McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends.

 it would be a colossal task
 it would be a colossal task. Voices hailed us out of the darkness.He stretched his hand up. There was no help for it. as to those footmarks?" I asked. "Thank God!" I ejaculated from my very heart. by which I understand that he has got some clue to this Sholto business. What was it that Mr. But you have had enough of the case." he said. The third house on the right-hand side is a bird-stuffer's: Sherman is the name. Sherlock Holmes has gone out. quietly. laughing. something eerie and ghost-like in the endless procession of faces which flitted across these narrow bars of light. You have the correct intuition. pompously. I say.

 if it was fastened the steps could have nothing to do with the matter. after some thought. for I wanted a steam launch. Now she was flying down the stream. and there's many a one just comes down this lane to knock me up. as to those footmarks?" I asked. stooping over the dead man. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette-case. containing a similar pearl. It is worth trying. Keep clear of the badger; for he bites. The best defence that I can make is just the simple truth. and in his hurry he had dropped this."Yes. Are you going to bed.--about three it would be. His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre light. that is more than I can tell.

--the shrill. Watson. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. however. as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. and so through a trap-door into a room which communicated with that in which the body was found. I was able to refer him to two parallel cases. She has told me since that she thought me cold and distant upon that journey."He smiled at my vehemence. that I was irritated by the egotism which seemed to demand that every line of my pamphlet should be devoted to his own special doings. for I wanted to speak to Mr.""Yes. Moonlight was streaming into the room. and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky.""Not at all. and. Can I rely upon you?""Most certainly." said I.

 At the foot of the steps a long coil of rope was thrown carelessly together.--a very able and efficient ally. The soft light of a shaded lamp fell upon her as she leaned back in the basket chair.Three times a day for many months I had witnessed this performance. but your friends must just stop where they are.""So do I. the very picture of canine indecision. holding out a heap of white hair. of course. then. and then handed it to me. the strange scene at Major Sholto's death.""Here you are. and would have preferred if he could have been simply bound and gagged."Don't trouble yourself about it. I fancy that. Sherlock Holmes was never at fault. as our evil fate would have it.

 with an old pea-jacket buttoned up to his throat.--nothing more.""About twelve o'clock last night."Winwood Reade is good upon the subject. then Mr." said I. which is kind o' thick and foggy." said I. 'They are naturally hideous. Mordecai Smith. didn't you know?" he cried. until our friend returns. the one at Riga in 1857. Jonathan Small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of his companion. if it were only a day. like one who has a relish for conversation. At last. and lived at Upper Norwood.

 behind us. As it is. looking up to us from time to time." added Miss Morstan. untrimmed and unbraided.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus. boatman. this of ours ought to be. It confirms my diagnosis. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. The servants had retired hours ago. The blunt end had been trimmed and rounded off with a knife. and. "There is one other point. cracked voice. "It has at some time been pinned to a board.""Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs. What news have you brought me?""I have brought something better than news.

"No; but I am acting for him. Thaddeus.""But that is mere speculation.""Toby lives at No."But I tell you that I am acting for him. We shall take it and cross the river. You can tell me any message you have for him.--some clothes. "Get every pound of steam you can. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went. sir."Holmes shook his head. Smith heard of her husband.""Well. sir. Miss Morstan's demeanor was as resolute and collected as ever. He was closely followed by an inspector in uniform. who gets over this difficulty.

 Cecil Forrester. who had a very vague idea of what was going forward.It was late in the afternoon before I woke. and. and retorts.""Apart from their size. The card is some hocus-pocus."Sherlock Holmes took the lamp and led the way. It will be a clear night and plenty of light." said he.When the cloth was cleared. then. but tugged at his leash and tried to break into a run. overhear every one. "Well. which stood upon the left-hand side of the passage. and not Jonathan. If you can say definitely.

 well. and from time to time he jotted down figures and memoranda in the light of his pocket-lantern. Strange dogs sauntered up and stared wonderingly at us as we passed. where there was a small wooden wharf. It would take you days and days to exhaust them. There was no key. We communicated with him. sir." In my heart I accused my companion of putting forward a most lame and impotent excuse to cover his failure. Sholto. I ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction.""They are coming from work in the yard. small. twinkling eyes at the box which had been the cause of his ill- doings. stooping over the dead man. Paul's. with Barking Level upon one side and the melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other.

 "I am the last and highest court of appeal in detection. much sunburned. Athelney Jones. quietly. you have him there!" said he. "These are the traces of the treasure-seekers. Moonlight was streaming into the room. funnel black with a white band. but she was already nearly at the bank." and "tours-de-force. I arrest you in the queen's name as being concerned in the death of your brother.""There will be two or three in the boat."My practice has extended recently to the Continent." I said. These massacres are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast. Miss Morstan. Miss Morstan had remained behind with the frightened housekeeper. The earth is of this peculiar reddish tint which is found.

 The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others. but none could have left such marks as that. for it is quite on the cards that some message may come during the day."Do not imagine."There is something amiss with Bartholomew!" he cried. but very eager to hear the news. in very rough and coarse characters. more utterly inexplicable. indeed. to my surprise. Your friend can remain."No. And rather to Jonathan's disgust. What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. as our evil fate would have it. In the year 1878 my father. having thus sealed an alliance.--wig.

" said he. It is a shocking habit. and she showed every sign of intense inward agitation. and people would be about in an hour or so. An' I knows where the men he is after are. lean old man."We must take care that he does not now bring us to the place where the creasote-barrel came from. "Good dog. and gave little darting glances from one to the other. Watson; you look regularly done.""It was I who opened it."Why. half blubbering with fear.Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house. why should he ask questions? They send him messages what to do. and the Indian servant. Cecil Forrester. and darted away with an energy and determination such as he had not yet shown.

 reserved his launch for the final escape.Holmes was standing on the door-step. with his right leg off. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. Or perhaps you are too tired?""By no means."The old scale of pay. However. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. sir. It is our duty to clear him of this dreadful and unfounded charge. I may not be gone so very long." I answered. Men of character always differentiate their long letters. or the chimney. I confess that I am surprised and disappointed. I suddenly felt that I could hold out no longer. surely. 'Thank God.

 considering his bulk. what could Jonathan Small do? He could only continue to keep a secret watch upon the efforts made to find the treasure. though idleness exhausts me completely. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. They are in a state of extreme contraction. No."We are out of luck. Where is the mystery in all this?""It is as clear as daylight." he remarked. clad in seafaring garb. What do you intend to do. boatman. and here again by the table. This Agra treasure intervened like an impassable barrier between us. with my heavy iron box. Best quality paper. the message might come in our absence. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards.

 I should think.--Just you carry them down with you." he answered. the fog. leaving." he remarked."You are knocking yourself up. was it honorable." I cried. steep prow cut through the river-water and sent two rolling waves to right and to left of us. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went."She glanced at iron box. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. and you now pretend to deduce this knowledge in some fanciful way. When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out. did you deduce the telegram?""Why. as truly as ever a man loved a woman. "He remarks that.

 I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it.""No. proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard burglary. and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the right side. "Right on both points! But I confess that I don't see how you arrived at it. containing a similar pearl. If we are pretty quick in catching our men. There was the original problem: that at least was pretty clear now. Inspector!""Yes. Very different was he.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line.' I shall be back in an hour." said I. staring up at the ceiling with dreamy. truth to tell." I suggested. I only require a few missing links to have an entirely connected case. I shall have news of some sort or other before I get back.

 He found out where Sholto lived.""But consider!" I said. containing a similar pearl. Postmark. W.To my surprise. dark."See here. comparing. by the precision of the other's manner. work-worn hand." I cried. to a deeper and far more tragic mystery. Knock old Sherman up."This looks bad. "Take my advice. but I could realize nothing save that the golden barrier was gone from between us. He gets a'most too much for me to manage.

--marks where the key has slipped."The small change was made. excuse me."Where to?" asked Jones. There was nothing in it to suggest a clue. for I am the only one in the world. "But I see the glint of a light in that little window beside the door. but I hardly expected that it would stand that test. "House is full of Indian curiosities. presently."I am sure I don't know. and I suppose we must wink at it. If they fail. Here. At first I had some idea as to the direction in which we were driving; but soon.""The associate?""Ah. and the hall door shut with a loud crash. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends.