2 1ut on none2 I dare 1et2 4ho are on a stran"er errand than you and I. Ho4 small 4e feel 4ith our +etty am1itions and stri(in"s in the +resence of the "reat elemental forces of ?ature@ .re you 4ell u+ in your 0ean #aul>= <6airly so. I 4or&ed 1ac& to him throu"h Carlyle.= <That 4as li&e follo4in" the 1roo& to the +arent la&e. He ma&es one curious 1ut +rofound remar&. It is that the chief +roof of manCs real "reatness lies in his +erce+tion of his o4n smallness. It ar"ues2 you see2 a +o4er of com+arison and of a++reciation 4hich is in itself a +roof of no1ility. There is much food for thou"ht in Aichter. ;ou ha(e not a +istol2 ha(e you>= <I ha(e my stic&.=
<It is 5ust +ossi1le that 4e may need somethin" of the sort if 4e "et to their lair. 0onathan I shall lea(e to you2 1ut if the other turns nasty I shall shoot him dead.= He too& out his re(ol(er as he s+o&e2 and2 ha(in" loaded t4o of the cham1ers2 he +ut it 1ac& into the ri"ht-hand +oc&et of his 5ac&et. 3e had durin" this time 1een follo4in" the "uidance of To1y do4n the half-rural (illa-lined roads 4hich lead to the metro+olis. ?o42 ho4e(er2 4e 4ere 1e"innin" to come amon" continuous streets2 4here la1ourers and doc&men 4ere already astir2 and slatternly 4omen 4ere ta&in" do4n shutters and 1rushin" doorste+s. .t the s:uare-to++ed corner +u1lic-houses 1usiness 4as 5ust 1e"innin"2 and rou"h-loo&in" men 4ere emer"in"2 ru11in" their slee(es across their 1eards after their mornin" 4et. Stran"e do"s sauntered u+ and stared 4onderin"ly at us as 4e +assed2 1ut our inimita1le To1y loo&ed neither to the ri"ht nor to the left 1ut trotted on4ard 4ith his nose to the "round and an occasional ea"er 4hine 4hich s+o&e of a hot scent. 3e had tra(ersed Streatham2 Bri9ton2 Cam1er4ell2 and no4 found oursel(es in Iennin"ton $ane2 ha(in" 1orne a4ay throu"h the side streets to the east of the 7(al. The men 4hom 4e +ursued seemed to ha(e ta&en a curiously Ei"Ea" road2 4ith the idea +ro1a1ly of esca+in" o1ser(ation. They had ne(er &e+t to the main road if a +arallel side street 4ould ser(e their turn. .t the foot of Iennin"ton $ane they had ed"ed a4ay to the left throu"h Bond Street and iles Street. 3here the latter street turns into Ini"htCs #lace2 To1y ceased to ad(ance 1ut 1e"an to run 1ac&4ard and for4ard 4ith one ear coc&ed and the other droo+in"2 the (ery +icture of canine indecision. Then he 4addled round in circles2
loo&in" u+ to us from time to time2 as if to as& for sym+athy in his em1arrassment.
<3hat the deuce is the matter 4ith the do">= "ro4led Holmes. <They surely 4ould not ta&e a ca1 or "o off in a 1alloon.= <#erha+s they stood here for some time2= I su""ested. <.h@ itCs all ri"ht. HeDs off a"ain2= said my com+anion in a tone of relief. He 4as indeed off2 for after sniffin" round a"ain he suddenly made u+ his mind and darted a4ay 4ith an ener"y and determination such as he had not yet sho4n. The scent a++eared to 1e much hotter than 1efore2 for he had not e(en to +ut his nose on the "round 1ut tu""ed at his leash and tried to 1rea& into a run. I could see 1y the "leam in HolmesCs eyes that he thou"ht 4e 4ere nearin" the end of our 5ourney. 7ur course no4 ran do4n ?ine *lms until 4e came to Broderic& and ?elsonCs lar"e tim1er-yard 5ust +ast the 3hite *a"le ta(ern. Here the do"2 frantic 4ith e9citement2 turned do4n throu"h the side "ate into the enclosure2 4here the sa4yers 4ere already at 4or&. 7n the do" raced throu"h sa4dust and sha(in"s2 do4n an alley2 round a +assa"e2 1et4een t4o 4ood-+iles2 and finally2 4ith a trium+hant yel+2 s+ran" u+on a lar"e 1arrel 4hich still stood u+on the hand-trolley on 4hich it had 1een 1rou"ht. 3ith lollin" ton"ue and 1lin&in" eyes To1y stood u+on the cas&2 loo&in" from one to the other of us for some si"n of a++reciation. The sta(es of the 1arrel and the 4heels of the trolley 4ere smeared 4ith a dar& li:uid2 and the 4hole air 4as hea(y 4ith the smell of creosote.
Sherloc& Holmes and I loo&ed 1lan&ly at each other and then 1urst simultaneously into an uncontrolla1le fit of lau"hter.
= I as&ed. <To1y has lost his character for infalli1ility. = <He acted accordin" to his li"hts2= said Holmes2 liftin" him do4n from the 1arrel and 4al&in" him out of the tim1er-yard. <If you consider ho4 much creosote is carted a1out $ondon in one day2 it is no "reat 4onder that our trail should ha(e 1een crossed. It is much used no42 es+ecially for the seasonin" of 4ood. #oor To1y is not to 1lame.= <3e must "et on the main scent a"ain2 I su++ose.= <;es. .nd2 fortunately2 4e ha(e no distance to "o. *(idently 4hat +uEEled the do" at the corner of Ini"htCs #lace 4as that there 4ere t4o different trails runnin" in o++osite directions. 3e too& the 4ron" one. It only remains to follo4 the other.= There 4as no difficulty a1out this. 7n leadin" To1y to the +lace 4here he had committed his fault2 he cast a1out in a 4ide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction. <3e must ta&e care that he does not no4 1rin" us to the +lace 4here the creosote-1arrel came from2= I o1ser(ed. It tended do4n to4ards the ri(erside2 runnin" throu"h Belmont #lace and #rinceCs Street. .t the end of Broad Street it ran ri"ht do4n to the 4aterCs ed"e2 4here there 4as a small 4ooden 4harf. To1y led us to the (ery ed"e of this and there stood 4hinin"2 loo&in" out on the dar& current 1eyond. <3e are out of luc&2= said Holmes. <They ha(e ta&en to a 1oat-here. = Se(eral small +unts and s&iffs 4ere lyin" a1out in the 4ater and on the ed"e of the 4harf. 3e too& To1y round to each in turn2 1ut thou"h he sniffed earnestly he made no si"n. Close to the rude landin"-sta"e 4as a small 1ric& house2 4ith a 4ooden +lacard slun" out throu"h the second 4indo4. < ordecai Smith= 4as +rinted across it in lar"e letters2 and2 underneath2 <Boats to hire 1y the hour or day.= . second inscri+tion a1o(e the door informed us that a steam launch 4as &e+t B a statement 4hich 4as confirmed 1y a "reat +ile of co&e u+on the 5etty. Sherloc& Holmes loo&ed slo4ly round2 and his face assumed an ominous e9+ression. <This loo&s 1ad2= said he. <These fello4s are shar+er than I e9+ected. They seem to ha(e co(ered their trac&s. There has2 I fear2 1een +reconcerted mana"ement here.=
He 4as a++roachin" the door of the house2 4hen it o+ened2 and a little curly-headed lad of si9 came runnin" out2 follo4ed 1y a stoutish2 red-faced 4oman 4ith a lar"e s+on"e in her hand. <;ou come 1ac& and 1e 4ashed2 0ac&2= she shouted. <Come 1ac&2 you youn" im+8 for if your father comes home and finds you li&e that heCll let us hear of it.= <Dear little cha+@= said Holmes strate"ically. <3hat a rosy-chee&ed youn" rascal@ ?o42 0ac&2 is there anythin" you 4ould li&e>= The youth +ondered for a moment. <ICd li&e a shillinC2= said he. <?othin" you 4ould li&e 1etter>= <ICd li&e t4o shillinC 1etter2= the +rodi"y ans4ered after some thou"ht. <Here you are2 then@ Catch@ B . fine child2 rs. Smith@=
<3hy2 1less you2 sir2 it is in the steam launch that he has "one. ThatCs 4hat +uEEles me2 for I &no4 there ainDt more coals in her than 4ould ta&e her to a1out 3ool4ich and 1ac&. If heCs 1een a4ay in the 1ar"e ICd haC thou"ht nothinC8 for many a time a 5o1 has ta&en him as far as 'ra(esend2 and then if there 4as much doinC there he mi"ht haC stayed o(er. But 4hat "ood is a steam launch 4ithout coals>=
<He mi"ht ha(e 1ou"ht some at a 4harf do4n the ri(er.= <He mi"ht2 sir2 1ut it 4erenCt his 4ay. any a time ID(e heard him call out at the +rices they char"e for a fe4 odd 1a"s. Besides2 I donCt li&e that 4ooden-le""ed man2 4iC his u"ly face and outlandish tal&. 3hat did he 4ant al4ays &noc&inC a1out here for>= <. 4ooden-le""ed man>= said Holmes 4ith 1land sur+rise. <;es2 sir2 a 1ro4n2 mon&ey-faced cha+ thatCs called moreDn once for my old man. It 4as him that roused him u+ yesterni"ht and2 4hatCs more2 my man &ne4 he 4as cominC2 for he had steam u+ in the launch. I tell you strai"ht2 sir2 I donCt feel easy in my mind a1out it.= <But2 my dear rs. Smith2= said Holmes2 shru""in" his shoulders2 <you are fri"htenin" yourself a1out nothin". Ho4 could you +ossi1ly tell that it 4as the 4ooden-le""ed man 4ho came in the ni"ht> I donCt :uite understand ho4 you can 1e so sure.= <His (oice2 sir. I &ne4 his (oice2 4hich is &ind oC thic& and fo""y. He ta++ed at the 4inder B a1out three it 4ould 1e. DSho4 a le"2 matey2C says heH Dtime to turn out "uard.C y old man 4o&e u+ 0im
<$orC 1less you2 sir2 he is that2 and for4ard. He "ets aCmost too much for me to mana"e2 Ds+ecially 4hen my man is a4ay days at a time.= <.4ay2 is he>= said Holmes in a disa++ointed (oice. <I am sorry for that2 for I 4anted to s+ea& to r. Smith.= <HeCs 1een a4ay since yesterday morninC2 sir2 and2 truth to tell2 I am 1e"inninC to feel fri"htened a1out him. But if it 4as a1out a 1oat2 sir2 may1e I could ser(e as 4ell.= = <CouldnCt say2 I am sure2 sir. I didnDt hear no one else.= = <The .urora2 sir.= <.h@ SheCs not that old "reen launch 4ith a yello4 line2 (ery 1road in the 1eam>= <?o2 indeed. SheCs as trim a little thin" as any on the ri(er. SheCs 1een fresh +ainted2 1lac& 4ith t4o red strea&s.= <Than&s. I ho+e that you 4ill hear soon from r. Smith. I am "oin" do4n the ri(er2 and if I should see anythin" of the .urora I shall let him &no4 that you are uneasy. . 1lac& funnel2 you say>= <?o2 sir. Blac& 4ith a 4hite 1and.= <.h2 of course. It 4as the sides 4hich 4ere 1lac&. 'oodmornin"2 rs. Smith. There is a 1oatman here 4ith a 4herry2 3atson. 3e shall ta&e it and cross the ri(er.= <The main thin" 4ith +eo+le of that sort2= said Holmes as 4e sat in the sheets of the 4herry2 <is ne(er to let them thin& that their information can 1e of the sli"htest im+ortance to you. If you do they 4ill instantly shut u+ li&e an oyster. If you listen to them under +rotest2 as it 4ere2 you are (ery li&ely to "et 4hat you 4ant.=
<7ur course no4 seems +retty clear2= said I. <3hat 4ould you do2 then>= <I 4ould en"a"e a launch and "o do4n the ri(er on the trac& of the .urora.=
< y dear fello42 it 4ould 1e a colossal tas&. She may ha(e touched at any 4harf on either side of the stream 1et4een here and 'reen4ich. Belo4 the 1rid"e there is a +erfect la1yrinth of landin"+laces for miles. It 4ould ta&e you days and days to e9haust them if you set a1out it alone.= <*m+loy the +olice2 then.= <?o. I shall +ro1a1ly call .thelney 0ones in at the last moment. He is not a 1ad fello42 and I should not li&e to do anythin" 4hich 4ould in5ure him +rofessionally. But I ha(e a fancy for 4or&in" it out myself2 no4 that 4e ha(e "one so far.= <Could 4e ad(ertise2 then2 as&in" for information from 4harfin"ers> <3orse and 4orse@ 7ur men 4ould &no4 that the chase 4as hot at their heels2 and they 4ould 1e off out of the country. .s it is2 they are li&ely enou"h to lea(e2 1ut as lon" as they thin& they are +erfectly safe they 4ill 1e in no hurry. 0onesCs ener"y 4ill 1e of use to us there2 for his (ie4 of the case is sure to +ush itself into the daily +ress2 and the runa4ays 4ill thin& that e(eryone is off on the 4ron" scent.= <3hat are 4e to do2 then>= I as&ed as 4e landed near #enitentiary. ill1an&
<Ta&e this hansom2 dri(e home2 ha(e some 1rea&fast2 and "et an hourCs slee+. It is :uite on the cards that 4e may 1e afoot to-ni"ht a"ain. Sto+ at a tele"ra+h office2 ca11y@ 3e 4ill &ee+ To1y2 for he may 1e of use to us yet.= 3e +ulled u+ at the 'reat #eter Street #ost-7ffice2 and Holmes dis+atched his 4ire. <3hom do you thin& that is to>= he as&ed as 4e resumed our 5ourney. = <3ell2= said I2 lau"hin". <This is 5ust the case 4here they mi"ht 1e in(alua1le. If they fail I ha(e other resources2 1ut I shall try them first. That 4ire 4as to my dirty little lieutenant2 3i""ins2 and I e9+ect that he and his "an" 4ill 1e 4ith us 1efore 4e ha(e finished our 1rea&fast.= It 4as 1et4een ei"ht and nine oCcloc& no42 and I 4as conscious of a stron" reaction after the successi(e e9citements of the ni"ht. I 4as lim+ and 4eary2 1efo""ed in mind and fati"ued in 1ody. I had not the +rofessional enthusiasm 4hich carried my com+anion on2 nor could I loo& at the matter as a mere a1stract intellectual +ro1lem. .s far as the death of Bartholome4 Sholto 4ent2 I had heard little "ood of him and could feel no intense anti+athy to his murderers. The treasure2 ho4e(er2 4as a different matter. That2 or +art of it2 1elon"ed ri"htfully to iss orstan. 3hile there 4as a chance of reco(erin" it I 4as ready to de(ote my life to the one
o15ect. True2 if I found it2 it 4ould +ro1a1ly +ut her fore(er 1eyond my reach. ;et it 4ould 1e a +etty and selfish lo(e 4hich 4ould 1e influenced 1y such a thou"ht as that. If Holmes could 4or& to find the criminals2 I had a tenfold stron"er reason to ur"e me on to find the treasure. . 1ath at Ba&er Street and a com+lete chan"e freshened me u+ 4onderfully. 3hen I came do4n to our room I found the 1rea&fast laid and Holmes +ourin" out the coffee. <Here it is2= said he2 lau"hin" and +ointin" to an o+en ne4s+a+er. <The ener"etic 0ones and the u1i:uitous re+orter ha(e fi9ed it u+ 1et4een them. But you ha(e had enou"h of the case. Better ha(e your ham and e""s first.= I too& the +a+er from him and read the short notice2 3hich 4as headed < ysterious Business at G++er ?or4ood.= .1out t4el(e oCcloc& last ni"ht Jsaid the StandardK r. Bartholome4 Sholto2 of #ondicherry $od"e2 G++er ?or4ood2 4as found dead in his room under circumstances 4hich +oint to foul +lay. .s far as 4e can learn2 no actual traces of (iolence 4ere found u+on r. SholtoCs +erson2 1ut a (alua1le collection of Indian "ems 4hich the deceased "entleman had inherited from his father has 1een carried off. The disco(ery 4as first made 1y r. Sherloc& Holmes and Dr. 3atson2 4ho had called at the house 4ith r. Thaddeus Sholto2 1rother of the deceased. By a sin"ular +iece of "ood fortune2 r. .thelney 0ones2 the 4ell-&no4n mem1er of the detecti(e +olice force2 ha++ened to 1e at the ?or4ood +olice station and 4as on the "round 4ithin half an hour of the first alarm. His trained and e9+erienced faculties 4ere at once directed to4ards the detection of the criminals2 4ith the "ratifyin" result that the 1rother2 Thaddeus
Sholto2 has already 1een arrested2 to"ether 4ith the house&ee+er2 rs. Bernstone2 an Indian 1utler named $al Aao2 and a +orter2 or "ate&ee+er2 named c urdo. It is :uite certain that the thief or thie(es 4ere 4ell ac:uainted 4ith the house2 for r. 0onesCs 4ell&no4n technical &no4led"e and his +o4ers of minute o1ser(ation ha(e ena1led him to +ro(e conclusi(ely that the miscreants could not ha(e entered 1y the door or 1y the 4indo4 1ut must ha(e made their 4ay across the roof of the 1uildin"2 and so throu"h a tra+door into a room 4hich communicated 4ith that in 4hich the 1ody 4as found. This fact2 4hich has 1een (ery clearly made out2 +ro(es conclusi(ely that it 4as no mere ha+haEard 1ur"lary. The +rom+t and ener"etic action of the officers of the la4 sho4s the "reat ad(anta"e of the +resence on such occasions of a sin"le (i"orous and masterful mind. 3e cannot 1ut thin& that it su++lies an ar"ument to those 4ho 4ould 4ish to see our detecti(es more decentraliEed2 and so 1rou"ht into closer and more effecti(e touch 4ith the cases 4hich it is their duty to in(esti"ate. <IsnCt it "or"eous@= said Holmes2 "rinnin" o(er his coffee cu+. <3hat do you thin& of it>= <I thin& that 4e ha(e had a close sha(e oursel(es of 1ein" arrested for the crime.= <So do I. I 4ouldnCt ans4er for our safety no4 if he should ha++en to ha(e another of his attac&s of ener"y.= .t this moment there 4as a loud rin" at the 1ell2 and I could hear rs. Hudson2 our landlady2 raisin" her (oice in a 4ail of e9+ostulation and dismay.
<By hea(ens2 Holmes2= I said2 half risin"2 <I 1elie(e that they are really after us.=
<?o2 itCs not :uite so 1ad as that. It is the unofficial force B the Ba&er Street irre"ulars.= .s he s+o&e2 there came a s4ift +atterin" of na&ed feet u+on the stairs2 a clatter of hi"h (oices2 and in rushed a doEen dirty and ra""ed little street .ra1s. There 4as some sho4 of disci+line amon" them2 des+ite their tumultuous entry2 for they instantly dre4 u+ in line and stood facin" us 4ith e9+ectant faces. 7ne of their num1er2 taller and older than the others2 stood for4ard 4ith an air of loun"in" su+eriority 4hich 4as (ery funny in such a disre+uta1le little scarecro4. <'ot your messa"e2 sir2= said he2 <and 1rou"ht Cem on shar+. Three 1o1 and a tanner for tic&ets.= <Here you are2= said Holmes2 +roducin" some sil(er. <In future they can re+ort to you2 3i""ins2 and you to me. I cannot ha(e the house in(aded in this 4ay. Ho4e(er2 it is 5ust as 4ell that you should all hear the instructions. I 4ant to find the 4herea1outs of a steam launch called the .urora2 o4ner ordecai Smith2 1lac& 4ith t4o red strea&s2 funnel 1lac& 4ith a 4hite 1and. She is do4n the ri(er some4here. I 4ant one 1oy to 1e at ordecai SmithCs landin"-sta"e o++osite ill1an& to say if the 1oat comes 1ac&. ;ou must di(ide it out amon" yoursel(es and do 1oth 1an&s thorou"hly. $et me &no4 the moment you ha(e ne4s. Is that all clear>= <;es2 "u(Cnor2= said 3i""ins.
<The old scale of +ay2 and a "uinea to the 1oy 4ho finds the 1oat. HereCs a day in ad(ance. ?o4 off you "o@=
<. sa(a"e@= I e9claimed. <#erha+s one of those Indians 4ho 4ere the associates of 0onathan Small.=
He handed them a shillin" each2 and a4ay they 1uEEed do4n the stairs2 and I sa4 them a moment later streamin" do4n the street. <If the launch is a1o(e 4ater they 4ill find her2= said Holmes as he rose from the ta1le and lit his +i+e. <They can "o e(ery4here2 see e(erythin"2 o(erhear e(eryone. I e9+ect to hear 1efore e(enin" that they ha(e s+otted her. In the mean4hile2 4e can do nothin" 1ut a4ait results. 3e cannot +ic& u+ the 1ro&en trail until 4e find either the .urora or r. ordecai Smith.= <To1y could eat these scra+s2 I dare say. .re you "oin" to 1ed2 Holmes>= <?oH I am not tired. I ha(e a curious constitution. I ne(er remem1er feelin" tired 1y 4or&2 thou"h idleness e9hausts me com+letely. I am "oin" to smo&e and to thin& o(er this :ueer 1usiness to 4hich my fair client has introduced us. If e(er man had an easy tas&2 this of ours ou"ht to 1e. 3ooden-le""ed men are not so common2 1ut the other man must2 I should thin&2 1e a1solutely uni:ue.= <That other man a"ain@= <I ha(e no 4ish to ma&e a mystery of him to you2 any4ay. But you must ha(e formed your o4n o+inion. ?o42 do consider the data. Diminuti(e footmar&s2 toes ne(er fettered 1y 1oots2 na&ed feet2 stone-headed 4ooden mace2 "reat a"ility2 small +oisoned darts. 3hat do you ma&e of all this>=
<Hardly that2= said he. <3hen first I sa4 si"ns of stran"e 4ea+ons I 4as inclined to thin& so2 1ut the remar&a1le character of the footmar&s caused me to reconsider my (ie4s. Some of the inha1itants of the Indian #eninsula are small men2 1ut none could ha(e left such mar&s as that. The Hindoo +ro+er has lon" and thin feet. The sandal-4earin" ohammedan has the "reat toe 4ell se+arated from the others 1ecause the thon" is commonly +assed 1et4een. These little darts2 too2 could only 1e shot in one 4ay. They are from a 1lo4-+i+e. ?o42 then2 4here are 4e to find our sa(a"e>= <South .merica2= I haEarded. He stretched his hand u+ and too& do4n a 1ul&y (olume from the shelf. <This is the first (olume of a "aEetteer 4hich is no4 1ein" +u1lished. It may 1e loo&ed u+on as the (ery latest authority. 3hat ha(e 4e here> <.ndaman Islands2 situated 34/ miles to the north of Sumatra2 in the Bay of Ben"al. Hum@ hum@ 3hatCs all this> oist climate2 coral reefs2 shar&s2 #ort Blair2 con(ict 1arrac&s2 Autland Island2 cotton4oods B .h here 4e are@ <The a1ori"ines of the .ndaman Islands may +erha+s claim the distinction of 1ein" the smallest race u+on this earth2 thou"h some
anthro+olo"ists +refer the Bushmen of .frica2 the Di""er Indians of .merica2 and the Terra del 6ue"ians. The a(era"e hei"ht is rather 1elo4 four feet2 althou"h many full-"ro4n adults may 1e found 4ho are (ery much smaller than this. They are a fierce2 morose2 and intracta1le +eo+le2 thou"h ca+a1le of formin" most de(oted friendshi+s 4hen their confidence has once 1een "ained. ar& that2 3atson. ?o42 then listen to this. <They are naturally hideous2 ha(in" lar"e2 missha+en heads2 small fierce eyes2 and distorted features. Their feet and hands2 ho4e(er2 are remar&a1ly small. So intracta1le and fierce are they2 that all the efforts of the British officials ha(e failed to 4in them o(er in any de"ree. They ha(e al4ays 1een a terror to shi+4rec&ed cre4s2 1rainin" the sur(i(ors 4ith their stone-headed clu1s or shootin" them 4ith their +oisoned arro4s. These massacres are in(aria1ly concluded 1y a canni1al feast. ?ice2 amia1le +eo+le2 3atson@ If this fello4 had 1een left to his o4n unaided de(ices2 this affair mi"ht ha(e ta&en an e(en more "hastly turn. I fancy that2 e(en as it is2 0onathan Small 4ould "i(e a "ood deal not to ha(e em+loyed him.= <But ho4 came he to ha(e so sin"ular a com+anion>= <.h2 that is more than I can tell. Since2 ho4e(er2 4e had already determined that Small had come from the .ndamans2 it is not so (ery 4onderful that this islander should 1e 4ith him. ?o dou1t 4e shall &no4 all a1out it in time. $oo& here2 3atson8 you loo& re"ularly done. $ie do4n there on the sofa and see if I can +ut you to slee+.= He too& u+ his (iolin from the corner2 and as I stretched myself out he 1e"an to +lay some lo42 dreamy2 melodious air B his o4n2 no
dou1t2 for he had a remar&a1le "ift for im+ro(isation. I ha(e a (a"ue remem1rance of his "aunt lim1s2 his earnest face and the rise and fall of his 1o4. Then I seemed to 1e floated +eacefully a4ay u+on a soft sea of sound until I found myself in dreamland2 4ith the s4eet face of ary orstan loo&in" do4n u+on me. Chapter / A Brea) in the Chain It 4as late in the afternoon 1efore I 4o&e2 stren"thened and refreshed. Sherloc& Holmes still sat e9actly as I had left him sa(e that he had laid aside his (iolin and 4as dee+ in a 1oo&. He loo&ed across at me as I stirred2 and I noticed that his face 4as dar& and trou1led. <;ou ha(e sle+t soundly2= he said. = <Gnfortunately2 no. I confess that I am sur+rised and disa++ointed. I e9+ected somethin" definite 1y this time. 3i""ins has 5ust 1een u+ to re+ort. He says that no trace can 1e found of the launch. It is a +ro(o&in" chec&2 for e(ery hour is of im+ortance.= <Can I do anythin"> I am +erfectly fresh no42 and :uite ready for another ni"htCs outin".= <?o8 4e can do nothin". 3e can only 4ait. If 4e "o oursel(es the messa"e mi"ht come in our a1sence and delay 1e caused. ;ou can do 4hat you 4ill2 1ut I must remain on "uard.=
<Then I shall run o(er to Cam1er4ell and call u+on 6orrester. She as&ed me to2 yesterday.=
rs. Cecil
<.nd t4o &ni"ht-errants to the rescue2= added 1ri"ht "lance at me.
iss
orstan 4ith a
<7n rs. Cecil 6orrester>= as&ed Holmes 4ith the t4in&le of a smile in his eyes. <3ell2 of course on 4hat ha++ened.= iss orstan2 too. They 4ere an9ious to hear
<3hy2 ary2 your fortune de+ends u+on the issue of this search. I donCt thin& that you are nearly e9cited enou"h. 0ust ima"ine 4hat it must 1e to 1e so rich and to ha(e the 4orld at your feet@= It sent a little thrill of 5oy to my heart to notice that she sho4ed no si"n of elation at the +ros+ect. 7n the contrary2 she "a(e a toss of her +roud head2 as thou"h the matter 4ere one in 4hich she too& small interest. <It is for r. Thaddeus Sholto that I am an9ious2= she said. <?othin" else is of any conse:uence8 1ut I thin& that he has 1eha(ed most &indly and honoura1ly throu"hout. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded char"e.= It 4as e(enin" 1efore I left Cam1er4ell2 and :uite dar& 1y the time I reached home. y com+anionCs 1oo& and +i+e lay 1y his chair2 1ut he had disa++eared. I loo&ed a1out in the ho+e of seein" a note2 1ut there 4as none. <I su++ose that r. Sherloc& Holmes has "one out2= I said to Hudson as she came u+ to lo4er the 1linds. rs.
<I 4ould not tell them too much2= said Holmes. <3omen are ne(er to 1e entirely trutted B not the 1est of them.= I did not +ause to ar"ue o(er this atrocious sentiment. <I shall 1e 1ac& in an hour or t4o2= I remar&ed. <.ll ri"ht@ 'ood luc&@ But2 I say2 if you are crossin" the ri(er you may as 4ell return To1y2 for I donCt thin& it is at all li&ely that 4e shall ha(e any use for him no4.= I too& our mon"rel accordin"ly and left him2 to"ether 4ith a halfso(erei"n2 at the old naturalistCs in #inchin $ane. .t Cam1er4ell I found iss orstan a little 4eary after her ni"htCs ad(entures 1ut (ery ea"er to hear the ne4s. rs. 6orrester2 too2 4as full of curiosity. I told them all that 4e had done2 su++ressin"2 ho4e(er2 the more dreadful +arts of the tra"edy. Thus althou"h I s+o&e of r. SholtoCs death2 I said nothin" of the e9act manner and method of it. 3ith all my omissions2 ho4e(er2 there 4as enou"h to startle and amaEe them. <It is a romance@= cried rs. 6orrester. <.n in5ured lady2 half a million in treasure2 a 1lac& canni1al2 and a 4ooden-le""ed ruffian. They ta&e the +lace of the con(entional dra"on or 4ic&ed earl.=
<?o2 sir. He has "one to his room2 sir. Do you &no42 sir2= sin&in" her (oice into an im+ressi(e 4his+er2 =
<3ell2 heCs that stran"e2 sir. .fter you 4as "one he 4al&ed and he 4al&ed2 u+ and do4n2 and u+ and do4n2 until I 4as 4eary of the
sound of his footste+. Then I heard him tal&in" to himself and mutterin"2 and e(ery time the 1ell ran" out he came on the stairhead2 4ith D3hat is that2 rs. Hudson>C .nd no4 he has slammed off to his room2 1ut I can hear him 4al&in" a4ay the same as e(er. I ho+e heCs not "oin" to 1e ill2 sir. I (entured to say somethin" to him a1out coolin" medicine2 1ut he turned on me2 sir2 4ith such a loo& that I donCt &no4 ho4 e(er I "ot out of the room.= <I donCt thin& that you ha(e any cause to 1e uneasy2 rs. Hudson2= I ans4ered. <I ha(e seen him li&e this 1efore. He has some small matter u+on his mind 4hich ma&es him restless.= I tried to s+ea& li"htly to our 4orthy landlady2 1ut I 4as myself some4hat uneasy 4hen throu"h the lon" ni"ht I still from time to time heard the dull sound of his tread2 and &ne4 ho4 his &een s+irit 4as chafin" a"ainst this in(oluntary inaction. .t 1rea&fast-time he loo&ed 4orn and ha""ard2 4ith a little flec& of fe(erish colour u+on either chee&. <;ou are &noc&in" yourself u+2 old man2= I remar&ed. <I heard you marchin" a1out in the ni"ht.= <?o2 I could not slee+2= he ans4ered. <This infernal +ro1lem is consumin" me. It is too much to 1e 1al&ed 1y so +etty an o1stacle2 4hen all else had 1een o(ercome. I &no4 the men2 the launch2 e(erythin"8 and yet I can "et no ne4s. I ha(e set other a"encies at 4or& and used e(ery means at my dis+osal. The 4hole ri(er has 1een searched on either side2 1ut there is no ne4s2 nor has rs. Smith heard of her hus1and. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they ha(e scuttled the craft. But there are o15ections to that.=
<7r that
rs. Smith has +ut us on a 4ron" scent.=
<?o2 I thin& that may 1e dismissed. I had in:uiries made2 and there is a launch of that descri+tion.= <Could it ha(e "one u+ the ri(er>= <I ha(e considered that +ossi1ility2 too2 and there is a search+arty 4ho 4ill 4or& u+ as far as Aichmond. If no ne4s comes to-day I shall start off myself tomorro4 and "o for the men rather than the 1oat. But surely2 surely2 4e shall hear somethin".= 3e did not2 ho4e(er. ?ot a 4ord came to us either from 3i""ins or from the other a"encies. There 4ere articles in most of the +a+ers u+on the ?or4ood tra"edy. They all a++eared to 1e rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto. ?o fresh details 4ere to 1e found2 ho4e(er2 in any of them2 sa(e that an in:uest 4as to 1e held u+on the follo4in" day. I 4al&ed o(er to Cam1er4ell in the e(enin" to re+ort our ill-success to the ladies2 and on my return I found Holmes de5ected and some4hat morose. He 4ould hardly re+ly to my :uestions and 1usied himself all the e(enin" in an a1struse chemical analysis 4hich in(ol(ed much heatin" of retorts and distillin" of (a+ours2 endin" at last in a smell 4hich fairly dro(e me out of the a+artment. G+ to the small hours of the mornin" I could hear the clin&in" of his test-tu1es 4hich told me that he 4as still en"a"ed in his malodorous e9+eriment. In the early da4n I 4o&e 4ith a start and 4as sur+rised to find him standin" 1y my 1edside2 clad in a rude sailor dress 4ith a +ea5ac&et and a coarse red scarf round his nec&.
= said I. <?o8 you can 1e much more useful if you 4ill remain here as my re+resentati(e. I am loath to "o2 for it is :uite on the cards that some messa"e may come durin" the day2 thou"h 3i""ins 4as des+ondent a1out it last ni"ht. I 4ant you to o+en all notes and tele"rams2 and to act on your o4n 5ud"ment if any ne4s should come. Can I rely u+on you>= < ost certainly.= <I am afraid that you 4ill not 1e a1le to 4ire to me2 for I can hardly tell yet 4here I may find myself. If I am in luc&2 ho4e(er2 I may not 1e "one so (ery lon". I shall ha(e ne4s of some sort or other 1efore I "et 1ac&.= I had heard nothin" of him 1y 1rea&fast time. 7n o+enin" the Standard2 ho4e(er2 I found that there 4as a fresh allusion to the 1usiness. 3ith reference to the G++er ?or4ood tra"edy Jit remar&edK 4e ha(e reason to 1elie(e that the matter +romises to 1e e(en more com+le9 and mysterious than 4as ori"inally su++osed. 6resh e(idence has sho4n that it is :uite im+ossi1le that r. Thaddeus Sholto could ha(e 1een in any 4ay concerned in the matter. He and the house&ee+er2 rs. Bernstone2 4ere 1oth released yesterday e(enin". It is 1elie(ed2 ho4e(er2 that the +olice ha(e a clue as to the real cul+rits2 and that it is 1ein" +rosecuted 1y r. .thelney
0ones2 of Scotland ;ard2 4ith all his 4ell-&no4n ener"y and sa"acity. 6urther arrests may 1e e9+ected at any moment. <That is satisfactory so far as it "oes2= thou"ht I. <6riend Sholto is safe2 at any rate. I 4onder 4hat the fresh clue may 1e thou"h it seems to 1e a stereoty+ed form 4hene(er the +olice ha(e made a 1lunder.= I tossed the +a+er do4n u+on the ta1le2 1ut at that moment my eye cau"ht an ad(ertisement in the a"ony column. It ran in this 4ayH $7ST B 3hereas ordecai Smith2 1oatman2 and his son 0im left SmithCs 3harf at or a1out three oDcloc& last Tuesday mornin" in the steam launch .urora2 1lac& 4ith t4o red stri+es2 funnel 1lac& 4ith a 4hite 1and2 the sum of fi(e +ounds 4ill 1e +aid to anyone 4ho can "i(e information to rs. Smith2 at SmithCs 3harf2 or at 22lB2 Ba&er Street2 as to the 4herea1outs of the said ordecai Smith and the launch .urora. This 4as clearly HolmesCs doin". The Ba&er Street address 4as enou"h to +ro(e that. It struc& me as rather in"enious 1ecause it mi"ht 1e read 1y the fu"iti(es 4ithout their seein" in it more than the natural an9iety of a 4ife for her missin" hus1and. It 4as a lon" day. *(ery time that a &noc& came to the door or a shar+ ste+ +assed in the street2 I ima"ined that it 4as either Holmes returnin" or an ans4er to his ad(ertisement. I tried to read2 1ut my thou"hts 4ould 4ander off to our stran"e :uest and to the illassorted and (illainous +air 4hom 4e 4ere +ursuin". Could there 1e2 I 4ondered2 some radical fla4 in my com+anionCs reasonin"> i"ht he not 1e sufferin" from some hu"e self-dece+tion> 3as it not +ossi1le that his nim1le and s+eculati(e mind had 1uilt u+ this
4ild theory u+on faulty +remises> I had ne(er &no4n him to 1e 4ron"2 and yet the &eenest reasoner may occasionally 1e decei(ed. He 4as li&ely2 I thou"ht2 to fall into error throu"h the o(errefinement of his lo"ic B his +reference for a su1tle and 1iEarre e9+lanation 4hen a +lainer and more common+lace one lay ready to his hand. ;et2 on the other hand2 I had myself seen the e(idence2 and I had heard the reasons for his deductions. 3hen I loo&ed 1ac& on the lon" chain of curious circumstances2 many of them tri(ial in themsel(es 1ut all tendin" in the same direction2 I could not dis"uise from myself that e(en if HolmesCs e9+lanation 4ere incorrect the true theory must 1e e:ually outre and startlin". .t three oCcloc& on the afternoon there 4as a loud +eal at the 1ell2 an authoritati(e (oice in the hall2 and2 to my sur+rise2 no less a +erson than r. .thelney 0ones 4as sho4n u+ to me. Fery different 4as he2 ho4e(er2 from the 1rus:ue and masterful +rofessor of common sense 4ho had ta&en o(er the case so confidently at G++er ?or4ood. His e9+ression 4as do4ncast2 and his 1earin" mee& and e(en a+olo"etic. <'ood-day2 sir8 "ood-day2= said he. < r. Sherloc& Holmes is out2 I understand.= <;es2 and I cannot 1e sure 4hen he 4ill 1e 1ac&. But +erha+s you 4ould care to 4ait. Ta&e that chair and try one of these ci"ars.= <Than& you8 I donCt mind if I do2= said he2 mo++in" his face 4ith a red 1andanna hand&erchief. <.nd a 4his&y and soda>=
<3ell2 half a "lass. It is (ery hot for the time of year2 and I ha(e had a "ood deal to 4orry and try me. ;ou &no4 my theory a1out this ?or4ood case>=
<I remem1er that you e9+ressed one.= <3ell2 I ha(e 1een o1li"ed to reconsider it. I had my net dra4n ti"htly round r. Sholto2 sir2 4hen +o+ he 4ent throu"h a hole in the middle of it. He 4as a1le to +ro(e an ali1i 4hich could not 1e sha&en. 6rom the time that he left his 1rotherCs room he 4as ne(er out of si"ht of someone or other. So it could not 1e he 4ho clim1ed o(er roofs and throu"h tra+doors. ItCs a (ery dar& case2 and my +rofessional credit is at sta&e. I should 1e (ery "lad of a little assistance.= <3e all need hel+ sometimes2= said I. <;our friend2 r. Sherloc& Holmes2 is a 4onderful man2 sir2= said he in a hus&y and confidential (oice. <HeCs a man 4ho is not to 1e 1eat. I ha(e &no4n that youn" man "o into a "ood many cases2 1ut I ne(er sa4 the case yet that he could not thro4 a li"ht u+on. He is irre"ular in his methods and a little :uic& +erha+s in 5um+in" at theories2 1ut2 on the 4hole2 I thin& he 4ould ha(e made a most +romisin" officer2 and I donCt care 4ho &no4s it. I ha(e had a 4ire from him this mornin"2 1y 4hich I understand that he has "ot some clue to this Sholto 1usiness. Here is his messa"e.= He too& the tele"ram out of his +oc&et and handed it to me. It 4as dated from #o+lar at t4el(e oCcloc&.
'o to Ba&er Street at once Jit saidK. If I ha(e not returned2 4ait for me. I am close on the trac& of the Sholto "an". ;ou can come 4ith us to-ni"ht if you 4ant to 1e in at the finish. <This sounds 4ell. He has e(idently +ic&ed u+ the scent a"ain2= said I.
<Is
r. Sherloc& Holmes here>= said he.
<?o8 1ut I am actin" for him. ;ou can tell me any messa"e you ha(e for him.= <It 4as to him himself I 4as to tell it2= said he.
<.h2 then he has 1een at fault too2= e9claimed 0ones 4ith e(ident satisfaction. <*(en the 1est of us are thro4n off sometimes. 7f course this may +ro(e to 1e a false alarm 1ut it is my duty as an officer of the la4 to allo4 no chance to sli+. But there is someone at the door. #erha+s this is he.= . hea(y ste+ 4as heard ascendin" the stair2 4ith a "reat 4heeEin" and rattlin" as from a man 4ho 4as sorely +ut to it for 1reath. 7nce or t4ice he sto++ed2 as thou"h the clim1 4ere too much for him2 1ut at last he made his 4ay to our door and entered. His a++earance corres+onded to the sounds 4hich 4e had heard. He 4as an a"ed man2 clad in seafarin" "ar12 4ith an old +ea-5ac&et 1uttoned u+ to his throat. His 1ac& 4as 1o4ed his &nees 4ere sha&y2 and his 1reathin" 4as +ainfully asthmatic. .s he leaned u+on a thic& oa&en cud"el his shoulders hea(ed in the effort to dra4 the air into his lun"s. He had a coloured scarf round his chin2 and I could see little of his face sa(e a +air of &een dar& eyes2 o(erhun" 1y 1ushy 4hite 1ro4s and lon" "ray side-4his&ers. .lto"ether he "a(e me the im+ression of a res+ecta1le master mariner 4ho had fallen into years and +o(erty. <3hat is it2 my man>= I as&ed. He loo&ed a1out him in the slo4 methodical fashion of old a"e.
<But I tell you that I am actin" for him. 3as it a1out SmithCs 1oat>=
ordecai
<;es. I &no4s 4ell 4here it is. .nC I &no4s 4here the men he is after are. .nC I &no4s 4here the treasure is. I &no4s all a1out it.= <Then tell me2 and I shall let him &no4.= <It 4as to him I 4as to tell it2= he re+eated 4ith the +etulant o1stinacy of a (ery old man. <3ell2 you must 4ait for him.= <?o2 no8 I ainCt "oinC to lose a 4hole day to +lease no one. If r. Holmes ainCt here2 then r. Holmes must find it all out for himself. I donCt care a1out the loo& of either of you2 and I 4onDt tell a 4ord.= He shuffled to4ards the door2 1ut .thelney 0ones "ot in front of him. <3ait a 1it2 my friend2= said he. <;ou ha(e im+ortant information2 and you must not 4al& off. 3e shall &ee+ you2 4hether you li&e or not2 until our friend returns.=
The old man made a little run to4ards the door2 1ut2 as .thelney 0ones +ut his 1road 1ac& u+ a"ainst it2 he reco"niEed the uselessness of resistance. <#retty sort oC treatment this@= he cried2 stam+in" his stic&. <I come here to see a "entleman2 and you t4o2 4ho I ne(er sa4 in my life2 seiEe me and treat me in this fashion@= <;ou 4ill 1e none the 4orse2= I said. <3e shall recom+ense you for the loss of your time. Sit o(er here on the sofa2 and you 4ill not ha(e lon" to 4ait.= He came across sullenly enou"h and seated himself 4ith his face restin" on his hands. 0ones and I resumed our ci"ars and our tal&. Suddenly2 ho4e(er2 HolmesCs (oice 1ro&e in u+on us. <I thin& that you mi"ht offer me a ci"ar too2= he said. 3e 1oth started in our chairs. There 4as Holmes sittin" close to us 4ith an air of :uiet amusement. <Holmes@= I e9claimed. <;ou here@ But 4here is the old man>= <Here is the old man2= said he2 holdin" out a hea+ of 4hite hair. <Here he is B 4i"2 4his&ers2 eye1ro4s2 and all. I thou"ht my dis"uise 4as +retty "ood2 1ut I hardly e9+ected that it 4ould stand that test.= <.h2 you ro"ue@= cried 0ones2 hi"hly deli"hted. <;ou 4ould ha(e made an actor and a rare one. ;ou had the +ro+er 4or&house cou"h2 and those 4ea& le"s of yours are 4orth ten +ound a 4ee&. I thou"ht I &ne4 the "lint of your eye2 thou"h. ;ou didnCt "et a4ay from us so easily2 you see.=
<I ha(e 1een 4or&in" in that "et-u+ all day2= said he2 li"htin" his ci"ar. <;ou see2 a "ood many of the criminal classes 1e"in to &no4 me B es+ecially since our friend here too& to +u1lishin" some of my casesH so I can only "o on the 4ar-+ath under some sim+le dis"uise li&e this. ;ou "ot my 4ire>= <;es8 that 4as 4hat 1rou"ht me here.= <Ho4 has your case +ros+ered>= <It has all come to nothin". I ha(e had to release t4o of my +risoners2 and there is no e(idence a"ainst the other t4o.= <?e(er mind. 3e shall "i(e you t4o others in the +lace of them. But you must +ut yourself under my orders. ;ou are 4elcome to all the official credit2 1ut you must act on the lines that I +oint out. Is that a"reed>= <*ntirely2 if you 4ill hel+ me to the men.= <3ell2 then2 in the first +lace I shall 4ant2 a fast +olice-1oat B a steam launch B to 1e at the 3estminster Stairs at se(en oCcloc&.= <That is easily mana"ed. There is al4ays one a1out there2 1ut I can ste+ across the road and tele+hone to ma&e sure.= <Then I shall 4ant t4o staunch men in case of resistance.= <There 4ill 1e t4o or three in the 1oat. 3hat else>= <3hen 4e secure the men 4e shall "et the treasure. I thin& that it 4ould 1e a +leasure to my friend here to ta&e the 1o9 round to the youn" lady to 4hom half of it ri"htfully 1elon"s. $et her 1e the first to o+en it. *h2 3atson>=
<It 4ould 1e a "reat +leasure to me.= <Aather an irre"ular +roceedin"2= said 0ones2 sha&in" his head. <Ho4e(er2 the 4hole thin" is irre"ular2 and I su++ose 4e must 4in& at it. The treasure must after4ards 1e handed o(er to the authorities until after the official in(esti"ation.= <Certainly. That is easily mana"ed. 7ne other +oint. I should much li&e to ha(e a fe4 details a1out this matter from the li+s of 0onathan Small himself. ;ou &no4 I li&e to 4or& the details of my cases out. There is no o15ection to my ha(in" an unofficial inter(ie4 4ith him2 either here in my rooms or else4here2 as lon" as he is efficiently "uarded>= <3ell2 you are master of the situation. I ha(e had no +roof yet of the e9istence of this 0onathan Small. Ho4e(er2 if you can catch him2 I donCt see ho4 I can refuse you an inter(ie4 4ith him.= <That is understood2 then>= <#erfectly. Is there anythin" else>= <7nly that I insist u+on your dinin" 4ith us. It 4ill 1e ready in half an hour. I ha(e oysters and a 1race of "rouse2 4ith somethin" a little choice in 4hite 4ines. B 3atson2 you ha(e ne(er yet reco"niEed my merits as a house&ee+er.= Chapter 10 The -nd of the Islander 7ur meal 4as a merry one. Holmes could tal& e9ceedin"ly 4ell 4hen he chose2 and that ni"ht he did choose. He a++eared to 1e in a state of ner(ous e9altation. I ha(e ne(er &no4n him so 1rilliant.
He s+o&e on a :uic& succession of su15ects B on miracle +lays2 on medie(al +ottery2 on Stradi(arius (iolins2 on the Buddhism of Ceylon2 and on the 4arshi+s of the future B handlin" each as thou"h he had made a s+ecial study of it. His 1ri"ht humour mar&ed the reaction from his 1lac& de+ression of the +recedin" days. .thelney 0ones +ro(ed to 1e a socia1le soul in his hours of rela9ation and faced his dinner 4ith the air of a 1on (i(ant. 6or myself2 I felt elated at the thou"ht that 4e 4ere nearin" the end of our tas&2 and I cau"ht somethin" of HolmesCs "aiety. ?one of us alluded durin" dinner to the cause 4hich had 1rou"ht us to"ether. 3hen the cloth 4as cleared Holmes "lanced at his 4atch and filled u+ three "lasses 4ith +ort. <7ne 1um+er2= said he2 <to the success of our little e9+edition. .nd no4 it is hi"h time 4e 4ere off. Ha(e you a +istol 3atson>= <I ha(e my old ser(ice-re(ol(er in my des&.= <;ou had 1est ta&e it2 then. It is 4ell to 1e +re+ared. I see that the ca1 is at the door. I ordered it for half-+ast si9.= It 4as a little +ast se(en 1efore 4e reached the 3estminster 4harf and found our launch a4aitin" us. Holmes eyed it critically. <Is there anythin" to mar& it as a +olice-1oat>= <;es2 that "reen lam+ at the side.= <Then ta&e it off.= The small chan"e 4as made2 4e ste++ed on 1oard2 and the ro+es 4ere cast off. 0ones2 Holmes2 and I sat in the stern. There 4as one
man at the rudder2 one to tend the en"ines2 and t4o 1urly +oliceins+ectors for4ard. <3here to>= as&ed 0ones. <To the To4er. Tell them to sto+ o++osite to 0aco1sonCs ;ard.= 7ur craft 4as e(idently a (ery fast one. 3e shot +ast the lon" lines of loaded 1ar"es as thou"h they 4ere stationary. Holmes smiled 4ith satisfaction as 4e o(erhauled a ri(er steamer and left her 1ehind us. <3e ou"ht to 1e a1le to catch anythin" on the ri(er2= he said. <3ell2 hardly that. But there are not many launches to 1eat us.= <3e shall ha(e to catch the .urora2 and she has a name for 1ein" a cli++er. I 4ill tell you ho4 the land lies2 3atson. ;ou recollect ho4 annoyed I 4as at 1ein" 1aul&ed 1y so small a thin">= <;es.= <3ell2 I "a(e my mind a thorou"h rest 1y +lun"in" into a chemical analysis. 7ne of our "reatest statesmen has said that a chan"e of 4or& is the 1est rest. So it is. 3hen I had succeeded in dissol(in" the hydrocar1on 4hich I 4as at 4or& at2 I came 1ac& to our +ro1lem of the Sholtos2 and thou"ht the 4hole matter out a"ain. y 1oys had 1een u+ the ri(er and do4n the ri(er 4ithout result. The launch 4as not at any landin"-sta"e or 4harf2 nor had it returned. ;et it could hardly ha(e 1een scuttled to hide their traces2 thou"h that al4ays remained as a +ossi1le hy+othesis if all else failed. I &ne4 that this man Small had a certain de"ree of lo4 cunnin"2 1ut I did not thin& him ca+a1le of anythin" in the nature of delicate finesse.
That is usually a +roduct of hi"her education. I then reflected that since he had certainly 1een in $ondon some time B as 4e had e(idence that he maintained a continual 4atch o(er #ondicherry $od"e B he could hardly lea(e at a momentCs notice2 1ut 4ould need some little time2 if it 4ere only a day2 to arran"e his affairs. That 4as the 1alance of +ro1a1ility2 at any rate.= <It seems to me to 1e a little 4ea&2= said I8 <it is more +ro1a1le that he had arran"ed his affairs 1efore e(er he set out u+on his e9+edition.= <?o2 I hardly thin& so. This lair of his 4ould 1e too (alua1le a retreat in case of need for him to "i(e it u+ until he 4as sure that he could do 4ithout it. But a second consideration struc& me. 0onathan Small must ha(e felt that the +eculiar a++earance of his com+anion2 ho4e(er much he may ha(e to+-coated him2 4ould "i(e rise to "ossi+2 and +ossi1ly 1e associated 4ith this ?or4ood tra"edy. He 4as :uite shar+ enou"h to see that. They had started from their head:uarters under co(er of dar&ness2 and he 4ould 4ish to "et 1ac& 1efore it 4as 1road li"ht. ?o42 it 4as +ast three oCcloc&2 accordin" to rs. Smith2 4hen they "ot the 1oat. It 4ould 1e :uite 1ri"ht2 and +eo+le 4ould 1e a1out in an hour or so. Therefore2 I ar"ued2 they did not "o (ery far. They +aid Smith 4ell to hold his ton"ue2 reser(ed his launch for the final esca+e2 and hurried to their lod"in"s 4ith the treasure-1o9. In a cou+le of ni"hts2 4hen they had time to see 4hat (ie4 the +a+ers too&2 and 4hether there 4as any sus+icion2 they 4ould ma&e their 4ay under co(er of dar&ness to some shi+ at 'ra(esend or in the Do4ns2 4here no dou1t they had already arran"ed for +assa"es to .merica or the Colonies.= <But the launch> They could not ha(e ta&en that to their lod"in"s.=
<Quite so. I ar"ued that the launch must 1e no "reat 4ay off2 in s+ite of its in(isi1ility. I then +ut myself in the +lace of Small and loo&ed at it as a man of his ca+acity 4ould. He 4ould +ro1a1ly consider that to send 1ac& the launch or to &ee+ it at a 4harf 4ould ma&e +ursuit easy if the +olice did ha++en to "et on his trac&. Ho42 then2 could he conceal the launch and yet ha(e her at hand 4hen 4anted> I 4ondered 4hat I should do myself if I 4ere in his shoes. I could only thin& of one 4ay of doin" it. I mi"ht hand the launch o(er to some 1oat-1uilder or re+airer2 4ith directions to ma&e a triflin" chan"e in her. She 4ould then 1e remo(ed to his shed or yard2 and so 1e effectually concealed2 4hile at the same time I could ha(e her at a fe4 hoursC notice.= <That seems sim+le enou"h.= <It is 5ust these (ery sim+le thin"s 4hich are e9tremely lia1le to 1e o(erloo&ed. Ho4e(er2 I determined to act on the idea. I started at once in this harmless seamanCs ri" and in:uired at all the yards do4n the ri(er. I dre4 1lan& at fifteen2 1ut at the si9teenth B 0aco1sonCs B I learned that the .urora had 1een handed o(er to them t4o days a"o 1y a 4ooden-le""ed man2 4ith some tri(ial directions as to her rudder. DThere ainCt nau"ht amiss 4ith her rudder2C said the foreman. DThere she lies2 4ith the red strea&s.C .t that moment 4ho should come do4n 1ut ordecai Smith2 the missin" o4ner. He 4as rather the 4orse for li:uor. I should not2 of course2 ha(e &no4n him2 1ut he 1ello4ed out his name and the name of his launch. DI 4ant her to-ni"ht at ei"ht oCcloc&2C said he B Dei"ht oCcloc& shar+2 mind2 for I ha(e t4o "entlemen 4ho 4onCt 1e &e+t 4aitin".C They had e(idently +aid him 4ell2 for he 4as (ery flush of money2 chuc&in" shillin"s a1out to the men. I follo4ed him some distance2 1ut he su1sided into an alehouse8 so I 4ent 1ac& to
the yard2 and2 ha++enin" to +ic& u+ one of my 1oys on the 4ay2 I stationed him as a sentry o(er the launch. He is to stand at the 4aterCs ed"e and 4a(e his hand&erchief to us 4hen they start. 3e shall 1e lyin" off in the stream2 and it 4ill 1e a stran"e thin" if 4e do not ta&e men2 treasure2 and all.= <;ou ha(e +lanned it all (ery neatly2 4hether they are the ri"ht men or not2= said 0ones8 <1ut if the affair 4ere in my hands I should ha(e had a 1ody of +olice in 0aco1sonCs ;ard and arrested them 4hen they came do4n.= <3hich 4ould ha(e 1een ne(er. This man Small is a +retty shre4d fello4. He 4ould send a scout on ahead2 and if anythin" made him sus+icious he 4ould lie snu" for another 4ee&.= <But you mi"ht ha(e stuc& to their hidin"-+lace2= said I. ordecai Smith2 and so 1een led to
<In that case I should ha(e 4asted my day. I thin& that it is a hundred to one a"ainst Smith &no4in" 4here they li(e. .s lon" as he has li:uor and "ood +ay2 4hy should he as& :uestions> They send him messa"es 4hat to do. ?o2 I thou"ht o(er e(ery +ossi1le course2 and this is the 1est.= 3hile this con(ersation had 1een +roceedin"2 4e had 1een shootin" the lon" series of 1rid"es 4hich s+an the Thames. .s 4e +assed the City the last rays of the sun 4ere "ildin" the cross u+on the summit of St. #aulCs. It 4as t4ili"ht 1efore 4e reached the To4er. <That is 0aco1sonCs ;ard2= said Holmes2 +ointin" to a 1ristle of masts and ri""in" on the Surrey side. <Cruise "ently u+ and do4n here under co(er of this strin" of li"hters.= He too& a +air of ni"ht-
"lasses from his +oc&et and "aEed some time at the shore. <I see my sentry at his +ost2= he remar&ed2 <1ut no si"n of a hand&erchief.= <Su++ose 4e "o do4nstream a short 4ay and lie in 4ait for them2= said 0ones ea"erly. 3e 4ere all ea"er 1y this time2 e(en the +olicemen and sto&ers2 4ho had a (ery (a"ue idea of 4hat 4as "oin" for4ard. <3e ha(e no ri"ht to ta&e anythin" for "ranted2= Holmes ans4ered. <It is certainly ten to one that they "o do4nstream2 1ut 4e cannot 1e certain. 6rom this +oint 4e can see the entrance of the yard2 and they can hardly see us. It 4ill 1e a clear ni"ht and +lenty of li"ht. 3e must stay 4here 4e are. See ho4 the fol& s4arm o(er yonder in the "asli"ht.= <They are comin" from 4or& in the yard.= <Dirty-loo&in" rascals2 1ut I su++ose e(ery one has some little immortal s+ar& concealed a1out him. ;ou 4ould not thin& it2 to loo& at them. There is no a +riori +ro1a1ility a1out it. . stran"e eni"ma is man@= <Someone calls him a soul concealed in an animal2= I su""ested. <3in4ood Aeade is "ood u+on the su15ect2= said Holmes. <He remar&s that2 4hile the indi(idual man is an insolu1le +uEEle2 in the a""re"ate he 1ecomes a mathematical certainty. ;ou can2 for e9am+le2 ne(er foretell 4hat any one man 4ill do2 1ut you can say 4ith +recision 4hat an a(era"e num1er 4ill 1e u+ to. Indi(iduals (ary2 1ut +ercenta"es remain constant. So says the statistician. But do I see a hand&erchief> Surely there is a 4hite flutter o(er yonder.=
<;es2 it is your 1oy2= I cried. <I can see him +lainly.= <.nd there is the .urora2= e9claimed Holmes2 <and "oin" li&e the de(il@ 6ull s+eed ahead2 en"ineer. a&e after that launch 4ith the yello4 li"ht. By hea(en2 I shall ne(er for"i(e myself if she +ro(es to ha(e the heels of us@= She had sli++ed unseen throu"h the yard-entrance and +assed 1et4een t4o or three small craft2 so that she had fairly "ot her s+eed u+ 1efore 4e sa4 her. ?o4 she 4as flyin" do4n the stream2 near in to the shore2 "oin" at a tremendous rate. 0ones loo&ed "ra(ely at her and shoo& his head. <She is (ery fast2= he said. <I dou1t if 4e shall catch her.= <3e must catch her@= cried Holmes 1et4een his teeth. <Hea+ it on2 sto&ers@ a&e her do all she can@ If 4e 1urn the 1oat 4e must ha(e them@= 3e 4ere fairly after her no4. The furnaces roared2 and the +o4erful en"ines 4hiEEed and clan&ed li&e a "reat metallic heart. Her shar+2 stee+ +ro4 cut throu"h the still ri(er-4ater and sent t4o rollin" 4a(es to ri"ht and to left of us. 3ith e(ery thro1 of the en"ines 4e s+ran" and :ui(ered li&e a li(in" thin". 7ne "reat yello4 lantern in our 1o4s thre4 a lon"2 flic&erin" funnel of li"ht in front of us. Ai"ht ahead a dar& 1lur u+on the 4ater sho4ed 4here the .urora lay2 and the s4irl of 4hite foam 1ehind her s+o&e of the +ace at 4hich she 4as "oin". 3e flashed +ast 1ar"es2 steamers2 merchant(essels2 in and out2 1ehind this one and round the other. Foices hailed us out of the dar&ness2 1ut still the .urora thundered on2 and still 4e follo4ed close u+on her trac&.
<#ile it on2 men2 +ile it on@= cried Holmes2 loo&in" do4n into the en"ine-room2 4hile the fierce "lo4 from 1elo4 1eat u+on his ea"er2 a:uiline face. <'et e(ery +ound of steam you can.= <I thin& 4e "ain a little2= said 0ones 4ith his eyes on the .urora. <I am sure of it2= said I. <3e shall 1e u+ 4ith her in a (ery fe4 minutes.= .t that moment2 ho4e(er2 as our e(il fate 4ould ha(e it2 a tu" 4ith three 1ar"es in to4 1lundered in 1et4een us. It 4as only 1y +uttin" our helm hard do4n that 4e a(oided a collision2 and 1efore 4e could round them and reco(er our 4ay the .urora had "ained a "ood t4o hundred yards. She 4as still2 ho4e(er2 4ell in (ie42 and the mur&y2 uncertain t4ili"ht 4as settlin" into a clear2 starlit ni"ht. 7ur 1oilers 4ere strained to their utmost2 and the frail shell (i1rated and crea&ed 4ith the fierce ener"y 4hich 4as dri(in" us alon". 3e had shot throu"h the +ool2 +ast the 3est India Doc&s2 do4n the lon" De+tford Aeach2 and u+ a"ain after roundin" the Isle of Do"s. The dull 1lur in front of us resol(ed itself no4 clearly into the dainty .urora. 0ones turned our searchli"ht u+on her2 so that 4e could +lainly see the fi"ures u+on her dec&. 7ne man sat 1y the stern2 4ith somethin" 1lac& 1et4een his &nees2 o(er 4hich he stoo+ed. Beside him lay a dar& mass2 4hich loo&ed li&e a ?e4foundland do". The 1oy held the tiller2 4hile a"ainst the red "lare of the furnace I could see old Smith2 stri++ed to the 4aist2 and sho(ellin" coals for dear life. They may ha(e had some dou1t at first as to 4hether 4e 4ere really +ursuin" them2 1ut no4 as 4e follo4ed e(ery 4indin" and turnin" 4hich they too& there could no lon"er 1e any :uestion a1out it. .t 'reen4ich 4e 4ere a1out three hundred +aces 1ehind them. .t Blac&4all 4e could not ha(e 1een more than t4o hundred and fifty. I ha(e coursed many creatures in many countries durin"
my chec&ered career2 1ut ne(er did s+ort "i(e me such a 4ild thrill as this mad2 flyin" man-hunt do4n the Thames. Steadily 4e dre4 in u+on them2 yard 1y yard. In the silence of the ni"ht 4e could hear the +antin" and clan&in" of their machinery. The man in the stern still crouched u+on the dec&2 and his arms 4ere mo(in" as thou"h he 4ere 1usy2 4hile e(ery no4 and then he 4ould loo& u+ and measure 4ith a "lance the distance 4hich still se+arated us. ?earer 4e came and nearer. 0ones yelled to them to sto+. 3e 4ere not more than four 1oatCs-len"ths 1ehind them2 1oth 1oats flyin" at a tremendous +ace. It 4as a clear reach of the ri(er2 4ith Bar&in" $e(el u+on one side and the melancholy #lumstead arshes u+on the other. .t our hail the man in the stern s+ran" u+ from the dec& and shoo& his t4o clenched fists at us2 cursin" the 4hile in a hi"h2 crac&ed (oice. He 4as a "ood-siEed2 +o4erful man2 and as he stood +oisin" himself 4ith le"s astride I could see that from the thi"h do4n4ard there 4as 1ut a 4ooden stum+ u+on the ri"ht side. .t the sound of his strident2 an"ry cries2 there 4as mo(ement in the huddled 1undle u+on the dec&. It strai"htened itself into a little 1lac& man B the smallest I ha(e e(er seen B 4ith a "reat2 missha+en head and a shoc& of tan"led2 dishe(elled hair. Holmes had already dra4n his re(ol(er2 and I 4hi++ed out mine at the si"ht of this sa(a"e2 distorted creature. He 4as 4ra++ed in some sort of dar& ulster or 1lan&et2 4hich left only his face e9+osed2 1ut that face 4as enou"h to "i(e a man a slee+less ni"ht. ?e(er ha(e I seen features so dee+ly mar&ed 4ith all 1estiality and cruelty. His small eyes "lo4ed and 1urned 4ith a som1re li"ht2 and his thic& li+s 4ere 4rithed 1ac& from his teeth2 3hich "rinned and chattered at us 4ith half animal fury. <6ire if he raises his hand2= said Holmes :uietly.
3e 4ere 4ithin a 1oatCs-len"th 1y this time2 and almost 4ithin touch of our :uarry. I can see the t4o of them no4 as they stood2 the 4hite man 4ith his le"s far a+art2 shrie&in" out curses2 and the unhallo4ed d4arf 4ith his hideous face2 and his stron" yello4 teeth "nashin" at us in the li"ht of our lantern. It 4as 4ell that 4e had so clear a (ie4 of him. *(en as 4e loo&ed he +luc&ed out from under his co(erin" a short2 round +iece of 4ood2 li&e a school-ruler2 and cla++ed it to his li+s. 7ur +istols ran" out to"ether. He 4hirled round2 thre4 u+ his arms and2 4ith a &ind of cho&in" cou"h2 fell side4ays into the stream. I cau"ht one "lim+se of his (enomous2 menacin" eyes amid the 4hite s4irl of the 4aters. .t the same moment the 4ooden-le""ed man thre4 himself u+on the rudder and +ut it hard do4n so that his 1oat made strai"ht in for the southern 1an&2 4hile 4e shot +ast her stern2 only clearin" her 1y a fe4 feet. 3e 4ere round after her in an instant2 1ut she 4as already nearly at the 1an&. It 4as a 4ild and desolate +lace2 4here the moon "limmered u+on a 4ide e9+anse of marsh-land2 4ith +ools of sta"nant 4ater and 1eds of decayin" (e"etation. The launch2 4ith a dull thud2 ran u+ u+on the mud-1an&2 4ith her 1o4 in the air and her stern flush 4ith the 4ater. The fu"iti(e s+ran" out2 1ut his stum+ instantly san& its 4hole len"th into the sodden soil. In (ain he stru""led and 4rithed. ?ot one ste+ could he +ossi1ly ta&e either for4ard or 1ac&4ard. He yelled in im+otent ra"e and &ic&ed frantically into the mud 4ith his other foot2 1ut his stru""les only 1ored his 4ooden +in the dee+er into the stic&y 1an&. 3hen 4e 1rou"ht our launch alon"side he 4as so firmly anchored that it 4as only 1y thro4in" the end of a ro+e o(er his shoulders that 4e 4ere a1le to haul him out and to dra" him2 li&e some e(il fish2 o(er our side. The t4o Smiths2 father and son2 sat sullenly in their launch 1ut came a1oard mee&ly enou"h 4hen commanded. The .urora
herself 4e hauled off and made fast to our stern. . solid iron chest of Indian 4or&manshi+ stood u+on the dec&. This2 there could 1e no :uestion2 4as the same that had contained the ill-omened treasure of the Sholtos. There 4as no &ey2 1ut it 4as of considera1le 4ei"ht2 so 4e transferred it carefully to our o4n little ca1in. .s 4e steamed slo4ly u+stream a"ain2 4e flashed our searchli"ht in e(ery direction2 1ut there 4as no si"n of the Islander. Some4here in the dar& ooEe at the 1ottom of the Thames lie the 1ones of that stran"e (isitor to our shores. <See here2= said Holmes2 +ointin" to the 4ooden hatch4ay. <3e 4ere hardly :uic& enou"h 4ith our +istols8= There2 sure enou"h2 5ust 1ehind 4here 4e had 1een standin"2 stuc& one of those murderous darts 4hich 4e &ne4 so 4ell. It must ha(e 4hiEEed 1et4een us at the instant 4e fired. Holmes smiled at it and shru""ed his shoulders in his easy fashion2 1ut I confess that it turned me sic& to thin& of the horri1le death 4hich had +assed so close to us that ni"ht. Chapter 11 The *reat Agra Treasure 7or ca+ti(e sat in the ca1in o++osite to the iron 1o9 4hich he had done so much and 4aited so lon" to "ain. He 4as a sun1urned rec&less-eyed fello42 4ith a net4or& of lines and 4rin&les all o(er his maho"any features2 4hich told of a hard2 o+en-air life. There 4as a sin"ular +rominence a1out his 1earded chin 4hich mar&ed a man 4ho 4as not to 1e easily turned from his +ur+ose. His a"e may ha(e 1een fifty or therea1outs2 for his 1lac&2 curly hair 4as thic&ly shot 4ith "ray. His face in re+ose 4as not an un+leasin" one2 thou"h his hea(y 1ro4s and a""ressi(e chin "a(e him2 as I had lately seen2 a terri1le e9+ression 4hen mo(ed to an"er. He sat no4
4ith his handcuffed hands u+on his la+2 and his head sun& u+on his 1reast2 4hile he loo&ed 4ith his &een2 t4in&lin" eyes at the 1o9 4hich had 1een the cause of his ill-doin"s. It seemed to me that there 4as more sorro4 than an"er in his ri"id and contained countenance. 7nce he loo&ed u+ at me 4ith a "leam of somethin" li&e humour in his eyes. <3ell2 0onathan Small2= said Holmes2 li"htin" a ci"ar2 <I am sorry that it has come to this.= <.nd so am I2 sir2= he ans4ered fran&ly. <I donCt 1elie(e that I can s4in" o(er the 5o1. I "i(e you my 4ord on the 1oo& that I ne(er raised hand a"ainst r. Sholto. It 4as that little hell-hound8 Ton"a2 4ho shot one of his cursed darts into him. I had no +art in it2 sir. I 4as as "rie(ed as if it had 1een my 1lood-relation. I 4elted the little de(il 4ith the slac& end of the ro+e for it2 1ut it 4as done2 and I could not undo it a"ain.= <Ha(e a ci"ar2= said Holmes8 <and you had 1est ta&e a +ull out of my flas&2 for you are (ery 4et. Ho4 could you e9+ect so small and 4ea& a man as this 1lac& fello4 to o(er+o4er r. Sholto and hold him 4hile you 4ere clim1in" the ro+e>= <;ou seem to &no4 as much a1out it as if you 4ere there2 sir. The truth is that I ho+ed to find the room clear. I &ne4 the ha1its of the house +retty 4ell2 and it 4as the time 4hen r. Sholto usually 4ent do4n to his su++er. I shall ma&e no secret of the 1usiness. The 1est defence that I can ma&e is 5ust the sim+le truth. ?o42 if it had 1een the old ma5or I 4ould ha(e s4un" for him 4ith a li"ht heart. I 4ould ha(e thou"ht no more of &nifin" him than of smo&in" this ci"ar. But itCs cursed hard that I should 1e la""ed o(er this youn" Sholto2 4ith 4hom I had no :uarrel 4hate(er.=
<;ou are under the char"e of r. .thelney 0ones2 of Scotland ;ard. He is "oin" to 1rin" you u+ to my rooms2 and I shall as& you for a true account of the matter. ;ou must ma&e a clean 1reast of it2 for if you do I ho+e that I may 1e of use to you. I thin& T can +ro(e that the +oison acts so :uic&ly that the man 4as dead 1efore e(er you reached the room.= <That he 4as2 sir. I ne(er "ot such a turn in my life as 4hen I sa4 him "rinnin" at me 4ith his head on his shoulder as I clim1ed throu"h the 4indo4. It fairly shoo& me2 sir. ICd ha(e half &illed Ton"a for it if he had not scram1led off. That 4as ho4 he came to lea(e his clu12 and some of his darts too2 as he tells me2 4hich I dare say hel+ed to +ut you on our trac&8 thou"h ho4 you &e+t on it is more than I can tell. I donCt feel no malice a"ainst you for it. But it does seem a :ueer thin"2= he added 4ith a 1itter smile2 <that I2 4ho ha(e a fair claim to half a million of money2 should s+end the first half of my life 1uildin" a 1rea&4ater in the .ndamans2 and am li&e to s+end the other half di""in" drains at Dartmoor. It 4as an e(il day for me 4hen first I cla++ed eyes u+on the merchant .chmet and had to do 4ith the ."ra treasure2 4hich ne(er 1rou"ht anythin" 1ut a curse yet u+on the man 4ho o4ned it. To him it 1rou"ht murder2 to a5or Sholto it 1rou"ht fear and "uilt2 to me it has meant sla(ery for life.= .t this moment .thelney 0ones thrust his 1road face and hea(y shoulders into the tiny ca1in. <Quite a family +arty2= he remar&ed. <I thin& I shall ha(e a +ull at that flas&2 Holmes. 3ell2 I thin& 4e may all con"ratulate each other. #ity 4e didnCt ta&e the other ali(e2 1ut there 4as no choice. I say2 Holmes2 you must confess that you cut it rather fine. It 4as all 4e could do to o(erhaul her.=
<.ll is 4ell that ends 4ell2= said Holmes. <But I certainly did not &no4 that the .urora 4as such a cli++er.= <Smith says she is one of the fastest launches on the ri(er2 and that if he had had another man to hel+ him 4ith the en"ines 4e should ne(er ha(e cau"ht her. He s4ears he &ne4 nothin" of this ?or4ood 1usiness.= <?either he did2= cried our +risoner B <not a 4ord. I chose his launch 1ecause I heard that she 4as a flier. 3e told him nothin"8 1ut 4e +aid him 4ell2 and he 4as to "et somethin" handsome if 4e reached our (essel2 the *smeralda2 at 'ra(esend2 out4ard 1ound for the BraEils.= <3ell2 if he has done no 4ron" 4e shall see that no 4ron" comes to him. If 4e are +retty :uic& in catchin" our men2 4e are not so :uic& in condemnin" them.= It 4as amusin" to notice ho4 the conse:uential 0ones 4as already 1e"innin" to "i(e himself airs on the stren"th of the ca+ture. 6rom the sli"ht smile 4hich +layed o(er Sherloc& HolmesCs face2 I could see that the s+eech had not 1een lost u+on him. <D3e 4ill 1e at Fau9hall Brid"e +resently2= said 0ones2 <and shall land you2 Dr. 3atson2 4ith the treasure-1o9. I need hardly tell you that I am ta&in" a (ery "ra(e res+onsi1ility u+on myself in doin" this. It is most irre"ular2 1ut of course an a"reement is an a"reement. I must2 ho4e(er2 as a matter of duty2 send an ins+ector 4ith you2 since you ha(e so (alua1le a char"e. ;ou 4ill dri(e2 no dou1t>= <;es2 I shall dri(e.=
<It is a +ity there is no &ey2 that 4e may ma&e an in(entory first. ;ou 4ill ha(e to 1rea& it o+en. 3here is the &ey2 my man>= <.t the 1ottom of the ri(er2= said Small shortly. <Hum@ There 4as no use your "i(in" this unnecessary trou1le. 3e ha(e had 4or& enou"h already throu"h you. Ho4e(er2 Doctor2 I need not 4arn you to 1e careful. Brin" the 1o9 1ac& 4ith you to the Ba&er Street rooms. ;ou 4ill find us there2 on our 4ay to the station.= They landed me at Fau9hall2 4ith my hea(y iron 1o92 and 4ith a 1luff2 "enial ins+ector as my com+anion. . :uarter of an hourCs dri(e 1rou"ht us to rs. Cecil 6orresterCs. The ser(ant seemed sur+rised at so late a (isitor. rs. Cecil 6orrester 4as out for the e(enin"2 she e9+lained2 and li&ely to 1e (ery late. iss orstan2 ho4e(er2 4as in the dra4in"-room2 so to the dra4in"-room I 4ent2 1o9 in hand2 lea(in" the o1li"in" ins+ector in the ca1. She 4as seated 1y the o+en 4indo42 dressed in some sort of 4hite dia+hanous material2 4ith a little touch of scarlet at the nec& and 4aist. The soft li"ht of a shaded lam+ fell u+on her as she leaned 1ac& in the 1as&et chair2 +layin" o(er her s4eet "ra(e face2 and tintin" 4ith a dull2 metallic s+ar&le the rich coils of her lu9uriant hair. 7ne 4hite arm and hand droo+ed o(er the side of the chair2 and her 4hole +ose and fi"ure s+o&e of an a1sor1in" melancholy. .t the sound of my footfall she s+ran" to her feet2 ho4e(er2 and a 1ri"ht flush of sur+rise and of +leasure coloured her +ale chee&s. =
<I ha(e 1rou"ht somethin" 1etter than ne4s2= said I2 +uttin" do4n the 1o9 u+on the ta1le and s+ea&in" 5o(ially and 1oisterously2 thou"h my heart 4as hea(y 4ithin me. = she as&ed2 coolly enou"h. <;es2 this is the "reat ."ra treasure. Half of it is yours and half is Thaddeus SholtoCs. ;ou 4ill ha(e a cou+le of hundred thousand each. Thin& of that@ .n annuity of ten thousand +ounds. There 4ill 1e fe4 richer youn" ladies in *n"land. Is it not "lorious>= I thin& I must ha(e 1een rather o(er-actin" my deli"ht2 and that she defected a hollo4 rin" in my con"ratulations2 for I sa4 her eye1ro4s rise a little2 and she "lanced at me curiously. <If I ha(e it2= said she2 <I o4e it to you.= <?o2 no2= I ans4ered2 <not to me 1ut to my friend Sherloc& Holmes. 3ith all the 4ill in the 4orld2 I could ne(er ha(e follo4ed u+-a clue 4hich has ta9ed e(en his analytical "enius. .s it 4as2 4e (ery nearly lost it at the last moment.= <#ray sit do4n and tell me all a1out it2 Dr. 3atson2= said she. I narrated 1riefly 4hat had occurred since I had seen her last. HolmesCs ne4 method of search2 the disco(ery of the .urora2 the a++earance of .thelney 0ones2 our e9+edition in the e(enin"2 and the 4ild chase do4n the Thames. She listened 4ith +arted li+s and shinin" eyes to my recital of our ad(entures. 3hen I s+o&e of the
dart 4hich had so narro4ly missed us2 she turned so 4hite that I feared that she 4as a1out to faint. <It is nothin"2= she said as I hastened to +our her out some 4ater. <I am all ri"ht a"ain. It 4as a shoc& to me to hear that I had +laced my friends in such horri1le +eril.= <That is all o(er2= I ans4ered. <It 4as nothin". I 4ill tell you no more "loomy details. $et us turn to somethin" 1ri"hter. There is the treasure. 3hat could 1e 1ri"hter than that> I "ot lea(e to 1rin" it 4ith me2 thin&in" that it 4ould interest you to 1e the first to see it.= <It 4ould 1e of the "reatest interest to me2= she said. There 4as no ea"erness in her (oice2 ho4e(er. It had struc& her2 dou1tless2 that it mi"ht seem un"racious u+on her +art to 1e indifferent to a +riEe 4hich had cost so much to 4in. <3hat a +retty 1o9@= she said2 stoo+in" o(er it. <This is Indian 4or&2 I su++ose>= <;es8 it is Benares metal-4or&.= <.nd so hea(y@= she e9claimed2 tryin" to raise it. <The 1o9 alone must 1e of some (alue. 3here is the &ey>= <Small thre4 it into the Thames2= I ans4ered. <I must 1orro4 6orresterCs +o&er.= rs.
There 4as in the front a thic& and 1road has+2 4rou"ht in the ima"e of a sittin" Buddha. Gnder this I thrust the end of the +o&er and t4isted it out4ard as a le(er. The has+ s+ran" o+en 4ith a loud sna+. 3ith trem1lin" fin"ers I flun" 1ac& the lid. 3e 1oth stood "aEin" in astonishment. The 1o9 4as em+ty@
?o 4onder that it 4as hea(y. The iron4or& 4as t4o-thirds of an inch thic& all round. It 4as massi(e2 4ell made2 and solid2 li&e a chest constructed to carry thin"s of "reat +rice2 1ut not one shred or crum1 of metal or 5e4ellery lay 4ithin it. It 4as a1solutely and com+letely em+ty. <The treasure is lost2= said iss orstan calmly.
The Strange Story of 1onathan Small . (ery +atient man 4as that ins+ector in the ca12 for it 4as a 4eary time 1efore I re5oined him. His face clouded o(er 4hen I sho4ed him the em+ty 1o9. <There "oes the re4ard@= said he "loomily. <3here there is no money there is no +ay. This ni"htCs 4or& 4ould ha(e 1een 4orth a tenner each to Sam Bro4n and me if the treasure had 1een there.= < r. Thaddeus Sholto is a rich man2= I said8 <he 4ill see that you are re4arded2 treasure or no.= The ins+ector shoo& his head des+ondently2 ho4e(er. <ItCs a 1ad 5o12= he re+eated8 <and so r. .thelney 0ones 4ill thin&.=
.s I listened to the 4ords and realiEed 4hat they meant2 a "reat shado4 seemed to +ass from my soul. I did not &no4 ho4 this ."ra treasure had 4ei"hed me do4n until no4 that it 4as finally remo(ed. It 4as selfish2 no dou1t2 disloyal2 4ron"2 1ut I could realiEe nothin" sa(e that the "olden 1arrier 4as "one from 1et4een us. <Than& 'od@= I e5aculated from my (ery heart. She loo&ed at me 4ith a :uic&2 :uestionin" smile. <3hy do you say that>= she as&ed. <Because you are 4ithin my reach a"ain2= I said2 ta&in" her hand. She did not 4ithdra4 it. <Because I lo(e you2 ary2 as truly as e(er a man lo(ed a 4oman. Because this treasure2 these riches2 sealed my li+s. ?o4 that they are "one I can tell you ho4 I lo(e you. That is 4hy I said2 DThan& 'od.C= <Then I say DThan& 'od2C too2= she 4his+ered as I dre4 her to my side. 3hoe(er had lost a treasure2 I &ne4 that ni"ht that I had "ained one. Chapter 12
His forecast +ro(ed to 1e correct2 for the detecti(e loo&ed 1lan& enou"h 4hen I "ot to Ba&er Street and sho4ed him the em+ty 1o9. They had only 5ust arri(ed2 Holmes2 the +risoner2 and he2 for they had chan"ed their +lans so far as to re+ort themsel(es at a station u+on the 4ay. y com+anion loun"ed in his armchair 4ith his usual listless e9+ression2 4hile Small sat stolidly o++osite to him 4ith his 4ooden le" coc&ed o(er his sound one. .s I e9hi1ited the em+ty 1o9 he leaned 1ac& in his chair and lau"hed aloud. <This is your doin"2 Small2= said .thelney 0ones an"rily. <;es2 I ha(e +ut it a4ay 4here you shall ne(er lay hand u+on it2= he cried e9ultantly. <It is my treasure2 and if I canCt ha(e the loot ICll ta&e darned "ood care that no one else does. I tell you that no li(in" man has any ri"ht to it2 unless it is three men 4ho are in the .ndaman con(ict-1arrac&s and myself. I &no4 no4 that I cannot ha(e the use
of it2 and I &no4 that they cannot. I ha(e acted all throu"h for them as much as for myself. ItCs 1een the si"n of four 4ith us al4ays. 3ell2 I &no4 that they 4ould ha(e had me do 5ust 4hat I ha(e done2 and thro4 the treasure into the Thames rather than let it "o to &ith or &in of Sholto or orstan. It 4as not to ma&e them rich that 4e did for .chmet. ;ouCll find the treasure 4here the &ey is and 4here little Ton"a is. 3hen I sa4 that your launch must catch us2 I +ut the loot a4ay in a safe +lace. There are no ru+ees for you this 5ourney.= <;ou are decei(in" us2 Small2= said .thelney 0ones sternly8 <if you had 4ished to thro4 the treasure into the Thames2 it 4ould ha(e 1een easier for you to ha(e thro4n 1o9 and all.= <*asier for me to thro4 and easier for you to reco(er2= he ans4ered 4ith a shre4d2 side-lon" loo&. <The man that 4as cle(er enou"h to hunt me do4n is cle(er enou"h to +ic& an iron 1o9 from the 1ottom of a ri(er. ?o4 that they are scattered o(er fi(e miles or so2 it may 1e a harder 5o1. It 4ent to my heart to do it thou"h. I 4as half mad 4hen you came u+ 4ith us. Ho4e(er2 thereCs no "ood "rie(in" o(er it. IC(e had u+s in my life2 and ID(e had do4ns2 1ut IC(e learned not to cry o(er s+illed mil&.= <This is a (ery serious matter2 Small2= said the detecti(e. <If you had hel+ed 5ustice2 instead of th4artin" it in this 4ay2 you 4ould ha(e had a 1etter chance at your trial.= <0ustice@= snarled the e9-con(ict. <. +retty 5ustice@ 3hose loot is this2 if it is not ours> 3here is the 5ustice that I should "i(e it u+ to those 4ho ha(e ne(er earned it> $oo& ho4 I ha(e earned it@ T4enty lon" years in that fe(er-ridden s4am+2 all day at 4or& under the man"ro(e-tree2 all ni"ht chained u+ in the filthy con(ict-huts2 1itten 1y mos:uitoes2 rac&ed 4ith a"ue2 1ullied 1y e(ery cursed 1lac&-
faced +oliceman 4ho lo(ed to ta&e it out of a 4hite man. That 4as ho4 I earned the ."ra treasure2 and you tal& to me of 5ustice 1ecause I cannot 1ear to feel that I ha(e +aid this +rice only that another may en5oy it@ I 4ould rather s4in" a score of times2 or ha(e one of Ton"aCs darts in my hide2 than li(e in a con(ictDs cell and feel that another man is at his ease in a +alace 4ith the money that should 1e mine.= Small had dro++ed his mas& of stoicism2 and all this came out in a 4ild 4hirl of 4ords2 4hile his eyes 1laEed2 and the handcuffs clan&ed to"ether 4ith the im+assioned mo(ement of his hands. I could understand2 as I sa4 the fury and the +assion of the man2 that it 4as no "roundless or unnatural terror 4hich had +ossessed a5or Sholto 4hen he first learned that the in5ured con(ict 4as u+on his trac&. <;ou for"et that 4e &no4 nothin" of all this2= said Holmes :uietly. <3e ha(e not heard your story2 and 4e cannot tell ho4 far 5ustice may ori"inally ha(e 1een on your side.= <3ell2 sir2 you ha(e 1een (ery fair-s+o&en to me2 thou"h I can see that I ha(e you to than& that I ha(e these 1racelets u+on my 4rists. Still2 I 1ear no "rud"e for that. It is all fair and a1o(e-1oard. If you 4ant to hear my story2 I ha(e no 4ish to hold it 1ac&. 3hat I say to you is 'odCs truth2 e(ery 4ord of it. Than& you2 you can +ut the "lass 1eside me here2 and ICll +ut my li+s to it if I am dry. <I am a 3orcestershire man myself2 1orn near #ershore. I dare say you 4ould find a hea+ of Smalls li(in" there no4 if you 4ere to loo&. I ha(e often thou"ht of ta&in" a loo& round there2 1ut the truth is that I 4as ne(er much of a credit to the family2 and I dou1t if they 4ould 1e so (ery "lad to see me. They 4ere all steady2 cha+el-"oin" fol&2
small farmers2 4ell &no4n and res+ected o(er the countryside2 4hile I 4as al4ays a 1it of a ro(er. .t last2 ho4e(er2 4hen I 4as a1out ei"hteen2 I "a(e them no more trou1le2 for I "ot into a mess o(er a "irl and could only "et out of it a"ain 1y ta&in" the QueenCs shillin" and 5oinin" the Third Buffs2 4hich 4as 5ust startin" for India. <I 4asnCt destined to do much soldierin"2 ho4e(er. I had 5ust "ot +ast the "oose-ste+ and learned to handle my mus&et2 4hen I 4as fool enou"h to "o s4immin" in the 'an"es. $uc&ily for me2 my com+any ser"eant2 0ohn Holder2 4as in the 4ater at the same time2 and he 4as one of the finest s4immers in the ser(ice. . crocodile too& me 5ust as I 4as half4ay across and ni++ed off my ri"ht le" as clean as a sur"eon could ha(e done it2 5ust a1o(e the &nee. 3hat 4ith the shoc& and the loss of 1lood2 I fainted2 and should ha(e 1een dro4ned if Holder had not cau"ht hold of me and +addled for the 1an&. I 4as fi(e months in hos+ital o(er it2 and 4hen at last I 4as a1le to lim+ out of it 4ith this tim1er toe stra++ed to my stum+2 I found myself in(alided out of the .rmy and unfitted for any acti(e occu+ation. <I 4as2 as you can ima"ine2 +retty do4n on my luc& at this time2 for I 4as a useless cri++le2 thou"h not yet in my t4entieth year. Ho4e(er2 my misfortune soon +ro(ed to 1e a 1lessin" in dis"uise. . man named .1el 3hite2 4ho had come out there as an indi"o+lanter2 4anted an o(erseer to loo& after his coolies and &ee+ them u+ to their 4or&. He ha++ened to 1e a friend of our colonelCs2 4ho had ta&en an interest in me since the accident. To ma&e a lon" story shon2 the colonel recommended me stron"ly for the +ost2 and2 as the 4or& 4as mostly to 1e done on horse1ac&2 my le" 4as no "reat o1stacle2 for I had enou"h thi"h left to &ee+ a "ood "ri+ on the saddle. 3hat I had to do 4as to ride o(er the +lantation2 to &ee+ an
eye on the men as they 4or&ed2 and to re+ort the idlers. The +ay 4as fair2 I had comforta1le :uarters2 and alto"ether I 4as content to s+end the remainder of my life in indi"o-+lantin". r. .1el 3hite 4as a &ind man2 and he 4ould often dro+ into my little shanty and smo&e a +i+e 4ith me2 for 4hite fol& out there feel their hearts 4arm to each other as they ne(er do here at home. <3ell2 I 4as ne(er in luc&Cs 4ay lon". Suddenly2 4ithout a note of 4arnin"2 the "reat mutiny 1ro&e u+on us. 7ne month India lay as still and +eaceful2 to all a++earance2 as Surrey or Ient8 the ne9t there 4ere t4o hundred thousand 1lac& de(ils let loose2 and the country 4as a +erfect hell. 7f course you &no4 all a1out it2 "entlemen B a deal more than I do2 (ery li&e2 since readin" is not in my line. I only &no4 4hat I sa4 4ith my o4n eyes. 7ur +lantation 4as at a +lace called uttra2 near the 1order of the ?orth4est #ro(inces. ?i"ht after ni"ht the 4hole s&y 4as ali"ht 4ith the 1urnin" 1un"alo4s2 and day after day 4e had small com+anies of *uro+eans +assin" throu"h our estate 4ith their 4i(es and children2 on their 4ay to ."ra2 4here 4ere the nearest troo+s. r. .1el 3hite 4as an o1stinate man. He had it in his head that the affair had 1een e9a""erated2 and that it 4ould 1lo4 o(er as suddenly as it had s+run" u+. There he sat on his (eranda2 drin&in" 4his&y-+e"s and smo&in" cheroots2 4hile the country 4as in a 1laEe a1out him. 7f course 4e stuc& 1y him2 I and Da4son2 4ho2 4ith his 4ife2 used to do the 1oo&-4or& and the mana"in". 3ell2 one fine day the crash came. I had 1een a4ay on a distant +lantation and 4as ridin" slo4ly home in the e(enin"2 4hen my eye fell u+on somethin" all huddled to"ether at the 1ottom of a stee+ nullah. I rode do4n to see 4hat it 4as2 and the cold struc& throu"h my heart 4hen I found it 4as Da4sonCs 4ife2 all cut into ri11ons2 and half eaten 1y 5ac&als and nati(e do"s. . little further u+ the road Da4son himself 4as
lyin" on his face2 :uite dead2 4ith an em+ty re(ol(er in his hand2 and four se+oys lyin" across each other in front of him. I reined u+ my horse2 4onderin" 4hich 4ay I should turn8 1ut at that moment I sa4 thic& smo&e curlin" u+ from .1el 3hiteCs 1un"alo4 and the flames 1e"innin" to 1urst throu"h the roof. I &ne4 then that I could do my em+loyer no "ood2 1ut 4ould only thro4 my o4n life a4ay if I meddled in the matter. 6rom 4here I stood I could see hundreds of the 1lac& fiends2 4ith their red coats still on their 1ac&s2 dancin" and ho4lin" round the 1urnin" house. Some of them +ointed at me2 and a cou+le of 1ullets san" +ast my headH so I 1ro&e a4ay across the +addy-fields2 and found myself late at ni"ht safe 4ithin the 4alls at ."ra. <.s it +ro(ed2 ho4e(er2 there 4as no "reat safety there2 either. The 4hole country 4as u+ li&e a s4arm of 1ees. 3here(er the *n"lish could collect in little 1ands they held 5ust the "round that their "uns commanded. *(ery4here else they 4ere hel+less fu"iti(es. It 4as a fi"ht of the millions a"ainst the hundreds8 and the cruellest +art of it 4as that these men that 4e fou"ht a"ainst2 foot2 horse2 and "unners2 4ere our o4n +ic&ed troo+s2 4hom 4e had tau"ht and trained2 handlin" our o4n 4ea+ons and 1lo4in" our o4n 1u"lecalls. .t ."ra there 4ere the Third Ben"al 6usiliers2 some Si&hs2 t4o troo+s of horse2 and a 1attery of artillery. . (olunteer cor+s of cler&s and merchants had 1een formed2 and this I 5oined2 4ooden le" and all. 3e 4ent out to meet the re1els at Shah"un"e early in 0uly2 and 4e 1eat them 1ac& for a time2 1ut our +o4der "a(e out2 and 4e had to fall 1ac& u+on the city. <?othin" 1ut the 4orst ne4s came to us from e(ery side B 4hich is not to 1e 4ondered at2 for if you loo& at the ma+ you 4ill see that 4e 4ere ri"ht in the heart of it. $uc&no4 is rather 1etter than a
hundred miles to the east2 and Ca4n+ore a1out as far to the south. 6rom e(ery +oint on the com+ass there 4as nothin" 1ut torture and murder and outra"e. <The city of ."ra is a "reat +lace2 s4armin" 4ith fanatics and fierce de(il-4orshi++ers of all sorts. 7ur handful of men 4ere lost amon" the narro42 4indin" streets. 7ur leader mo(ed across the ri(er2 therefore2 and too& u+ his +osition in the old fort of ."ra. I donCt &no4 if any of you "entlemen ha(e e(er read or heard anythin" of that old fort. It is a (ery :ueer +lace B the :ueerest that e(er I 4as in2 and I ha(e 1een in some rum corners2 too. 6irst of all it is enormous in siEe. I should thin& that the enclosure must 1e acres and acres. There is a modern +art2 4hich too& all our "arrison2 4omen2 children2 stores2 and e(erythin" else2 4ith +lenty of room o(er. But the modern +art is nothin" li&e the siEe of the old :uarter2 4here no1ody "oes2 and 4hich is "i(en o(er to the scor+ions and the centi+edes. It is all full of "reat deserted halls2 and 4indin" +assa"es2 and lon" corridors t4istin" in and out2 so that it is easy enou"h for fol& to "et lost in it. 6or this reason it 4as seldom that anyone 4ent into it2 thou"h no4 and a"ain a +arty 4ith torches mi"ht "o e9+lorin". <The ri(er 4ashes alon" the front of the old fort2 and so +rotects it2 1ut on the sides and 1ehind there are many doors2 and these had to 1e "uarded2 of course2 in the old :uarter as 4ell as in that 4hich 4as actually held 1y our troo+s. 3e 4ere shorthanded2 4ith hardly men enou"h to man the an"les of the 1uildin" and to ser(e the "uns. It 4as im+ossi1le for us2 therefore2 to station a stron" "uard at e(ery one of the innumera1le "ates. 3hat 4e did 4as to or"aniEe a central "uardhouse in the middle of the fort2 and to lea(e each "ate under the char"e of one 4hite man and t4o or three
nati(es. I 4as selected to ta&e char"e durin" certain hours of the ni"ht of a small isolated door u+on the south-4est side of the 1uildin". T4o Si&h troo+ers 4ere +laced under my command2 and I 4as instructed if anythin" 4ent 4ron" to fire my mus&et2 4hen I mi"ht rely u+on hel+ comin" at once from the central "uard. .s the "uard 4as a "ood t4o hundred +aces a4ay2 ho4e(er2 and as the s+ace 1et4een 4as cut u+ into a la1yrinth of +assa"es and corridors2 I had "reat dou1ts as to 4hether they could arri(e in time to 1e of any use in case of an actual attac&. <3ell2 I 4as +retty +roud at ha(in" this small command "i(en me2 since I 4as a ra4 recruit2 and a "ame-le""ed one at that. 6or t4o ni"hts I &e+t the 4atch 4ith my #un5a1ees. They 4ere tall2 fierceloo&in" cha+s2 ahomet Sin"h and .1dullah Ihan 1y name2 1oth old fi"htin" men2 4ho had 1orne arms a"ainst us at Chilian 3allah. They could tal& *n"lish +retty 4ell2 1ut I could "et little out of them. They +referred to stand to"ether2 and 5a11er all ni"ht in their :ueer Si&h lin"o. 6or myself2 I used to stand outside the "ate4ay2 loo&in" do4n on the 1road2 4indin" ri(er and on the t4in&lin" li"hts of the "reat city. The 1eatin" of drums2 the rattle of tomtoms2 and the yells and ho4ls of the re1els2 drun& 4ith o+ium and 4ith 1an"2 4ere enou"h to remind us all ni"ht of our dan"erous nei"h1ours across the stream. *(ery t4o hours the officer of the ni"ht used to come round to all the +osts to ma&e sure that all 4as 4ell. <The third ni"ht of my 4atch 4as dar& and dirty2 4ith a small dri(in" rain. It 4as dreary 4or& standin" in the "ate4ay hour after hour in such 4eather. I tried a"ain and a"ain to ma&e my Si&hs tal&2 1ut 4ithout much success. .t t4o in the mornin" the rounds +assed and 1ro&e for a moment the 4eariness of the ni"ht. 6indin" that my com+anions 4ould not 1e led into con(ersation2 I too& out my +i+e
and laid do4n my mus&et to stri&e the match. In an instant the t4o Si&hs 4ere u+on me. 7ne of them snatched my fireloc& u+ and le(elled it at my head2 4hile the other held a "reat &nife to my throat and s4ore 1et4een his teeth that he 4ould +lun"e it into me if I mo(ed a ste+. < y first thou"ht 4as that these fello4s 4ere in lea"ue 4ith the re1els2 and that this 4as the 1e"innin" of an assault. If our door 4ere in the hands of the se+oys the +lace must fall2 and the 4omen and children 1e treated as they 4ere in Ca4n+ore. ay1e you "entlemen thin& that I am 5ust ma&in" out a case for myself2 1ut I "i(e you my 4ord that 4hen I thou"ht of that2 thou"h I felt the +oint of the &nife at my throat2 I o+ened my mouth 4ith the intention of "i(in" a scream2 if it 4as my last one2 4hich mi"ht alarm the main "uard. The man 4ho held me seemed to &no4 my thou"hts8 for2 e(en as I 1raced myself to it2 he 4his+eredH DDonCt ma&e a noise. The fort is safe enou"h. There are no re1el do"s on this side of the ri(er.C There 4as the rin" of truth in 4hat he said2 and I &ne4 that if I raised my (oice I 4as a dead man. I could read it in the fello4Cs 1ro4n eyes. I 4aited2 therefore2 in silence2 to see 4hat it 4as that they 4anted from me. <D$isten to me2 sahi12C said the taller and fiercer of the +air2 the one 4hom they called .1dullah Ihan. D;ou must either 1e 4ith us no42 or you must 1e silenced fore(er. The thin" is too "reat a one for us to hesitate. *ither you are heart and soul 4ith us on your oath on the cross of the Christians2 or your 1ody this ni"ht shall 1e thro4n into the ditch2 and 4e shall +ass o(er to our 1rothers in the re1el army. There is no middle 4ay. 3hich is it to 1e B death or life> 3e can only "i(e you three minutes to decide2 for the time is +assin"2 and all must 1e done 1efore the rounds come a"ain.C
<DHo4 can I decide>C said I. D;ou ha(e not told me 4hat you 4ant of me. But I tell you no4 that if it is anythin" a"ainst the safety of the fort I 4ill ha(e no truc& 4ith it2 so you can dri(e home your &nife and 4elcome.C <DIt is nothin" a"ainst the fort2C said he. D3e only as& you to do that 4hich your countrymen come to this land for. 3e as& you to 1e rich. If you 4ill 1e one of us this ni"ht2 4e 4ill s4ear to you u+on the na&ed &nife2 and 1y the threefold oath 4hich no Si&h 4as e(er &no4n to 1rea&2 that you shall ha(e your fair share of the loot. . :uarter of the treasure shall 1e yours. 3e can say no fairer.C <DBut 4hat is the treasure then>C I as&ed. DI am as ready to 1e rich as you can 1e if you 4ill 1ut sho4 me ho4 it can 1e done.C <D;ou 4ill s4ear2 then2C said he2 D1y the 1ones of your father2 1y the honour of your mother2 1y the cross of your faith2 to raise no hand and s+ea& no 4ord a"ainst us2 either no4 or after4ards>C <DI 4ill s4ear it2C I ans4ered2 D+ro(ided that the fort is not endan"ered.C <DThen my comrade and I 4ill s4ear that you shall ha(e a :uarter of the treasure 4hich shall 1e e:ually di(ided amon" the four of us.C <DThere are 1ut three2C said I. <D?o8 Dost .&1ar must ha(e his share. 3e can tell the tale to you 4hile 4e 4ait them. Do you stand at the "ate2 ahomet Sin"h2 and "i(e notice of their comin". The thin" stands thus2 sahi12 and I tell it to you 1ecause I &no4 that an oath is 1indin" u+on a 6erin"hee2 and that 4e may trust you. Had you 1een a lyin" Hindoo2 thou"h you had s4orn 1y all the "ods in their false tem+les2 your 1lood
4ould ha(e 1een u+on the &nife and your 1ody in the 4ater. But the Si&h &no4s the *n"lishman2 and the *n"lishman &no4s the Si&h. Hear&en2 then2 to 4hat I ha(e to say. <DThere is a ra5ah in the northern +ro(inces 4ho has much 4ealth2 thou"h his lands are small. uch has come to him from his father2 and more still he has set 1y himself2 for he is of a lo4 nature and hoards his "old rather than s+end it. 3hen the trou1les 1ro&e out he 4ould 1e friends 1oth 4ith the lion and the ti"er B 4ith the se+oy and 4ith the Com+anyCs ra5. Soon2 ho4e(er2 it seemed to him that the 4hite menCs day 4as come2 for throu"h all the land he could hear of nothin" 1ut of their death and their o(erthro4. ;et2 1ein" a careful man2 he made such +lans that2 come 4hat mi"ht2 half at least of his treasure should 1e left to him. That 4hich 4as in "old and sil(er he &e+t 1y him in the (aults of his +alace2 1ut the most +recious stones and the choicest +earls that he had he +ut in an iron 1o9 and sent it 1y a trusty ser(ant2 4ho2 under the "uise of a merchant2 should ta&e it to the fort at ."ra2 there to lie until the land is at +eace. Thus2 if the re1els 4on he 4ould ha(e his money2 1ut if the Com+any con:uered2 his 5e4els 4ould 1e sa(ed to him. Ha(in" thus di(ided his hoard2 he thre4 himself into the cause of the se+oys2 since they 4ere stron" u+on his 1orders. By his doin" this2 mar& you2 sahi12 his +ro+erty 1ecomes the due of those 4ho ha(e 1een true to their salt. <DThis +retended merchant2 4ho tra(els under the name of .chmet2 is no4 in the city of ."ra and desires to "ain his 4ay into the fort. He has 4ith him as tra(ellin"-com+anion my foster-1rother Dost .&1ar2 4ho &no4s his secret. Dost .&1ar has +romised this ni"ht to lead him to a side-+ostern of the fort2 and has chosen this one for his +ur+ose. Here he 4ill come +resently2 and here he 4ill find
ahomet Sin"h and myself a4aitin" him. The +lace is lonely2 and none shall &no4 of his comin". The 4orld shall &no4 the merchant .chmet no more2 1ut the "reat treasure of the ra5ah shall 1e di(ided amon" us. 3hat say you to it2 sahi1>C <In 3orcestershire the life of a man seems a "reat and a sacred thin"8 1ut it is (ery different 4hen there is fire and 1lood all round you2 and you ha(e 1een used to meetin" death at e(ery turn. 3hether .chmet the merchant li(ed or died 4as a thin" as li"ht as air to me2 1ut at the tal& a1out the treasure my heart turned to it2 and I thou"ht of 4hat I mi"ht do in the old country 4ith it2 and ho4 my fol& 4ould stare 4hen they sa4 their neCer-do-4ell comin" 1ac& 4ith his +oc&ets full of "old moidores. I had2 therefore2 already made u+ my mind. .1dullah Ihan2 ho4e(er2 thin&in" that I hesitated2 +ressed the matter more closely. <DConsider2 sahi12C said he2 Dthat if this man is ta&en 1y the commandant he 4ill 1e hun" or shot2 and his 5e4els ta&en 1y the "o(ernment2 so that no man 4ill 1e a ru+ee the 1etter for them. ?o42 since 4e do the ta&in" of him2 4hy should 4e not do the rest as 4ell> The 5e4els 4ill 1e as 4ell 4ith us as in the Com+anyCs coffers. There 4ill 1e enou"h to ma&e e(ery one of us rich men and "reat chiefs. ?o one can &no4 a1out the matter2 for here 4e are cut off from all men. 3hat could 1e 1etter for the +ur+ose> Say a"ain2 then2 sahi12 4hether you are 4ith us2 or if 4e must loo& u+on you as an enemy.C <DI am 4ith you heart and soul2C said I. <DIt is 4ell2C he ans4ered2 handin" me 1ac& my fireloc&. D;ou see that 4e trust you2 for your 4ord2 li&e ours2 is not to 1e 1ro&en. 3e ha(e no4 only to 4ait for my 1rother and the merchant.C
<DDoes your 1rother &no42 then2 of 4hat you 4ill do>C I as&ed. <DThe +lan is his. He has de(ised it. 3e 4ill "o to the "ate and share the 4atch 4ith ahomet Sin"h.C <The rain 4as still fallin" steadily2 for it 4as 5ust the 1e"innin" of the 4et season. Bro4n2 hea(y clouds 4ere driftin" across the s&y2 and it 4as hard to see more than a stonecast. . dee+ moat lay in front of our door2 1ut the 4ater 4as in +laces nearly dried u+2 and it could easily 1e crossed. It 4as stran"e to me to 1e standin" there 4ith those t4o 4ild #un5a1ees 4aitin" for the man 4ho 4as comin" to his death. <Suddenly my eye cau"ht the "lint of a shaded lantern at the other side of the moat. It (anished amon" the mound-hea+s2 and then a++eared a"ain comin" slo4ly in our direction. <DHere they are@C I e9claimed. <D;ou 4ill challen"e him2 sahi12 as usual2C 4his+ered .1dullah. D'i(e him no cause for fear. Send us in 4ith him2 and 4e shall do the rest 4hile you stay here on "uard. Ha(e the lantern ready to unco(er2 that 4e may 1e sure that it is indeed the man.C <The li"ht had flic&ered on4ard2 no4 sto++in" and no4 ad(ancin"2 until I could see t4o dar& fi"ures u+on the other side of the moat. I let them scram1le do4n the slo+in" 1an&2 s+lash throu"h the mire2 and clim1 half4ay u+ to the "ate 1efore I challen"ed them. <D3ho "oes there>C said I in a su1dued (oice. <D6riends2C came the ans4er. I unco(ered my lantern and thre4 a flood of li"ht u+on them. The first 4as an enormous Si&h 4ith a
1lac& 1eard 4hich s4e+t nearly do4n to his cummer1und. 7utside of a sho4 I ha(e ne(er seen so tall a man. The other 4as a little fat2 round fello4 4ith a "reat yello4 tur1an and a 1undle in his hand2 done u+ in a sha4l. He seemed to 1e all in a :ui(er 4ith fear2 for his hands t4itched as if he had the a"ue2 and his head &e+t turnin" to left and ri"ht 4ith t4o 1ri"ht little t4in&lin" eyes2 li&e a mouse 4hen he (entures out from his hole. It "a(e me the chills to thin& of &illin" him2 1ut I thou"ht of the treasure2 and my heart set as hard as a flint 4ithin me. 3hen he sa4 my 4hite face he "a(e a little chirru+ of 5oy and came runnin" u+ to4ards me. <D;our +rotection2 sahi12C he +anted2 Dyour +rotection for the unha++y merchant .chmet. I ha(e tra(elled across Aa5+ootana2 that I mi"ht see& the shelter of the fort at ."ra. I ha(e 1een ro11ed and 1eaten and a1used 1ecause I ha(e 1een the friend of the Com+any. It is a 1lessed ni"ht this 4hen I am once more in safety B I and my +oor +ossessions.C <D3hat ha(e you in the 1undle>C I as&ed.
in throu"h the dar& "ate4ay. ?e(er 4as a man so com+assed round 4ith death. I remained at the "ate4ay 4ith the lantern. <I could hear the measured tram+ of their footste+s soundin" throu"h the lonely corridors. Suddenly it ceased2 and I heard (oices and a scuffle2 4ith the sound of 1lo4s. . moment later there came2 to my horror2 a rush of footste+s comin" in my direction2 4ith a loud 1reathin" of a runnin" man. I turned my lantern do4n the lon" strai"ht +assa"e2 and there 4as the fat man2 runnin" li&e the 4ind2 4ith a smear of 1lood across his face2 and close at his heels2 1oundin" li&e a ti"er2 the "reat 1lac&-1earded Si&h2 4ith a &nife flashin" in his hand. I ha(e ne(er seen a man run so fast as that little merchant. He 4as "ainin" on the Si&h2 and I could see that if he once +assed me and "ot to the o+en air he 4ould sa(e himself yet. y heart softened to him2 1ut a"ain the thou"ht of his treasure turned me hard and 1itter. I cast my fireloc& 1et4een his le"s as he raced +ast2 and he rolled t4ice o(er li&e a shot ra11it. *re he could sta""er to his feet the Si&h 4as u+on him and 1uried his &nife t4ice in his side. The man ne(er uttered moan nor mo(ed muscle 1ut lay 4here he had fallen. I thin& myself that he may ha(e 1ro&en his nec& 4ith the fall. ;ou see2 "entlemen2 that I am &ee+in" my +romise. I am tellin" you e(ery 4ord of the 1usiness 5ust e9actly as it ha++ened2 4hether it is in my fa(our or not.= He sto++ed and held out his manacled hands for the 4his&y and 4ater 4hich Holmes had 1re4ed for him. 6or myself2 I confess that I had no4 concei(ed the utmost horror of the man not only for this cold-1looded 1usiness in 4hich he had 1een concerned 1ut e(en more for the some4hat fli++ant and careless 4ay in 4hich he narrated it. 3hate(er +unishment 4as in store for him2 I felt that he mi"ht e9+ect no sym+athy from me. Sherloc& Holmes and 0ones
<D.n iron 1o92C he ans4ered2 D4hich contains one or t4o little family matters 4hich are of no (alue to others 1ut 4hich I should 1e sorry to lose. ;et I am not a 1e""ar8 and I shall re4ard you2 youn" sahi12 and your "o(ernor also if he 4ill "i(e me the shelter I as&.C <I could not trust myself to s+ea& lon"er 4ith the man. The more I loo&ed at his fat2 fri"htened face2 the harder did it seem that 4e should slay him in cold 1lood. It 4as 1est to "et it o(er. <DTa&e him to the main "uard2C said I. The t4o Si&hs closed in u+on him on each side2 and the "iant 4al&ed 1ehind2 4hile they marched
sat 4ith their hands u+on their &nees2 dee+ly interested in the story 1ut 4ith the same dis"ust 4ritten u+on their faces. He may ha(e o1ser(ed it2 for there 4as a touch of defiance in his (oice and manner as he +roceeded. <It 4as all (ery 1ad2 no dou1t2= said he. <I should li&e to &no4 ho4 many fello4s in my shoes 4ould ha(e refused a share of this loot 4hen they &ne4 that they 4ould ha(e their throats cut for their +ains. Besides2 it 4as my life or his 4hen once he 4as in the fort. If he had "ot out2 the 4hole 1usiness 4ould come to li"ht2 and I should ha(e 1een court-martialled and shot as li&ely as not8 for +eo+le 4ere not (ery lenient at a time li&e that.= <'o on 4ith your story2= said Holmes shortly. <3ell2 4e carried him in2 .1dullah2 .&1ar2 and I. . fine 4ei"ht he 4as2 too2 for all that he 4as so shorrt. ahomet Sin"h 4as left to "uard the door. 3e too& him to a +lace 4hich the Si&hs had already +re+ared. It 4as some distance off2 4here a 4indin" +assa"e leads to a "reat em+ty hall2 the 1ric& 4alls of 4hich 4ere all crum1lin" to +ieces. The earth floor had sun& in at one +lace2 ma&in" a natural "ra(e2 so 4e left .chmet the merchant there2 ha(in" first co(ered him o(er 4ith loose 1ric&s. This done2 4e all 4ent 1ac& to the treasure. <It lay 4here he had dro++ed it 4hen he 4as first attac&ed. The 1o9 4as the same 4hich no4 lies o+en u+on your ta1le. . &ey 4as hun" 1y a sil&en cord to that car(ed handle u+on the to+. 3e o+ened it2 and the li"ht of the lantern "leamed u+on a collection of "ems such as I ha(e read of and thou"ht a1out 4hen I 4as a little lad at #ershore. It 4as 1lindin" to loo& u+on them. 3hen 4e had feasted our eyes 4e too& them all out and made a list of them.
There 4ere one hundred and forty-three diamonds of the first 4ater2 includin" one 4hich has 1een called2 I 1elie(e2 Dthe 'reat o"ul2C and is said to 1e the second lar"est stone in e9istence. Then there 4ere ninety-se(en (ery fine emeralds2 and one hundred and se(enty ru1ies2 some of 4hich2 ho4e(er2 4ere small. There 4ere forty car1uncles2 t4o hundred and ten sa++hires2 si9ty-one a"ates2 and a "reat :uantity of 1eryls2 ony9es2 catsC-eyes2 tur:uoises2 and other stones2 the (ery names of 4hich I did not &no4 at the time2 thou"h I ha(e 1ecome more familiar 4ith them since. Besides this2 there 4ere nearly three hundred (ery fine +earls2 t4el(e of 4hich 4ere set in a "old coronet. By the 4ay2 these last had 1een ta&en out of the chest2 and 4ere not there 4hen I reco(ered it. <.fter 4e had counted our treasures 4e +ut them 1ac& into the chest and carried them to the "ate4ay to sho4 them to ahomet Sin"h. Then 4e solemnly rene4ed our oath to stand 1y each other and 1e true to our secret. 3e a"reed to conceal our loot in a safe +lace until the country should 1e at +eace a"ain2 and then to di(ide it e:ually amon" oursel(es. There 4as no use di(idin" it at +resent2 for if "ems of such (alue 4ere found u+on us it 4ould cause sus+icion2 and there 4as no +ri(acy in the fort nor any +lace 4here 4e could &ee+ them. 3e carried the 1o92 therefore2 into the same hall 4here 4e had 1uried the 1ody2 and there2 under certain 1ric&s in the 1est-+reser(ed 4all2 4e made a hollo4 and +ut our treasure. 3e made careful note of the +lace2 and ne9t day I dre4 four +lans2 one for each of us2 and +ut the si"n of the four of us at the 1ottom2 for 4e had s4orn that 4e should each al4ays act for all2 so that none mi"ht ta&e ad(anta"e. That is an oath that I can +ut my hand to my heart and s4ear that I ha(e ne(er 1ro&en.
<3ell2 thereCs no use my tellin" you "entlemen 4hat came of the Indian mutiny. .fter 3ilson too& Delhi and Sir Colin relie(ed $uc&no4 the 1ac& of the 1usiness 4as 1ro&en. 6resh troo+s came +ourin" in2 and ?ana Sahi1 made himself scarce o(er the frontier. . flyin" column under Colonel 'reathed came round to ."ra and cleared the #andies a4ay from it. #eace seemed to 1e settlin" u+on the country2 and 4e four 4ere 1e"innin" to ho+e that the time 4as at hand 4hen 4e mi"ht safely "o off 4ith our shares of the +lunder. In a moment2 ho4e(er2 our ho+es 4ere shattered 1y our 1ein" arrested as the murderers of .chmet. <It came a1out in this 4ay. 3hen the ra5ah +ut his 5e4els into the hands of .chmet he did it 1ecause he &ne4 that he 4as a trusty man. They are sus+icious fol& in the *ast2 ho4e(erH so 4hat does this ra5ah do 1ut ta&e a second e(en more trusty ser(ant and set him to +lay the s+y u+on the first. This second man 4as ordered ne(er to let .chmet out of his si"ht2 and he follo4ed him li&e his shado4. He 4ent after him that ni"ht and sa4 him +ass throu"h the door4ay. 7f course he thou"ht he had ta&en refu"e in the fort and a++lied for admission there himself ne9t day2 1ut could find no trace of .chmet. This seemed to him so stran"e that he s+o&e a1out it to a ser"eant of "uides2 4ho 1rou"ht it to the ears of the commandant. . thorou"h search 4as :uic&ly made2 and the 1ody 4as disco(ered. Thus at the (ery moment that 4e thou"ht that all 4as safe 4e 4ere all four seiEed and 1rou"ht to trial on a char"e of murder B three of us 1ecause 4e had held the "ate that ni"ht2 and the fourth 1ecause he 4as &no4n to ha(e 1een in the com+any of the murdered man. ?ot a 4ord a1out the 5e4els came out at the trial2 for the ra5ah had 1een de+osed and dri(en out of IndiaH so no one had any +articular interest in them. The murder2 ho4e(er2 4as clearly made out2 and it 4as certain that 4e must all ha(e 1een
concerned in it. The three Si&hs "ot +enal ser(itude for life2 and I 4as condemned to death2 thou"h my sentence 4as after4ards commuted to the same as the others. <It 4as rather a :ueer +osition that 4e found oursel(es in then. There 4e 4ere all four tied 1y the le" and 4ith +recious little chance of e(er "ettin" out a"ain2 4hile 4e each held a secret 4hich mi"ht ha(e +ut each of us in a +alace if 4e could only ha(e made use of it. It 4as enou"h to ma&e a man eat his heart out to ha(e to stand the &ic& and the cuff of e(ery +etty 5ac&-in-office2 to ha(e rice to eat and 4ater to drin&2 4hen that "or"eous fortune 4as ready for him outside2 5ust 4aitin" to 1e +ic&ed u+. It mi"ht ha(e dri(en me mad8 1ut I 4as al4ays a +retty stu11orn one2 so I 5ust held on and 1ided my time. <.t last it seemed to me to ha(e come. I 4as chan"ed from ."ra to adras2 and from there to Blair Island in the .ndamans. There are (ery fe4 4hite con(icts at this settlement2 and2 as I had 1eha(ed 4ell from the first2 I soon found myself a son of +ri(ile"ed +erson. I 4as "i(en a hut in Ho+e To4n2 4hich is a small +lace on the slo+es of ount Harriet2 and I 4as left +retty much to myself. It is a dreary2 fe(er-stric&en +lace2 and all 1eyond our little clearin"s 4as infested 4ith 4ild canni1al nati(es2 4ho 4ere ready enou"h to 1lo4 a +oisoned dart at us if they sa4 a chance. There 4as di""in" and ditchin" and yam-+lantin"2 and a doEen other thin"s to 1e done2 so 4e 4ere 1usy enou"h all day8 thou"h in the e(enin" 4e had a little time to oursel(es. .mon" other thin"s2 I2 learned to dis+ense dru"s for the sur"eon2 and +ic&ed u+ a smatterin" of his &no4led"e. .ll the time I 4as on the loo&out for a chance to esca+e8 1ut it is hundreds of miles from any other land2 and there is little or no 4ind in those seasH so it 4as a terri1ly difficult 5o1 to "et a4ay.
<The sur"eon2 Dr. Somerton2 4as a fast2 s+ortin" youn" cha+2 and the other youn" officers 4ould meet in his rooms of an e(enin" and +lay cards. The sur"ery2 4here I used to ma&e u+ my dru"s2 4as ne9t to his sittin"-room2 4ith a small 4indo4 1et4een us. 7ften2 if I felt lonesome2 I used to turn out the lam+ in the sur"ery2 and then2 standin" there2 I could hear their tal& and 4atch their +lay. I am fond of a hand at cards myself2 and it 4as almost as "ood as ha(in" one to 4atch the others. There 4as a5or Sholto2 Ca+tain orstan2 and $ieutenant Bromley Bro4n2 4ho 4ere in command of the nati(e troo+s2 and there 4as the sur"eon himself2 and t4o or three +risonofficials2 crafty old hands 4ho +layed a nice sly safe "ame. . (ery snu" little +arty they used to ma&e. <3ell2 there 4as one thin" 4hich (ery soon struc& me2 and that 4as that the soldiers used al4ays to lose and the ci(ilians to 4in. ind2 I donCt say there 4as anythin" unfair2 1ut so it 4as. These +risoncha+s had done little else than +lay cards e(er since they had 1een at the .ndamans2 and they &ne4 each otherCs "ame to a +oint2 4hile the others 5ust +layed to +ass the time and thre4 their cards do4n anyho4. ?i"ht after ni"ht the soldiers "ot u+ +oorer men2 and the +oorer they "ot the more &een they 4ere to +lay. a5or Sholto 4as the hardest hit. He used to +ay in notes and "old at first2 1ut soon it came to notes of hand and for 1i" sums. He sometimes 4ould 4in for a fe4 deals 5ust to "i(e him heart2 and then the luc& 4ould set in a"ainst him 4orse than e(er. .ll day he 4ould 4ander a1out as 1lac& as thunder2 and he too& to drin&in" a deal more than 4as "ood for him. <7ne ni"ht he lost e(en more hea(ily than usual. I 4as sittin" in my hut 4hen he and Ca+tain orstan came stum1lin" alon" on the
4ay to their :uarters. They 4ere 1osom friends2 those t4o2 and ne(er far a+art. The ma5or 4as ra(in" a1out his losses. <DItCs all u+2 orstan2C he 4as sayin" as they +assed my hut. DI shall ha(e to send in my +a+ers. I am a ruined man.C <D?onsense2 old cha+@C said the other2 sla++in" him u+on the shoulder. DIC(e had a nasty facer myself2 1ut BC That 4as all I could hear2 1ut it 4as enou"h to set me thin&in". <. cou+le of days later a5or Sholto 4as strollin" on the 1eachH so I too& the chance of s+ea&in" to him. <DI 4ish to ha(e your ad(ice2 a5or2C said I.
<D3ell2 Small2 4hat is it>C he as&ed2 ta&in" his cheroot from his li+s. <DI 4anted to as& you2 sir2C said I2 D4ho is the +ro+er +erson to 4hom hidden treasure should 1e handed o(er. I &no4 4here half a million 4orth lies2 and2 as I cannot use it myself2 I thou"ht +erha+s the 1est thin" that I could do 4ould 1e to hand it o(er to the +ro+er authorities2 and then +erha+s they 4ould "et my sentence shortened for me.C <DHalf a million2 Small>C he "as+ed2 loo&in" hard at me to see if I 4as in earnest. <DQuite that2 sir B in 5e4els and +earls. It lies there ready for anyone. .nd the :ueer thin" a1out it is that the real o4ner is outla4ed and cannot hold +ro+erty2 so that it 1elon"s to the first comer.C
<DTo "o(ernment2 Small2C he stammered2 Dto "o(ernment.C But he said it in a haltin" fashion2 and I &ne4 in my heart that I had "ot him. <D;ou thin&2 then2 sir2 that I should "i(e the information to the "o(ernor-"eneral>C said I :uietly. <D3ell2 4ell2 you must not do anythin" rash2 or that you mi"ht re+ent. $et me hear all a1out it2 Small. 'i(e me the facts.C <I told him the 4hole story2 4ith small chan"es2 so that he could not identify the +laces. 3hen I had finished he stood stoc& still and full of thou"ht. I could see 1y the t4itch of his li+ that there 4as a stru""le "oin" on 4ithin him. <DThis is a (ery im+ortant matter2 Small2C he said at last. D;ou must not say a 4ord to anyone a1out it2 and I shall see you a"ain soon.C <T4o ni"hts later he and his friend2 Ca+tain hut in the dead of the ni"ht 4ith a lantern. <DI 4ant you 5ust to let Ca+tain o4n li+s2 Small2C said he. orstan2 came to my
dis+osin" of as you thin& 1est. ?o4 the :uestion is2 3hat +rice 4ould you as& for it> 3e mi"ht 1e inclined to ta&e it u+2 and at least loo& into it2 if 4e could a"ree as to terms.C He tried to s+ea& in a cool2 careless 4ay2 1ut his eyes 4ere shinin" 4ith e9citement and "reed. <D3hy2 as to that2 "entlemen2C I ans4ered2 tryin" also to 1e cool 1ut feelin" as e9cited as he did2 Dthere is only one 1ar"ain 4hich a man in my +osition can ma&e. I shall 4ant you to hel+ me to my freedom2 and to hel+ my three com+anions to theirs. 3e shall then ta&e you into +artnershi+ and "i(e you a fifth share to di(ide 1et4een you.C <DHum@C said he. D. fifth share@ That is not (ery tem+tin".C <DIt 4ould come to fifty thousand a+iece2C said I. <DBut ho4 can 4e "ain your freedom> ;ou &no4 (ery 4ell that you as& an im+ossi1ility.C <D?othin" of the sort2C I ans4ered. DI ha(e thou"ht it all out to the last detail. The only 1ar to our esca+e is that 4e can "et no 1oat fit for the (oya"e2 and no +ro(isions to last us for so lon" a time. There are +lenty of little yachts and ya4ls at Calcutta or adras 4hich 4ould ser(e our turn 4ell. Do you 1rin" one o(er. 3e shall en"a"e to "et a1oard her 1y ni"ht2 and if you 4ill dro+ us on any +art of the Indian coast you 4ill ha(e done your +art of the 1ar"ain.C <DIf there 4ere only one2C he said. <D?one or all2C I ans4ered. D3e ha(e s4orn it. The four of us must al4ays act to"ether.C
orstan hear that story from your
C said he. DItCs "ood enou"h to act u+on>C <Ca+tain orstan nodded.
<D$oo& here2 Small2C said the ma5or. D3e ha(e 1een tal&in" it o(er2 my friend here and I2 and 4e ha(e come to the conclusion that this secret of yours is hardly a "o(ernment matter2 after all2 1ut is a +ri(ate concern of your o4n2 4hich of course you ha(e the +o4er of
<D;ou see2 orstan2C said he2 DSmall is a man of his 4ord. He does not flinch from his friends. I thin& 4e may (ery 4ell trust him.C <DItCs a dirty 1usiness2C the other ans4ered. D;et2 as you say2 the money 4ill sa(e our commissions handsomely.C <D3ell2 Small2C said the ma5or2 D4e must2 I su++ose2 try and meet you. 3e must first2 of course2 test the truth of your story. Tell me 4here the 1o9 is hid2 and I shall "et lea(e of a1sence and "o 1ac& to India in the monthly relief-1oat to in:uire into the affair.C <D?ot so fast2C said I2 "ro4in" colder as he "ot hot. DI must ha(e the consent of my three comrades. I tell you that it is four or none 4ith us.C <D?onsense@C he 1ro&e in. D3hat ha(e three 1lac& fello4s to do 4ith our a"reement>C <DBlac& or 1lue2C said I2 Dthey are in 4ith me2 and 4e all "o to"ether.C <3ell2 the matter ended 1y a second meetin"2 at 4hich ahomet Sin"h2 .1dullah Ihan2 and Dost .&1ar 4ere all +resent. 3e tal&ed the matter o(er a"ain2 and at last 4e came to an arran"ement. 3e 4ere to +ro(ide 1oth the officers 4ith charts of the +art of the ."ra fort2 and mar& the +lace in the 4all 4here the treasure 4as hid. a5or Sholto 4as to "o to India to test our story. If he found the 1o9 he 4as to lea(e it there2 to send out a small yacht +ro(isioned for a (oya"e2 4hich 4as to lie off Autland Island2 and to 4hich 4e 4ere to ma&e our 4ay2 and finally to return to his duties. Ca+tain orstan 4as then to a++ly for lea(e of a1sence2 to meet us at ."ra2 and there 4e 4ere to ha(e a final di(ision of the treasure2 he ta&in" the ma5orCs share as 4ell as his o4n. .ll this 4e sealed 1y the most solemn oaths that the mind could thin& or the li+s utter. I sat u+ all
ni"ht 4ith +a+er and in&2 and 1y the mornin" I had the t4o charts all ready2 si"ned 4ith the si"n of four B that is2 of .1dullah2 .&1ar2 ahomet2 and myself. <3ell2 "entlemen2 I 4eary you 4ith my lon" story2 and I &no4 that my friend r. 0ones is im+atient to "et me safely sto4ed in cho&ey. ICll ma&e it as short as I can. The (illain Sholto 4ent off to India2 1ut he ne(er came 1ac& a"ain. Ca+tain orstan sho4ed me his name amon" a list of +assen"ers in one of the mail-1oats (ery shortly after4ards. His uncle had died2 lea(in" him a fortune2 and he had left the .rmy8 yet he could stoo+ to treat fi(e men as he had treated us. orstan 4ent o(er to ."ra shortly after4ards and found2 as 4e e9+ected2 that the treasure 4as indeed "one. The scoundrel had stolen it all 4ithout carryin" out one of the conditions on 4hich 4e had sold him the secret. 6rom that I li(ed only for (en"eance. I thou"ht of it 1y day and I nursed it 1y ni"ht. It 1ecame an o(er+o4erin"2 a1sor1in" +assion 4ith me. I cared nothin" for the la4 B nothin" for the "allo4s. To esca+e2 to trac& do4n Sholto2 to ha(e my hand u+on his throat B that 4as my one thou"ht. *(en the ."ra treasure had come to 1e a smaller thin" in my mind than the slayin" of Sholto. <3ell2 I ha(e set my mind on many thin"s in this life2 and ne(er one 4hich I did not carry out. But it 4as 4eary years 1efore my time came. I ha(e told you that I had +ic&ed u+ somethin" of medicine. 7ne day 4hen Dr. Somerton 4as do4n 4ith a fe(er a little .ndaman Islander 4as +ic&ed u+ 1y a con(ict-"an" in the 4oods. He 4as sic& to death and had "one to a lonely +lace to die. I too& him in hand2 thou"h he 4as as (enomous as a youn" sna&e2 and after a cou+le of months I "ot him all ri"ht and a1le to 4al&. He too& a &ind of fancy to me then2 and 4ould hardly "o 1ac& to his 4oods2
1ut 4as al4ays han"in" a1out my hut. I learned a little of his lin"o from him2 and this made him all the fonder of me. <Ton"a B for that 4as his name B 4as a fine 1oatman and o4ned a 1i"2 roomy canoe of his o4n. 3hen I found that he 4as de(oted to me and 4ould do anythin" to ser(e me2 I sa4 my chance of esca+e. I tal&ed it o(er 4ith him. He 4as to 1rin" his 1oat round on a certain ni"ht to an old 4harf 4hich 4as ne(er "uarded2 and there he 4as to +ic& me u+. I "a(e him directions to ha(e se(eral "ourds of 4ater and a lot of yams2 cocoanuts2 and s4eet +otatoes. <He 4as staunch and true2 4as little Ton"a. ?o man e(er had a more faithful mate. .t the ni"ht named he had his 1oat at the 4harf. .s it chanced2 ho4e(er2 there 4as one of the con(ict-"uard do4n there B a (ile #athan 4ho had ne(er missed a chance of insultin" and in5urin" me. I had al4ays (o4ed (en"eance2 and no4 I had my chance. It 4as as if fate had +laced him in my 4ay that I mi"ht +ay my de1t 1efore I left the island. He stood on the 1an& 4ith his 1ac& to me2 and his car1ine on his shoulder. I loo&ed a1out for a stone to 1eat out his 1rains 4ith2 1ut none could I see. <Then a :ueer thou"ht came into my head and sho4ed me 4here I could lay my hand on a 4ea+on. I sat do4n in the dar&ness and unstra++ed my 4ooden le". 3ith three lon" ho+s I 4as on him. He +ut his car1ine to his shoulder2 1ut I struc& him full2 and &noc&ed the 4hole front of his s&ull in. ;ou can see the s+lit in the 4ood no4 4here I hit him. 3e 1oth 4ent do4n to"ether2 for I could not &ee+ my 1alance8 1ut 4hen I "ot u+ I found him still lyin" :uiet enou"h. I made for the 1oat2 and in an hour 4e 4ere 4ell out at sea. Ton"a had 1rou"ht all his earthly +ossessions 4ith him2 his arms and his "ods. .mon" other thin"s2 he had a lon" 1am1oo s+ear2 and some .ndaman cocoanut mattin"2 4ith 4hich I made a sort of a sail. 6or
ten days 4e 4ere 1eatin" a1out2 trustin" to luc&2 and on the ele(enth 4e 4ere +ic&ed u+ 1y a trader 4hich 4as "oin" from Sin"a+ore to 0iddah 4ith a car"o of alay +il"rims. They 4ere a rum cro4d2 and Ton"a and I soon mana"ed to settle do4n amon" them. They had one (ery "ood :ualityH they let you alone and as&ed no :uestions. <3ell2 if I 4ere to tell you all the ad(entures that my little chum and I 4ent throu"h2 you 4ould not than& me2 for I 4ould ha(e you here until the sun 4as shinin". Here and there 4e drifted a1out the 4orld2 somethin" al4ays turnin" u+ to &ee+ us from $ondon. .ll the time2 ho4e(er2 I ne(er lost si"ht of my +ur+ose. I 4ould dream of Sholto at ni"ht. . hundred times I ha(e &illed him in my slee+. .t last2 ho4e(er2 some three or four years a"o2 4e found oursel(es in *n"land. I had no "reat difficulty in findin" 4here Sholto li(ed2 and I set to 4or& to disco(er 4hether he had realiEed on the treasure2 or if he still had it. I made friends 4ith someone 4ho could hel+ me B I name no names2 for I donCt 4ant to "et anyone else in a hole B and I soon found that he still had the 5e4els. Then I tried to "et at him in many 4ays8 1ut he 4as +retty sly and had al4ays t4o +riEefi"hters2 1esides his sons and his &hitmut"ar2 on "uard o(er him. <7ne day2 ho4e(er2 I "ot 4ord that he 4as dyin". I hurried at once to the "arden2 mad that he should sli+ out of my clutches li&e that2 and2 loo&in" throu"h the 4indo42 I sa4 him lyin" in his 1ed2 4ith his sons on each side of him. ICd ha(e come throu"h and ta&en my chance 4ith the three of them2 only e(en as I loo&ed at him his 5a4 dro++ed2 and I &ne4 that he 4as "one. I "ot into his room that same ni"ht2 thou"h2 and I searched his +a+ers to see if there 4as any record of 4here he had hidden our 5e4els. There 4as not a line2
ho4e(er2 so I came a4ay2 1itter and sa(a"e as a man could 1e. Before I left I 1ethou"ht me that if I e(er met my Si&h friends a"ain it 4ould 1e a satisfaction to &no4 that I had left some mar& of our hatred8 so I scra4led do4n the si"n of the four of us2 as it had 1een on the chart2 and I +inned it on his 1osom. It 4as too much that he should 1e ta&en to the "ra(e 4ithout some to&en from the men 4hom he had ro11ed and 1efooled. <3e earned a li(in" at this time 1y my e9hi1itin" +oor Ton"a at fairs and other such +laces as the 1lac& canni1al. He 4ould eat ra4 meat and dance his 4ar-danceH so 4e al4ays had a hatful of +ennies after a dayCs 4or&. I still heard all the ne4s from #ondicherry $od"e2 and for some years there 4as no ne4s to hear2 e9ce+t that they 4ere huntin" for the treasure. .t last2 ho4e(er2 came 4hat 4e had 4aited for so lon". The treasure had 1een found. It 4as u+ at the to+ of the house in r. Bartholome4 SholtoCs chemical la1oratory. I came at once and had a loo& at the +lace2 1ut I could not see ho42 4ith my 4ooden le"2 I 4as to ma&e my 4ay u+ to it. I learned2 ho4e(er2 a1out a tra+door in the roof2 and also a1out r. SholtoCs su++er-hour. It seemed to me that I could mana"e the thin" easily throu"h Ton"a. I 1rou"ht him out 4ith me 4ith a lon" ro+e 4ound round his 4aist. He could clim1 li&e a cat2 and he soon made his 4ay throu"h the roof2 1ut2 as ill luc& 4ould ha(e it2 Bartholome4 Sholto 4as still in the room2 to his cost. Ton"a thou"ht he had done somethin" (ery cle(er in &illin" him2 for 4hen I came u+ 1y the ro+e I found him struttin" a1out as +roud as a +eacoc&. Fery much sur+rised 4as he 4hen I made at him 4ith the ro+eCs end and cursed him for a little 1loodthirsty im+. I too& the treasure 1o9 and let it do4n2 and then slid do4n myself2 ha(in" first left the si"n of the four u+on the ta1le to sho4 that the 5e4els had come 1ac& at last to those 4ho had most ri"ht to them. Ton"a then
+ulled u+ the ro+e2 closed the 4indo42 and made off the 4ay that he had come <I donCt &no4 that I ha(e anythin" else to tell you. I had heard a 4aterman s+ea& of the s+eed of SmithCs launch2 the .urora2 so l thou"ht she 4ould 1e a handy craft for our esca+e 4ith old Smith2 and 4as to "i(e him a 1i" sum if he "ot us safe to our shi+. He &ne42 no dou1t2 that there 4as some scre4 loose2 1ut he 4as not in our secrets. .ll this is the truth2 and if I tell it to you2 "entlemen2 it is not to amuse you B for you ha(e not done me a (ery "ood turn B 1ut it is 1ecause I 1elie(e the 1est defence I can ma&e is 5ust to hold 1ac& nothin"2 1ut let all the 4orld &no4 ho4 1adly I ha(e myself 1een ser(ed 1y a5or Sholto2 and ho4 innocent I am of the death of his son.= <. (ery remar&a1le account2= said Sherloc& Holmes. <. fittin" 4indu+ to an e9tremely interestin" case. There is nothin" at all ne4 to me in the latter +art of your narrati(e e9ce+t that you 1rou"ht your o4n ro+e. That I did not &no4. By the 4ay2 I had ho+ed that Ton"a had lost all his darts8 yet he mana"ed to shoot one at us in the 1oat.= <He had lost them all2 sir2 e9ce+t the one 4hich 4as in his 1lo4-+i+e at the time.= <.h2 of course2= said Holmes. = as&ed the con(ict affa1ly. <I thin& not2 than& you2= my com+anion ans4ered.
<3ell2 Holmes2= said .thelney 0ones2 <you are a man to 1e humoured2 and 4e all &no4 that you are a connoisseur of crime8 1ut duty is duty2 and I ha(e "one rather far in doin" 4hat you and your friend as&ed me. I shall feel more at ease 4hen 4e ha(e our storyteller here safe under loc& and &ey. The ca1 still 4aits2 and there are t4o ins+ectors do4nstairs. I am much o1li"ed to you 1oth for your assistance. 7f course you 4ill 1e 4anted at the trial. 'oodni"ht to you.= <'ood-ni"ht2 "entlemen 1oth2= said 0onathan Small. <;ou first2 Small2= remar&ed the 4ary2 0ones as they left the room. <ICll ta&e +articular care that you donDt clu1 me 4ith your 4ooden le"2 4hate(er you may ha(e done to the "entleman at the .ndaman Isles.= <3ell2 and there is the end of our little drama2= I remar&ed after 4e had sat some time smo&in" in silence. <I fear that it may 1e the last in(esti"ation in 4hich I shall ha(e the chance of studyin" your methods. iss orstan has done me the honour to acce+t me as a hus1and in +ros+ecti(e.= He "a(e a most dismal "roan. = I as&ed. <?ot at all. I thin& she is one of the most charmin" youn" ladies I e(er met and mi"ht ha(e 1een most useful in such 4or& as 4e ha(e 1een doin". She had a decided "enius that 4ay 4itness the 4ay in
4hich she +reser(ed that ."ra +lan from ali the other +a+ers of her father. But lo(e is an emotional thin"2 and 4hate(er is emotional is o++osed to that true cold reason 4hich I +lace a1o(e all thin"s. I should ne(er marry myself2 lest I 1ias my 5ud"ment.= <I trust2= said I2 lau"hin"2 <that my 5ud"ment may sur(i(e the ordeal. But you loo& 4eary.= <;es2 the reaction is already u+on me. I shall 1e as lim+ as a ra" for a 4ee&.= <Stran"e2= said I2 <ho4 terms of 4hat in another man I should call laEiness alternate 4ith your fits of s+lendid ener"y and (i"our.= <;es2= he ans4ered2 <there are in me the ma&in"s of a (ery fine loafer2 and also of a +retty s+ry2 sort of a fello4. I often thin& of those lines of old 'oetheH <Schade dass die ?atur nur einen Denn Eum 4urdi"en ensch aus dir schuf2
ann 4ar und Eum Schelmen der Stoff.
By the 4ay2 a+ro+os of this ?or4ood 1usiness2 you see that they had2 as I surmised2 a confederate in the house2 4ho could 1e none other than $al Aao2 the 1utlerH so 0ones actually has the undi(ided honour of ha(in" cau"ht one fish in his "reat haul.= <The di(ision seems rather unfair2= I remar&ed. <;ou ha(e done all the 4or& in this 1usiness. I "et a 4ife out of it2 0ones "ets the credit2 +ray 4hat remains for you>= <6or me2= said Sherloc& Holmes2 <there still remains the cocaine1ottle.= .nd he stretched his lon" 4hite hand u+ for it.

The Sign of Four

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The Sign of Four

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The Sign of Four By Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

orstan2 and these t4o "entlemen are my friends2= said

loo&in" u+ to us from time to time2 as if to as& for sym+athy in his em1arrassment.

<.nd t4o &ni"ht-errants to the rescue2= added 1ri"ht "lance at me.

rs. Smith has +ut us on a 4ron" scent.=

r. Sherloc& Holmes here>= said he.

orstan hear that story from your

ann 4ar und Eum Schelmen der Stoff.

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