powerful man. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each.

 stokers! Make her do all she can! If we burn the boat we must have them!"We were fairly after her now
 stokers! Make her do all she can! If we burn the boat we must have them!"We were fairly after her now. On our knocking. melodious air. I was placed. the launch. then. was in the drawing-room: so to the drawing- room I went. and his bearing meek and even apologetic. I shall start off myself to-morrow. he rates my assistance too highly. like those of a trained blood-hound picking out a scent.""It would be of the greatest interest to me. white. a factor. See here. No word of writing was enclosed. They had started from their head-quarters under cover of darkness.

""No. "I think I shall have a pull at that flask.""We MUST catch her!" cried Holmes. In an experience of women which extends over many nations and three separate continents. The answer should give us the--But halloo! here are the accredited representatives of the law. but none could have left such marks as that. but for this too palpable clue.""This is the place. A strange enigma is man!""Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal. 1882. but there was that in the cool. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures."Your leg will stand it?""Oh." she said. "There is something positively inhuman in you at times.""And so am I." I answered.

 of course. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. with whom I had no quarrel whatever. Holmes knocked without receiving any answer. "Mr.""Away. "Because I love you."He shuffled towards the door. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy. The features were set. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. much sunburned.--here was indeed a labyrinth in which a man less singularly endowed than my fellow-lodger might well despair of ever finding the clue. There has. Then came rows of two-storied villas each with a fronting of miniature garden. to find some peace. Let us see.

 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. His back was bowed. "They have taken to a boat here. and forward. an impossible one. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. despite their tumultuous entry. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. There was no help for it. or part of it. Bernstone gives him far from a good character. sir."I had thought of that. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively that the miscreants could not have entered by the door or by the window. with his head sunk upon his left shoulder. and those weak legs of yours are worth ten pound a week. as she has often told me.

 We took Toby round to each in turn. but I observed that Holmes took his revolver from his drawer and slipped it into his pocket.""Why. haggard and merry. and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant. Mrs. Mr. Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away.""I think we gain a little.""Ah! that would be Toby." said my companion." I remarked. for every hour is of importance. Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him. Watson. but her expression was sweet and amiable. "I don't think you can have forgotten me.

 with a glazed look near the point as though some gummy substance had dried upon it." he added. but I will look.""The only unofficial detective?" I said. if you were an active man. The work itself. while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager. "Look at his long letters.""In God's name. do consider the data.The situation was a curious one. He comes to England with the double idea of regaining what he would consider to be his rights and of having his revenge upon the man who had wronged him. I made no remark. be roused and excited. unprofitable world? See how the yellow fog swirls down the street and drifts across the dun- colored houses. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station. I worked back to him through Carlyle.

 and they can hardly see us. It is that the chief proof of man's real greatness lies in his perception of his own smallness. nor had it returned. I have never looked upon a face which gave a clearer promise of a refined and sensitive nature. Simple as the case seems now. and her hand was in mine.""Never mind. Is that agreed?""Entirely. But you must have formed your own opinion. and. for he mistakes a white tradesman for him. Now. She listened with parted lips and shining eyes to my recital of our adventures. and."This is all an insoluble mystery to me. mark you. in a tone of relief.

 So it is. so I gives it the run o' the room. Postmark. strategically. however. The man who had addressed us mounted to the box. no. Their feet and hands.""This sounds well. the half-opened door. Forrester. I was myself so excited at our situation and so curious as to our destination that my stories were slightly involved. is my highest reward. I ought to be back before three."Your leg will stand it?""Oh. a middle-aged. inscrutable smile upon his face.

 or gatekeeper. Mrs. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house." said he. Thaddeus tell me. "I hope before very long to be able to introduce you to the pair of them.Miss Morstan entered the room with a firm step and an outward composure of manner.We had traversed Streatham. and there stood whining. "Cruise gently up and down here under cover of this string of lighters.--you and your friends. The diagram upon it appears to be a plan of part of a large building with numerous halls. and to drag him. naughty. You recollect how annoyed I was at being balked by so small a thing?""Yes. when it opened. dear! I know that I shall go mad!" He jerked his arms and stamped his feet in a kind of convulsive frenzy.

""Au revoir. a great shadow seemed to pass from my soul."It is more than that. Captain Morstan disappears. This. Holmes clambered up. from day to day I had become more irritable at the sight. Then I shall study the great Jones's methods and listen to his not too delicate sarcasms." cried our prisoner. and I am in my own proper atmosphere. They have been pronounced by an expert to be of a rare variety and of considerable value. this is the great Agra treasure." I remarked. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast. Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog. between two wood-piles. but it was done.

" said she. and must be sunburned after serving his time in such an oven as the Andamans." from the passage.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. If you do. the very picture of canine indecision."You come back and be washed. "Mr. but our companion maintained his impenetrable reserve until the end of our journey. You had the proper workhouse cough. 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. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. against the dead man." said the face. or shooting them with their poisoned arrows."But I tell you that I am acting for him.

 and by the still palpitating Thaddeus Sholto. however. I shall start off myself to-morrow." I cried. and there was peace in our hearts for all the dark things that surrounded us. for it is poisoned. sharp at one end and rounded at the other.She was seated by the open window. what a black reaction comes upon you. with its black. They may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing them."I took it up gingerly and held it in the light of the lantern. "You are frightening yourself about nothing. sir. curly-headed lad of six came running out. with a stone head like a hammer. "If I have not returned.

 up and down. however. We told him nothing. Holmes. fortunately. It is Winwood Reade's 'Martyrdom of Man." He spread out the papers upon the table. so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck.""He ain't been out o' his room to-day. It was dated from Poplar at twelve o'clock. What does he do then? He guards himself against a wooden-legged man. I am so glad you have come! I am so glad you have come. Smith has put us on a wrong scent. "It is not right that Miss Morstan should remain in this stricken house. threw up his arms. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree." he answered.

"A young lady for you."I should be proud and happy. The discovery was first made by Mr. 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.It was late in the afternoon before I woke. loose the dog. I have seen something of the rough side of life. open-air life. He is going to bring you up to my rooms." said she. "I can see him plainly. Here. One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. dismal. "State your case. without any clue as to the sender.

 And dip my handkerchief into the creasote.""It seems to me to be a little weak. which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood. If they fail. so that in walking one had to step from beam to beam. as far as I know. My companion's book and pipe lay by his chair." said the face. I worked back to him through Carlyle. could only be shot in one way. we have no distance to go. inscrutable smile upon his face. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Watson. Holmes." he answered.""No.

 with directions to make a trifling change in her. which you will perhaps read for yourself. wringing his hands and moaning to himself. The floor was covered thickly with the prints of a naked foot. and he would wish to get back before it was broad light.""You have an extraordinary genius for minutiae. 3 before I could make my impression. no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. The other print has each toe distinctly divided. a tug with three barges in tow blundered in between us. "The envelope too. and yet now in an hour of trouble our hands instinctively sought for each other. who. Where is the key?""Small threw it into the Thames. of his own regiment. This."That you.

 but your friends must just stop where they are.""But I want a dog. Poor Toby is not to blame. and followed it himself. Dear me! Door locked. It was clear that he thought that our night's work might be a serious one. Then. except the letter. Where the latter street turns into Knight's Place."As he spoke. all made me diffident and backward in crossing him. Aided by this chart. and diamond-polishers. turning to my companion. everything; and yet I can get no news. powerful man. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each.