The Press., 1895-05-16
round there, I found him seated at one q

round there, found him seated at one of the corner caves.
 tNThat you, WatsonY' he cried.
 tsYes. '
 This is the place. What is that black thing down thereS''
 A water barrel.'
 ''Top on itf''
 ''Yes y
 "No sign of a ladder2"
 "No"
 "Confound the fellowl It's a most breakneck place. ought to be able to come down where he could climb up. The water pipe feels pretty firm. Here goes anyhow" "
 There was scuffling of the feet, and the lantern began to come steadily down the side of the wall. Then with a light spring he came on to the barrel and from there to the earth.
 ''It was easy to follow him" he said, drawing on his stockings and boots. "Tiles were loosened the whole way along, and in his hurry he had dropped this. It confirms my diagnosis as you doctors ex- press it. .''
 The object which he held up to me was 8 small pocket, or pouch, woven out of
 
 beads strung round it. In shape and size it was not unlike a cigarette case Inside were half a dozen spines of dark wood, sharp at one end and rounded at the other, like that which had struck Bartholomew Sholto.
 They are hellish things" said he. Look out that you don't prick yourself. I'm delighted to have them, for the chances arc that they are all he has. There is the less fear of you or me finding one in our skin before long. would sooner face a martini bullet myself. Are you game for a six mile trudge, Watson?"
 "Certainly!" 1 answered.
 Your leg will stand it?"
 'Oh, yes!''
 Here you are, doggyl Good old Tobyl Smell it, Toby, smell it!'' He pushed the creosote handkerchief under tho dog's nose, while tho creature stood with it's fluffy legs separated and with most comical cock to it's head, like connois- seur snifting the bouquet of famous vint- age. Holmes then threw the handker- chief to distance, fastened stout cord to the mongrel's collar and led him to the foot of tho water barrel The creature in- stantly broke into d succession of high, tremulOus yelps, and with his nose on the ground and his tail in the air battered off upon the trail at a pace which strained his leash and kept up at the top of our speed.
 The east had been gradually whitening, and we could now see some distance in the cold gray light. The square, massive house, with it's black, empty windows and high, bare walls, lowered up sad and for lOrn behind us Our course led right across the grounds, in and out among the trenches and pits with which they ware scared and intersected. The whole place, wi:h it's scattered dirt heaps and ill grown shrubs, had a blighted, ill omened look which harmonizcd with the black tragedy which hung over it.
 On reaching the boundary wall Toby ran along, whining eagerly, underneath its shadow and stopped finally in corner screened by a young beech. Where the two walls joined several bricks had been loosened, and the crcviccs left were worn down and rounded upon the lower side, as though they had frequently been used as a ladder. Holmes clambered up, and taking the dog from me he dropped it over ups0n the other side.
 There's tine print of wooden legs hand," he remarked as 1 mounted up be- side him. You see the slight smudge of blood upon the white plaster. What a lucky thing it is that we have had no very heavy rain since yesterday! The scent will lie upon the road in spite of their eight and twenty hours start"
 l confess that 1 had my doubts myself when 1 reflected upon the great traffic which had passed along the London road in the interval. My fears were soon ap- peascd, however. Toby never hesitated or swerved, but waddled on in his peculiar rolling fashion. Clearly the pungent smell of the creosote rose high above all other contending scents. s:E
 Do not imagine" said Holmes, that I depend for my success in this case upon the mere chance of one of these fellows having put his foot in the chemicas. have knowledge now which would enable me to trace them in many different ways. This, however, is the readiest, and since fortune has put it into our hands I should be culpable if neglected it. It has, how ever, prevented the case from becoming the pretty little intellectual problem which it at one time promised to be- There might have been some credit to be gained out of it but for this too palpable clew"
 "There is credit and to spare" said I. II assure you, Holmes, that marvel at the means by which you obtain your re- suits in this case even more than did in the Jefferson Hope murder. The thing seems to nc to be deeper and more inex- plicable. How, for example, could you describe with such confidence the wooden legged man?"
 "Pshaw, my dear boy, it was simplicity itself! don't wish to be theatrical It is all patent and abovoboard Two off cers who are in command of a convict guard learn an important secret as to buried treasure. A map is drawn for them by an Englishman named Jonathan Small. You remember that we saw the namo upon the chart in Captain Nor, stan's possession. He had signed it in be- half of himself and his associates-the sign of the four, as he somewhat dramat- ically called it. Aided by this chart the officers OF ono of them gets the treasure