Chapter 12 of The Sign of the four by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
Chapter 12, the strange story of Jonathan.
Small, a very patient man was that inspector in the cab for it
was a weary time. Before I rejoined him his face
clouded over when I showed him the empty box.
There goes the reward said he gloomily were.
There's no money. There's no pay this night's
work. Would have been worth it?
Tenner each to Sam Brown and me if The Treasure of been there.
Mr. Thaddeus sholto is rich. Man.
I said, he'll see that. You're rewarded Treasurer or no.
The inspector shook, his head despondently.
However, it's a bad job, he repeated, and so mr.
Athelney Jones will think his forecast proved to be correct
for the detective looked blank enough.
When I got to Baker Street and showed him, the empty box, they
had only just arrived homes, The Prisoner and he for they had
changed their plans. So far as to report themselves
at a station upon the way, my companion lounged in his
armchair with his usual listless.
Expression while small Sate stolidly opposite to him with
his wooden leg, cocked over his sound one.
As I exhibited the empty box, he leaned back in his chair and
laughed aloud. This is your doing small.
Said, athelny Jones, angrily! Yes!
I've put it away where you shall never lay a hand upon it.
He cried exultantly. It is my treasure.
And if I can't add the loot, I'll take darn good care that no
one else does I tell. Tell you that no living man has
any right to it unless it is three men who are in the Andaman
convict barracks and myself. I know now that I cannot have
the use of it, and I know that they cannot, I have acted all
through for them as much as for myself, it's been the sign of
four with us. Always well, I know now that
they would have had me do just what I've done, and throw the
treasure into the Thames, rather than Let It Go to kith or kin of
sholto or of morstan. It was not to make them Rich
that we did for achmat. You'll find the treasure where
the key is and we're little Tonga.
Is when I saw that your launch must catch us.
I put the loot away in a safe place.
There are no rupees for you this journey.
You are deceiving a small. So that's only Jones sternly.
If you would wish to throw the treasure into the Thames, it
would have been easier for you to have thrown box and all
easier for me to throw and easier for you to recover.
He answered with a shrewd sidelong, look a man.
That was clever enough to hunt me down, is clever enough to
pick an iron box from the bottom of a river.
Now that they are scattered over five miles or so, it may be a
harder job went to my heart to do it though.
I was If mad, when you came up with us, however, there's no
good grieving over it. I've had ups in my life and I've
had downs, but I've learned not to cry over spilled milk.
This is a very serious Mass small.
So the detective, if you would help Justice instead of
thwarting, it in this way, you have had a better chance at your
trial Justice. Snarl the ex-convict are pretty
Justice. Whose loot is this, if it is not
ours, where is the Justice to? I should give it up to those who
have never owned it. Look how I have earned it 20,
long years in that fever, written swamp all day at work
Under The Mangrove, tree. All Night chained up in the
filthy convict Huts bitten by mosquitoes racked with egg
bullied by Every curse in blackface policemen who love to
take it out of a white man. That was how I earned the Agra
treasure. And you talk to me a Justice
because I cannot bear to feel that I've paid this price, only
that another may enjoy it. I would rather swing a score of
times or have one of the tongass darts in my IDE and live in a
convict cell. And feel that another man is at
his, he's in a palace with the money that should be mine.
Small had dropped his mask of stoicism and all this came out
in a wild world of words, while his eyes blazed, and the
handcuffs Clank together, with the impassioned movement of his
hands, I could understand as I saw the fury and the passion of
the man, that it was no groundless or unnatural Terror,
which are possessed major sholto when he first learned that the
injured convict was upon his track.
You forget that we know nothing of all this said, Holmes
quietly, we have not heard your story and we cannot tell how far
Justice May originally have been on your side.
Well sir, you've been very fair spoken to me though.
I can see that. I have you to thank that.
I have these bracelets upon my wrists.
Still, are you bear? No grudge for that.
It is all fair and above board. If you want to hear my story I
have no wish to hold it back. What I say to you is God's
truth. With every word of it.
Thank you. You can put the glass beside me
here and I'll put my lips to it if I'm dry.
I am a Worcestershire man. Myself, born near pershore.
I daresay you would find a HEPA Smalls living there.
Now if you were to look I have often thought of taking a look
around there. But the truth is that I was
never much of a credit to the family and I doubt if they would
be. So very glad to see me.
They were all steady Chapel going folk small farmers
well-known and respected over the countryside.
Well I was always a bit of a Rover At last.
However, when I was about 18, I gave the no more trouble for.
I got into a mess over a girl and could only get out of it
again by taking the Queen's Shilling and join the 3D Buffs
which was just starting for India.
I wasn't destined to do much soldiering.
However, I just got past a goose step and learn to handle my
musket when I was fool enough to go swimming in the Ganges,
luckily for me my company, Sergeant, John older was in the
water at the same time and he was one of the finest swimmers
in the service. A crocodile took me just as I
was halfway cross and nipped off me right leg as clean as a
surgeon would have done just above the knee.
What with the shock and the loss of blood?
I fainted I should have drowned if holder had not caught hold of
me and paddle for the bank, I was five months in hospital over
it. And when At Last I was able to
limp out of it with this Timber tow strap to my stump, I find
myself invalided out of the army and unfitted for any active
occupation. I was as you can imagine, pretty
down on my luck at this time for.
I was a useless cripple or not yet in my 20th year.
However, my Misfortune soon proving to be a blessing in
disguise, a man named Abel white, it would come out there
as an indigo planter wanted an overseer to look after his
coolies and keep them up to their work, he happened to be a
friend of our Colonels, who had taken to an interest to me since
the accident. To make a long story short.
The colonel recommended me strongly for the post and as the
work was mostly to be done on Horseback.
My leg was no great obstacle for.
I had enough money left to keep good grip on the saddle.
What I had to do was to ride over the plantation, to keep an
eye on the men as they worked and to report the idlers the pay
was fair. I had comfortable, quarters and
altogether. I was content to spend the
remainder of my life in Indigo, planting mr.
Abel White was a kind man and you would often drop into my
little Shanty and smoke a pipe with me for white folk out there
feel are Arts, warm to each other as they never do here at
home, Well, I was never in Lux weilong suddenly without a note
of warning, the great Mutiny broke upon us, one month, India
layers, still, and peaceful to all appearances, sir, Ian Kent,
the next, there were 200,000 black Devils let loose and the
country was a perfect hell of course you know all about it
gentlemen a deal more than I do very like since reading is not
in my line. I only know what I saw in my own
eyes. How Plantation was at a place
called mature near the border of the Northwest provinces night
after night. The whole sky was a light with a
burning Bungalows and day after day.
We had small companies of Europeans passing through our
state with their wives and children on their way to Agra
where with a nearest troops mr. Abel white was an obstinate,
man, he had it in his head that the affair had been Added that
it would blow over as suddenly as it had sprung up there.
He sat on his Veranda drinking whiskey pegs and smoking.
Sure, Roots, while the country was in a blaze about him, of
course, we stuck by him. Ian Dawson, who with his wife
used to do the bookwork and the managing.
Well, One Fine Day. The crash came I've been away on
a distant Plantation and was riding slowly home in the
evening. When my eye fell upon something
all huddle together at the bottom of a A steep nullah.
I wrote down to see what it was and the cold struck through my
art. When I found it was Dawson's
wife. All cut into ribbons and a half
eaten by jackals and native dogs.
A little further up. The road Dawson himself was
lying on his face quite Dead with an empty revolver in his
hand and for sepoys lying across each other in front of him.
I reined up my arse wondering which way I should turn.
But at that moment I saw Thick Smoke curling up from Able
whites Bungalow and the Flames beginning to burst through the
roof. I knew then that I could do my
employer. No good.
But we'd only throw my own life away if I meddled in the matter.
From Where I Stood, I could see hundreds of the black fiends
with their Red Coats. Still on their backs, dancing
and Howling around the burning house.
Some of them pointed at me and a couple of bullets sang past my
head. So I broke away Across The Paddy
fields and found myself late at night, safe within the walls at
Agra. As it proved, however there was
no great safety there. Either the whole country was up
like a swarm of bees wherever the English could collect in
little bands, they held just a ground, their guns, commanded
everywhere else. They were helpless fugitives.
It was a fight of the millions against hundreds and the
cruelest part of it was that these men that we fought against
foot horse and Gunners were, our own picts troops, whom we had
taught and trained handling, our own weapons.
And blowing, our Bugle calls at Agra there with a 3D Bengal.
Fusiliers, some seeks to troops of offs and a battery of
artillery, a volunteer Corps of Clark's and Merchants had been
formed. And this, I joined wooden leg
and all We went out to meet the rebels at chartres gunge early
in July and we beat them back for a time but how powder gave
out and we had to fall back upon the city nothing but the worst
news came to us from every side which is not to be wondered at
for if you look at the map you'll see that we were right in
the heart of it. Look now is rather better than
100 miles to the East and can't pour about as far to the South
for every point on a compass. There was nothing but torture
and murder and outraged. The city of Agra is a great
place swarming with Fanatics and fierce devil worshippers all
sorts how handful of men were lost among the narrow winding
streets. Our leader moved across the
river therefore and took up his position in the Old Fort at
Agra. I don't know if any of you
gentlemen have ever read or heard anything of that Old Fort,
it is a very queer place. The queries that ever I was in
and I have been in Rum Corners to.
First of all, it is enormous in size.
I should think that the enclosure must be acres and
Acres, there is a modern part which took all our Garrison,
women children stores and everything else was plenty of
room over but the modern part is nothing like the size of the old
quarter, where nobody goes and which is given over to the
Scorpions. And the centipedes is all full
of great deserted holes and winding passages and long.
Corridors twisting in and out. So that is easy enough for folk
to get lost in it. But this reason, it was seldom
that any one went into it do now and again, a party, with torches
might go exploring. The river washes along the front
of the Old Fort and so protects it.
But on the sides and behind there are many doors and these
had to be guarded, of course, in the old quarter, as well as in
that which was actually held by our troops.
We were short-handed with hardly man enough to man the angles of
the building and to serve the guns.
It was impossible for us, therefore, to station a strong
guard, and every one of the innumerable Gates.
What we did was to organize a central House in the middle of
the fort and to leave each gate under the charge of one, white
man and two or three natives. I was selected to take charge
during certain hours of the night of a small isolated door
upon the southwest side of the building to seek troopers were
placed under my command and I was instructed, if anything went
wrong to find my musket, when I might rely upon help come in at
once from the central guard, as the guard was a good 200 Paces
away. However, And as a space between
was cut up into a Labyrinth of passages and corridors, I had
great doubts as to whether they could arrive in time to be of
any use, in case of an actual attack.
Well, I was pretty proud of having a small command given me
since I was a raw recruit and a game legged.
One at that for two nights, I kept the watch with my punjabis,
they were tall fierce-looking, chaps Mahomet Singh, and
Abdullah Khan by name both old Fighting men who had borne arms.
Is this a Chilean Waller? They could talk English pretty
well, but I could get little out of them.
They preferred to stand together and jabber all night in their
queer seek lingo for myself. I used to stand outside the
Gateway, looking down on the broad, winding River and on the
twinkling lights of the great City.
The beating of the drums, the rattle of the tom-toms and the
yells and howls of the rebels drunk with opium, and with bang
were enough to remind us all night of our dangerous neighbors
across the stream, every two hours.
The officer of the night used to come round to all the posts to
make sure that all was. Well, the third night in my
watch was dark and dirty with a small driving rain.
It was dreary work standing in the Gateway hour after hour in
such weather. I tried again and again to make
my seeks talk but without much success at 2:00 in the morning,
the rounds past and broke for a moment, the weariness of the
night finding that my companions would not be led into
conversation. I took out my pipe and lay down
my musket to strike the match in an instant.
The two Sikhs were upon me, one of them snatched my thigh lockup
and leveled it at my head. While the other held a great
knife to my throat and swore between his teeth that he would
plunge it into me if Moved a step.
My first thought was that these fellows were in League with the
rebels and this was the beginning of an assault.
If our door were in the ends of the sepoys, the place Must Fall
and the women and children be treated as they were in kanpur.
Maybe you gentlemen, think that I'm just making out a case for
myself. But I give you my word that when
I thought of that, oh, I felt the point of the knife at my
throat. I open my mouth with the
intention of giving a screen if it was my last one.
One, which might alarm the main guard.
The man who held me seem to know my thoughts for even as I brace
myself to do it. He whispered don't make a noise,
the fort is safe enough. There are no Rebel dogs on the
side of the river. There was The Ring Of Truth in
what he said. And I knew that, if I raise my
voice, I was a dead, man. I could read it in the fellows
brown eyes. I waited there for in silence,
to see what it was that he wanted from me.
Listen to me, say Abe said the taller and fiercer of the pair,
the one whom they called Abdullah Khan.
You must either be with us now or you must be silenced forever.
The thing is, do greater one for us to hesitate either.
You are heart and soul. Us on your oath, on the cross of
the Christians or your body. This night shall be thrown into
the ditch and we shall pass over to our brothers in the rebel
Army. There is no middle way, which is
e to be death or life. We can only give you three
minutes to decide for the time is passing, and all must be done
before the rounds come again. How can I decide said?
I you have not told me what you want of me, but I tell you now
that if it is anything against the safety of the fort, I'll
have no truck with it, so you can drive home your knife and
welcome, it is nothing against the fort said, he we only ask
you to do that to which your countrymen come to this land
for, we ask you to be rich. If you would be one of us, this
night, we will swear to you upon the naked knife.
And by the threefold Oaks Which no Zeke was ever known to break
that you shall have, your fair share of the loot, a quarter of
the treasure shall be yours. We can say, no Farrah.
But what is the treasure then I asked, I'm is ready to be rich
as you can be if you will, but show me how it can be done.
You would swear, then said he by the bones of your father by the
honor of your mother by the cross of your faith to raise, no
hand and speak, no word against us, either now or afterwards I
will swear it. I answered provided that the
fort is not endangered. Then my comrade and I will swear
that you shall have a quarter of the treasure, which shall be
equally divided. Among the four of us there are
but three said, I know dust Akbar must have his share.
We can tell the tale to you while we await them.
Do you stand at the gate? Mahomet Singh and give notice of
that coming the think stands thus Sipe.
And I tell it to you because I know that an oath is binding
upon a wedding ghee and that we made trust you had you been a
lying in do though, you had sworn by all the gods in their
first temples, your blood would have been put upon the knife and
your body in the water. But the sick knows the
Englishmen and the Englishmen knows the seek.
How can then do? What I have to say?
There is a Rajah in the northern provinces who has much wealth,
though. His lungs are small, much has
come to him from his father and more still, he has set by
himself for years of a low nature and Hoards his gold
rather than spend it when the troubles broke out, you would be
friends, both with the lion and the tiger with the sepoys, and
with the company's Raj, Soon. However, it seemed to him that
the white men's day was come for through all the land.
He could hear of nothing but their death and their overthrow
yet being a careful man. He made such plans that come
what may half at least of his treasure, should be left to him
that which was in gold and silver.
He kept by him in the vaults of his Palace, but the most
precious stones and the choices pearls that he had, he put in an
iron box and sent it by a trusty servant.
Who Under the guise of a merchant, should take it to the
fort at Agra there to lie until the land is at peace.
Thus, if the rebels won, he would have his money, but if the
company conquered, his Jews would be saved to him.
Having thus divided his hoard, he threw himself into the cause
of the sepoys since they were strong upon his borders by doing
this Marquess eyeb, his property becomes the do of those who have
been true to their salt. This pretended Merchants who
travels, under the name of Ahmed is now in the city of Agra and
desires to gain his way into the fort, he has with him as
traveling companion. My foster brother dust Akbar,
who knows his secret Dust Akbar, as promised, this night, to lead
him to a side, posten of the fort.
And has chosen this one voice purpose here, he will come
presently. And here you will find Mahomet
Singh and myself, awaiting him. The place is lonely unknown.
Sure. No, of his coming.
The world shall know of the merchant achmet?
No more. But the great treasure of the
Rajah shall be divided Among Us. What say you to it sahib In
Worcestershire. The life of a man.
Seems a great and a sacred thing, but it is very different
when there is Fire and Blood all around you.
And you've been used to meeting death at every turn.
Whether I've met the merchants lived or died was a thing as
light as air to me. But at the talk about the
treasure, my heart turned to it and I thought of what I might do
in the old country with it. And now my folk would stare when
they saw their ne'er-do-well coming back with his pockets.
Full of gold moidores, are you there for it?
He made up my mind. Abdullah, Khan, however,
thinking I hesitated press the matter more closely, Consider.
Sahib said he that is this man is taken by the kommandant
you'll be hung or shot and his jurisdiction by the government.
So that no man will be a rupee, the better for them.
Now since we do the taking of him, why should we not do the
rest as well? The jewels will be as well with
us as in the company's coffers. There will be enough to make
every one of us Richmond and great chiefs.
No one can know about the matter for here.
We are cut off from Um all men, what could be better for the
purpose? Say again, inside whether you
are with us or if we must look upon you as an enemy, I am with
you heart and soul said, I it is, well, he answered Hannah me
back my firelock. You see that?
We trust you for your word like, ours is not to be broken.
We have now only to wait for my brother and the merchant Does
your brother know then? I, what you will do?
I asked the plan is this, he has devised it.
We will go to the gate and share the watch with Mahomet Singh.
The rain was still falling steadily for was just the
beginning of the wet season Brown heavy clouds were drifting
across the sky and it was hard to see more than a stone cast.
A deep moat lay in front of our door.
But the water was in place is nearly dried up and he could
easily be crossed. It was strange to me to be
standing there with these two wild punjabis waiting for the
man who was coming to his death. Suddenly my eye caught, the
glint of a shaded Lantern at the other side of the moat it,
vanished among the mound, heaps, and then appeared again coming
slowly in an, our Direction. Here they are.
I exclaimed, you would challenge him sahib as usual.
Whispered Abdullah give him no, cause for fear, send us in with
him and we shall do the rest. While you stay here on guard,
have the lantern already to uncover that we may be sure that
it is indeed, the man, the law. Diet, flick it on words.
Now stopping and now advancing until I could see two dark
figures upon the other side of the moat, I let them scramble
down the sloping Bank, Splash through the mire and climb
halfway up to the gate before I challenge them who goes there.
Said I in a subdued voice Friends came the answer, I
uncovered my Lantern and through a flood of light upon them.
The first was an enormous seek with a black beard which swept
nearly down to his cummerbund outside of a show.
I'd never seen so tall. A man, the other was a little
fat round fellow with a great yellow turban and a bundle in
his hand done up in a shawl. He seemed to be all in a quiver
with fear for his hands twitched as if he had the egg and his
head. Turning to the left and right
with two bright little twinkling eyes like a mouse.
When he Ventures out from his whole, gave me the chills to
think it killing him, but I thought of a treasure and my art
set as hard as a flint within me.
When he saw my white face, he gave a little cheer up of joy
and came running up towards me, your predictions.
Are you babe? He punted your protection for
the unhappy Merchant. Ahmed, I have traveled across
rajputana that I might seek the shelter of the fort, at a Ra, I
have been robbed and beaten and abused because I have been a
friend of the company. It is a blessed night this, when
I'm once more in safety, I and my poor possessions, what have
you in the bundle? I asked an iron box, he
answered, which contains one or two little family matters, which
are of no value to others, but which I should be sorry to lose
yet. I am not a beggar and I shall
reward you young side and your governor Also, if you would give
me the shelter, I asked I could not trust myself to speak longer
with a man. The more I looked at his fat,
frightened face, the harder did it scene that we should slay him
in Cold Blood, it was best to get it over.
Take him to the main guard said. I the to seeks closed in upon
him on each side and a giant walk behind while they marched
in, through the dark Gateway. Never was a man.
So compassed round with death. I remained at the Gateway with a
lantern. I could hear the measure Tramp
of the footsteps. Sounding through the whole only
corridors suddenly it ceased and I heard voices and a scuffle
with the sound of blows a moment later there came to my horror a
Russia footsteps coming in my direction with a loud breathing
of a running man, I turn my Latin down the long straight
passage and there was the fat man running like the wind wind
with a smear of blood across his face and close at his heels
Bound. In like a tiger, the great
black-bearded sake with a knife flashing in his hand.
I've never seen a man run so fast as that little Merchant.
He was gaining on the seek and I could see that if he wants past
me and got to the open air, he would save himself yet.
My heart. Softened to him again.
The thought of his treasure. Turned me, Arden, bitter.
I cast my firelock between his legs as he raced past and he
rolled twice over like a shot rabbit here.
We could stagger to his feet. The seek was upon him and buried
his knife twice in his side. A man, never, uttered moan or
move muscle, but lay, where he had fallen.
I think myself that you may have broken his neck with the fall.
You see, gentlemen, that I'm keeping my promise.
I am telling you every work of the business, just exactly as it
happened, whether it is in my favor or not, he stopped and
held out his manacled hands for the Whiskey and Water, which
Holmes had brewed for him for myself.
I confess that I had now conceived the utmost horror of
the man, not only for this cold-blooded business in which
he had been concerned, but even more for the somewhat flippant
and careless way in which he narrated It, Whatever punishment
was in store for him, I felt that he might expect no sympathy
from me Sherlock Holmes and Jones sat with their hands upon
their knees. He's deeply interested in the
story, but with the same disgust written upon their faces, you
may have observed it for there was a touch of defiance in his
voice and manner as he proceeded It was all very bad.
No doubt said he. I should like to know how many
fellows in my shoes would have refused to share of this loot.
When they knew that, they would have their throats cut for their
pains. Besides, it was my life or is
when once he was in the fort. If he had got out, dull business
would come to light, and I should have been court-martialed
and shot as likely as not for people who are not very leaning
at a time like that. Go on with your story said home
shortly. Well, we carried him in Abdullah
Akbar and I are fine. Wait, you was to, for all that
you are so short Mom, it's Singh was left to guard the door.
We took him to a place which seeks it already prepared.
It was some distance off where a winding passage leads to a great
empty. All the brick walls of which
were all crumbling to Pieces. The Earth.
Floor had sunk in at one place, making a natural grave.
So we left achmat, the merchant, they're having first covered him
over with loose bricks. This done, we all went back to
the treasure it lay where he had dropped it when he was first
attacked. The box was the same, which Now
lies upon the table. A key was hung by a silken cord
to that carved handle upon the top.
We opened it and the light of the lantern gleamed upon a
collection of gems, such as I've read off.
And thought about when I was little lad at pershore, it was
blinding to look upon them. When we had feasted our eyes, we
took them all out and made a list of them.
I will 143 diamonds of the first war, including one, which was
called. I believe the great Mogul and is
said to be the second largest stone in existence in the 197
very fine emeralds and 170 Ruby's some of which however
were small. There were 40 carbuncles, 210,
sapphires, 61 our gates and a great quantity of barrels onix's
Cat's Eyes. Turquoise is another Stones the
Renamed of which I did not know. At the time though, I have
become more familiar with them. Since besides this, there were
nearly 300, very fine, pearls, 12 of, which were set in a gold
Coronet. By the way, these last have been
taken out of the chest and we're not there when I recovered it.
After we had counted our treasure, we put them back into
the chest and carried them to the Gateway, to show them, to
Mom it sing. And we saw only renewed our oath
to stand by each other and be true to our secret.
We agreed to conceal, our loot, in a safe place, until the
country, should be at peace again, and then to divide it
equally among ourselves. There was no use dividing it at
present for of gems of such value of found upon us who were
caused suspicion. And there was no privacy in the
fort nor any place where we could keep them.
We carried the Box therefore into the same Hall, where we
buried the body and they're under the certain bricks in the
best-preserved wall, we made a hollow and put our treasure, we
made careful note of the place and next day, I drew for plans,
one for each of us and put the sign of the four of us, at the
The bottom for we had sworn, we should each always act for all
so that none might take advantage.
That is an oath that I can put my hand to my heart.
And swear that I have never broken.
Well, there's no use my telling you gentlemen, what came of the
Indian Mutiny. After Wilson, took Delhi and
sakhalin relieved. Look, now the back of the
business was broken fresh troops.
Came pouring in and Nana sahib made himself scarce over the
frontier a flying column under Colonel grated came round to
Agra and cleared the Pandy's away from it.
P seem to be settling upon the country and we four were
beginning to hope that the time was at hand when we might safely
go off with our shares of Plunder in a moment.
However, our hopes were Shattered by our being arrested
as the murderers of Ahmed. It came about in this way.
When the Roger put his jewels into the hands of achmat, he did
it because he knew that he was a trustee Mann, they are
suspicious folk in the East. However, so what does this Raja
do? But take a second, even more
trusty servant and set him to play the Spy upon the first.
This second man was ordered never to let Ahmed out of his
sight and he followed him, like his shadow.
You went after him that night and saw him passed through the
doorway. Of course, he thought he'd taken
refuge in the fort and applied for admission there, himself
next day, but couldn't find no trace of achmat.
This seemed to him so strange that he spoke about it to a
sergeant of guides who brought it to the ears of the
commandant. A thorough search was quickly
made and the body was discovered thus at the very moment that we
thought that all was safe, we were all for seized and brought
to trial on a charge of murder, three of us because we had held
Like that night and the force because he was known to have
been in the company of the murdered.
Man, not a word about the jewels came out at the trial for the
Roger had been deposed and driven out of India.
So no one had any particular interest in them.
The murderer of her was clearly made out and it was certain that
we must all have been concerned in it.
The three seeks got penal servitude for life and I was
condemned to death. Though, my sentence was
afterwards commuted into the same.
As the others. It was rather a queer position
that we found ourselves in then are we were all four Tied by the
leg and with precious little chance of ever getting out
again, while we each held a secret which might have put each
of us in a palace. If we could only have made use
of it, it was enough to make a man, eat his heart out to have
to stand the kick and the cuff of every Petty, jack-in-office
of rice to eat and water to drink.
When that gorgeous Fortune was. Eddie for him outside, just
waiting to be picked up, might have driven me mad, but I was
always a pretty stubborn one, so I just held on and bided my time
at last, it seemed to me to have come.
I was changed from Agra to Madras.
And from there to Blair island in the andamans, there are very
few white convicts at this settlement and as I had behaved
well from the first, I soon found myself a sort of
privileged person. I was given a In Hope Town,
which is a small place on the slopes of Mount Harriet.
And I was left pretty much to myself.
She's a dreary fever, stricken place and all behind our little
clearings was, infested with wild cannibal natives who were
ready enough to blow a poison dart at as if they saw a chance
it was Diggin and ditching and young plant in and a dozen other
things to be done. So we were busy enough all day
though in the evening, we had a little time to ourselves among
other things. I learned to dispense drugs, for
the surgeon and picked up a smattering of his knowledge.
All the time, I was on the lookout for a chance of Escape
but is hundreds of miles from any other land and there's a
little or no wind in those Seas. So it was a terribly difficult
job to get away. The surgeon, dr.
Summerton was a fast sporting young Chap.
And the other young officers would meet in his rooms of an
evening and play cards surgery where I used to make up my drugs
was next to his sitting room with a small window between us
often. If I felt Lonesome, I used to
turn out the lamp in the surgery, and then standing
there. I could hear their talk and
watch their play. Are you fond of a hand of cards
myself? And he was almost as good as
having one to watch the others. There was major sholto Captain
morstan and Lieutenant Bromley Brown, who were in command of
the Native troops. And there was a surgeon himself
and two or three prison officials, crafty old hands who
played A Nice Slice, safe game, very snug little party.
They used to make. Well, there was one thing which
very soon struck me. And that was that the soldiers
used always to lose and the civilians to win mind.
I don't say that there was anything unfair, but so it was.
These prison chaps had done little else than play cards ever
since they had been at the andamans and they knew each
other's gain to a point while the others just play to pass the
time and through their cards down anyhow night.
After night, the soldiers got up, poor and men and the poor
they got The more keen they were to play a major shoulder was the
hardest hit. He used to pay notes and goal at
first but soon it came to notes of hand and for big sums.
He sometimes would win for a few deals just to give him heart.
And then the luck would get set in against him worse than ever,
or day, would wonder about as black as Thunder, and he took to
drinking a good deal, more than was good for him.
One night, he lost even more heavily than usual.
I was sitting in my heart when he and Captain morstan came
stumbling along on the way to their quarters, they were bosom
friends, those two and never far apart.
The major was raving about his losses.
It's all that morstan. He was saying, as they pass my
art, I shall have to send you my papers.
I'm a ruined man knots and sell chap said, the other slapping
him upon the shoulder. I've had a nasty face of myself,
but that was all I could hear but it was enough to set me
thinking couple of days later major shoulder was strolling on
the beach so I took the chance of speaking to him.
I wish to have your advice. Major said I well small what is
it? He asked taking his cheroot from
his lips. I wanted to ask you sir said I
who is a proper person to whom hidden treasure should be handed
over? I know where Alpha million was
lies, and as I cannot use it myself, I thought, perhaps, the
best thing I could do, would be to hand it over to the proper
authorities. And then, perhaps they would get
my sentence. Shortened for me half a million
small, he gasped looking hard on me to see if I was in Earnest
quite that sir, in jewels and Pearls, it lies there, ready for
anyone. And the queer thing about it is
that the real owner is outlawed in cannot, hold property.
Said it belongs to the first Comer. to government small, he
stammered to government but he said it in a halting fashion and
I knew in my heart that I got to him, You think then sir, that I
should give the information to the governor general said, I
quietly? Well, well, you must not do
anything rash or that you might repent.
Let me hear all about it. Small, give me the facts.
I told him the old story with small changes so that he could
not identify the places when I had finished.
He stood stockstill and full of thought I could see by the
twitch of his lip, there was a struggle going on within him.
This is a very important matter small.
He said at last, you must not say a word to anyone about it
and I shall see you again soon. Two nights later he and his
friend Captain morstan came to my heart in the dead of the
night with a lantern. I want you just to let Captain
morstan hear that story from your own lips, small City.
I repeat it as I told it before. It rings.
True. A said he it's good enough to
act upon Captain morstan, nodded look here small said the major.
We've been talking it over my friend here and I and we've come
to the conclusion that this secret of yours is hardly a
government matter. After all, it is a private
concern of your own which of course you have the power of
disposing of as you think best. Now, the question is, what price
would you ask for it? We might be inclined to take it
up and at least look into it. If we could agree as to turn,
Terms. He tried to speak in a cool
careless way but his eyes were shining with excitement and
greed. Why.
As to that gentleman, I answered trying also to be cool but
feeling as excited as he did, there is only one bargain, which
a man in my position can make. I shall want you to help me do
my freedom and to help my three companions to.
There's, we shall then take you into partnership and give you a
fifth-year to divide between you.
Hmm, said he, I fifth share. That is not very tempting.
It will come to 50,000 of Peace said, I but how can we gain your
freedom? You know, very well that you
asked an impossibility, nothing of the sort.
I answered. I thought I'd all out to the
Last Detail. The only bar to our Escape is
that we can get no boat fit for the voyage and no Provisions to
last us for so long a Time. There are plenty of little
yachts and y'all's at Calcutta or Madras which would serve our
turn. Well, do you bring one over?
We shall engage to get a border by night and if you're drop us
on any part of the Indian coast, you'll have done your part of
the bargain. If there were only one, he said,
None. Or all I answered, we have sworn
it. The four of us must always act
together. You see, morstan said he small
is a man of his word. He does not flinch from his
friend. I think we may very well trust
him. It's a dirty business, the other
answered it. As you say, the money would save
our commissions, handsomely. Well, small said, the major we
must I suppose try and meet you. We must first, of course, test
the truth of your story. Tell me where the box is hid and
I shall get leave of absence and go back to India in the monthly
relief, boat to inquire into the affair.
Not so fast said I growing colder.
As he got heart, I must have the consent of my three comrades.
I tell you that it is for or non with us nonsense, he broke in.
What of three black fellows to do with our agreement black or
blue? Said, I they are in with me and
we are all together. Well, the matter ended by a
second meeting in which Mahomet Singh Abdullah, Khan and dust
Akbar, were all present. We talked the matter over again.
And at last we came to an arrangement.
We were to provide both the officers with charts of the part
of the Agra Fort and mark the place in the wall, where the
treasure was hid major sholto was to go to India to test our
story. If he found the box, he was to
leave it there to send out a small yacht provision for a
voyage, which was to lie of Rutland Island and to which we
were to make our way. And finally, to return to his
Dewey's, Captain morstan was then to apply for leave of
absence to meet us at Agra and there we would have have a final
division of the treasure. He taking the major share as
well as his own all this. We sealed by the most solemn
Oaths, that the mind could think.
Or the lips. Utter, I sat up all night with
paper and ink and by the morning I had the two charts already
signed with the sign of four is of Abdullah Akbar, Muhammad and
myself. Well gentlemen, I weary you with
my long story and I know that my friend, mr.
Jones is impatient to get me safely, stowed in choki.
I'll make it as short as I can. The villain schulter went off to
India, but he never came back again.
Captain morstan showed me his name among a list of passengers
in one of the male boats. Very shortly afterwards, his
uncle had died. Leaving him a fortune, and he
had left the Army yet. He could stoop to treat five men
as he had treated us. Morstan went over to Agra
shortly afterwards and found as we expected that the treasure
was indeed gone. The scoundrel had stolen it
without carrying out. One of the conditions on which
we had sold him, the secret from that day, I lived only for
vengeance. I thought of it by day and I
nursed it by night. It became an overpowering
absorbing passion with me. I cared nothing for the law,
nothing for The Gallows to escape to track down Schult 02.
I end up on his throat, that was my one thought, even the Agra
treasure had come to be a smaller thing in my mind than
the slaying of Xolo. Well, I've set my mind on many
things in this life and never one, which I did not carry out,
but it was weary years. Before my time came, I have told
you that I had picked up something of medicine one day
when dr. Samet and was down with a fever,
a little and demand Islander was picked up by a convict gang in
the woods. He was sick to death.
They're gone to a lonely place to die.
I took him in hand, though. He was as venomous as a young
snake, and after a couple of months I got him.
All right? And were able to walk.
He took a kind of fancy to me then, and would hardly go back
to his woods, but was always hanging about my Hut.
I learned a little of his lingo from him and this made him, all
the funder of me. Tonga for that was his name was
a fine, Boatman and owned a big roomy canoe of his own.
When I found out that he was devoted to me and would do
anything to serve me. I saw my chance of Escape, I
talked it over with him, he was to bring his boat round on a
certain night to an old Wharf, which was never guarded and
there he was to pick me up. I gave him directions to have
several Goods of water and a lot of yams cocoanuts and sweet
potatoes. He was stanchion.
True, was little Tonga. No man.
Ever had a more faithful mate, at the Knight named, he had his
boat at the Wharf as it chanced. However, there was one of the
convict guard down there. A vile Payton who had never
missed a chance of insulting and injuring me, I'd always vowed
Vengeance. And now, I had my chance, it was
as if fate had placed him in my way that I might pay my debt.
Before I left the island, he stood on the bank with his back
to me and his Carbine on his shoulder.
I looked about for a stone to beat out his brains with but
none. Could I see an aqueous?
Thought came into my head and showed me where I could lay my
hand on a weapon. I sat down in the darkness and
unstrapped my wooden leg we'ii long hops.
I was on him he put his carbine to his shoulder and I struck him
full and not the whole front of his skull in.
You can see the split in the wood.
Now where I am we both went down together For I could not keep my
balance but when I got up I found him still lying quiet
enough. I'm a for the boat.
And in an hour, we were well, out at Sea Tonga had brought all
his Earthly possessions, with him, his arms, and his gods,
among other things, yet, a long bamboo Spear and some Andaman.
Coconut matting with which I made a sort of sale for 10 days.
We were beaten about trusting to luck and on the 11th, we were
picked up by a Trader, which Is going from Singapore to Jeter
with a cargo of Malay pilgrims. They were a run crowd and Tonga
and I soon managed to settle down among them they had one
very good quality. They let you alone and ask no
questions. Well if I were to tell you all
the adventures at my little Chum and I went through, you would
not thank me for. I would have you here until the
Sun was shining here and there we drifted about the world.
Something always turning up to keep us from London all the
However I never lost sight of my purpose.
I would dream of shelter at night a hundred times.
I've killed him in my sleep at last however some three or four
years ago we found ourselves in England, I had no great
difficulty in finding where sholto lived and I set to work
to discover whether he had realized the treasure or if he
still had it, I made friends with someone who could help me.
I name no names for, I don't want to get anyone else in a
hole. All, and I soon found that he
still had the jewels, then I try to get it him in many ways, but
he was pretty Sly, and always to prizefighters, besides his sons
and his kit, mud guard, on guard over him one day.
However, I got word that he was dying.
I hurried at once to the Garden mad that he should slip out of
my clutches like that, and looking through the window, I
saw him lying in his bed with his sons on each side of him.
Ida come through and take my chance with the three of them
only even as I looked at him in his jaw dropped.
And I knew that he was gone. I got into his room that same
night though and I searched his papers to see if there was any
record of where he did now Jules, it was not aligned
however, so I came away bitter and Savage as a man could be.
Before I left, I be thought me that I've ever met my seek
friends. Again, it will be a satisfaction
to know that I had left some Mark of iron.
Richard. So I scroll down the sign of the
four of us as it had been on the chart and I pinned it on his
bosom. It was too much that he should
be taken to the Grave without some token from the men whom he
had robbed and be fooled. We owned a living at this time,
by my exhibiting poor Tonga at fairs and other such places as a
black cannibal. He would eat raw meat and dances
War dance. So he always had a handful of
pennies after a day's work. I still heard all the news from
pondicherry Lodge. And for some years, there was no
news to hear, except that they were hunting for the treasure at
last, however, came what we had waited for so long.
The treasure had been found. It was up at the top of the
house and mr. Bartholomew sholto as chemical
laboratory. I came at once and had a look at
the place, but I could not see how with my wooden leg.
I was to make my way up to it. I learned however, about a trap
door in the roof and also about mr.
Sholto supper hour. It seemed to me that I can
manage to thing easily through Tonga, I brought him out with me
with a long rope wound around his waist.
He could climb like a cat and he soon made his way through the
roof, but as ill luck would have it Bartholomew, sholto was still
in room to his cost Tonga thought he had done something
very clever in killing him for when I came up by the Rope.
I found him strutting about as proud as a peacock.
Very much surprised, was he when I made it in with the ropes, end
and cursed him for a little bloodthirsty imp, I took the
treasure box and let it down and then slid down myself.
Having first left the sign of the four upon the table to show
that the jewels had come back at last to those, who'd most right
to them. Tonga, then pulled up the Rope,
close the window and made off the way they had come.
I don't know that I have anything else to tell you, I had
heard a Waterman's speak of the speed.
Of Smith's launched the Aurora. So I thought should be a
handicraft for our Escape. I engage with all Smith's and
was to give him a big. Some if he got a safe to our
ship, he knew no doubt that there was some screw loose but
he was not in our secrets all this is the truth.
If I tell it to you gentlemen it is not to amuse you for you've
not done me a very good turn but is because I believe the best
defense I can make is just to hold back nothing but let all
the world know how Sadly, I have myself been served by major
sholto and now innocent. I am of the death of his son.
A very remarkable account said Sherlock Holmes a fitting wind
up to an extremely interesting case.
There is nothing at all new to me in the latter part of your
narrative except that you brought your own rope that I did
not know. By the way, I had hoped that
Tonga had lost all his darts yet he managed to shoot one at us in
the boat. He had lost them all sir, except
one, which was in his blowpipe at the time.
Of course, said Holmes, I had not thought of that.
Is there any other point which you would like to ask about us?
A convict affably? I think not.
Thank you. My companion answered well ohms,
said, athelney Jones. You are a man to be humid and we
all know that you are a connoisseur of crime, but Dewey
is dewy, and I have gone rather far into What you and your
friend asked me, I shall feel more at ease.
When we have a Storyteller here, safe under lock and key.
The cab still Waits and there are two inspectors downstairs.
I'm much obliged to you both for your assistance.
Of course you'll be wanted at the trial, good night to you.
Good night gentlemen, both said Jonathan small, you first small
remark, the weary Jones as they left the room.
I'll take particular care that you don't Club me with your
wooden leg. Egg, whatever you may have done
to the gentleman at the Andaman Isles.
Well, there's the end of our little drama.
I remarked after we had sat sometimes smoking in silence.
I fear that it may be the last investigation in which I shall
have the chance of studying your methods.
Miss morstan has done me the honor to accept me as a husband
in perspective. He gave me a most dismal groan.
I feared as much said he I really cannot congratulate you I
was a little hurt. Have you any reason to be
dissatisfied with my choice? I asked not at all.
I think she is one of the most Charming young ladies I have
ever met and might have been most useful in such work as we
have been doing. She had a decided genius that
way, witness the way in which she preserved that Agra plan
from all the other papers of her father.
But love is an emotional thing and whatever is emotional is
opposed to that true Reason which I place above all things?
I should never marry myself. Lest I bias my judgment.
I trust said I laughing at my judgment May survive the ordeal
but you look weary, yes. The reaction is already upon me.
I shall be as limp as a rag for a week.
Strange said, I how terms of what in another man?
I should call laziness alternate with your fits of Splendid
energy and vigor Yes, he answered there are in me the
makings of a very fine loafer and also a pretty spry sort of
fellow. I often think of those lines of
old gutter Sharda, Dusty not you of no Iron Men shall steal shoof
then some vordigan man, vaugant some Shellman dashed off.
By the way, I prepare of this Norwood business.
You see that they had as I surmised a Confederate in the
house who could be none other than laulau the butler.
So Jones actually has the undivided honor of having caught
one fish in his Great Hall. The division seems rather
unfair. I remarked you have done all the
work in this business. I get a wife out of it, Jones
gets the credit pray what remains for you for me.
Said Sherlock Holmes, there Still Remains the cocaine bottle
and he stretched his long. White hand up for it.
End of chapter 12 and end of the sign of the four by Sir.
Arthur Conan Doyle narrated by David Clarke BG David dot
wordpress.com, and www.by coffee dotnet.
Thank you for listening.