Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 16 Four Signatures Revealed (5)
"It's in the third column from the left." Sherman led the way with wax, walking slowly through the strange animals.In the dim light, I felt many eyes watching us all around me.We woke the sleeping wild birds overhead, and they lazily shifted their weight from one paw to the other.

Toby was ugly, with long hair covering his ears, and a yellow and white body.It was a mixed breed dog, and it wobbled from side to side as it walked.With just one candy, I took it with me to the car.At about three o'clock at night, I returned to Sakuranuma Villa again.Both Sholto and the gatekeeper McMurdo were taken away as suspects, and two policemen stood guard at the gate.As soon as I said the detective's name, they immediately let me go.

Holmes was waiting for me on the steps with his hips akimbo, smoking a cigarette.

He said: "At last, what a fine dog. I had a terrible fight with Ethelney Jones after you left, and he had just taken the butler, the servants, the porter, and us Only one of the sheriffs was left behind. We are masters of the yard now. Keep the dogs on the leash, and let's go in and have a look."

Leash the dogs, and we go upstairs again.The room was basically the same, except that there was an extra sheet on the body of the deceased, and a policeman stood wearily in the corner.

Holmes said: "Sheriff, use your bull's-eye lamp, and I want to line this cardboard on my chest to hang the lamp. Please help me tie it around my neck. Thank you, Watson, you took me off." Take away your shoes and socks. I'm going to show you my ability to fly over walls. Put creosote on a towel, and that's it. Come with me to the roof."

We entered the roof room, and he carefully examined the footprints for a long time, and said, "Look at these footprints carefully, do you see anything special?"

I said, "Looks like the footprints of a child, maybe a little woman."

"Except for this?"

"The rest is the same as ordinary people."

"No, it's completely different. Take a closer look at the right footprint over here. I'll use my right footprint to put it on. Does it still look the same to you?"

"This person's five toes are separated, but ordinary people are all joined together."

"That's right, it's worth noting. Now, please go over there and smell the wooden frame of the hanging window. I won't go here because the handkerchief in my hand smells."

I went to smell it, and a strong and pungent smell of creosote rushed into my nostrils.

"When the man left, you stepped on it, and you could smell it, and Toby could smell it even more. Okay, now you take Toby down and wait for me."

When I returned to the yard, Holmes was already on the roof.He crawled slowly with a lamp hanging on his chest, like a firefly.Suddenly he disappeared behind the chimney, only to reappear a moment later.Toby and I went around to the back of the house immediately and saw him sitting on the edge of the eaves.

"Is that Watson?" he cried.

"it's me."

"I'm standing in the way that man is escaping. What's that black thing down there?"

"It's a bucket."

"Is there a cover?"

"With a cover."

"Is there a ladder nearby?"

"Maybe not."

"This is the most dangerous place. This guy dares to choose this place. However, if he can come up, I can go down. The water pipe seems to be quite strong. Whatever it is, I'm down."

Following a soft sound, the light slowly fell from the wall, and then with a bang, he jumped onto the barrel first, and then onto the ground.

Sitting on the ground, putting on his shoes and socks, he said: "It's not difficult to find his tracks, just follow the loose tiles he stepped on. He lost this in a hurry. In your doctor's jargon: this proves that My diagnosis was correct."

He handed me a sack, woven of the same color of straw, about the size of a cigarette pack.The outside was decorated with a few cheap beads, and the inside was filled with six black wood thorns, like the one on Bartholomew's body, round on one side and pointed on the other.

He said: "It's dangerous, don't hurt you. Maybe it's all his wooden thorns. Now, we don't have to worry about getting stabbed by it. It's great. I'd rather be shot than suffer this." Sin. Watson, can you run another six or seven miles?"

I said: "Yes."

"Are your legs okay?"

"no problem."

He put the creosote-soaked handkerchief on Toby's nose and said, "Good Toby, take a good sniff." Like wine.Holmes threw away the handkerchief, put a strong rope around the dog's neck, and brought it under the barrel. At once Toby began to howl violently, and with his tail raised high, he ran forward smelling the surrounding smell. We grabbed the rope and followed closely behind.

Fish-belly white gradually appears from the east, and the distant view ahead can be vaguely seen in the cold morning light.The big lonely house before, with its dim window frames, bare walls, and all those shrubs and rubbish, has been left behind by us now.

After going through the potholes all the way, we came to a high wall.Toby kept running, but was blocked here, screaming anxiously.So we came to the corner where a young beech tree blocked it.It seems that people often crawl around here, because the joints of the bricks are worn away and the corners of the bricks are worn away.Holmes climbed up first, then went to fetch the dog, and then I climbed over.When I climbed the wall, he said: "See? There are bloodstains on the white ashes, which are the handprints of the man with the wooden leg. It has been twenty hours since the crime happened. Fortunately, it didn't rain, and Toby can still smell it." to the smell of the road."

I did have doubts before, wondering if Toby could identify the murderer by smell after following us through this crowded London road.However, this suspicion is now dispelled by Toby's performance.It leads the way firmly.Clearly the creosote overwhelms any other flavors.

Holmes said: "I have already had many ways to solve the case. The method of tracking the smell according to the chemicals it stepped on is just one of them, but since this method is simple and effective, why should we bother and bother ourselves?" It’s hard. We’re just simplifying an incomprehensible problem. However, it’s hard to show our true skills to solve the case with such simple clues.”

I said: "Holmes, you have done a great job. I think you have used a better method in this case than in the case of Jefferson Hope. How do you know some important features of it?"

"Oh, it's so simple, no exaggeration, brother, I know the whole process now. First, two officers learned the secret of the treasure when they were in charge of guarding criminals in India; later, a man named Jonathan Small's Englishman drew them a simple map. The name of this man appeared on Captain Morstan's map - he also wrote his and his accomplice's name when he finished drawing, that is, "Four Signatures" Later, one of the two officers found the treasure and brought it to England. I think this person may have violated the agreement at the beginning. As for the reason why Jonathan Small did not get the treasure, it was very simple. Jonathan Small and his associates were prisoners when Morstan was in command in India."

I said, "It's just a hypothesis."

"Not really, it's not just an inference, I'm afraid this is the only reasonable assumption. Major Sholto brought back the treasure and wanted to spend his old age at home, but one day he received a letter from India, which shocked him greatly , the reason?"

"Perhaps the letter said that all the people he deceived have been released from prison."

"In my opinion, escape would be appropriate. Major Sholto should know the length of their sentences, and he won't be so surprised if they are released. Then look at his reaction. He shot a pretender. A British businessman with wooden legs. Obviously, he has begun to guard against white people with wooden legs. Among the four names in the picture, only Jonathan Small is white, and the rest are Indian or Muslim names. The reasoning is still clear Bar?"

"Clearly."

"Well, let's speculate on the facts again from Jonathan Small's point of view. He came back to England for a reason. First, he wanted to get back his share of the treasure; second, to avenge his partner. He found Sholto's place." , or possibly bribed one of the servants. Mrs. Burnstone said that a servant named Lal Jorda was of bad character. In fact, only Major Sholto and an old servant who was dead knew where the treasure was. Mao was hard to find, so he was particularly worried that the major would bring this secret into the coffin. When he heard that the major was critically ill, he ran to the major's window without hesitation. But he saw his two sons in front of the bed, so he couldn't enter But that night he still took the opportunity to enter the room, and searched up and down, hoping to find some clues, but the result disappointed him, so he left the note of "four signatures" in a rage. Nothing Doubt, his previous plan should be to kill Sholto, and then leave a note next to his body as a mark, to show that 'I' is doing justice for 'my friends'. This method of killing is common Yes, and sometimes even tell us a little about the murderer. Can you understand that?"

"Very clear."

"Then what should he do? He has no choice but to secretly observe other people's treasure hunts. Sometimes he leaves England, and sometimes he comes back to inquire about the news. When the attic was discovered, someone told him immediately, which shows that he has Eyeliner. Jonathan, who has a prosthetic leg, would definitely not be able to climb over the tall building of Bartholomew Sholto's house. So he found a very skilled companion and asked him to climb over first. But accidentally, he stepped on Creosote on, so Toby comes out and leads you limping six miles."

"If you speculate like this, then the murderer is his companion, not Small."

"Indeed. He probably didn't agree to do this, so he kept stamping his feet in the house and left a lot of traces. Jonathan and the deceased did not have any enmity, there is no need to do this, and killing people will pay for their lives He didn't want to do this either. It's just that he didn't expect his companion to be so venomous that he would poison Bartholomy to death with a poisonous thorn. He had no choice but to leave a note and run away with his companion with the treasure. It’s all my guess. As for his appearance, the Andaman Islands are extremely hot. Think about it, can the skin be white after being detained there for many years? Usually, a person’s size can be inferred from the size of his steps. As for the beard, That's because Thaddeus Sholto saw it himself from the window. That's pretty much the whole story."

"And what about his companion?"

"It's easy, you'll see right away. Take a breath of the fresh London air. See how the sun shines through the clouds, and makes them look beautiful, like the feathers of flamingos. Oh, there are countless people in the sun, But there seem to be very few who can take on such a mission as ours. In such a big universe, our ambition is really insignificant. Have you read John Paul’s book, do you have any experience?"

"I started looking at Carlyle's work again by looking at his work."

"It's like returning from the river to the sea. He once said: 'A man's true greatness lies in his ability to recognize his own smallness.' Look, what a profound and profound statement. Not only is it eloquent, but it also points out the comparison and identification power, which is itself a testament to the sublime. You can find a lot of food for thought in Richter's work. Have you got a pistol?"

"Here's a cane."

"Once we find the bandit's lair, we have to use weapons to defend ourselves. You deal with Small, and if his companion is too strong, then I will have to shoot." He took out his revolver and loaded it. Put it back in your pocket again.

We followed Toby, who was trotting all the way, and quickly got on the road to downtown London. It was not far from the bustling street, and there were half-cottage villas on both sides.By this time the workers were up and the women were sweeping the steps.The business of the tavern with the square roof on the corner of the street also started, and the strong men who had finished drinking went out, wiping the wine off their beards.The wild dogs barked at us, but this didn't affect Toby at all. He continued to run forward with his head down, and let out a few low growls from his nose from time to time.This indicates that there is still a strong creosote smell.

Streatham, Brixton, Camberwell, we have all left behind.Through many small alleys, passing the Ofer area, and finally reaching Kennington Road.The suspect probably chose to take the complicated small alleys specifically to avoid being followed, and tried not to take the main road if there were almost detours.At the end of Kennington Road, turn left again, pass Securities Street, Wells Road and you will arrive at Knight Street.Toby stopped suddenly, one ear pricked up, the other turned back and forth, as if a little at a loss.Later, he raised his head, as if asking us for directions.Holmes asked in a low voice, "What's the matter? Criminals don't know how to get away in a car, let alone in a balloon."

"Maybe they stopped here for a while," I said.

After a while, the dog started walking again.Holmes said happily: "Well, it's gone." Toby sniffed around this time, finally made up his mind, and rushed forward without hesitation.Toby didn't use his nose to sniff this time, but stretched the rope very tightly, and ran forward desperately, the smell seemed to be stronger.Holmes' eyes were shining, and it seemed that the den of thieves was not far away.

Through Nine Elms, Toby took us to Proderick and Nelson's Great Woodyard next to the White Eagle Hotel.Toby went through the side door and rushed into the log yard.The woodsawman has gone to work, scuttling through piles of shavings and sawdust to a path with piles of lumber next to it, before jumping excitedly onto a barrel that has not been unloaded from the cart come down.Toby stood on the barrel with his tongue out, blinking at us.The air smelled of creosote, and the wheels and barrels were black with oil.

Holmes and I looked at each other, and couldn't help laughing after glancing at each other.Holmes' little helper

"What should I do next? Toby can't help it." I asked.

Holmes led Toby out of the woodyard and said: "Toby went according to his judgment. Nowadays, creosote is used in many places, especially for wood preservation. If you calculate the daily creosote in London Traffic volume, and you'll see why Toby was wrong. We can't blame Toby."

"Go back to where you went wrong as quickly as possible."

"Yes, it's on the left side of Knight Street. Toby hesitated for a while. The smell must be wrong. Fortunately, it's not too far away. We can only look for it on another street now."

We pulled Toby back to the Street of Knights, and this time he went the other way without much trouble.

I said, "Be careful, don't let it take us to Kiba again."

"I thought so too, but the tanker must have been on the main road, and Toby is now on the pavement, so it can't be wrong."

Toby ran across Princes Street, Belmont Road, and finally, toward a timber pier by the Broad Street river.Toby took us to the river and stood there listening to the humming of the water.

"It is unfortunate," said Holmes, "that they have embarked from here." We took Toby to one of the dinghies and punts on the quay, and he sniffed earnestly, but made no response.

There is a brick building next to the pier on the shore, and a wooden sign with the words "Maodekai Smith" is hung on the second window of the brick building.There is also a line of small words below: "Rental boats: can be charged by time or by the day." Another sign on the door said that there are also small steamboats here.The coke piled up on the pier should be the fuel for the steamer. Holmes looked around disappointedly.

He said: "It seems quite troublesome. I really didn't expect them to be so smart, and they had countermeasures to hide their whereabouts at the beginning of the plan.

He was about to walk towards that room when a curly-haired little boy, about five or six years old, ran out.Immediately behind came out a fat woman with a sponge in her hand.

She shouted: "Jack, you little guy, take a bath quickly, your father will kill you when he comes back and sees you haven't taken a bath."

Holmes took the opportunity to go up to him and said, "My dear boy. Jack, would you like something?"

The child thought for a moment and said, "A shilling."

"Don't you want something better?"

The boy tilted his head and thought for a second, then said, "Then it will cost two shillings."

"Well, here you are, don't lose it. Your little one is lovely, Mrs. Smith."

"He's so naughty, I can't help him, but his father is not at home every day."

Holmes said with feigned disappointment: "Is he not here? Unfortunately, I have something to do with him."

"Honestly, sir, I'm really worried about not being back since early yesterday morning. But if you want to charter a boat, I can decide."

"I want to rent a steamboat."

"Well, he goes out in a steamboat, too. If he'd gone out in some other galleon, I wouldn't worry so much. Sometimes he'd go farther in this boat. The point is, the coal on the steamboat doesn't It’s not enough to come here from Wuerwei once. Probably because he was delayed by something, but there is no coal, how can he come back?”

"Perhaps he bought some coal on the way."

"I can't say for sure, but he was afraid that it would be too expensive, and he never did. These days, I don't know what happened to the man with wooden legs, he always comes here, I hate his expression and his foreign body Man's style."

Holmes asked strangely: "A man with a wooden leg?"

"Yes, sir. He has been here more than once, and last night he took my husband away. My husband seemed to have been waiting for him, and had already lit the fire on the steamboat. To tell you the truth, sir, I really very worried."

"My dear Mrs. Smith, don't be in such a hurry, and how do you know that the man who came last night was the one with the wooden leg?" said Holmes, shrugging his shoulders.

"I knew it from his drake-like voice. It was like three o'clock last night. He knocked on the window a few times and said, 'Dude, it's time to go. Get up!' Later, my husband woke us up. The eldest son went out together without saying a word. I heard the sound of wooden legs hitting stones."

"Just him, no companion?"

"I'm not sure about that, sir, but I heard no one else."

"Mrs. Smith, I've wanted to rent your boat for a long time. I heard this... Think about it, it's called...?"

"Sir, 'Dawn'."

"Oh, yes. The old one with the green hull and the broad yellow line on the sides?"

"No, sir. Freshly oiled, just like a steamboat, with two red lines painted on the black hull."

(End of this chapter)