The adventures of Sherlock Holmes

me rather to himself than to us. "These are young McCarthy's feet. Twice he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are deeply marked and the heels hardly visible. That bears o

the shadow of a great beech, the largest tree in the neighbourhood. Holmes traced his way to the farther side of this and lay down once more upon his face with a little cry of satisfaction. For a long time he remained there, turning over the leaves and dried sticks, gathering up what seemed to me to be dust in

ouse on the right must be the lodge. I think that I will go in and have a word with Moran, and perhaps write a little

and drove back into Ross, Holmes still carrying wi

e," he remarked, holding it out

e no

e are

you know

s. There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken. It corr

he mur

grey cloak, smokes Indian cigars, uses a cigar-holder, and carries a blunt pen-knife in his

ceptic," he said. "Theories are all very well, but

ethod, and I shall work mine. I shall be busy this afternoon

your case u

finis

he mys

s sol

the crimi

leman I d

who i

ult to find out. This is not s

ally cannot undertake to go about the country looking for a left-handed gen

n you the chance. Here are your lodgings. Good

nch upon the table. Holmes was silent and buried in thought with a pained e

this chair and let me preach to you for a little. I don't know quite wha

y do

One was the fact that his father should, according to his account, cry 'Cooee!' before seeing him. The other was his singular dying reference to a rat. He mumbled several words, you und

this 'Coo

ee!' was meant to attract the attention of whoever it was that he had the appointment with. But 'Cooee' is a distinctly Australian cry, and one which is used

the rat

e table. "This is a map of the Colony of Victoria," he said. "I wired to Brist

," I

He raised

LLA

his son only caught the last two syllables. He was trying

derful!" I

arment was a third point which, granting the son's statement to be correct, was a certainty. We have com

tain

e pool can only be approached by the farm or by

ite

the ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to th

did you g

t is founded upon the

judge from the length of his stride. His b

were pecu

is lam

ess distinct than his left. He put less weight

left-ha

ring the interview between the father and son. He had even smoked there. I found the ash of a cigar, which my special knowledge of tobacco ashes enables me to pronounce as an Indian cigar. I have, as you know, devoted some attention to this, and written a little m

e cigar

he used a holder. The tip had been cut off, not bitten off, b

, and you have saved an innocent human life as truly as if you had cut the cord wh

waiter, opening the door of our sit

howed that he was possessed of unusual strength of body and of character. His tangled beard, grizzled hair, and outstanding, drooping eyebrows combined to give an air of dignity and power to his appearance,

sofa," said Holmes gen

t up. You said that you wished t

would talk if I

oss at my companion with despair in his weary e

look rather than the words. "It

t I would not have let the young man come to harm. I give you my wor

r you say so," sa

dear girl. It would break her heart-it will br

ome to that,"

ha

aughter who required my presence here, and I am acting i

years. My doctor says it is a question whether I shall live a

" he said. "I shall jot down the facts. You will sign it, and Watson here can witness it. Then I could produce your confe

t matters little to me, but I should wish to spare Alice the shock. And now I will make the

d keep you out of the clutches of such a man as he. His grip has been upon me these twe

with my claim, took to the bush, and in a word became what you would call over here a highway robber. There were six of us, and we had a wild, free life of it, sticking up a station fro

hot him then, but I spared him, though I saw his wicked little eyes fixed on my face, as though to remember every feature. We got away with the gold, became wealthy men, and made our way over to England without being suspected. There I parted from my old pals and determined to settle down to a quiet and respectable life. I bought this estate, which chanced to be in the market, and I set myself to do

, and I met him in Regent Street with hard

you. There's two of us, me and my son, and you can have the keeping of us. If you don't-

tfulness; turn where I would, there was his cunning, grinning face at my elbow. It grew worse as Alice grew up, for he soon saw I was more afraid of her knowing my past than of the p

he whole property. But there I was firm. I would not have his cursed stock mixed with mine; not that I had any dislike to the lad, but his blood was in him,

ost dear should be in the power of such a man as this. Could I not snap the bond? I was already a dying and a desperate man. Though clear of mind and fairly strong of limb, I knew that my own fate was sealed. But my memory and my girl! Both could be saved if I could but silence that foul tongue. I did it, Mr. Holmes. I would do it again. Deeply as I have sinned, I have led a life of martyrdom to atone for

old man signed the statement which had been drawn out. "

. And what do yo

er court than the Assizes. I will keep your confession, and if McCarthy is condemned I shall be forced to use it.

, will be the easier for the thought of the peace which you have given to mine."

th poor, helpless worms? I never hear of such a case as this that I do not think of

mitted to the defending counsel. Old Turner lived for seven months after our interview, but he is now dead; and there is every p