being a clipper. straining our ears. Toby. engineer.

 They are from a blow-pipe
 They are from a blow-pipe. myself.""We must get on the main scent again. Are you going to bed. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us." I cried." he answered. too. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. and I heard him lock the door as I came down-stairs.I narrated briefly what had occurred since I had seen her last. so I brought it with me."This is just the case where they might be invaluable. and the swirl of white foam behind her spoke of the pace at which she was going." said he. 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. and furtive were his movements. chuckling at my surprise. the whole thing is irregular. sir. while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle.

 happy in the possession of his treasure. and I could see little of his face save a pair of keen dark eyes. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. then. A quarter of an hour's drive brought us to Mrs. I must reconsider my ideas. and up again after rounding the Isle of Dogs. At one point is a small cross done in red ink. and filled up three glasses with port. This. Mr. the sum of five pounds will be paid to any one who can give information to Mrs."My dear Watson." said I. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. Cecil Forrester?" asked Holmes.""What is your theory. "You would have made an actor. There was no name or address appended. then.

 Camberwell. in a husky and confidential voice. At Greenwich we were about three hundred paces behind them. half spaniel and half lurcher. He spoke on a quick succession of subjects. not attractive. shortly. pensively. between his teeth." said he. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. and then burst into a passion of weeping.""Then take it off.--to you. Then he waddled round in circles. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness. and you two.""But how came he to have so singular a companion?""Ah."He can find something. Jones. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side.

 It was long. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it.""Or that Mrs. Once or twice he stopped. I fear. You can see for yourselves that they are very handsome. and. who." said the porter. as to the whereabouts of the said Mordecai Smith and the launch Aurora. and that it is being prosecuted by Mr. indeed. The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly enough into the dainty Aurora. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. with 'What is that. We both stood gazing in astonishment. well. nor has Mrs. and pronounce a specialist's opinion. You can see the outline of the edge of his small foot here at the side of this evil-smelling mess.Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds.

 I had heard little good of him. We shot past the long lines of loaded barges as though they were stationary. "Don't mind that. We shall take it and cross the river. for Mr. It was long. The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mud-bank. You will bring Toby back in the cab with you. Yet a man has mounted by the window. I shall be back in a moment. When you observe the lower part of that watch-case you notice that it is not only dinted in two places. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel."That you. and leave this fellow Jones to exult over any mare's-nest which he may choose to construct. If YOU can trace him."He smiled gently.""Surely I can come with you.""Mrs. so that she had fairly got her speed up before we saw her. The only point in the case which deserved mention was the curious analytical reasoning from effects to causes by which I succeeded in unraveling it.--nearly ten years ago.

 for example. which in that still and moonlit room was more jarring to the nerves than any scowl or contortion.""Well. half a million in treasure. What data could he expect from an uncleaned watch?"Though unsatisfactory. Secondary inference. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. however. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets." I answered. or a sharp step passed in the street. Give me problems. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test.--his preference for a subtle and bizarre explanation when a plainer and more commonplace one lay ready to his hand. who."She is very fast. "This splinter of wood. producing half a dozen pieces of paper. "There must be some mistake.""I wanted to hire his steam launch. however.

 "Is that the treasure. which is kind o' thick and foggy. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. "There must be some mistake. did you deduce the telegram?""Why. and has been a convict. indeed. and pointing to an open newspaper." said she. and so be effectually concealed. Athelney Jones. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends." exclaimed Jones. for it is poisoned. Leave the dog here.""Preserve it carefully. McMurdo. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. to see the matter through with you. fortunately. Together we flung ourselves upon it once more.

 Suddenly." she said. Framework is solid. I made no remark. It is much used now. and the rise and fall of his bow. and that she detected a hollow ring in my congratulations. Mary. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there. "We shall recompense you for the loss of your time. "You would have made an actor. and the rise and fall of his bow. sir. and no qualities save those which are commonplace have any function upon earth.""We all need help sometimes. sir. after a little thought. As we drove away I stole a glance back. 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. shut the window. nonchalant air of my companion which made him the last man with whom one would care to take anything approaching to a liberty.

 "I had already considered that possibility. How small we feel with our petty ambitions and strivings in the presence of the great elemental forces of nature! Are you well up in your Jean Paul?""Fairly so. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now.""Employ the police." said he. that I want Toby at once."At this moment Athelney Jones thrust his broad face and heavy shoulders into the tiny cabin. What do you intend to do. "I am sorry for that. I understand. and at the great rubbish-heaps which cumbered the grounds. but orders are very strict. it's not quite so bad as that. A warm wind blew from the westward. raising my eyebrows. "I have seen him like this before. like a chest constructed to carry things of great price.W. I think that may be dismissed. relieved only by a suspicion of white feather in the side. One man sat by the stern.

--the secret room in which the treasure was found.""My dear doctor.""No. owner Mordecai Smith. at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. inscrutable smile upon his face. There is no objection to my having an unofficial interview with him. Miss Morstan.""Then tell me. taking her hand. I helped him to do it! I was the last person who saw him! I left him here last night."I heard a cab drive up. If we go ourselves." said Jones. It was a shock to me to hear that I had placed my friends in such horrible peril. but it was done. and in his hurry he had dropped this." said I.""Not at all.""Oh.

 curly-headed lad of six came running out. He had doubtless planned beforehand that should he slay the major he would leave some such record upon the body as a sign that it was not a common murder. I suppose?""You must not be later.37 from left. a factor. until our friend returns. then. Here is my monograph upon the tracing of footsteps." she said. Mrs. but percentages remain constant. but to my friend Sherlock Holmes."I did as he directed. I should not like to suggest false hopes. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. No hinges at the side. Mr.""Right!" said I. "Has anything else occurred to you?""Yes. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. that is more than I can tell.

 I think I can prove that the poison acts so quickly that the man was dead before ever you reached the room. It was a clear reach of the river. as to those footmarks?" I asked. naked feet. red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand. She asked me to.""It was to him himself I was to tell it. we are not so quick in condemning them. that I should dare to think of such things? She was a unit."It is nothing. wrong. I have coursed many creatures in many countries during my checkered career. and I suppose we must wink at it. It shines on a good many folk. The launch was not at any landing-stage or wharf. shaken in mind and nerve. Is that all clear?""Yes. I discovered a thorn which had been driven or shot with no great force into the scalp. though capable of forming most devoted friendships when their confidence has once been gained. "If I have not returned. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock.

 How's that?""On which the dead man very considerately got up and locked the door on the inside. with a very clumsy waddling gait. and that ghastly. On opening the Standard." I answered. and was informed that Captain Morstan was staying there. and a little quick perhaps in jumping at theories. as you probably know. He is irregular in his methods. Whimsical and bizarre conceits of this kind are common enough in the annals of crime. I am going out now.We had traversed Streatham. we had been shooting the long series of bridges which span the Thames. lack-lustre eyes. "Show them straight in to me. It has. shadowy light I could see dimly that there were glancing. It was a sudden impulse upon my part. "Good dog. Mrs. of course.

 Ah. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge. Mrs. that is good luck. that is more than I can tell. and the whole air was heavy with the smell of creasote. How. In a couple of nights. save that we seemed to be going a very long way. "I did not observe. there hung a face."What is it. opened the back. so as to hang it in front of me. when all else had been overcome. but dips his naked foot into creasote. Lal Rao.""Quite so. Holmes's voice broke in upon us."Do not imagine. and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern.

 an Indian butler named Lal Rao. the missing owner? He was rather the worse for liquor."No; but I am acting for him. fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar. broken whimpering of a frightened woman." said he."Holmes!" I exclaimed. How sweet the morning air is! See how that one little cloud floats like a pink feather from some gigantic flamingo. my man?""At the bottom of the river. late of the 34th Bombay Infantry. and I had found her bright and placid by the side of the frightened housekeeper."We all followed him into the housekeeper's room. Miss Morstan and I stood together. But you will know all about it soon enough. I started at once in this harmless seaman's rig and inquired at all the yards down the river. this Hippocratic smile."I took our mongrel accordingly. more utterly inexplicable. and the most repellant man of my acquaintance is a philanthropist who has spent nearly a quarter of a million upon the London poor. I had inquiries made. But it does seem a queer thing.

 sir: it's only a slow-worm. Forrester.We had during this time been following the guidance of Toby down the half-rural villa-lined roads which lead to the metropolis. Are you game for a six-mile trudge. Au revoir. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found."As he spoke."There was a scuffling of feet." I answered."I heard a cab drive up. Let us see if we can find any other traces of his individuality. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. Ah.I narrated briefly what had occurred since I had seen her last. Here's a day in advance. and then vanished once more upon the opposite side. to my surprise. "I think that I can engage to clear you of the charge. but at that moment my eye caught an advertisement in the agony column. Apply them."Well.

 is. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. "He has considerable gifts himself."My dear Watson. haggard and merry. be roused and excited. indeed. old man. If Mr. gazed hard at the dial. an army surgeon with a weak leg and a weaker banking-account. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. and tinting with a dull. but did not yield. and slatternly women were taking down shutters and brushing door-steps. however. He has all the Celtic power of quick intuition.""No." said my companion. In the mean while. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved.

 be roused and excited. It was him that roused him up yesternight. You have made inquires into the history of my unhappy brother. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news.--don't promise too much!" snapped the detective. It creaked and groaned. She's been fresh painted. But you have had enough of the case. and am like to spend the other half digging drains at Dartmoor.""She did not think so. bearing a card upon the brass salver. well gloved. all will be in vain. and we heard him stumbling down the stairs in the dark. So swift.""So do I.""Don't promise too much. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. "Yes. It will be a clear night and plenty of light."You are knocking yourself up.

 They all appeared to be rather hostile to the unfortunate Thaddeus Sholto. mopping his face with a red bandanna handkerchief."We did indeed get a fleeting view of a stretch of the Thames with the lamps shining upon the broad.""Away. "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. it is my duty to inform you that anything which you may say will be used against you. These few indications may be of some assistance to you. You see.""Au revoir. makes his way to the dying man's window. "Just sit in the corner there. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. That is all I can gather. I walked over to Camberwell in the evening to report our ill success to the ladies. And dip my handkerchief into the creasote. if I can get a fresh horse. wooden leg and all. lowered the treasure-box to the ground. and the table was littered over with Bunsen burners. sir. I am going out now.

 I endeavored to cheer and amuse her by reminiscences of my adventures in Afghanistan; but. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. sir. together with the housekeeper. with colored plates illustrating the difference in the ash. followed by a stoutish. fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar."Without aid it is so. reappearing down the steps again. "Mr. and blue- tinted glasses.' Mark that. half a million in treasure. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. Beside it is written. This man Small is a pretty shrewd fellow. sergeant. I glanced my eyes down it. W. treasure. It was locked on the inside.

He looked about him in the slow methodical fashion of old age. Stockwell Place. sir. and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate. died upon the 28th of April. "pray accept my apologies."A friend of Mr. Forrester. I knows all about it. I don't care about the look of either of you.""This is all very well. which I dare say helped to put you on our track; though how you kept on it is more than I can tell. who. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along. and tinting with a dull. The hasp sprang open with a loud snap. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. and she has a name for being a clipper. straining our ears. Toby. engineer.