"Yes，sir——abouteight。"
　　"Couldyousayexactlyeight？"
　　"Well，no，Icouldn’tbethatexact。"
　　"Um。Ifapersonhadbeenpassingalongtherejustaboutthattime，hewouldhavebeenalmostsuretoencounterthatassassin，doyouthink？"
　　"Yes，Ishouldthinkso。"
　　"Thankyou，thatisall。Forthepresent。Isay，allforthepresent。"
　　"Dernhim。he’slayingforArchy，"saidFerguson。
　　"It’sso，"saidHamSandwich。"Idon’tlikethelookofit。"
　　Stillmansaid，glancingattheguest，"Iwasalongtheremyselfathalf—
　　pasteight——no，aboutnine。"
　　"In—deed？Thisisinteresting——thisisveryinteresting。Perhapsyouencounteredtheassassin？"
　　"No，Iencounterednoone。"
　　"Ah。Then——ifyouwillexcusetheremark——Idonotquiteseetherelevancyoftheinformation。"
　　"Ithasnone。Atpresent。Isayithasnone——atpresent。"
　　Hepaused。Presentlyheresumed:"Ididnotencountertheassassin，butIamonhistrack，Iamsure，forIbelieveheisinthisroom。Iwillaskyoualltopassonebyoneinfrontofme——here，wherethereisagoodlight——sothatIcanseeyourfeet。"
　　Abuzzofexcitementswepttheplace，andthemarchbegan，theguestlookingonwithanironattemptatgravitywhichwasnotanunqualifiedsuccess。Stillmanstooped，shadedhiseyeswithhishand，andgazeddownintentlyateachpairoffeetasitpassed。Fiftymentrampedmonotonouslyby——withnoresult。Sixty。Seventy。Thethingwasbeginningtolookabsurd。Theguestremarked，withsuaveirony:
　　"Assassinsappeartobescarcethisevening。"
　　Thehousesawthehumorifit，andrefresheditselfwithacordiallaugh。
　　Tenortwelvemorecandidatestrampedby——no，dancedby，withairyandridiculouscaperswhichconvulsedthespectators——thensuddenlyStillmanputouthishandandsaid:
　　"Thisistheassassin！"
　　"FetlockJones，bythegreatSanhedrim！"roaredthecrowd;andatonceletflyapyrotechnicexplosionanddazzleandconfusionofstirringremarksinspiredbythesituation。
　　Attheheightoftheturmoilthegueststretchedouthishand，commandingpeace。Theauthorityofagreatnameandagreatpersonalitylaiditsmysteriouscompulsionuponthehouse，anditobeyed。Outofthepantingcalmwhichsucceeded，theguestspoke，saying，withdignityandfeeling:
　　"Thisisserious。Itstrikesataninnocentlife。Innocentbeyondsuspicion！Innocentbeyondperadventure！Hearmeproveit;observehowsimpleafactcanbrushoutofexistencethiswitlesslie。Listen。Myfriends，thatladwasneveroutofmysightyesterdayeveningatanytime！"
　　Itmadeadeepimpression。MenturnedtheireyesuponStillmanwithgraveinquiryinthem。Hisfacebrightened，andhesaid:
　　"Iknewtherewasanotherone！"Hesteppedbrisklytothetableandglancedattheguest’sfeet，thenupathisface，andsaid:"Youwerewithhim！Youwerenotfiftystepsfromhimwhenhelitthecandlethatbyandbyfiredthepowder！"（Sensation。）"Andwhatismore，youfurnishedthematchesyourself！"
　　Plainlytheguestseemedhit;itlookedsotothepublic。Heopenedhismouthtospeak;thewordsdidnotcomefreely。
　　"This——er——thisisinsanity——this——"
　　Stillmanpressedhisevidentadvantagehome。Heheldupacharredmatch。
　　"Hereisoneofthem。Ifounditinthebarrel——andthere’sanotheronethere。"
　　Theguestfoundhisvoiceatonce。
　　"Yes——andputthemthereyourself！"
　　Itwasrecognizedagoodshot。Stillmanretorted。
　　"Itiswax——abreedunknowntothiscamp。Iamreadytobesearchedforthebox。Areyou？"
　　Theguestwasstaggeredthistime——thedullesteyecouldseeit。Hefumbledwithhishands;onceortwicehislipsmoved，butthewordsdidnotcome。Thehousewaitedandwatched，intensesuspense，thestillnessaddingeffecttothesituation。PresentlyStillmansaid，gently:
　　"Wearewaitingforyourdecision。"
　　Therewassilenceagainduringseveralmoments;thentheguestanswered，inalowvoice:
　　"Irefusetobesearched。"
　　Therewasnonoisydemonstration，butallaboutthehouseonevoiceafteranothermuttered:
　　"Thatsettlesit！He’sArchy’smeat。"
　　Whattodonow？Nobodyseemedtoknow。Itwasanembarrassingsituationforthemoment——merely，ofcourse，becausemattershadtakensuchasuddenandunexpectedturnthattheseunpractisedmindswerenotpreparedforit，andhadcometoastandstill，likeastoppedclock，undertheshock。Butafteralittlethemachinerybegantoworkagain，tentatively，andbytwosandthreesthemenputtheirheadstogetherandprivatelybuzzedoverthisandthatandtheotherproposition。Oneofthesepropositionsmetwithmuchfavor;itwas，toconferupontheassassinavoteofthanksforremovingFlintBuckner，andlethimgo。
　　Butthecoolerheadsopposedit，pointingoutthataddledbrainsintheEasternstateswouldpronounceitascandal，andmakenoendoffoolishnoiseaboutit。Finallythecoolheadsgottheupperhand，andobtainedgeneralconsenttoapropositionoftheirown;theirleaderthencalledthehousetoorderandstatedit——tothiseffect:thatFetlockJonesbejailedandputupontrial。
　　Themotionwascarried。Apparentlytherewasnothingfurthertodonow，andthepeoplewereglad，for，privately，theywereimpatienttogetoutandrushtothesceneofthetragedy，andseewhetherthatbarrelandtheotherthingswerereallythereornot。
　　Butno——thebreak—upgotacheck。Thesurpriseswerenotoveryet。ForawhileFetlockJoneshadbeensilentlysobbing，unnoticedintheabsorbingexcitementswhichhadbeenfollowingoneanothersopersistentlyforsometime;butwhenhisarrestandtrialweredecreed，hebrokeoutdespairingly，andsaid:
　　"No！it’snouse。Idon’twantanyjail，Idon’twantanytrial;I’vehadallthehardluckIwant，andallthemiseries。Hangmenow，andletmeout！Itwouldallcomeout，anyway——therecouldn’tanythingsaveme。
　　Hehastolditall，justasifhe’dbeenwithmeandseenit——Idon’tknowhowhefoundout;andyou’llfindthebarrelandthings，andthenI
　　wouldn’thaveanychanceanymore。Ikilledhim;andyou’dhavedoneittoo，ifhe’dtreatedyoulikeadog，andyouonlyaboy，andweakandpoor，andnotafriendtohelpyou。"
　　"Andservedhimdamnedwellright！"brokeinHamSandwich。"Lookyhere，boys——"
　　Fromtheconstable:"Order！Order，gentlemen！"
　　Avoice:"Didyouruncleknowwhatyouwasupto？"
　　"No，hedidn’t。"
　　"Didhegiveyouthematches，sureenough？"
　　"Yes，hedid;buthedidn’tknowwhatIwantedthemfor。"
　　"Whenyouwasoutonsuchabusinessasthat，howdidyouventuretoriskhavinghimalong——andhimadetective？How’sthat？"
　　Theboyhesitated，fumbledwithhisbuttonsinanembarrassedway，thensaid，shyly:
　　"Iknowaboutdetectives，onaccountofhavingtheminthefamily;andifyoudon’twantthemtofindoutaboutathing，it’sbesttohavethemaroundwhenyoudoit。"
　　Thecycloneoflaughterwhichgreetedthisnativedischargeofwisdomdidnotmodifythepoorlittlewaif’sembarrassmentinanylargedegree。
　　IV
　　FromalettertoMrs。Stillman，datedmerely"Tuesday。"
　　FetlockJoneswasputunderlockandkeyinanunoccupiedlogcabin，andlefttheretoawaithistrial。ConstableHarrisprovidedhimwithacoupleofdays’rations，instructedhimtokeepagoodguardoverhimself，andpromisedtolookinonhimassoonasfurthersuppliesshouldbedue。
　　NextmorningascoreofuswentwithHillyer，outoffriendship，andhelpedhimburyhislaterelative，theunlamentedBuckner，andIactedasfirstassistantpall—bearer，Hillyeractingaschief。Justaswehadfinishedourlaborsaraggedandmelancholystranger，carryinganoldhand—bag，limpedbywithhisheaddown，andIcaughtthescentIhadchasedaroundtheglobe！ItwastheodorofParadisetomyperishinghope！
　　InamomentIwasathissideandhadlaidagentlehanduponhisshoulder。Heslumpedtothegroundasifastrokeoflightninghadwitheredhiminhistracks;andastheboyscamerunninghestruggledtohiskneesandputuphispleadinghandstome，andoutofhischatteringjawshebeggedmetopersecutehimnomore，andsaid:
　　"Youhavehuntedmearoundtheworld，SherlockHolmes，yetGodismywitnessIhaveneverdoneanymanharm！"
　　Aglanceathiswildeyesshowedusthathewasinsane。Thatwasmywork，mother！ThetidingsofyourdeathcansomedayrepeatthemiseryI
　　feltinthatmoment，butnothingelsecaneverdoit。Theboysliftedhimup，andgatheredabouthim，andwerefullofpityofhim，andsaidthegentlestandtouchingestthingstohim，andsaidcheerupanddon’tbetroubled，hewasamongfriendsnow，andtheywouldtakecareofhim，andprotecthim，andhanganymanthatlaidahandonhim。Theyarejustlikesomanymothers，theroughmining—campboysare，whenyouwakeupthesouthsideoftheirhearts;yes，andjustlikesomanyrecklessandunreasoningchildrenwhenyouwakeuptheoppositeofthatmuscle。Theydideverythingtheycouldthinkoftocomforthim，butnothingsucceededuntilWells—FargoFerguson，whoisacleverstrategist，said:
　　"Ifit’sonlySherlockHolmesthat’stroublingyou，youneedn’tworryanymore。"
　　"Why？"askedtheforlornlunatic，eagerly。
　　"Becausehe’sdeadagain。"
　　"Dead！Dead！Oh，don’ttriflewithapoorwrecklikeme。Ishedead？
　　Onhonor，now——ishetellingmetrue，boys？"
　　"Trueasyou’restandingthere！"saidHamSandwich，andtheyallbackedupthestatementinabody。
　　"TheyhunghiminSanBernardinolastweek，"addedFerguson，clinchingthematter，"whilsthewassearchingaroundafteryou。Mistookhimforanotherman。They’resorry，buttheycan’thelpitnow。"
　　"They’rea—buildinghimamonument，"saidHamSandwich，withtheairofapersonwhohadcontributedtoit，andknew。
　　"JamesWalker"drewadeepsigh——evidentlyasighofrelief——andsaidnothing;buthiseyeslostsomethingoftheirwildness，hiscountenanceclearedvisibly，anditsdrawnlookrelaxedalittle。Weallwenttoourcabin，andtheboyscookedhimthebestdinnerthecampcouldfurnishthematerialsfor，andwhiletheywereaboutitHillyerandIoutfittedhimfromhattoshoe—leatherwithnewclothesofours，andmadeacomelyandpresentableoldgentlemanofhim。"Old"istherightword，andapity，too:oldbythedroopofhim，andthefrostuponhishair，andthemarkswhichsorrowanddistresshaveleftuponhisface;thoughheisonlyinhisprimeinthematterofyears。Whileheate，wesmokedandchatted;
　　andwhenhewasfinishinghefoundhisvoiceatlast，andofhisownaccordbrokeoutwithhispersonalhistory。Icannotfurnishhisexactwords，butIwillcomeasnearitasIcan。
　　THE"WRONGMAN’S"STORY
　　Ithappenedlikethis:IwasinDenver。Ihadbeentheremanyyears;
　　sometimesIrememberhowmany，sometimesIdon’t——butitisn’tanymatter。AllofasuddenIgotanoticetoleave，orIwouldbeexposedforahorriblecrimecommittedlongbefore——yearsandyearsbefore——intheEast。
　　Iknewaboutthatcrime，butIwasnotthecriminal;itwasacousinofmineofthesamename。WhatshouldIbetterdo？Myheadwasalldisorderedbyfear，andIdidn’tknow。Iwasallowedverylittletime——
　　onlyoneday，Ithinkitwas。IwouldberuinedifIwaspublished，andthepeoplewouldlynchme，andnotbelievewhatIsaid。Itisalwaysthewaywithlynchings:whentheyfindoutitisamistaketheyaresorry，butitistoolate——thesameasitwaswithMr。Holmes，yousee。SoI
　　saidIwouldselloutandgetmoneytoliveon，andrunawayuntilitblewoverandIcouldcomebackwithmyproofs。ThenIescapedinthenightandwentalongwayoffinthemountainssomewhere，andliveddisguisedandhadafalsename。
　　Igotmoreandmoretroubledandworried，andmytroublesmademeseespiritsandhearvoices，andIcouldnotthinkstraightandclearonanysubject，butgotconfusedandinvolvedandhadtogiveitup，becausemyheadhurtso。Itgottobeworseandworse;morespiritsandmorevoices。Theywereaboutmeallthetime;atfirstonlyinthenight，theninthedaytoo。Theywerealwayswhisperingaroundmybedandplottingagainstme，anditbrokemysleepandkeptmefaggedout，becauseIgotnogoodrest。
　　Andthencametheworst。Onenightthewhisperssaid，"We’llnevermanage，becausewecan’tseehim，andsocan’tpointhimouttothepeople。"
　　Theysighed;thenonesaid:"WemustbringSherlockHolmes。Hecanbehereintwelvedays。"
　　Theyallagreed，andwhisperedandjibberedwithjoy。Butmyheartbroke;forIhadreadaboutthatman，andknewwhatitwouldbetohavehimuponmytrack，withhissuperhumanpenetrationandtirelessenergies。
　　Thespiritswentawaytofetchhim，andIgotupatonceinthemiddleofthenightandfledaway，carryingnothingbutthehand—bagthathadmymoneyinit——thirtythousanddollars;two—thirdsofitareinthebagthereyet。Itwasfortydaysbeforethatmancaughtuponmytrack。
　　Ijustescaped。Fromhabithehadwrittenhisrealnameonatavernregister，buthadscratcheditoutandwritten"DaggetBarclay"intheplaceofit。Butfeargivesyouawatchfuleyeandkeen，andIreadthetruenamethroughthescratches，andfledlikeadeer。
　　Hehashuntedmealloverthisworldforthreeyearsandahalf——thePacificstates，Australasia，India——everywhereyoucanthinkof;thenbacktoMexicoanduptoCaliforniaagain，givingmehardlyanyrest;butthatnameontheregistersalwayssavedme，andwhatisleftofmeisaliveyet。AndIamsotired！Acrueltimehehasgivenme，yetIgiveyoumyhonorIhaveneverharmedhimnoranyman。
　　Thatwastheendofthestory，anditstirredthoseboystoblood—heat，hesureofit。Asforme——eachwordburntaholeinmewhereitstruck。
　　Wevotedthattheoldmanshouldbunkwithus，andbemyguestandHillyer’s。Ishallkeepmyowncounsel，naturally;butassoonasheiswellrestedandnourished，IshalltakehimtoDenverandrehabilitatehisfortunes。
　　Theboysgavetheoldfellowthebone—smashinggood—fellowshiphandshakeofthemines，andthenscatteredawaytospreadthenews。
　　AtdawnnextmorningWells—FargoFergusonandHamSandwichcalledussoftlyout，andsaid，privately:
　　"Thatnewsaboutthewaythatoldstrangerhasbeentreatedhasspreadallaround，andthecampsareup。Theyarepilinginfromeverywhere，andaregoingtolynchtheP’fessor。ConstableHarrisisinadeadfunk，andhastelephonedthesheriff。Comealong！"
　　Westartedonarun。Theotherswereprivilegedtofeelastheychose，butinmyheart’sprivacyIhopedthesheriffwouldarriveintime;forI
　　hadsmalldesirethatSherlockHolmesshouldhangformydeeds，asyoucaneasilybelieve。Ihadheardagooddealaboutthesheriff，butforreassurance’ssakeIasked:
　　"Canhestopamob？"
　　"Canhestopamob！CanJackFairfaxstopamob！Well，Ishouldsmile！
　　Ex—desperado——nineteenscalpsonhisstring。Canhe！Oh，Isay！"
　　Aswetoreupthegulch，distantcriesandshoutsandyellsrosefaintlyonthestillair，andgrewsteadilyinstrengthasweracedalong。Roarafterroarburstout，strongerandstronger，nearerandnearer;andatlast，whenweclosedupuponthemultitudemassedintheopenareainfrontofthetavern，thecrashofsoundwasdeafening。SomebrutalroughsfromDaly’sgorgehadHolmesintheirgrip，andhewasthecalmestmanthere;acontemptuoussmileplayedabouthislips，andifanyfearofdeathwasinhisBritishheart，hisironpersonalitywasmasterofitandnosignofitwasallowedtoappear。
　　"Cometoavote，men！"ThisfromoneoftheDalygang，ShadbellyHiggins。
　　"Quick！isithang，orshoot？"
　　"Neither！"shoutedoneofhiscomrades。"He’llbealiveagaininaweek;
　　burning’stheonlypermanencyforhim。"
　　Thegangsfromalltheoutlyingcampsburstoutinathundercrashofapproval，andwentstrugglingandsurgingtowardtheprisoner，andclosedaroundhim，shouting，"Fire！fire’stheticket！"Theydraggedhimtothehorse—post，backedhimagainstit，chainedhimtoit，andpiledwoodandpineconesaroundhimwaist—deep。Stillthestrongfacedidnotblench，andstillthescornfulsmileplayedaboutthethinlips。
　　"Amatch！fetchamatch！"
　　Shadbellystruckit，shadeditwithhishand，stooped，andhelditunderapinecone。Adeepsilencefelluponthemob。Theconecaught，atinyflameflickeredaboutitamomentortwo。Iseemedtocatchthesoundofdistanthoofs——itgrewmoredistinct——stillmoreandmoredistinct，moreandmoredefinite，buttheabsorbedcrowddidnotappeartonoticeit。
　　Thematchwentout。Themanstruckanother，stooped，andagaintheflamerose;thistimeittookholdandbegantospread——hereandtherementurnedawaytheirfaces。Theexecutionerstoodwiththecharredmatchinhisfingers，watchinghiswork。Thehoof—beatsturnedaprojectingcrag，andnowtheycamethunderingdownuponus。Almostthenextmomenttherewasashout:
　　"Thesheriff！"
　　Andstraightwayhecametearingintothemidst，stoodhishorsealmostonhishindfeet，andsaid:
　　"Fallback，yougutter—snipes！"
　　Hewasobeyed。Byallbuttheirleader。Hestoodhisground，andhishandwenttohisrevolver。Thesheriffcoveredhimpromptly，andsaid:
　　"Dropyourhand，youparlordesperado。Kickthefireaway。Nowunchainthestranger。"
　　Theparlordesperadoobeyed。Thenthesheriffmadeaspeech;sittinghishorseatmartialease，andnotwarminghiswordswithanytouchoffire，butdeliveringtheminameasuredanddeliberateway，andinatonewhichharmonizedwiththeircharacterandmadethemimpressivelydisrespectful。
　　"You’reanicelot——nowain’tyou？Justabouteligibletotravelwiththisbilkhere——ShadbellyHiggins——thisloud—mouthedsneakthatshootspeopleinthebackandcallshimselfadesperado。Ifthere’sanythingI
　　doparticularlydespise，it’salynchingmob;I’veneverseenonethathadamaninit。Ithastotallyupahundredagainstonebeforeitcanpumpuppluckenoughtotackleasicktailor。It’smadeupofcowards，andsoisthecommunitythatbreedsit;andninety—ninetimesoutofahundredthesheriff’sanotherone。"Hepaused——apparentlytoturnthatlastideaoverinhismindandtastethejuiceofit——thenhewenton:
　　"Thesheriffthatletsamobtakeaprisonerawayfromhimisthelowest—
　　downcowardthereis。Bythestatisticstherewasahundredandeighty—
　　twoofthemdrawingsneakpayinAmericalastyear。Bythewayit’sgoing，prettysoonthere’llbeanewdiseaseinthedoctor—books——
　　sheriffcomplaint。"Thatideapleasedhim——anyonecouldseeit。
　　"Peoplewillsay，’Sheriffsickagain？’’Yes;gotthesameoldthing。’
　　Andnextthere’llbeanewtitle。Peoplewon’tsay，’He’srunningforsheriffofRapahoCounty，’forinstance;they’llsay，’He’srunningforCowardofRapaho。’Lord，theideaofagrown—uppersonbeingafraidofalynchmob！"
　　Heturnedaneyeonthecaptive，andsaid，"Stranger，whoareyou，andwhathaveyoubeendoing？"
　　"MynameisSherlockHolmes，andIhavenotbeendoinganything。"
　　Itwaswonderful，theimpressionwhichthesoundofthatnamemadeonthesheriff，notwithstandinghemusthavecomeposted。Hespokeupwithfeeling，andsaiditwasablotonthecountythatamanwhosemarvelousexploitshadfilledtheworldwiththeirfameandtheiringenuity，andwhosehistoriesofthemhadwoneveryreader’sheartbythebrilliancyandcharmoftheirliterarysetting，shouldbevisitedundertheStarsandStripesbyanoutragelikethis。Heapologizedinthenameofthewholenation，andmadeHolmesamosthandsomebow，andtoldConstableHarristoseehimtohisquarters，andholdhimselfpersonallyresponsibleifhewasmolestedagain。Thenheturnedtothemobandsaid:
　　"Huntyourholes，youscum！"whichtheydid;thenhesaid:"Followme，Shadbelly;I’lltakecareofyourcasemyself。No——keepyourpopgun;
　　wheneverIseethedaythatI’llbeafraidtohaveyoubehindmewiththatthing，it’llbetimeformetojoinlastyear’shundredandeighty—
　　two";andherodeoffinawalk，Shadbellyfollowing。
　　Whenwewereonourwaybacktoourcabin，towardbreakfast—time，weranuponthenewsthatFetlockJoneshadescapedfromhislock—upinthenightandisgone！Nobodyissorry。Lethisuncletrackhimoutifhelikes;itisinhisline;thecampisnotinterested。
　　V
　　Tendayslater。
　　"JamesWalker"isallrightinbodynow，andhismindshowsimprovementtoo。IstartwithhimforDenverto—morrowmorning。
　　Nextnight。Briefnote，mailedataway—station。
　　Aswewerestarting，thismorning，Hillyerwhisperedtome:"KeepthisnewsfromWalkeruntilyouthinkitsafeandnotlikelytodisturbhismindandcheckhisimprovement:theancientcrimehespokeofwasreallycommitted——andbyhiscousin，ashesaid。Weburiedtherealcriminaltheotherday——theunhappiestmanthathaslivedinacentury——FlintBuckner。HisrealnamewasJacobFuller！"There，mother，byhelpofme，anunwittingmourner，yourhusbandandmyfatherisinhisgrave。Lethimrest。