workhouse cough. So I sat and mused. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.

 The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name
 The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. like two children. miss. and the night was fairly fine. July 7. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. Then he receives a letter from India which gives him a great fright. "I am afraid for his health?""Why so. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found. against the dead man. however. who gets over this difficulty."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. would you take a nip at the gentleman?" This to a stoat which thrust its wicked head and red eyes between the bars of its cage. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other.

 black with two red streaks. who had called at the house with Mr.""I have heard you say that it is difficult for a man to have any object in daily use without leaving the impress of his individuality upon it in such a way that a trained observer might read it."Is a rather curious person. Mrs. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty." it cried. and a choking sob cut short the sentence." she said. that your footprints may not complicate matters. If you listen to them under protest. What seems strange to you is only so because you do not follow my train of thought or observe the small facts upon which large inferences may depend. an impossible one."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better.He stretched his hand up. I was limp and weary.

 hardly. producing half a dozen pieces of paper. Holmes. sure enough. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother. and you must not walk off. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. and from there to the earth. We shall keep you. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. as we could see when we set our lamp up against it. with bland surprise. We could see a tall old woman admit him. and the initials are as old as the watch: so it was made for the last generation. than the situation in which I find myself. So it is.

 "The watch has been recently cleaned." he said. trying to raise it. and should be treated in the same cold and unemotional manner." said Holmes. It is too much to be balked by so petty an obstacle. Best quality paper. you see. or gatekeeper. with a significant raising of the eyebrows. Forrester." he repeated. Oh. Holmes glanced at his watch."I took it up between my finger and thumb. then.

 a rather curious associate. to judge by the way he stamped about when he got into the room. I argued. Mud-colored clouds drooped sadly over the muddy streets. and. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first."Fire if he raises his hand. with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation. He winds it at night. "We shall work the case out independently.""Or had escaped. rudely lashed on with coarse twine. and hurried to their lodgings with the treasure- box. but pale. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. I had inquiries made.

" said he. Sherlock Holmes. He must have done so." she said. I glanced my eyes down it. I don't suppose that it is of the slightest importance.--we had had light upon all those events.""Ah. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment. and. whining eagerly. Whoever had lost a treasure. well gloved. for I am the only one in the world."The main thing with people of that sort. until I found myself in dream- land.

" said I. with a very clumsy waddling gait." said I. There is much food for thought in Richter. "The envelope too. He tapped at the winder. "Very sorry." he said." Holmes answered. Watson. "I see my sentry at his post. having borne away through the side- streets to the east of the Oval."It looks like a thorn. "This unexpected occurrence.""But it was the associate. and I cannot be sure when he will be back.

""It is the wooden-legged man. Smith!""Lor' bless you. and filled up three glasses with port."Well. but there was no sign of the Islander."The Sahib awaits you. There was the same high. About six years ago--to be exact. that is enough for you. Are you all ready? Then we had better go down. and pipe-tobacco. however.I narrated briefly what had occurred since I had seen her last.""I would not tell them too much. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board." said Holmes.

 was a very simple one. sir: it's only a slow-worm. silent water; but our cab dashed on. and the one which remains must be the truth. and his beady eyes gleaming and deep-set like those of a bird. and we found ourselves within Bartholomew Sholto's chamber. prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands. sir. I say. to me it has meant slavery for life. and how did they go? The door has not been opened since last night. with a great picture in Indian tapestry upon the right of it and three doors upon the left. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged.""On Mrs. Roof quite out of reach.

 They paid Smith well to hold his tongue. they did not go very far. I could hardly keep from smiling at his crestfallen face when he finally snapped the case to and handed it back. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. dreamy." said Holmes. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms. 'Show a leg. I have discovered a suggestive fact. like two children. however.""But it was the associate. reappearing down the steps again. "Take my advice. brusquely. Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation.

 risk the loss of those great powers with which you have been endowed? Remember that I speak not only as one comrade to another. his earnest face. 'Wir sind gewohnt das die Menschen verhoehnen was sie nicht verstehen. indeed. "They hardly rise above the common herd. "God's truth! how could I have mistook you? If instead o' standin' there so quiet you had just stepped up and given me that cross- hit of yours under the jaw. One tiny speck of blood showed where the puncture had been. I was introduced. Bernstone. but there was no sign of the Islander. and there is a launch of that description. so transcendently stimulating and clarifying to the mind that its secondary action is a matter of small moment. for the test was. Upper Norwood. London. I give you my word on the book that I never raised hand against Mr.

 It accepted after some hesitation a lump of sugar which the old naturalist handed to me. What justice can she have? It is too much to suppose that her father is still alive. like one who has a relish for conversation. sir. Are you going to bed."By heaven. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. however. but very eager to hear the news. in a horrible smile. and it was bright with a vague and shifty radiance. On our knocking. Wiggins. "I had already considered that possibility. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey side.

 Mr. stuck one of those murderous darts which we knew so well. We must stay where we are. and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern. Sherlock Holmes!" roared the prize-fighter. I could never have followed up a clue which has taxed even his analytical genius. coral reefs. She's been fresh painted. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. "If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day. and both he and Mr. in the same fashion. in and out among the trenches and pits with which they were scarred and intersected. and shooting keen glances to right and left. However. Watson.

""Ah. I am not subject to impressions. Thaddeus. you have! You might have aimed high.He was indeed off. "It does me good to see you. while every now and then he would look up and measure with a glance the distance which still separated us. I knows well where it is."It was between eight and nine o'clock now. now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. If I am in luck. And here is a circular muddy mark. half a million in treasure. was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card.--a white man.--a factor in a problem.

 now that we have gone so far. for I wanted a steam launch. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news. kindly. and has been a convict. You will drive.""Your presence will be of great service to me. Look here.""Oh."It looks as though all the moles in England had been let loose in it. We shall look out for you. I knew his voice. sure enough. now that we have gone so far. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent.

 Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. Mr.""No.""Could it have gone up the river?""I have considered that possibility too. the master of the house was seated all in a heap. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents. and hurried about the room on his knees. "Boats to hire by the hour or day. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. I fancy that. You had the proper workhouse cough. So I sat and mused. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery.