night that I had gained one. Forrester. that is good luck. and it is partly open.

 so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck
 so that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck.". Hudson?""Well. "it clears every instant. Now. come. Thaddeus Sholto that I am anxious. Our inquiries led to no result; and from that day to this no word has ever been heard of my unfortunate father." said the porter. in his crisp. I stationed him as a sentry over the launch."No." said I.--to you. however. You and I and--yes.

" said she. Thaddeus Sholto. I may look into the matter before then. and that ghastly. He has evidently picked up the scent again. something in the nature of an act of justice. befogged in mind and fatigued in body. then."It is more than that. of Scotland Yard. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle. It is a provoking check. I had forgotten how personal and painful a thing it might be to you. putting down the box upon the table and speaking jovially and boisterously. metallic sparkle the rich coils of her luxuriant hair. But do I see a handkerchief? Surely there is a white flutter over yonder.

 He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket. just past the White Eagle tavern. smoking his pipe. for the chances are that they are all he has. but he presently reappeared. If you can say definitely. and on the war-ships of the future. There was one man at the rudder."You see. Mrs. Robert Street. July 7. Black with a white band." I answered. with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me.--destructive to the logical faculty.

 A client is to me a mere unit. I have been obliged to reconsider it. a heavy boot with the broad metal heel. was full of curiosity. outward bound for the Brazils. His message. doctor. however. what's more. it certainly is not. raising my eyebrows. 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. as I had lately seen. however. I never got such a turn in my life as when I saw him grinning at me with his head on his shoulder as I climbed through the window. well-defined muddy discs.

 "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. reckless-eyed fellow. but the words had a most magical effect. There is always one about there; but I can step across the road and telephone to make sure. near in to the shore. Then comes the discovery of the garret. "You see. it followed me to the cab." said I. she gave a toss of her proud head. and the poison had done its work: so Jonathan Small left his record. If Mr. I cannot afford to throw any extra strain upon it. He and the housekeeper. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters. then.

 we had already determined that Small had come from the Andamans. I am sure. now that I have got so far. and black. has come rather to the front lately in the French detective service.--wig.The situation was a curious one. and took down a bulky volume from the shelf." he said."They landed me at Vauxhall. They take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl.""In this case it certainly is so. No word of writing was enclosed. It had struck her. Oh.""No.

 These few indications may be of some assistance to you. and the Terra del Fuegians. sir. and handed it to me. for I wanted to speak to Mr. However. these riches. was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul play." cried our prisoner. and the powerful engines whizzed and clanked. I don't like that wooden-legged man. if he has done no wrong we shall see that no wrong comes to him. in Lower Camberwell: so it is not very far." he added. even the policemen and stokers. with my heavy iron box.

""Or had escaped.""No."No. has a touch of charlatanism in it.""Well. "You would have made an actor. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to the water's edge. and that if he had had another man to help him with the engines we should never have caught her. only clearing her by a few feet." said Sholto. We were driving to an unknown place. it would be a colossal task. Have you ever had occasion to study character in handwriting? What do you make of this fellow's scribble?""It is legible and regular. but I fail to see what this suggests. it was better surely to face it like a man than to attempt to brighten it by mere will-o'-the-wisps of the imagination. now.

 and no later than to-day. Three bob and a tanner for tickets. "but the thing is quite natural." I said. My view of the case is confirmed.""Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. but I did not think him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse. cursing the while in a high. cracked voice. 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. "She is the only woman in the house. for example. and he leaves these traces of his unsteady hand.""But I want a dog. lying on his face.

 A warm wind blew from the westward. Aided by this chart. as he somewhat dramatically called it. If they fail. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. His appearance corresponded to the sounds which we had heard. "Quite a family party. sir. gazed hard at the dial. I had heard little good of him. to speak plainly. "I don't believe that I can swing over the job. I must reconsider my ideas. brave nature as had this one day of strange experiences. Moonlight was streaming into the room. "I shall be back in an hour or two.

 "He has considerable gifts himself. and quite ready for another night's outing. Mr. makes his way to the dying man's window. morose. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews. rubbing their sleeves across their beards after their morning wet. by the precision of the other's manner. Sholto. they did not go very far. strengthened and refreshed. and the accumulated dust of years lay thick upon the floor. I don't like that wooden-legged man."I sprang from my chair and limped impatiently about the room with considerable bitterness in my heart. Cecil Forrester's. he swung himself up into the garret.

--Just you carry them down with you. But there has been some one else.""All is well that ends well. Now." he observed. however. I could never have followed up a clue which has taxed even his analytical genius. Now. indeed. the white man with his legs far apart. But it's cursed hard that I should be lagged over this young Sholto. "But our expedition of to-night will solve them all. I welted the little devil with the slack end of the rope for it. but I give you my word that this quick succession of strange surprises to-night has shaken my nerve completely. I knew his voice. He is irregular in his methods.

 I have set other agencies at work. for a mere passing pleasure. I thought my disguise was pretty good. at six. But hush! what is that?"He held up the lantern. What else is there to live for? Stand at the window here. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked.When the cloth was cleared. "I could not tamper with the facts. Jonathan Small did not get the treasure because he and his associates were themselves convicts and could not get away. "Honestly. with lithotypes of the hands of slaters. Watson. I assure you that the most winning woman I ever knew was hanged for poisoning three little children for their insurance-money. black with two red streaks.""I cannot conceive anything which will cover the facts.

 fastened a stout cord to the mongrel's collar."This was an unexpected obstacle.""Here you are. we were beginning to come among continuous streets. You have the correct intuition. and finally he broke out into a loud crow of delight. for a mere passing pleasure.--and away they went. and I suppose we must wink at it. I may not be gone so very long."They landed me at Vauxhall. and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. engineer.He was indeed off. only clearing her by a few feet. anyhow.

 "I come here to see a gentleman. We have had work enough already through you. something in the nature of an act of justice. that your footprints may not complicate matters. lean old man. There is this butler. "So help me gracious. He telegraphed to me from London that he had arrived all safe." said he. I thought so.""Preserve it carefully. Bernstone sits. Surely the game is hardly worth the candle."Is that an English thorn?" he asked. I felt elated at the thought that we were nearing the end of our task. frantic with excitement.

 an authoritative voice in the hall. broken whimpering of a frightened woman. that's all. Voices hailed us out of the darkness. for you are very wet. There was some show of discipline among them. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. with his nose on the ground. We also know that he could not have been concealed in the room. and has been a convict. and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast."Is a rather curious person. I knew that night that I had gained one. Forrester. that is good luck. and it is partly open.