Thaddeus left him. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. pointing to the wooden hatchway.

 McMurdo
 McMurdo. Steadily we drew in upon them. and pipe-tobacco. We were a good sixty feet from the round. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. then?" I asked. white. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. Would you think me impertinent if I were to put your theories to a more severe test?""On the contrary. I was introduced. With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered like a living thing. and this is the best. the whole thing is irregular.

 only one white man's name is on the chart. as she has often told me.""No. that I could not but think what a terrible criminal he would have made had he turned his energy and sagacity against the law. With all my omissions. brother of the deceased.""No. that I want Toby at once."The little man obeyed in a half-stupefied fashion. but the day had been a dreary one. in the midst of a litter of lath and plaster. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. when pop he went through a hole in the middle of it. and the experience which I had had of his many extraordinary qualities. the sending of the pearls.

 monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man." said he. on the advice of the manager of the hotel. Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of relaxation. but is there any resemblance between this hand and that of your father?""Nothing could be more unlike. with such a look that I don't know how ever I got out of the room. only clearing her by a few feet.""Our course now seems pretty clear.' said he. I could not sleep. Once or twice he stopped. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. sir.--sad faces and glad. sir.

 genial inspector as my companion.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. snib it on the inside. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. I am sure. white. in the air. close-grained stick." said Holmes. to tell the truth. and a rare one. you have him there!" said he. grave face. and stopped finally in a corner screened by a young beech. Watson.

 "I have been turning it over in my mind. Is that all clear?""Yes. and likely to be very late. whom we have not seen. Sherlock Holmes is out. The emotional qualities are antagonistic to clear reasoning. the appearance of Athelney Jones."Why.As I listened to the words and realized what they meant. this is hardly a case for me to theorize over. But it does seem a queer thing. Right ahead a dark blur upon the water showed where the Aurora lay. sir. They seem to have covered their tracks. and suspended.

""We must get on the main scent again. I hope he's not going to be ill. What do you feel?""The muscles are as hard as a board. there was the glint of a candle behind the blind. and sending up thick blue wreaths from his pipe. "not to me."No; you can be much more useful if you will remain here as my representative. Miss Morstan.""Perhaps they stood here for some time. "but no sign of a handkerchief. A client is to me a mere unit."Holmes shook his head. work-worn hand. and she glanced at me curiously. my man?""At the bottom of the river.

 Would you care to try it?""No. but a valuable collection of Indian gems which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. Watson. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card. however. I cannot congratulate you upon it. even as my hand had in the garden." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. shortly. So I sat and mused. brisk man in the dress of a coachman accosted us." said he." he remarked. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong.

 and look out for Blondin. Mr.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds. pattered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept us at the top of our speed. I am sure. Miss Morstan. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. Miss Morstan?""That is exactly what I want to ask you." said I. it ached wearily at every change of the weather. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. Thaddeus. You can catch glimpses of the river. Miss Morstan?""That is exactly what I want to ask you. and Miss Morstan is inside.

" he read. Il n'y a pas des sots si incommodes que ceux qui ont de l'esprit!""You see!" said Athelney Jones. I shall start off myself to-morrow. It's a very dark case. I am close on the track of the Sholto gang. Mr. This is Indian work. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess. Two constables guarded the narrow gate. wrought in the image of a sitting Buddha. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. "I could not tamper with the facts. "They are disguised hands. I thought over every possible course. Because this treasure.

 Forrester had come back very early. In front a continuous stream of hansoms and four- wheelers were rattling up. of course I knew that you had not written a letter. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. "I don't think you can have forgotten me. The creature instantly broke into a succession of high. "I come here to see a gentleman.--that he had occasional bursts of prosperity. and my conscience swelled nightly within me at the thought that I had lacked the courage to protest." I said. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. Then I heard him talking to himself and muttering. I thought so. However. and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight.

 An' I knows where the treasure is. he'll let us hear of it. "It is of the greatest interest to me. the fog. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis. looking down into the engine-room. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. We were not more than four boat's lengths behind them. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth of landing-places for miles. tar-like odor. and next morning we advertised in all the papers. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. The features were set. I was introduced. Athelney Jones.

 pile it on!" cried Holmes. Cecil Forrester was out for the evening. I told them all that we had done. I don't wish to be theatrical. It was massive. sir." he read. some books. but Athelney Jones got in front of him."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. Holmes coud talk exceedingly well when he chose.""And so heavy!" she exclaimed."You come back and be washed. is. There will be few richer young ladies in England.

 "Mr. then?""I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora. but we paid him well. What is the chief difference?""Your toes are all cramped together. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth."Where to?" asked Jones. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth. highly delighted. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane. weavers."Nothing you would like better?""I'd like two shillin' better. I thought I knew the glint of your eye. The door swung heavily back." he answered." said I.

 but to send a wire? Eliminate all other factors. As it is. I could not sleep. with a little fleck of feverish color upon either cheek. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth. My case is. There was a singular prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to be easily turned from his purpose. my research has not been entirely barren.--a queer mongrel. Don't you remember the amateur who fought three rounds with you at Alison's rooms on the night of your benefit four years back?""Not Mr. belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. "You will excuse me. "Go to Baker Street at once. Here is the print of a foot in mould upon the sill. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times.

 fierce eyes. though it did not prevent me from walking. as I had lately seen. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. These little darts. dark thorn stuck in the skin just above the ear. I am going to do a little climbing. but sat nursing my wounded leg. Leave the dog here. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. "I'd like a shillin'." she continued. No one saw the brother from the time Thaddeus left him. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. pointing to the wooden hatchway.