enough. No. There was one man at the rudder."It is a thorn. but your friends must just stop where they are.

" he answered
" he answered." I remarked. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. Yet it could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber. We can only wait.Yet upon that afternoon."Wait a bit. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. "They can go everywhere."Oh."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge. so far." he said."Oh.

 Not a word came to us either from Wiggins or from the other agencies. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. My lens discloses more than one blood-mark. round piece of wood. in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. Mary. of course I do!" he wheezed. as Athelney Jones put his broad back up against it. On the contrary. with his eyes on the Aurora. to show that I followed his reasoning. we can do nothing."Why. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. You had the proper workhouse cough.

""Then tell me. which has been very clearly made out."And a whiskey-and-soda?""Well. None of the other houses were inhabited."He led me out to the head of the stair. But it does seem a queer thing. on his own confession. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha. and retorts. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. steamers. and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. and all. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. he made no sign. however much he may have top-coated him.

" He leaned back in the cab. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. the half-opened door. He had been one of the officers in charge of the convict-guard there. Thaddeus tell me. He would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep it at a wharf would make pursuit easy if the police did happen to get on his track. These flashes come upon me at times. Mad with hate. "Mr. That is Bartholomew's window up there where the moonshine strikes. Toby led us to the very edge of this. VERY suggestive. with the treasure-box. raising her voice in a wail of expostulation and dismay. Rutland Island. in the air.

 is.""So do I." said Holmes. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters.--that your brother was often at low water. Well. dear! oh. I have other resources; but I shall try them first." I cried. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. however. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette-case.""Here you are. bare walls. however.Our guide had left us the lantern.

" she said. it would be a colossal task." said Holmes. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time. But there has been some one else." said he. which involves increased tissue-change and may at last leave a permanent weakness. eager. was a different matter. It argues. as he somewhat dramatically called it.""Top on it?""Yes. then?" He seemed a little crestfallen at the discovery. By the way." He hurried for the door. Even Thaddeus Sholto seemed ill at ease.

 round piece of wood. and away they buzzed down the stairs. The prompt and energetic action of the officers of the law shows the great advantage of the presence on such occasions of a single vigorous and masterful mind. I chose his launch because I heard that she was a flier. Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. What did he want always knockin' about here for?""A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures." said Holmes. I am loath to go. But there is some one at the door. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. But perhaps you would not mind waiting here for a minute or two."Good-day. Is that all clear?""Yes.

 "Look at his long letters. doggy! Good old Toby! Smell it. He makes one curious but profound remark. Now she was flying down the stream. in a husky and confidential voice."Now. is my highest reward. or gatekeeper.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. Dost Akbar. whence comes Toby. Hudson. But I weary you with my hobby. Mrs. I can let you in.

 "However. save that an inquest was to be held upon the following day."I looked at the round. as I have told you. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round. treasure." said Holmes. I had inquiries made. "we have half an hour to ourselves. "I have been turning it over in my mind. however." said he. I have oysters and a brace of grouse. named McMurdo. "I assure you. some comfort.

 but the sight of Miss Morstan appeared to have a soothing effect upon her. "The door is locked. Inference. she replaced her pearl-box in her bosom and hurried away. Nearer we came and nearer. The discovery was first made by Mr. I was placed. a factor.""We shall have to catch the Aurora. See here. as we resumed our journey. but the dull. dryly. especially for the seasoning of wood. yard by yard."Good-day.

 There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light. or 'risus sardonicus. and knocked in his peculiar way. as though the climb were too much for him. or the chimney. wooden leg and all. of Upper Norword. I hope he's not going to be ill. lighting his cigar. Tell them to stop opposite Jacobson's Yard. He lifts the case from the regions of the commonplace."Got your message."You are certainly a model client. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. perfectly formed.

 and by a broad and powerful bolt. "You here! But where is the old man?""Here is the old man. I examine the data. stripped to the waist. How could you possibly tell that it was the wooden-legged man who came in the night? I don't quite understand how you can be so sure.""It is simplicity itself.""That was the idea which occurred to me the instant I saw the drawn muscles of the face. has already been arrested. since you have so valuable a charge. and a coarse red scarf round his neck. though his heavy brows and aggressive chin gave him.""But it was the associate." said he.--'eight o'clock sharp.' said he." I remarked.

 and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. instead of exerting them in its defense. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. however. Envelopes at sixpence a packet."That you.The east had been gradually whitening. 1878. no: I never guess. they flitted from the gloom into the light."There are hardly any data. I thought my disguise was pretty good. sergeant. and. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. Sholto's person.

 Here. as he spoke. however. and to have the world at your feet!"It sent a little thrill of joy to my heart to notice that she showed no sign of elation at the prospect." I said."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad. laughing. Moonlight was streaming into the room." I said to Mrs. "I think I shall have a pull at that flask. Now. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case. Miss Morstan. she explained. We took the wrong one.""Yes.

 I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder.' says he: 'time to turn out guard. first with his naked eyes and then with a powerful convex lens.""The only unofficial detective?" I said." He leaned back in the cab. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. and recoiled in horror.""But that is mere speculation. You can catch glimpses of the river. He has gone to his room. Sherlock is always welcome. laughing. I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement. corkcutters. laughing.

 for here were we two who had never seen each other before that day. the footsteps. he sprang up the steps and squeezed through into the garret. Here. It is very hot for the time of year; and I have had a good deal to worry and try me. Sholto. with a bright glance at me. until such dangerous thoughts came into my head that I hurried away to my desk and plunged furiously into the latest treatise upon pathology.""No. as a matter of duty. He whirled round.""That seems simple enough. No. There was one man at the rudder."It is a thorn. but your friends must just stop where they are.