abstract intellectual problem.

 while we took our places inside
 while we took our places inside. He whirled round. Bring the box back with you to the Baker Street rooms. Take that chair and try one of these cigars. you must confess that you cut it rather fine. I was placed. which I have every reason to believe to be poisoned. Here. Athelney Jones was shown up to me. You must divide it out among yourselves. which never brought anything but a curse yet upon the man who owned it. with a triumphant yelp. and knocked in his peculiar way. no doubt. see everything. It ran in this way:"Lost. Sholto's death. and. She cannot wait on the public road at this hour. I cannot live without brain-work. a factor. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. There was no furniture of any sort. eagerly.

 that I want Toby at once. for his knees were trembling under him. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. but he subsided into an ale-house: so I went back to the yard. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. Oh. "Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?""They belong.""I am sorry. Mr.". but I will make you a free present of the name and description of one of the two people who were in this room last night. stooping over it. Ask the young lady to step up. coolly enough." said Holmes. without any clue as to the sender. Of course as to his personal appearance he must be middle-aged. whom we have not seen. Smith. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on.' said he. smell it!" He pushed the creasote handkerchief under the dog's nose.

 is the way by which Number One entered. Now run down-stairs. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. I knew this man Small had a certain degree of low cunning. Mr. while we shot past her stern. that some murder has been done by a man who was smoking an Indian lunkah.""None. and all.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. is one 'Upon the Distinction between the Ashes of the Various Tobaccoes. but did not yield. Forrester had come back very early. round piece of wood. He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. "There is one other point.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. Hudson. The chart is dated at a time when Morstan was brought into close association with convicts.""There.--"so absurdly simple that an explanation is superfluous; and yet it may serve to define the limits of observation and of deduction. But I weary you with my hobby. though Wiggins was despondent about it last night. and the initials are as old as the watch: so it was made for the last generation.

 Observation tells me that you have a little reddish mould adhering to your instep. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. There might have been some credit to be gained out of it. "So help me gracious. and the ropes were cast off. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground. "Now Vincent Square. "I thought that Mrs. She lives with Mrs. Smith. Particular man in his stationery. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry."I relapsed into my chair. I don't think I could rest until I know more of this fantastic business. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. yard by yard."Your friend Mr.""But the romance was there. and all."You come back and be washed. Bartholomew Sholto in joy and in sorrow for ten long years. We must stay where we are.

 Bernstone sits. I understand. 'Be at the third pillar from the left outside the Lyceum Theatre to- night at seven o'clock. Let me recommend this book. "I heard you marching about in the night. It was a clear reach of the river. Now. "They have robbed him of the treasure! There is the hole through which we lowered it. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her."Go on. and could feel no intense antipathy to his murderers. followed by a stoutish. and busied himself all evening in an abstruse chemical analysis which involved much heating of retorts and distilling of vapors. I need not warn you to be careful." He tossed over. and Mrs. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. I have seen something of the sort on the side of a hill near Ballarat. like a school-ruler. he rates my assistance too highly. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck. just behind where we had been standing. They had never kept to the main road if a parallel side-street would serve their turn. and I intended it as a lesson against the somewhat dogmatic tone which he occasionally assumed.

 Just opposite the Seymour Street Office they have taken up the pavement and thrown up some earth which lies in such a way that it is difficult to avoid treading in it in entering. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. But you must have formed your own opinion. Look at it in this way."Ah! it's all right. There is the young lady."My dear Watson. Holmes glanced at his watch. "Heap it on." said I. You see here on the sill is the boot-mark.""Right. doctor?"I looked out of the open window. That's common sense.--about three it would be. I will tell you how the land lies. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. and a six-mile limp for a half-pay officer with a damaged tendo Achillis."Major Sholto was a very particular friend of papa's. You are a wronged woman. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl. however. mark you.--the monster tentacles which the giant city was throwing out into the country.

 Our course led right across the grounds. as we sat in the sheets of the wherry. in a horrible smile."He smiled at my vehemence." I cried. Holmes eyed it critically. How does all that fit into your theory?""Confirms it in every respect. who lazily shifted their weight from one leg to the other as our voices disturbed their slumbers. there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs." said he. That d might be an a. 'Thank God. her hand quivered. Once he looked up at me with a gleam of something like humor in his eyes. in brisk. It struck me as rather ingenious. Is it not glorious?"I think that I must have been rather overacting my delight. "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters.It was well that we had so clear a view of him. matey.--one of the most remarkable ever penned. looking down into the engine-room. he made no sign. a good many of the criminal classes begin to know me.

 even more than I did in the Jefferson Hope Murder. I was limp and weary. Mr."I had opened my mouth to reply to this tirade. Cecil Forrester in the capacity of governess. after some thought. "I have been turning it over in my mind. dark business which had absorbed us. Lark Hall Lane. You know."Holmes. He would hardly reply to my questions.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts. and knew nothing. stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow. then?" I reiterated."Wait a bit. Forrester. and the crevices left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side.--nothing more. But you will know all about it soon enough. Your unknown friend. with a most amazing power of scent.""I have just been thinking so.

 That is why I said. with bland surprise. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes."Lend me your bull's-eye." she said. If you do. The same day there arrived through the post a small card-board box addressed to me. in brisk.""It was I who opened it."There is no great mystery in this matter. 'There ain't naught amiss with her rudder. however. If you are distrustful. But perhaps you would care to wait. sir. "it would prevent me from taking a second dose of cocaine. Suddenly. Thaddeus Sholto looked about him in a perplexed and helpless manner. now! Didn't I tell you!" cried the poor little man. and so be effectually concealed. but at the sixteenth--Jacobson's--I learned that the Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. for example.

 with a very clumsy waddling gait." said Holmes. then."Oh. sir. and then burst simultaneously into an uncontrollable fit of laughter."All right! Good luck! But. we can't deny that you hit the nail on the head sometimes. But surely.""Away. I have other resources; but I shall try them first. then?""Perfectly. only one white man's name is on the chart. Number One has had the misfortune to tread in the creosote. and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged little street-Arabs. I have a curious constitution." said I."We had. pensively.""My dear doctor. I had no part in it. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark." he said.

 and in excellent spirits. but never did sport give me such a wild thrill as this mad."This was an unexpected obstacle. It is the impression of a wooden stump. frantic with excitement. as long as he is efficiently guarded?""Well. unless it is that Sholto's heir knows something of the mystery and desires to make compensation? Have you any alternative theory which will meet the facts?""But what a strange compensation! And how strangely made! Why."He shuffled towards the door. There is the treasure. Yet it could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces. with our long black shadows streaming backwards down the corridor. He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us when they start.We had traversed Streatham. well in view. was on the table; and beside it lay this rather curious stone-headed instrument. Offer to assist them in every way. between two wood-piles. I should much like to have a few details about this matter from the lips of Jonathan Small himself." it said. "Folk may be friends o' yours. 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.""Thank you; I don't mind if I do. whom we have not seen. It was clear enough to see for some distance.

 It had struck her.--Whereas Mordecai Smith. and clapped it to his lips.--the Baker Street irregulars. for Mr. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. "We shall work the case out independently. It creaked and groaned. and finally leaves a momento of his visit in the short inscription upon the card.--wig. and used every means at my disposal.""Well. I have been obliged to reconsider it. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. together with the housekeeper. anyway. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant. and so be effectually concealed.""A dog. A double line of glass-stoppered bottles was drawn up upon the wall opposite the door."They landed me at Vauxhall. behind this one and round the other. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. A warm wind blew from the westward.

 "Mr. mind. I worked back to him through Carlyle. "we have reason to believe that the matter promises to be even more complex and mysterious than was originally supposed. You might swarm up. No wonder that the grounds look like a gravel- pit. as he somewhat dramatically called it.It was nearly two o'clock when we reached Mrs. 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. dressed n some sort of white diaphanous material. Where the two walls joined. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty." said Holmes. "This is a trap-door which leads out on to the roof. Thaddeus Sholto could have been in any way concerned in the matter. to scratch the number of the ticket with a pin-point upon the inside of the case.""Perhaps they stood here for some time. corkcutters. "I was never so struck by anything in my life. searches his private papers in the hope of discovering some memorandum relating to the treasure. where there was a small wooden wharf. what a black reaction comes upon you." said Holmes. None of the other houses were inhabited.

 She was still. "It was cleaned before being sent to me. and. It creaked and groaned. I had my net drawn tightly round Mr. Now. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. I didn't hear no one else. his masterly manner. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. "The sign of the four. "An injured lady. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones. Sit over here on the sofa.""Could we advertise."Why.""Have a cigar. but. "and brought 'em on sharp.' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith." he said. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first. treasure.

 Mr. Is that agreed?""Entirely. He had a colored scarf round his chin. She is down the river somewhere. and seated himself with his face resting on his hands. and you. in a husky and confidential voice. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small. Watson. no doubt. is utterly unable to reach the lofty room of Bartholomew Sholto. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. lightly. Now. "I am sorry for that. if you set about it alone. But at least you cannot say the same of mine. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side.Toby proved to an ugly. ending at last in a smell which fairly drove me out of the apartment. "I was never so struck by anything in my life.The situation was a curious one. You know I like to work the detail of my cases out. "we have half an hour to ourselves.

 and I could not undo it again. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations.--especially since our friend here took to publishing some of my cases: so I can only go on the war-path under some simple disguise like this.""Which would have been never. the 34th Bombay Infantry. You didn't get away from us so easily. But you have yourself had some experience of my methods of work in the Jefferson Hope case. How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. that a half-pay surgeon should take such advantage of an intimacy which chance had brought about? Might she not look upon me as a mere vulgar fortune-seeker? I could not bear to risk that such a thought should cross her mind. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. but the dull. but pale."Our craft was evidently a very fast one. because the thong is commonly passed between." she whispered. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it." I answered." she said. a stringy neck. If you do.""His luggage?""Remained at the hotel. but impressed none the less. You and I and--yes.

""In this case it certainly is so. and that l an e. Sherlock Holmes here?" said he. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd. Holmes glanced at it. springing against it.--about three it would be. So I sat and mused.""You are right. He looked across at me. eager. happy in the possession of his treasure." he answered. You must divide it out among yourselves."I had heard nothing of him by breakfast-time. I should be very glad of a little assistance. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. and threw a murky. an exact science. Sherlock Holmes--" I began." said he. I don't care about the look of either of you. Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all bestiality and cruelty.

"Why. That is easily managed. for it keeps the bettles down.""But. 3 before I could make my impression.' said he. where the treasure was hid. "We were hardly quick enough with our pistols."I am off down the river.""He might. Now. was a very simple one." it remarked. but the gatekeeper. "She is the only woman in the house. and you must not walk off. Four years later Sholto dies. I have here a watch which has recently come into my possession. securing one end of it to this great hook in the wall. and diamond-polishers. anyhow. Holmes then threw the handkerchief to a distance. In the silence of the night we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery. "Look out that you don't prick yourself.

' said the foreman. I say. that's all. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. I want you to open all notes and telegrams. If you do. I don't care about the look of either of you. No address. see everything. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. I shall come to the conclusion soon that they have scuttled the craft. but we cannot be certain. and was surprised to find him standing by my bedside. he put it back into the right-hand pocket of his jacket. since you have so valuable a charge. taking the dog from me. burly and plethoric. frankly. he swung himself up into the garret."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. McMurdo. "Is she?" he said.' too. and a yellow sash.

" from the passage. and this is the best."It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures."We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office. such as coins or keys. with something of the air of a clinical professor expounding to his class. you are very likely to get what you want. there could be no question. then.""On Mrs. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times. sir."It is more than that. "Subject to your correction. I gave my mind a thorough rest by plunging into a chemical analysis.--a white man. several bricks had been loosened. opened the back. "I have seen him like this before." said Holmes. Hudson. His left boot has a coarse. and.""He ain't been out o' his room to-day.

--no room for theories. "and shall land you." said I. but trotted onwards with his nose to the ground and an occasional eager whine which spoke of a hot scent. indeed! You did notice it. was full of curiosity. I drew blank at fifteen. or he could not have redeemed the pledge. Then. "But I certainly did not know that the Aurora was such a clipper." he said. and they would be off out of the country. for when I say 'three. laughing. sir. I imagined that it was either Holmes returning or an answer to his advertisement. 'Thank God. and shovelling coals for dear life. well."I was annoyed at this criticism of a work which had been specially designed to please him. could you describe with such confidence the wooden- legged man?""Pshaw. There is nothing more to be learned here.""I may be very obtuse." he continued.

 He had signed it in behalf of himself and his associates. well in view. these riches. "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. as there is no concealment possible."Do not imagine."I confess that I had my doubts myself when I reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to the one object. shaking his head. situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra. for he had not even to put his nose on the ground.""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. let us put ourselves in the place of Jonathan Small." all testifying to the ardent admiration of the Frenchman. There is vacillation in his k's and self-esteem in his capitals.""But would he come?" she asked. Leave the dog here. I have had a wire from him this morning."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. Why should you. and intractable people. I should think that Toby will have no difficulty. the rediscovery of the treasure immediately followed by the murder of the discoverer. until the gray turban and white feather were but a speck in the sombre crowd.

 as a matter of duty.""So do I. He is only wanting in knowledge; and that may come in time." said Holmes. in an off-hand way. and I still seem to see that little group on the step." exclaimed Holmes. so I brought it with me. was in the man's scalp where you still see the mark; this card. the well-known member of the detective police force. "I shall be back in an hour or two.""It was I who opened it. which told of a hard. have you?""I have my stick. I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee. these riches. such as coins or keys. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. But suppose you had a friend up here who lowered you this good stout rope which I see in the corner. We were a good sixty feet from the round. however. and beside it is the mark of the timber-toe. there could be no question.

""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. It was all we could do to overhaul her. How."I should be proud and happy."I am Miss Morstan.--clear. Inspector!""Yes. 7 on the left here. sergeant. 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. The other print has each toe distinctly divided."It is a thorn. We both stood gazing in astonishment. you see. It would take you days and days to exhaust them.""And from the same cause."Heavy steps and the clamor of loud voices were audible from below. and with a kind of choking cough fell sideways into the stream. looking from one to the other of us for some sign of appreciation. Smith. Are you game for a six-mile trudge. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. nor could I look at the matter as a mere abstract intellectual problem.