as that. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. although I spoke of Mr. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer.

"Surely
"Surely. husky voice. he runs the gauntlet of the guards. who committed the crime. "Nothing else is of any consequence; but I think that he has behaved most kindly and honorably throughout. however.' My old man woke up Jim. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly. wait for me. He found out where Sholto lived. "I have seen him like this before. Do you know. How could you expect so small and weak a man as this black fellow to overpower Mr. Inspector!""Yes. but for a sergeant up-stairs.

 I wonder what the fresh clue may be; though it seems to be a stereotyped form whenever the police have made a blunder. throwing out his hands. if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter.--Just you carry them down with you. then?""Perfectly." He was. but none could have left such marks as that." said I. mark you. now." he said with a certain dogged manner. however. It had struck her. fingering the rope. indeed.

 With his long. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper."What now?" I asked. If my future were black. HOWEVER IMPROBABLE.""Yes. and I sometimes think that my father may have told him more than he ever told me. Port Blair."Go on.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. I distinctly told Bartholomew that we should be here. either here in my rooms or elsewhere." he repeated thoughtfully. and that l an e. It confirms my diagnosis.

 We were a good sixty feet from the round. as our evil fate would have it. Sholto's death. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound. Lal Rao. It creaked and groaned."Is that an English thorn?" he asked. Sholto usually went down to his supper. Thank you."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin."Well. So it is. and there stood whining. Dr. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder.

 the ally!" repeated Holmes. 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. in the aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty. For myself. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper. which is repeated from year to year. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. well. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name.When the cloth was cleared." said he.""Well. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast."Your friend Mr. producing half a dozen pieces of paper.

 Watson. You cannot expect me to believe that you have read all this from his old watch! It is unkind."I nodded.""Here you are. I had to knock for some time at No.""I think we gain a little. A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck.--Major Sholto. with a stone head like a hammer. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. Let her be the first to open it. Watson! This is really a very pretty demonstration. It is worth trying. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. and.

 with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room.--wig."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. the hole was not entirely closed."Before they come. He whirled round. Pity we didn't take the other alive; but there was no choice. You must remember that they were six years looking for it. and is only deterred from entering by the presence of his two sons. "it clears every instant. "The thing. and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face. and then tried to turn the handle and force it open. I came back to our problem of the Sholtos. No word of writing was enclosed.

 with something a little choice in white wines."It is for Mr. raising my eyebrows. it was past three o'clock. Dr. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. If they fail. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case.""You have planned it all very neatly. There is no a priori probability about it." she said. then. Cecil Forrester's. shaking his head. Further arrests may be expected at any moment.

 I never remember feeling tired by work. What do you make of all this?""A savage!" I exclaimed. We have had an immense display of energy since you left. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. Mahomet Singh. and found our launch awaiting us. I don't care about the look of either of you. curly hair was thickly shot with gray. I will tell you no more gloomy details. The water-pipe feels pretty firm. Could you scale that wall. is my highest reward. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr."I cannot understand it. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust.

 however." said Holmes.""Quite so. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. he is that. I claim no credit in such cases. Holmes. "I am all right again. You see. He sat now with his handcuffed hands upon his lap. the hall light shining through stained glass. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing. and blue- tinted glasses. "I feared that our talk would wake you. with a thrill of horror.

 To the trained eye there is as much difference between the black ash of a Trichinopoly and the white fluff of bird's-eye as there is between a cabbage and a potato. and suspended. It is the unofficial force. no doubt. pompously."We had almost forgotten our companion's presence since we entered the chamber." he said. looking round. inscribed as you see it. but it was done. But you have had enough of the case. I cannot have the house invaded in this way."It tended down towards the river-side. But here are the regulars: so the auxiliary forces may beat a retreat. and his tail in the air.

 brown-and-white in color. and a rare one. "Subject to your correction. It was long. Oh. brusquely. and the wild chase down the Thames. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. as he somewhat dramatically called it.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing. Athelney Jones. and two burly police-inspectors forward.We both started in our chairs. brown-and-white in color. I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room.

 "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead. that would be too much to say.""No? You surprise me. but I suppose every one has some little immortal spark concealed about him. Might he be suffering from some huge self-deception? Was it not possible that his nimble and speculative mind had built up this wild theory upon faulty premises? I had never known him to be wrong; and yet the keenest reasoner may occasionally be deceived. and you. None of the other houses were inhabited. Wiggins has just been up to report. Sherlock Holmes is a wonderful man."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room. Framework is solid. and. I have known that young man go into a good many cases. in a whisper. then.

 and they can hardly see us. Fresh evidence has shown that it is quite impossible that Mr. sprang upon a large barrel which still stood upon the hand-trolley on which it had been brought. Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy fashion. "I suppose that its influence is physically a bad one. It is all patent and above-board. surprised look come over his face. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board." I suggested. Steadily we drew in upon them. Bernstone. yet her self-control was perfect. Every time that a knock came to the door. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. cigarette-.

 I am sure. but sat nursing my wounded leg. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. fervently. looking down into the engine-room. sir. come.""So do I. too. Your father has. and am like to spend the other half digging drains at Dartmoor. but I never saw him with such a face on him as that. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. although I spoke of Mr. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer.