"What now?" I asked. "Toby has lost his character for infallibility."
"He acted according to his lights," said Holmes, lifting him down from the barrel and walking him out of the timber-yard. "If you consider how much creasote is carted about London in one day, it is no great wonder that our trail should have been crossed. It is much used now, especially for the seasoning2 of wood. Poor Toby is not to blame."
"We must get on the main scent3 again, I suppose."
"Yes. And, fortunately, we have no distance to go. Evidently what puzzled the dog at the corner of Knight's Place was that there were two different trails running in opposite directions. We took the wrong one. It only remains4 to follow the other."
There was no difficulty about this. On leading Toby to the place where he had committed his fault, he cast about in a wide circle and finally dashed off in a fresh direction.
"We must take care that he does not now bring us to the place where the creasote-barrel came from," I observed.
"I had thought of that. But you notice that he keeps on the pavement, whereas the barrel passed down the roadway. No, we are on the true scent now."
It tended down towards the river-side, running through Belmont Place and Prince's Street. At the end of Broad Street it ran right down to the water's edge, where there was a small wooden wharf5. Toby led us to the very edge of this, and there stood whining6, looking out on the dark current beyond.
"We are out of luck," said Holmes. "They have taken to a boat here." Several small punts and skiffs were lying about in the water and on the edge of the wharf. We took Toby round to each in turn, but, though he sniffed7 earnestly, he made no sign.
Close to the rude landing-stage was a small brick house, with a wooden placard slung8 out through the second window. "Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters, and, underneath9, "Boats to hire by the hour or day." A second inscription10 above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept,--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty. Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round, and his face assumed an ominous11 expression.
"This looks bad," said he. "These fellows are sharper than I expected. They seem to have covered their tracks. There has, I fear, been preconcerted management here."
He was approaching the door of the house, when it opened, and a little, curly-headed lad of six came running out, followed by a stoutish12, red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand.
"You come back and be washed, Jack13," she shouted. "Come back, you young imp14; for if your father comes home and finds you like that, he'll let us hear of it."
"Dear little chap!" said Holmes, strategically. "What a rosy- cheeked young rascal15! Now, Jack, is there anything you would like?"
The youth pondered for a moment. "I'd like a shillin'," said he.
"Nothing you would like better?"
"I'd like two shillin' better," the prodigy16 answered, after some thought.
"Here you are, then! Catch!--A fine child, Mrs. Smith!"
"Lor' bless you, sir, he is that, and forward. He gets a'most too much for me to manage, 'specially1 when my man is away days at a time."
"Away, is he?" said Holmes, in a disappointed voice. "I am sorry for that, for I wanted to speak to Mr. Smith."
"He's been away since yesterday mornin', sir, and, truth to tell, I am beginnin' to feel frightened about him. But if it was about a boat, sir, maybe I could serve as well."
"I wanted to hire his steam launch."
"Why, bless you, sir, it is in the steam launch that he has gone. That's what puzzles me; for I know there ain't more coals in her than would take her to about Woolwich and back. If he'd been away in the barge17 I'd ha' thought nothin'; for many a time a job has taken him as far as Gravesend, and then if there was much doin' there he might ha' stayed over. But what good is a steam launch without coals?"
"He might have bought some at a wharf down the river."
"He might, sir, but it weren't his way. Many a time I've heard him call out at the prices they charge for a few odd bags. Besides, I don't like that wooden-legged man, wi' his ugly face and outlandish talk. What did he want always knockin' about here for?"
"A wooden-legged man?" said Holmes, with bland18 surprise.
"Yes, sir, a brown, monkey-faced chap that's called more'n once for my old man. It was him that roused him up yesternight, and, what's more, my man knew he was comin', for he had steam up in the launch. I tell you straight, sir, I don't feel easy in my mind about it."
"But, my dear Mrs. Smith," said Holmes, shrugging his shoulders, "You are frightening yourself about nothing. 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."
"His voice, sir. I knew his voice, which is kind o' thick and foggy. He tapped at the winder,--about three it would be. 'Show a leg, matey,' says he: 'time to turn out guard.' My old man woke up Jim,--that's my eldest,--and away they went, without so much as a word to me. I could hear the wooden leg clackin' on the stones."
"And was this wooden-legged man alone?"
"Couldn't say, I am sure, sir. I didn't hear no one else."
"I am sorry, Mrs. Smith, for I wanted a steam launch, and I have heard good reports of the--Let me see, what is her name?"
"Ah! She's not that old green launch with a yellow line, very broad in the beam?"
"No, indeed. She's as trim a little thing as any on the river. She's been fresh painted, black with two red streaks20."
"Thanks. I hope that you will hear soon from Mr. Smith. I am going down the river; and if I should see anything of the Aurora I shall let him know that you are uneasy. A black funnel21, you say?"
"No, sir. Black with a white band."
"Ah, of course. It was the sides which were black. Good- morning, Mrs. Smith.--There is a boatman here with a wherry, Watson. We shall take it and cross the river.
"The main thing with people of that sort," said Holmes, as we sat in the sheets of the wherry, "is never to let them think that their information can be of the slightest importance to you. If you do, they will instantly shut up like an oyster22. If you listen to them under protest, as it were, you are very likely to get what you want."
"Our course now seems pretty clear," said I.
"What would you do, then?"
"I would engage a launch and go down the river on the track of the Aurora."
"My dear fellow, it would be a colossal23 task. She may have touched at any wharf on either side of the stream between here and Greenwich. Below the bridge there is a perfect labyrinth24 of landing-places for miles. It would take you days and days to exhaust them, if you set about it alone."
"Employ the police, then."
"No. I shall probably call Athelney Jones in at the last moment. He is not a bad fellow, and I should not like to do anything which would injure him professionally. But I have a fancy for working it out myself, now that we have gone so far."
"Could we advertise, then, asking for information from wharfingers?"
"Worse and worse! Our men would know that the chase was hot at their heels, and they would be off out of the country. As it is, they are likely enough to leave, but as long as they think they are perfectly25 safe they will be in no hurry. Jones's energy will be of use to us there, for his view of the case is sure to push itself into the daily press, and the runaways26 will think that every one is off on the wrong scent."
"What are we to do, then?" I asked, as we landed near Millbank Penitentiary27.
"Take this hansom, drive home, have some breakfast, and get an hour's sleep. It is quite on the cards that we may be afoot to- night again. Stop at a telegraph-office, cabby! We will keep Toby, for he may be of use to us yet."
We pulled up at the Great Peter Street post-office, and Holmes despatched his wire. "Whom do you think that is to?" he asked, as we resumed our journey.
"I am sure I don't know."
"You remember the Baker28 Street division of the detective police force whom I employed in the Jefferson Hope case?"
"Well," said I, laughing.
"This is just the case where they might be invaluable29. If they fail, I have other resources; but I shall try them first. That wire was to my dirty little lieutenant30, Wiggins, and I expect that he and his gang will be with us before we have finished our breakfast."
It was between eight and nine o'clock now, and I was conscious of a strong reaction after the successive excitements of the night. I was limp and weary, befogged in mind and fatigued31 in body. I had not the professional enthusiasm which carried my companion on, nor could I look at the matter as a mere32 abstract intellectual problem. As far as the death of Bartholomew Sholto went, I had heard little good of him, and could feel no intense antipathy33 to his murderers. The treasure, however, was a different matter. That, or part of it, belonged rightfully to Miss Morstan. While there was a chance of recovering it I was ready to devote my life to the one object. True, if I found it it would probably put her forever beyond my reach. Yet it would be a petty and selfish love which would be influenced by such a thought as that. If Holmes could work to find the criminals, I had a tenfold stronger reason to urge me on to find the treasure.
A bath at Baker Street and a complete change freshened me up wonderfully. When I came down to our room I found the breakfast laid and Homes pouring out the coffee.
"Here it is," said he, laughing, and pointing to an open newspaper. "The energetic Jones and the ubiquitous reporter have fixed34 it up between them. But you have had enough of the case. Better have your ham and eggs first."
I took the paper from him and read the short notice, which was headed "Mysterious Business at Upper Norwood."
"About twelve o'clock last night," said the Standard, "Mr. Bartholomew Sholto, of Pondicherry Lodge35, Upper Norwood, was found dead in his room under circumstances which point to foul36 play. As far as we can learn, no actual traces of violence were found upon Mr. Sholto's person, but a valuable collection of Indian gems37 which the deceased gentleman had inherited from his father has been carried off. The discovery was first made by Mr. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, who had called at the house with Mr. Thaddeus Sholto, brother of the deceased. By a singular piece of good fortune, Mr. Athelney Jones, the well-known member of the detective police force, happened to be at the Norwood Police Station, and was on the ground within half an hour of the first alarm. His trained and experienced faculties38 were at once directed towards the detection of the criminals, with the gratifying result that the brother, Thaddeus Sholto, has already been arrested, together with the housekeeper39, Mrs. Bernstone, an Indian butler named Lal Rao, and a porter, or gatekeeper, named McMurdo. It is quite certain that the thief or thieves were well acquainted with the house, for Mr. Jones's well-known technical knowledge and his powers of minute observation have enabled him to prove conclusively40 that the miscreants41 could not have entered by the door or by the window, but must have made their way across the roof of the building, and so through a trap-door into a room which communicated with that in which the body was found. This fact, which has been very clearly made out, proves conclusively that it was no mere haphazard42 burglary. 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. We cannot but think that it supplies an argument to those who would wish to see our detectives more decentralized, and so brought into closer and more effective touch with the cases which it is their duty to investigate."
"Isn't it gorgeous!" said Holmes, grinning over his coffee-cup. "What do you think of it?"
"I think that we have had a close shave ourselves of being arrested for the crime."
"So do I. I wouldn't answer for our safety now, if he should happen to have another of his attacks of energy."
At this moment there was a loud ring at the bell, and I could hear Mrs. Hudson, our landlady43, raising her voice in a wail44 of expostulation and dismay.
"By heaven, Holmes," I said, half rising, "I believe that they are really after us."
"No, it's not quite so bad as that. It is the unofficial force,--the Baker Street irregulars."
As he spoke45, there came a swift pattering of naked feet upon the stairs, a clatter46 of high voices, and in rushed a dozen dirty and ragged47 little street-Arabs. There was some show of discipline among them, despite their tumultuous entry, for they instantly drew up in line and stood facing us with expectant faces. One of their number, taller and older than the others, stood forward with an air of lounging superiority which was very funny in such a disreputable little scarecrow.
"Got your message, sir," said he, "and brought 'em on sharp. Three bob and a tanner for tickets."
"Here you are," said Holmes, producing some silver. "In future they can report to you, Wiggins, and you to me. I cannot have the house invaded in this way. However, it is just as well that you should all hear the instructions. I want to find the whereabouts of a steam launch called the Aurora, owner Mordecai Smith, black with two red streaks, funnel black with a white band. She is down the river somewhere. I want one boy to be at Mordecai Smith's landing-stage opposite Millbank to say if the boat comes back. You must divide it out among yourselves, and do both banks thoroughly48. Let me know the moment you have news. Is that all clear?"
"Yes, guv'nor," said Wiggins.
"The old scale of pay, and a guinea to the boy who finds the boat. Here's a day in advance. Now off you go!" He handed them a shilling each, and away they buzzed down the stairs, and I saw them a moment later streaming down the street.
"If the launch is above water they will find her," said Holmes, as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. "They can go everywhere, see everything, overhear every one. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted49 her. In the mean while, we can do nothing but await results. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai Smith."
"Toby could eat these scraps50, I dare say. Are you going to bed, Holmes?"
"No: I am not tired. I have a curious constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. If ever man had an easy task, this of ours ought to be. Wooden-legged men are not so common, but the other man must, I should think, be absolutely unique."
"That other man again!"
"I have no wish to make a mystery of him,--to you, anyway. But you must have formed your own opinion. Now, do consider the data. Diminutive51 footmarks, toes never fettered52 by boots, naked feet, stone-headed wooden mace53, great agility54, small poisoned darts55. What do you make of all this?"
"A savage56!" I exclaimed. "Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small."
"Hardly that," said he. "When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so; but the remarkable57 character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. Some of the inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula are small men, but none could have left such marks as that. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others, because the thong58 is commonly passed between. These little darts, too, could only be shot in one way. They are from a blow-pipe. Now, then, where are we to find our savage?"
"South American," I hazarded.
He stretched his hand up, and took down a bulky volume from the shelf. "This is the first volume of a gazetteer59 which is now being published. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. What have we here? 'Andaman Islands, situated60 340 miles to the north of Sumatra, in the Bay of Bengal.' Hum! hum! What's all this? Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict-barracks, Rutland Island, cottonwoods--Ah, here we are. 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this earth, though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa, the Digger Indians of America, and the Terra del Fuegians. The average height is rather below four feet, although many full-grown adults may be found who are very much smaller than this. They are a fierce, morose61, and intractable people, though capable of forming most devoted62 friendships when their confidence has once been gained.' Mark that, Watson. Now, then, listen to this. 'They are naturally hideous63, having large, misshapen heads, small, fierce eyes, and distorted features. Their feet and hands, however, are remarkably64 small. So intractable and fierce are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them over in any degree. They have always been a terror to shipwrecked crews, braining the survivors65 with their stone-headed clubs, or shooting them with their poisoned arrows. These massacres66 are invariably concluded by a cannibal feast.' Nice, amiable67 people, Watson! If this fellow had been left to his own unaided devices this affair might have taken an even more ghastly turn. I fancy that, even as it is, Jonathan Small would give a good deal not to have employed him."
"But how came he to have so singular a companion?"
"Ah, that is more than I can tell. Since, however, we had already determined68 that Small had come from the Andamans, it is not so very wonderful that this islander should be with him. No doubt we shall know all about it in time. Look here, Watson; you look regularly done. Lie down there on the sofa, and see if I can put you to sleep."
He took up his violin from the corner, and as I stretched myself out he began to play some low, dreamy, melodious69 air,--his own, no doubt, for he had a remarkable gift for improvisation70. I have a vague remembrance of his gaunt limbs, his earnest face, and the rise and fall of his bow. Then I seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound, until I found myself in dream- land, with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking down upon me.
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specially
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| adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地 | |
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seasoning
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| n.调味；调味料；增添趣味之物 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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wharf
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| n.码头，停泊处 | |
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whining
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| n. 抱怨，牢骚 v. 哭诉，发牢骚 | |
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sniffed
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| v.以鼻吸气，嗅，闻( sniff的过去式和过去分词 )；抽鼻子（尤指哭泣、患感冒等时出声地用鼻子吸气）；抱怨，不以为然地说 | |
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slung
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| 抛( sling的过去式和过去分词 )； 吊挂； 遣送； 押往 | |
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underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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inscription
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| n.（尤指石块上的）刻印文字，铭文，碑文 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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stoutish
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| 略胖的 | |
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jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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imp
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| n.顽童 | |
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rascal
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| n.流氓；不诚实的人 | |
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prodigy
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| n.惊人的事物，奇迹，神童，天才，预兆 | |
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barge
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bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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streaks
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funnel
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oyster
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colossal
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labyrinth
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perfectly
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runaways
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| （轻而易举的）胜利( runaway的名词复数 ) | |
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penitentiary
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| n.感化院；监狱 | |
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baker
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| n.面包师 | |
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invaluable
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| adj.无价的，非常宝贵的，极为贵重的 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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fatigued
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| adj. 疲乏的 | |
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mere
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antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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gems
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| growth； economy； management； and customer satisfaction 增长 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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housekeeper
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| n.管理家务的主妇，女管家 | |
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conclusively
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| adv.令人信服地，确凿地 | |
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miscreants
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| n.恶棍，歹徒( miscreant的名词复数 ) | |
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haphazard
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| adj.无计划的，随意的，杂乱无章的 | |
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landlady
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| n.女房东，女地主 | |
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wail
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| vt./vi.大声哀号，恸哭；呼啸，尖啸 | |
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spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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spotted
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| adj.有斑点的，斑纹的，弄污了的 | |
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scraps
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| 油渣 | |
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diminutive
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| adj.小巧可爱的，小的 | |
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fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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53
mace
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| n.狼牙棒，豆蔻干皮 | |
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agility
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| n.敏捷，活泼 | |
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darts
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| n.掷飞镖游戏；飞镖( dart的名词复数 )；急驰，飞奔v.投掷，投射( dart的第三人称单数 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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thong
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| n.皮带；皮鞭；v.装皮带 | |
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gazetteer
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| n.地名索引 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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morose
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| adj.脾气坏的，不高兴的 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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remarkably
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| ad.不同寻常地，相当地 | |
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survivors
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| 幸存者，残存者，生还者( survivor的名词复数 ) | |
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massacres
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| 大屠杀( massacre的名词复数 )； 惨败 | |
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amiable
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| adj.和蔼可亲的，友善的，亲切的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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melodious
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| adj.旋律美妙的，调子优美的，音乐性的 | |
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improvisation
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| n.即席演奏(或演唱)；即兴创作 | |
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