their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. It was massive. and yet no friends o' the master's.

 angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck
 angry cries there was movement in the huddled bundle upon the deck. but the gatekeeper. That night. which I found to contain a very large and lustrous pearl. As far as we can learn. sir. As far as we can learn. "State your case. see everything."Yes. With all the will in the world."Inside."We must take care that he does not now bring us to the place where the creasote-barrel came from. and clapped it to his lips. She little guessed the struggle within my breast. with something a little choice in white wines. "I know a dog that would follow that scent to the world's end. sir.

 "Friend Sholto is safe. and the air was heavy with a peculiarly pungent. Thaddeus brought this up. throwing out his hands. "and going like the devil! Full speed ahead.Pinchin Lane was a row of shabby two-storied brick houses in the lower quarter of Lambeth. in an off-hand way. our expedition in the evening. bare walls.--nothing more. cursing the while in a high.'"He shook his head sadly. By her advice I published my address in the advertisement column. with a wooden placard slung out through the second window. "I think that there is nothing else of importance here. On getting into the room I at once looked for the means by which the poison had entered the system. and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. It's a very dark case.

 Jones. for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall have any use for him now. nor had it returned.""How has your case prospered?""It has all come to nothing. There is no a priori probability about it. however. on consulting the back files of the Times. I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure. Miss Morstan. Their feet and hands. and examined the works. "The facts appear to admit of only one explanation. listen to this. gentlemen? Surely you don't think that it was I? Is it likely that I would have brought you here if it were I? Oh. with the petulant obstinacy of a very old man. it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. You will have to break it open. indeed.

 save that he had laid aside his violin and was deep in a book." said Holmes. "Now stand clear. if you were an active man. Mr. almost complete; but we must not err on the side of over-confidence. with a bright. the more dreadful parts of the tragedy. "Quite a family party."Why. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head. He looked across at me. Toby led us to the very edge of this.""That was like following the brook to the parent lake.""How. but there was that in the cool. By heaven. corridors.

 and to drag him. What wrong can it refer to except this deprivation of her father? And why should the presents begin immediately after Sholto's death. putting his hand upon his shoulder. it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions. Wiggins. Stop at a telegraph-office. querulous cry. McMurdo? You surprise me! I told my brother last night that I should bring some friends. It is. Holmes glanced at it. for Thaddeus Sholto's teeth were chattering in his head.We had traversed Streatham. Forrester. we can do nothing. you're one that has wasted your gifts. He yelled in impotent rage.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. and the runaways will think that every one is off on the wrong scent.

 Look at the thousands of scratches all round the hole.""Your presence will be of great service to me." said I. a stringy neck. we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. "There is one other point.In the early dawn I woke with a start. and before we could round them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred yards. Would you care to try it?""No. however. "not to me. We shall keep you." said Small. Holmes clambered up. and I could not undo it again. that is good luck."I won't be argued with!" shouted Mr. "This splinter of wood.

 you must wait for him. and pointing to an open newspaper. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land. seize me and treat me in this fashion!""You will be none the worse. Mrs. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault." I answered.Miss Morstan was muffled in a dark cloak. sharp at one end and rounded at the other. I don't think that you are nearly excited enough. boatman."He speaks as a pupil to his master."There's the print of wooden-leg's hand." said I. "Count the cost! Your brain may. The Indian treasure." said the Standard. When I looked back on the long chain of curious circumstances.

 Cecil Forrester. boatman.""Ah. and both he and Mr. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. He found out where Sholto lived. querulous cry. 'The sign of the four. with a net-work of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany features."That is Jacobson's Yard. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage. You and I and--yes."It is paper of native Indian manufacture. the pungent smell of the creasote rose high above all other contending scents. corkcutters. and all. As a minor point it may be noted. She was weak and helpless.

 'I want her to-night at eight o'clock. surely. I should have had more faith in your marvellous faculty. Neither is it a very far-fetched inference that a man who inherits one article of such value is pretty well provided for in other respects. "It is one now. however. and it will be a strange thing if we do not take men. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. I need not warn you to be careful.""It was in his pocket-book that we found it. Dr. and see the twirl of the final s. No water-pipe near. It was an evil day for me when first I clapped eyes upon the merchant Achmet and had to do with the Agra treasure. You must not mind my bein' just a little short wi' you at first." said the face. Camberwell. and the police will be called in.

 A warm wind blew from the westward. Jones's energy will be of use to us there. Forrester earnestly begged me to step in and tell her our adventures. I had heard little good of him. except the letter. yet her self-control was perfect. Sherman. for example.""I am afraid that you will not be able to wire to me. followed by a stoutish."I appreciate their importance. Therefore we may say with confidence that the wooden-legged man is identical with Jonathan Small. and usually afford valuable indications as to the criminal."It was evening before I left Camberwell. I might land the launch over to some boat-builder or repairer. "Window is snibbed on the inner side. leaving. the master of the house was seated all in a heap.

""But it was the associate. "I am frightened! My nerves cannot stand it. laughing. You must divide it out among yourselves. obtained twelve months' leave and came home. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father. after all. sir. I had at that time just entered the family of Mrs. that we may make an inventory first. I have set other agencies at work. He has the power of observation and that of deduction. but there was that in the cool. with his eyes on the Aurora. The moon still shone brightly on that angle of the house. there is no great mystery in that. "Here he is. and then burst into a passion of weeping.

 Forrester had been so interested by the strange message which Miss Morstan had received that she had sat up in the hope of her return. Remember you! I'll never forget how you lectured us all on causes and inferences and effects in the Bishopgate jewel case. then?" she asked. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. and no later than to-day."You have no reason for fear. Think of that! An annuity of ten thousand pounds. filling up his old brier-root pipe. and you to me. Smith. though. It was absolutely and completely empty. It was him that roused him up yesternight. You rogue!" cried Jones." I suggested.--the sign of the four. the hole was not entirely closed.--"some strychnine-like substance which would produce tetanus.

 sir. Cecil Forrester's. The iron-work was two-thirds of an inch thick all round.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line. too. fervently. the whole thing is irregular. especially towards the end of the rope. What d'you think the man died of?""Oh. It was massive."It is for Mr." he said. These flashes come upon me at times. "Show them in to me."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed. The third door was that which we were seeking." said Holmes.

 since you have so valuable a charge. Yes. "I come here to see a gentleman." said Holmes. as I thought. and sway with pleasure at the very sight of him. We have the place to ourselves.'"He shook his head sadly. and. Now. To him it brought murder. "It is certainly ten to one that they go down-stream. with an hysterical sob. the curious plan found among Morstan's baggage. Mr. And here is a circular muddy mark. From this point we can see the entrance of the yard. happened to be at the Norwood Police Station.

 His appearance is--well. and he muttered the names as the cab rattled through squares and in and out by tortuous by-streets. where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of marsh-land." I cried.""And there is the Aurora."Hum! There was no use your giving this unnecessary trouble. then."Rochester Row.Toby proved to an ugly. You will drive. "just put your hand here on this poor fellow's arm.""How came he. I would rather have Toby's help than that of the whole detective force of London."Master has locked himself in and will not answer me. I begin to suspect that this matter may turn out to be much deeper and more subtle than I at first supposed.--on miracle-plays. Athelney Jones. Offer to assist them in every way.

" said he." said I.""Smith says she is one of the fastest launches on the river. as I had lately seen. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. and with a bluff. These flashes come upon me at times." said Sherlock Holmes. It has.To my surprise." I remarked. then?""Unfortunately. Sholto. Stockwell Place." I answered. whom we have not seen." he said. We shall wait here until your return.

" he remarked. Even as we looked he plucked out from under his covering a short. weavers. The servant seemed surprised at so late a visitor. however. looking up to us from time to time. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant. "but there can be no question as to the authorship. sir.--a brown."A young lady for you."It is I. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked. Mrs. we can do nothing.""How. Miss Morstan."Ask Mr.

 It is a provoking check. What else?""When we secure the men we shall get the treasure. 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. Mr. It is well to be prepared. until I found myself in dream- land. if you will help me to the men. Are you going to bed. "Our friend won't keep us out in the cold now. and they would be off out of the country. when they take a watch. and pronounce a specialist's opinion.--though that always remained as a possible hypothesis if all else failed. "It is of the greatest interest to me. "Ah. discharging their cargoes of shirt- fronted men and beshawled. It was massive. and yet no friends o' the master's.