Chapter 10 of the sign of the four by Sir, Arthur Conan Doyle.
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Chapter 10. The end of The Islander.
Our meal was a. Merry one homes could talk
exceedingly. Well, when he chose and that
night, he did choose. He appeared to be in a state of
nervous. Exultation.
I've never known him so brilliant.
He spoke on a quick succession of subjects on Miracle plays on
medieval Pottery, on Stradivarius violins on the
Buddhism of Ceylon and on the warships of the future.
Handling each as though he had made a special study of it.
His bright humor marked, the reaction from his black
depression of the preceding days.
Athelney Jones proved to be a sociable soul in his hours of
relaxation and faced his dinner with the air of a bon vivant for
myself. I felt elated at the thought
that we were nearing the end of our task and I caught something
of homes is gaiety. None of us alluded during dinner
to the cause which had brought us together when the cloth was
cleared Holmes, glanced at his watch, and filled up three
glasses with Port 1. Bumper said he to the success of
our little Expedition and now it is high time.
We were off, have you epistle Watson?
I have my old service revolver in my desk.
You had best take it, then it is well to be prepared.
I see that the cab is at the door.
I It for 6:30. It was a little past seven
before we reach the Westminster Wharf and found our launch
awaiting us homes. I'd it critically.
Is there anything to mark it as a police boat?
Yes, that green lamp at the side, then take it off.
The small change was made, we stepped on board and the ropes
were cast off Jones homes. And I sat in the stern, there
was one man at the rudder, one to ten the engines and two Burly
police inspectors forward. Where to ask Jones to the tower.
Tell him to stop opposite Jacobson's.
Yeah. Todd craft was evidently a very
fast one. We shot past the long lines of
loaded. Barges as though, they were
stationary, Holmes smiled with satisfaction as we overhauled a
river. Steamer and left her behind us.
We ought to be able to catch anything on the river.
He said, well, oddly that. But there are not many launches
to beat us, we shall have to catch the Aurora and she has a
name for being a Clipper. I will tell you how the land
lies Watson, You recollect how annoyed I was at being bought by
so small, a thing? Yes.
Well, I gave my mind a sir arrest by plunging into a
chemical analysis. One of our greatest Statesmen
who said that a change of work is the best rest.
So, it is when I had succeeded in dissolving, the hydrocarbon,
which I was at work at, I came back to our problem of the
sholto's and thought the whole matter out.
Again, my boys have been up the river and Down the River without
result. The launch was not at any
Landing stage or Wharf nor had it returned yet.
It could hardly have been scuttled to hide their traces
though that always remained as a possible hypothesis.
If all else failed, I knew this man.
Small had a certain degree of low cunning, but I did not think
him capable of anything in the nature of delicate finesse.
That is usually a product of higher education.
I then reflected that since he had We've been in London some
time. As we had evidence that he
maintained a continual watch over pondicherry Lodge.
He could hardly leave at a moment's notice but would need
some little time. If it were only a day to arrange
his Affairs, that was the balance of probability at any
rate. It seems to me to be a little
weak said. I, it is more probable that he
had arranged his Affairs before ever.
He set out upon his expedition. No, I hardly think.
So, this layer of his would be too valuable at a retreat in
case of need for him to give it up until he was sure that he
could do without it, but a second consideration, struck me,
Jonathan small must have felt that the peculiar appearance of
His companion. However, much.
He may have top coated. Would give rise to gossip and
possibly be associated. With this Norwood tragedy.
He was quite sharp enough to see that they had started from their
headquarters under cover of darkness and he would wish to
get back before. It was broad light.
Now, it was past 3:00 according to mrs.
Smith, when they got the boat, it would be quite bright and
people would be about in an hour or so.
Therefore, I argued that they did not go very far.
Are they paid Smith well to hold his tongue reserved, his launch
for the final escape and hurried to their lodgings with the
treasure box in a couple of nights when they had time to see
what view the papers took. And whether there was any
suspicion, they would make their way under cover of Darkness, to
some ship at Gravesend or in the Downs.
When I doubt, they had already arranged for passages to America
or the colonies. But the launch, they could not
have taken that to their lodgings quite.
So, I argued that the launch must be no great way off in
spite of its invisibility. I then put myself in the place
of small and looked at it as a man of his capacity, would he
would probably consider that to send back the launch or to keep
it at a wharf would make the suit easy if the police did
happen to get on his track how then could he conceal the launch
and yet have heard At hand. When wanted, I wondered what I
should do myself? If I were in his shoes, I could
only think of one way of doing it.
I might land a launch over to some boat builder or repairer
with directions to make a trifling change in her, she
would then be removed to his shed, or yard and so be
effectually concealed. While at the same time, I could
have her at a few hours. Notice that seems simple enough.
It is just these very simple things which are extremely
liable to be overlooked. However I determined to act on
the idea I started at once in this harmless Siemens rig and
inquired at all the yards down the river, I drew blanket 15.
But at the 16th Jacobson's, I learned that the Aurora had been
handed over to them two days ago by a wooden-legged man.
With some trivial directions as to her Rudder, right?
Nor a Miss with her Radha, said the foreman there, she lies with
the red streaks. At that moment who should come
down. But Mordecai Smith, the missing
owner. He was rather the worse for
liquor. I should not have course have
known him but he bellowed out his name and the name of his
launch 10 tonight at 8:00 said, he 8:00 sharp mine for have two
gentlemen. Who won't be kept waiting?
Yeah definitely paid him well for he was very flush of money,
chucking Shillings about to the men, I followed him some
distance but he subsided into an alehouse.
So I went back to the yard and happening to pick up one of my
boys on the way I stationed him as a century over the launch, he
is to stand at Waters Edge and wave his handkerchief to us.
When they start we shall be lying off in the Stream and it
will be a strange thing. If we do, not take men treasure
and all You have planned it all very neatly whether they are the
right men or not said Jones. But if the affair were in my
hands, I should have had a body of police in Jacobs and Jarred
and arrested them when they came down.
Which would have been never this man, small is a pretty shrewd
fellow, he would send a scout on ahead and if anything made him
suspicious lie snug for another week.
But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith and so being led
to their Hiding Place said I in that case I would have wasted my
day. I think that it is 100 to 1
against Smith knowing where they live, as long as he has liquor
and a good pay. Why should he ask questions?
They send him messages. What to do?
No, I thought every possible course.
And this is the best. While this conversation had been
proceeding. We had been shooting the long
series Of bridges, which span the Thames.
As we pass the city, the last rays of the sun were gilding the
cross upon the summit of st. Paul's, it was Twilight before
we reach the tower. That is Jacobson's yard said,
Holmes pointing to a bristle of masts and rigging on the Surrey
side Crews, gently up. And down here, under cover of
this string of Lighters, he took a pair of night classes from his
pocket and gazed some time at the shore.
I see my Sentry at his post, he remarked, but no sign of a
handkerchief. Suppose we go Downstream a short
way and lie in wait for them. So Jones, eagerly, we were all
eager by this time. Even the policemen and Stoker's
who are very vague idea of what was going forward.
We have no right to take anything for granted Holmes
answered. It is certainly ten to one that
they go Downstream but we cannot be certain from this point.
We can see the entrance of the yard and they can hardly see us.
It will be a clear night and plenty of light.
We must stay where we are. See how the folks warm Over
Yonder in The Gaslight are coming from work in the yard.
Does he looking Rascals? But I suppose everyone has some
little Immortal, spark concealed about him.
You would not think it to look at them.
There is no a priori probability about it.
A strange Enigma is man. Someone calls him a soul
concealed in an animal. I suggested when would read is
good upon the subject said Holmes.
He remarks. That, while the individual man
is an insoluble puzzle in the aggregate.
He becomes a mathematical certainty.
You can, for example, never foretell.
What any one man will do? But you can say with Precision,
what an average number will be up to individuals vary, but
percentages remain constant, so says Statistician.
But do I see a handkerchief surely?
There is a white flat Over Yonder.
Yes, it is, your boy. I cried.
I can see him plainly. And there is the Aurora
explained homes and going like, the devil Full Speed Ahead
engineer make after that. Launched with the yellow light
by Heaven. I shall never forgive myself.
If she proves to have the heels of us.
She had slipped unseen through the yard entrance and past
behind two, or three small craft, so that she had Fairly
got a speed up before we saw her.
Now, she was flying down the stream near into the shore.
Going into tremendous rate, Jones looked Gravely at her and
shook his head. She's very fast.
He said, I doubt if we shall catch her, we must catch her
cried Holmes between his teeth, he put on Stoker's, make her do
all she can. If we And the boat we must have
them. We were fairly after her now,
the furnace is roared. And the powerful engines.
Wisdom clanked, like a great metallic heart has sharp steep
prowl, cut through the river water and sent to Rolling waves
two, right? And two left of us.
With every throb of the engines, we sprang and quivered like a
living thing one great Yellow Lantern in our boughs through a
long. Flickering fun, love light in
front of us. Right ahead.
A dark blur upon the Water showed where the auroral a and a
swirl of white. Behind her spoke of the pace at
which she was going. We flashed past, barges
Steamers, Merchant vessels in and out behind this one and
round the other voices, hailed us out of the darkness, but
still the Aurora thundered on and still, we followed close
upon a track pilot on men pilot on cried.
Holmes, looking down into the engine room while the fierce
glow from below beat upon his eager aquiline, face, get every
pound of steam, you can I think we can gain a little said Jones
with his eyes on the Aurora. I'm sure of it said, I we shall
be up with her in a very few minutes that moment.
However as our evil fate would have it a tug with three barges
in tow blundered in between us it was only by putting our Helm
hard down that we avoided a collision and before we could
round them and recover our way, the Aurora had gained a good 200
yards. She was still, however, well in
View and the murky uncertain. Twilight was setting into a
clear Starlit Night. Our boilers were strained to
their utmost, and the frail shell vibrated, and creaked,
with the fierce energy, which was driving us along, we had
shot through the pool past the West India, docks down the long
Deptford reach and up again after rounding, the Isle of
dogs, the doll blur in front of us resolved itself.
Now, clearly enough into the dainty Aurora Jones turned our
search light upon her so that we could plainly see the figures
upon her deck, one man Sat by the stern with something black
between his knees over, which he stooped beside him.
Lay a dark Mass, which looked like a Newfoundland dog.
The boy held the tiller while against the red glare of the
Furnace, I could see old Smith stripped to the waist and
shoveling coals for dear life. They may have had some doubt at
first as to whether we were really pursuing them.
But now as we followed every winding and turning which they
took, they could be no longer any question about it at
Greenwich, we were about 300 Paces behind them.
At black wool, we could not have been more than 250.
I have caused many creatures in many countries during my
checkered career, but never did sport.
Give me such a wild thrill as this mad flying man.
Hunt down the Thames. Steadily.
We drew in upon them yard by yard in the Silence of the
night. We could hear the panting and
clanking of their Machinery. The man in the stern, still
crouched upon Deck and his arms were moving as though he were
busy while every now and then he would look up and measure with a
glance the distance, which still separated us nearer.
We came and nearer Jones yelled to them to stop.
We were not more than four boats lengths behind them, both boats,
flying at a tremendous Pace. It was a clear reach of the
river with barking level upon one side and The Melancholy
plumstead marshes upon the other.
At our hail, the man in the stern, sprang up from the deck
and shook his to clinched fists at us cursing, a while in a high
cracked voice. He was a good-sized powerful,
man, and as he stood poison himself with legs astride, I
could see that from the thigh downwards, there was, but a
wooden stump upon the right side.
At the sound of his strident angry cries, there was movement
in the huddled bundle upon the deck.
It straightened itself into a little black man, the smallest
I've ever seen with a great misshapen head and a shock of
tangle disheveled hair Holmes had already drawn his revolver
and I whipped out mine at the sight of this Savage distorted
creature. He was wrapped in some sort of
dark bolster or blanket, which left only his face exposed.
But that face was enough to give a man, a sleepless night.
Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all best
reality and cruelty. His small eyes glowed and burned
with a sombre light and his thick lips were rised back from
his teeth which grinned and chattered at us with a half
animal Fury fire. If he raises his hand said
Holmes, quietly, we were within a boat's length by this time.
Almost within Touch of our Quarry.
I can see the two of them. Now, as they stood, the white
man with his legs far apart shrieking out curses, and the
unhallowed dwarf with his hideous face and his strong
yellow teeth. Gnashing at us in the light of
our Lantern. It was well, that we had so
clearer view of him. Even as we looked, he plucked
out from under his covering, a short round piece of wood like a
school ruler, and clapped it to his lips.
I'll pistols rang out together. He Whirled round threw up his
arms. And with a kind of choking
cough, fell sideways into the Stream.
I caught one glimpse of his venomous menacing eyes amid the
white swirl of The Waters at the same moment.
The wooden-legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put
it hard down so that his boat made straight in for the
Southern Bank. While we shot past her Stern,
only clearing her by a few feet. We were round after her in an
instant, but she was already nearly at the bank.
It was a wild and desolate place.
Where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of Marshland with
pools of stagnant, water, and beds of decaying vegetation.
The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mudbank with her
bow, in the air, and her Stern flush with the water.
The Fugitive sprang out, but his stump instantly sank its whole
length into the southern soil. In vain, he struggled and Rise
not one step could he possibly take either forwards or
backwards yelled at him, impotent, rage and kicked
frantically into the mud with his other foot but his struggles
only board his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky Bank.
When we brought our launch alongside he was so firmly
anchored. There was only by throwing the
end of a rope over his shoulders.
That we were able to haul him out and to drag him like some
evil fish over our side, the to Smith's, father and son sat
sullenly in their launch but came aboard meekly enough when
commanded the Aurora herself was hauled off and made fast to our
Stern, a solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon
the deck, this there could be no question was the same that had
contained The ill-omened Treasure of the sholto's.
There was no key, but it was of considerable weight.
So, we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin as we
steamed slowly. Upstream.
Again, we flashed our search light in every direction, but
there was no sign of the island somewhere in the dark ooze at
the bottom of the Thames, by the bones of that strange visitor to
our Shores. See here said Holmes pointing to
the wooden hatchway. We were hardly quick enough with
our pistols. There.
Sure enough just behind where we had been standing stuck.
One of those murderers darts which we knew so.
Well it must have whizzed between us at the instant that
we fired Holmes smiled at it and Shrugged, his shoulders in his
easy fashion. But I confess that it turned me
sick to think of the horrible death, which had passed.
So close to us that night end of chapter 10,