Thisseemedtoestablishthatthecrimehadbeendoneinamomentoffury，andthatthemurdererhadseizedthefirstweaponwhichcameinhisway。Thefactthatthecrimewascommittedattwointhemorning，andyetPeterCareywasfullydressed，suggestedthathehadanappointmentwiththemurderer，whichisborneoutbythefactthatabottleofrumandtwodirtyglassesstooduponthetable。"
　　"Yes，"saidHolmes；"Ithinkthatbothinferencesarepermissible。
　　Wasthereanyotherspiritbutrumintheroom？"
　　"Yes；therewasatantaluscontainingbrandyandwhiskyonthesea—chest。Itisofnoimportancetous，however，sincethedecanterswerefull，andithadthereforenotbeenused。"
　　"Forallthatitspresencehassomesignificance，"saidHolmes。
　　"However，letushearsomemoreabouttheobjectswhichdoseemtoyoutobearuponthecase。"
　　"Therewasthistobacco—pouchuponthetable。"
　　"Whatpartofthetable？"
　　"Itlayinthemiddle。Itwasofcoarseseal—skin——
　　thestraight—hairedskin，withaleatherthongtobindit。
　　Insidewas`P。C。’ontheflap。Therewashalfanounceofstrongship’stobaccoinit。"
　　"Excellent！Whatmore？"
　　StanleyHopkinsdrewfromhispocketadrab—coverednote—book。
　　Theoutsidewasroughandworn，theleavesdiscoloured。
　　Onthefirstpagewerewrittentheinitials"J。H。N。"andthedate"1883。"Holmeslaiditonthetableandexamineditinhisminuteway，whileHopkinsandIgazedovereachshoulder。
　　Onthesecondpageweretheprintedletters"C。P。R。，"andthencameseveralsheetsofnumbers。AnotherheadingwasArgentine，anotherCostaRica，andanotherSanPaulo，eachwithpagesofsignsandfiguresafterit。
　　"Whatdoyoumakeofthese？"askedHolmes。
　　"TheyappeartobelistsofStockExchangesecurities。
　　Ithoughtthat`J。H。N。’weretheinitialsofabroker，andthat`C。P。R。’mayhavebeenhisclient。"
　　"TryCanadianPacificRailway，"saidHolmes。
　　StanleyHopkinssworebetweenhisteethandstruckhisthighwithhisclenchedhand。
　　"WhatafoolIhavebeen！"hecried。"Ofcourse，itisasyousay。Then`J。H。N。’aretheonlyinitialswehavetosolve。
　　IhavealreadyexaminedtheoldStockExchangelists，andIcanfindnoonein1883eitherintheHouseoramongtheoutsidebrokerswhoseinitialscorrespondwiththese。YetIfeelthattheclueisthemostimportantonethatIhold。Youwilladmit，Mr。Holmes，thatthereisapossibilitythattheseinitialsarethoseofthesecondpersonwhowaspresent——inotherwords，ofthemurderer。Iwouldalsourgethattheintroductionintothecaseofadocumentrelatingtolargemassesofvaluablesecuritiesgivesusforthefirsttimesomeindicationofamotiveforthecrime。"
　　SherlockHolmes’sfaceshowedthathewasthoroughlytakenabackbythisnewdevelopment。
　　"Imustadmitbothyourpoints，"saidhe。"Iconfessthatthisnote—book，whichdidnotappearattheinquest，modifiesanyviewswhichImayhaveformed。IhadcometoatheoryofthecrimeinwhichIcanfindnoplaceforthis。Haveyouendeavouredtotraceanyofthesecuritiesherementioned？"
　　"Inquiriesarenowbeingmadeattheoffices，butIfearthatthecompleteregisterofthestockholdersoftheseSouthAmericanconcernsisinSouthAmerica，andthatsomeweeksmustelapsebeforewecantracetheshares。"
　　Holmeshadbeenexaminingthecoverofthenote—bookwithhismagnifyinglens。
　　"Surelythereissomediscolourationhere，"saidhe。
　　"Yes，sir，itisablood—stain。ItoldyouthatIpickedthebookoffthefloor。"
　　"Wastheblood—stainaboveorbelow？"
　　"Onthesidenexttheboards。"
　　"Whichproves，ofcourse，thatthebookwasdroppedafterthecrimewascommitted。"
　　"Exactly，Mr。Holmes。Iappreciatedthatpoint，andIconjecturedthatitwasdroppedbythemurdererinhishurriedflight。Itlaynearthedoor。"
　　"Isupposethatnoneofthesesecuritieshavebeenfoundamongthepropertyofthedeadman？"
　　"No，sir。"
　　"Haveyouanyreasontosuspectrobbery？"
　　"No，sir。Nothingseemedtohavebeentouched。"
　　"Dearme，itiscertainlyaveryinterestingcase。
　　Thentherewasaknife，wastherenot？"
　　"Asheath—knife，stillinitssheath。Itlayatthefeetofthedeadman。Mrs。Careyhasidentifieditasbeingherhusband’sproperty。"
　　Holmeswaslostinthoughtforsometime。
　　"Well，"saidhe，atlast，"IsupposeIshallhavetocomeoutandhavealookatit。"
　　StanleyHopkinsgaveacryofjoy。
　　"Thankyou，sir。Thatwillindeedbeaweightoffmymind。"
　　Holmesshookhisfingerattheinspector。
　　"Itwouldhavebeenaneasiertaskaweekago，"saidhe。
　　"Butevennowmyvisitmaynotbeentirelyfruitless。Watson，ifyoucansparethetimeIshouldbeverygladofyourcompany。
　　Ifyouwillcallafour—wheeler，Hopkins，weshallbereadytostartforForestRowinaquarterofanhour。"
　　Alightingatthesmallwaysidestation，wedroveforsomemilesthroughtheremainsofwidespreadwoods，whichwereoncepartofthatgreatforestwhichforsolongheldtheSaxoninvadersatbay——theimpenetrable"weald，"forsixtyyearsthebulwarkofBritain。Vastsectionsofithavebeencleared，forthisistheseatofthefirstiron—worksofthecountry，andthetreeshavebeenfelledtosmelttheore。NowthericherfieldsoftheNorthhaveabsorbedthetrade，andnothingsavetheseravagedgrovesandgreatscarsintheearthshowtheworkofthepast。
　　Hereinaclearinguponthegreenslopeofahillstoodalong，lowstonehouse，approachedbyacurvingdriverunningthroughthefields。Nearertheroad，andsurroundedonthreesidesbybushes，wasasmallouthouse，onewindowandthedoorfacinginourdirection。Itwasthesceneofthemurder！
　　StanleyHopkinsledusfirsttothehouse，whereheintroducedustoahaggard，grey—hairedwoman，thewidowofthemurderedman，whosegauntanddeep—linedface，withthefurtivelookofterrorinthedepthsofherred—rimmedeyes，toldoftheyearsofhardshipandill—usagewhichshehadendured。Withherwasherdaughter，apale，fair—hairedgirl，whoseeyesblazeddefiantlyatusasshetoldusthatshewasgladthatherfatherwasdead，andthatsheblessedthehandwhichhadstruckhimdown。ItwasaterriblehouseholdthatBlackPeterCareyhadmadeforhimself，anditwaswithasenseofreliefthatwefoundourselvesinthesunlightagainandmakingourwayalongapathwhichhadbeenwornacrossthefieldsbythefeetofthedeadman。
　　Theouthousewasthesimplestofdwellings，wooden—walled，shingle—roofed，onewindowbesidethedoorandoneonthefartherside。StanleyHopkinsdrewthekeyfromhispocket，andhadstoopedtothelock，whenhepausedwithalookofattentionandsurpriseuponhisface。
　　"Someonehasbeentamperingwithit，"hesaid。
　　Therecouldbenodoubtofthefact。Thewoodworkwascutandthescratchesshowedwhitethroughthepaint，asiftheyhadbeenthatinstantdone。Holmeshadbeenexaminingthewindow。
　　"Someonehastriedtoforcethisalso。Whoeveritwashasfailedtomakehiswayin。Hemusthavebeenaverypoorburglar。"
　　"Thisisamostextraordinarything，"saidtheinspector；
　　"Icouldswearthatthesemarkswerenothereyesterdayevening。"
　　"Somecuriouspersonfromthevillage，perhaps，"Isuggested。
　　"Veryunlikely。Fewofthemwoulddaretosetfootinthegrounds，farlesstrytoforcetheirwayintothecabin。
　　Whatdoyouthinkofit，Mr。Holmes？"
　　"Ithinkthatfortuneisverykindtous。"
　　"Youmeanthatthepersonwillcomeagain？"
　　"Itisveryprobable。Hecameexpectingtofindthedooropen。
　　Hetriedtogetinwiththebladeofaverysmallpenknife。
　　Hecouldnotmanageit。Whatwouldhedo？"
　　"Comeagainnextnightwithamoreusefultool。"
　　"SoIshouldsay。Itwillbeourfaultifwearenottheretoreceivehim。Meanwhile，letmeseetheinsideofthecabin。"
　　Thetracesofthetragedyhadbeenremoved，butthefurniturewithinthelittleroomstillstoodasithadbeenonthenightofthecrime。Fortwohours，withmostintenseconcentration，Holmesexaminedeveryobjectinturn，buthisfaceshowedthathisquestwasnotasuccessfulone。Onceonlyhepausedinhispatientinvestigation。
　　"Haveyoutakenanythingoffthisshelf，Hopkins？"
　　"No；Ihavemovednothing。"
　　"Somethinghasbeentaken。Thereislessdustinthiscorneroftheshelfthanelsewhere。Itmayhavebeenabooklyingonitsside。Itmayhavebeenabox。Well，well，Icandonothingmore。Letuswalkinthesebeautifulwoods，Watson，andgiveafewhourstothebirdsandtheflowers。Weshallmeetyouherelater，Hopkins，andseeifwecancometocloserquarterswiththegentlemanwhohaspaidthisvisitinthenight。"
　　Itwaspasteleveno’clockwhenweformedourlittleambuscade。
　　Hopkinswasforleavingthedoorofthehutopen，butHolmeswasoftheopinionthatthiswouldrousethesuspicionsofthestranger。Thelockwasaperfectlysimpleone，andonlyastrongbladewasneededtopushitback。Holmesalsosuggestedthatweshouldwait，notinsidethehut，butoutsideitamongthebusheswhichgrewroundthefartherwindow。Inthiswayweshouldbeabletowatchourmanifhestruckalight，andseewhathisobjectwasinthisstealthynocturnalvisit。
　　Itwasalongandmelancholyvigil，andyetbroughtwithitsomethingofthethrillwhichthehunterfeelswhenheliesbesidethewaterpoolandwaitsforthecomingofthethirstybeastofprey。Whatsavagecreaturewasitwhichmightstealuponusoutofthedarkness？Wasitafiercetigerofcrime，whichcouldonlybetakenfightinghardwithflashingfangandclaw，orwoulditprovetobesomeskulkingjackal，dangerousonlytotheweakandunguarded？
　　Inabsolutesilencewecrouchedamongstthebushes，waitingforwhatevermightcome。Atfirstthestepsofafewbelatedvillagers，orthesoundofvoicesfromthevillage，lightenedourvigil；butonebyonetheseinterruptionsdiedawayandanabsolutestillnessfelluponus，saveforthechimesofthedistantchurch，whichtoldusoftheprogressofthenight，andfortherustleandwhisperofafinerainfallingamidthefoliagewhichroofedusin。
　　Half—pasttwohadchimed，anditwasthedarkesthourwhichprecedesthedawn，whenweallstartedasalowbutsharpclickcamefromthedirectionofthegate。Someonehadenteredthedrive。Againtherewasalongsilence，andIhadbeguntofearthatitwasafalsealarm，whenastealthystepwasheardupontheothersideofthehut，andamomentlaterametallicscrapingandclinking。Themanwastryingtoforcethelock！
　　Thistimehisskillwasgreaterorhistoolwasbetter，fortherewasasuddensnapandthecreakofthehinges。
　　Thenamatchwasstruck，andnextinstantthesteadylightfromacandlefilledtheinteriorofthehut。Throughthegauzecurtainoureyeswereallriveteduponthescenewithin。
　　Thenocturnalvisitorwasayoungman，frailandthin，withablackmoustachewhichintensifiedthedeadlypallorofhisface。
　　Hecouldnothavebeenmuchabovetwentyyearsofage。Ihaveneverseenanyhumanbeingwhoappearedtobeinsuchapitiablefright，forhisteethwerevisiblychatteringandhewasshakingineverylimb。Hewasdressedlikeagentleman，inNorfolkjacketandknickerbockers，withaclothcapuponhishead。
　　Wewatchedhimstaringroundwithfrightenedeyes。Thenhelaidthecandle—enduponthetableanddisappearedfromourviewintooneofthecorners。Hereturnedwithalargebook，oneofthelog—bookswhichformedalineupontheshelves。Leaningonthetableherapidlyturnedovertheleavesofthisvolumeuntilhecametotheentrywhichhesought。Then，withanangrygestureofhisclenchedhand，heclosedthebook，replaceditinthecorner，andputoutthelight。HehadhardlyturnedtoleavethehutwhenHopkins’shandwasonthefellow’scollar，andI
　　heardhisloudgaspofterrorasheunderstoodthathewastaken。Thecandlewasre—lit，andtherewasourwretchedcaptiveshiveringandcoweringinthegraspofthedetective。
　　Hesankdownuponthesea—chest，andlookedhelplesslyfromoneofustotheother。
　　"Now，myfinefellow，"saidStanleyHopkins，"whoareyou，andwhatdoyouwanthere？"
　　Themanpulledhimselftogetherandfaceduswithaneffortatself—composure。
　　"Youaredetectives，Isuppose？"saidhe。"YouimagineIamconnectedwiththedeathofCaptainPeterCarey。IassureyouthatIaminnocent。"
　　"We’llseeaboutthat，"saidHopkins。
　　"Firstofall，whatisyourname？"
　　"ItisJohnHopleyNeligan。"
　　IsawHolmesandHopkinsexchangeaquickglance。
　　"Whatareyoudoinghere？"
　　"CanIspeakconfidentially？"
　　"No，certainlynot。"
　　"WhyshouldItellyou？"
　　"Ifyouhavenoansweritmaygobadlywithyouatthetrial。"
　　Theyoungmanwinced。
　　"Well，Iwilltellyou，"hesaid。"WhyshouldInot？AndyetIhatetothinkofthisoldscandalgaininganewleaseoflife。
　　DidyoueverhearofDawsonandNeligan？"
　　IcouldseefromHopkins’sfacethatheneverhad；butHolmeswaskeenlyinterested。
　　"YoumeantheWest—countrybankers，"saidhe。"Theyfailedforamillion，ruinedhalfthecountyfamiliesofCornwall，andNeligandisappeared。"
　　"Exactly。Neliganwasmyfather。"
　　Atlastweweregettingsomethingpositive，andyetitseemedalonggapbetweenanabscondingbankerandCaptainPeterCareypinnedagainstthewallwithoneofhisownharpoons。Wealllistenedintentlytotheyoungman’swords。
　　"Itwasmyfatherwhowasreallyconcerned。Dawsonhadretired。
　　Iwasonlytenyearsofageatthetime，butIwasoldenoughtofeeltheshameandhorrorofitall。Ithasalwaysbeensaidthatmyfatherstoleallthesecuritiesandfled。Itisnottrue。Itwashisbeliefthatifheweregiventimeinwhichtorealizethemallwouldbewellandeverycreditorpaidinfull。
　　HestartedinhislittleyachtforNorwayjustbeforethewarrantwasissuedforhisarrest。Icanrememberthatlastnightwhenhebadefarewelltomymother。Heleftusalistofthesecuritieshewastaking，andhesworethathewouldcomebackwithhishonourcleared，andthatnonewhohadtrustedhimwouldsuffer。Well，nowordwaseverheardfromhimagain。
　　Boththeyachtandhevanishedutterly。Webelieved，mymotherandI，thatheandit，withthesecuritiesthathehadtakenwithhim，wereatthebottomofthesea。Wehadafaithfulfriend，however，whoisabusinessman，anditwashewhodiscoveredsometimeagothatsomeofthesecuritieswhichmyfatherhadwithhimhavereappearedontheLondonmarket。
　　Youcanimagineouramazement。Ispentmonthsintryingtotracethem，andatlast，aftermanydoublingsanddifficulties，IdiscoveredthattheoriginalsellerhadbeenCaptainPeterCarey，theownerofthishut。
　　"Naturally，Imadesomeinquiriesabouttheman。IfoundthathehadbeenincommandofawhalerwhichwasduetoreturnfromtheArcticseasattheverytimewhenmyfatherwascrossingtoNorway。Theautumnofthatyearwasastormyone，andtherewasalongsuccessionofsoutherlygales。Myfather’syachtmaywellhavebeenblowntothenorth，andtheremetbyCaptainPeterCarey’sship。Ifthatwereso，whathadbecomeofmyfather？Inanycase，ifIcouldprovefromPeterCarey’sevidencehowthesesecuritiescameonthemarketitwouldbeaproofthatmyfatherhadnotsoldthem，andthathehadnoviewtopersonalprofitwhenhetookthem。
　　"IcamedowntoSussexwiththeintentionofseeingthecaptain，butitwasatthismomentthathisterribledeathoccurred。
　　Ireadattheinquestadescriptionofhiscabin，inwhichitstatedthattheoldlog—booksofhisvesselwerepreservedinit。
　　ItstruckmethatifIcouldseewhatoccurredinthemonthofAugust，1883，onboardtheSEAUNICORN，Imightsettlethemysteryofmyfather’sfate。Itriedlastnighttogetattheselog—books，butwasunabletoopenthedoor。To—nightItriedagain，andsucceeded；butIfindthatthepageswhichdealwiththatmonthhavebeentornfromthebook。ItwasatthatmomentIfoundmyselfaprisonerinyourhands。"
　　"Isthatall？"askedHopkins。
　　"Yes，thatisall。"Hiseyesshiftedashesaidit。
　　"Youhavenothingelsetotellus？"
　　Hehesitated。
　　"No；thereisnothing。"
　　"Youhavenotbeenherebeforelastnight？"
　　"No。"
　　"ThenhowdoyouaccountforTHAT？"criedHopkins，asheheldupthedamningnote—book，withtheinitialsofourprisoneronthefirstleafandtheblood—stainonthecover。
　　Thewretchedmancollapsed。Hesankhisfaceinhishandsandtrembledallover。
　　"Wheredidyougetit？"hegroaned。"Ididnotknow。
　　IthoughtIhadlostitatthehotel。"
　　"Thatisenough，"saidHopkins，sternly。"Whateverelseyouhavetosayyoumustsayincourt。Youwillwalkdownwithmenowtothepolice—station。Well，Mr。Holmes，Iamverymuchobligedtoyouandtoyourfriendforcomingdowntohelpme。
　　Asitturnsoutyourpresencewasunnecessary，andIwouldhavebroughtthecasetothissuccessfulissuewithoutyou；butnonethelessIamverygrateful。RoomshavebeenreservedforyouattheBrambletyeHotel，sowecanallwalkdowntothevillagetogether。"
　　"Well，Watson，whatdoyouthinkofit？"askedHolmes，aswetravelledbacknextmorning。
　　"Icanseethatyouarenotsatisfied。"
　　"Oh，yes，mydearWatson，Iamperfectlysatisfied。AtthesametimeStanleyHopkins’smethodsdonotcommendthemselvestome。
　　IamdisappointedinStanleyHopkins。Ihadhopedforbetterthingsfromhim。Oneshouldalwayslookforapossiblealternativeandprovideagainstit。Itisthefirstruleofcriminalinvestigation。"
　　"What，then，isthealternative？"
　　"ThelineofinvestigationwhichIhavemyselfbeenpursuing。
　　Itmaygiveusnothing。Icannottell。ButatleastIshallfollowittotheend。"
　　SeveralletterswerewaitingforHolmesatBakerStreet。
　　Hesnatchedoneofthemup，openedit，andburstoutintoatriumphantchuckleoflaughter。
　　"Excellent，Watson。Thealternativedevelops。Haveyoutelegraphforms？Justwriteacoupleofmessagesforme：
　　`Sumner，ShippingAgent，RatcliffHighway。Sendthreemenon，toarrivetento—morrowmorning。——Basil。’That’smynameinthoseparts。Theotheris：`InspectorStanleyHopkins，46，LordStreet，Brixton。Comebreakfastto—morrowatnine—thirty。
　　Important。Wireifunabletocome。——SherlockHolmes。’
　　There，Watson，thisinfernalcasehashauntedmefortendays。
　　Iherebybanishitcompletelyfrommypresence。To—morrowItrustthatweshallhearthelastofitforever。"
　　SharpatthehournamedInspectorStanleyHopkinsappeared，andwesatdowntogethertotheexcellentbreakfastwhichMrs。Hudsonhadprepared。Theyoungdetectivewasinhighspiritsathissuccess。
　　"Youreallythinkthatyoursolutionmustbecorrect？"askedHolmes。
　　"Icouldnotimagineamorecompletecase。"
　　"Itdidnotseemtomeconclusive。"
　　"Youastonishme，Mr。Holmes。Whatmorecouldoneaskfor？"
　　"Doesyourexplanationcovereverypoint？"
　　"Undoubtedly。IfindthatyoungNeliganarrivedattheBrambletyeHotelontheverydayofthecrime。Hecameonthepretenceofplayinggolf。Hisroomwasontheground—floor，andhecouldgetoutwhenheliked。ThatverynighthewentdowntoWoodman’sLee，sawPeterCareyatthehut，quarrelledwithhim，andkilledhimwiththeharpoon。Then，horrifiedbywhathehaddone，hefledoutofthehut，droppingthenote—bookwhichhehadbroughtwithhiminordertoquestionPeterCareyaboutthesedifferentsecurities。Youmayhaveobservedthatsomeofthemweremarkedwithticks，andtheothers——thegreatmajority——werenot。ThosewhicharetickedhavebeentracedontheLondonmarket；buttheotherspresumablywerestillinthepossessionofCarey，andyoungNeligan，accordingtohisownaccount，wasanxioustorecovertheminordertodotherightthingbyhisfather’screditors。Afterhisflighthedidnotdaretoapproachthehutagainforsometime；butatlastheforcedhimselftodosoinordertoobtaintheinformationwhichheneeded。Surelythatisallsimpleandobvious？"
　　Holmessmiledandshookhishead。
　　"Itseemstometohaveonlyonedrawback，Hopkins，andthatisthatitisintrinsicallyimpossible。Haveyoutriedtodriveaharpoonthroughabody？No？Tut，tut，mydearsir，youmustreallypayattentiontothesedetails。MyfriendWatsoncouldtellyouthatIspentawholemorninginthatexercise。
　　Itisnoeasymatter，andrequiresastrongandpractisedarm。
　　Butthisblowwasdeliveredwithsuchviolencethattheheadoftheweaponsankdeepintothewall。Doyouimaginethatthisanaemicyouthwascapableofsofrightfulanassault？IshethemanwhohobnobbedinrumandwaterwithBlackPeterinthedeadofthenight？Wasithisprofilethatwasseenontheblindtwonightsbefore？No，no，Hopkins；itisanotherandamoreformidablepersonforwhomwemustseek。"
　　Thedetective’sfacehadgrownlongerandlongerduringHolmes’sspeech。Hishopesandhisambitionswereallcrumblingabouthim。
　　Buthewouldnotabandonhispositionwithoutastruggle。
　　"Youcan’tdenythatNeliganwaspresentthatnight，Mr。Holmes。
　　Thebookwillprovethat。IfancythatIhaveevidenceenoughtosatisfyajury，evenifyouareabletopickaholeinit。
　　Besides，Mr。Holmes，IhavelaidmyhanduponMYman。Astothisterriblepersonofyours，whereishe？"
　　"Iratherfancythatheisonthestair，"saidHolmes，serenely。
　　"Ithink，Watson，thatyouwoulddowelltoputthatrevolverwhereyoucanreachit。"Herose，andlaidawrittenpaperuponaside—table。"Nowweareready，"saidhe。
　　Therehadbeensometalkingingruffvoicesoutside，andnowMrs。HudsonopenedthedoortosaythattherewerethreemeninquiringforCaptainBasil。
　　"Showtheminonebyone，"saidHolmes。
　　Thefirstwhoenteredwasalittleribston—pippinofaman，withruddycheeksandfluffywhiteside—whiskers。Holmeshaddrawnaletterfromhispocket。
　　"Whatname？"heasked。
　　"JamesLancaster。"
　　"Iamsorry，Lancaster，buttheberthisfull。Hereishalfasovereignforyourtrouble。Juststepintothisroomandwaitthereforafewminutes。"
　　Thesecondmanwasalong，dried—upcreature，withlankhairandsallowcheeks。HisnamewasHughPattins。Healsoreceivedhisdismissal，hishalf—sovereign，andtheordertowait。
　　Thethirdapplicantwasamanofremarkableappearance。
　　Afiercebull—dogfacewasframedinatangleofhairandbeard，andtwobolddarkeyesgleamedbehindthecoverofthick，tufted，overhungeyebrows。Hesalutedandstoodsailor—fashion，turninghiscaproundinhishands。
　　"Yourname？"askedHolmes。
　　"PatrickCairns。"
　　"Harpooner？"
　　"Yes，sir。Twenty—sixvoyages。"
　　"Dundee，Isuppose？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Andreadytostartwithanexploringship？"
　　"Yes，sir。"
　　"Whatwages？"
　　"Eightpoundsamonth。"
　　"Couldyoustartatonce？"
　　"AssoonasIgetmykit。"
　　"Haveyouyourpapers？"
　　"Yes，sir。"Hetookasheafofwornandgreasyformsfromhispocket。Holmesglancedoverthemandreturnedthem。
　　"YouarejustthemanIwant，"saidhe。"Here’stheagreementontheside—table。Ifyousignitthewholematterwillbesettled。"
　　Theseamanlurchedacrosstheroomandtookupthepen。
　　"ShallIsignhere？"heasked，stoopingoverthetable。
　　Holmesleanedoverhisshoulderandpassedbothhandsoverhisneck。
　　"Thiswilldo，"saidhe。
　　Iheardaclickofsteelandabellowlikeanenragedbull。
　　ThenextinstantHolmesandtheseamanwererollingonthegroundtogether。Hewasamanofsuchgiganticstrengththat，evenwiththehandcuffswhichHolmeshadsodeftlyfasteneduponhiswrists，hewouldhaveveryquicklyoverpoweredmyfriendhadHopkinsandInotrushedtohisrescue。OnlywhenIpressedthecoldmuzzleoftherevolvertohistempledidheatlastunderstandthatresistancewasvain。Welashedhisankleswithcordandrosebreathlessfromthestruggle。