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The Sign of the Four
have spotted her。 In the mean while； we can do nothing but await results。
We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr。
Mordecai Smith。〃
〃Toby could eat these scraps； I dare say。 Are you going to bed；
Holmes？〃
〃No： I am not tired。 I have a curious constitution。 I never
remember feeling tired by work； though idleness exhausts me completely。
I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair
client has introduced us。 If ever man had an easy task； this of ours ought
to be。 Wooden…legged men are not so common； but the other man must； I
should think； be absolutely unique。〃
〃That other man again！〃
〃I have no wish to make a mystery of him；to you； anyway。 But you
must have formed your own opinion。 Now； do consider the data。
Diminutive footmarks； toes never fettered by boots； naked feet； stone…
headed wooden mace； great agility； small poisoned darts。 What do you
make of all this？〃
〃A savage！〃 I exclaimed。 〃Perhaps one of those Indians who were
the associates of Jonathan Small。〃
〃Hardly that；〃 said he。 〃When first I saw signs of strange weapons I
was inclined to think so； but the remarkable character of the footmarks
caused me to reconsider my views。 Some of the inhabitants of the Indian
Peninsula are small men； but none could have left such marks as that。
The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet。 The sandal…wearing
Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others； because
the thong is commonly passed between。 These little darts； too； could
only be shot in one way。 They are from a blow…pipe。 Now； then； where
are we to find our savage？〃
〃South American；〃 I hazarded。
He stretched his hand up； and took down a bulky volume from the
shelf。 〃This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being
published。 It may be looked upon as the very latest authority。 What
have we here？ 'Andaman Islands； situated 340 miles to the north of
Sumatra； in the Bay of Bengal。' Hum！ hum！ What's all this？ Moist
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The Sign of the Four
climate； coral reefs； sharks； Port Blair； convict…barracks； Rutland Island；
cottonwoodsAh； here we are。 'The aborigines of the Andaman Islands
may perhaps claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this
earth； though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of Africa； the
Digger Indians of America； and the Terra del Fuegians。 The average
height is rather below four feet； although many full…grown adults may be
found who are very much smaller than this。 They are a fierce； morose；
and intractable people； though capable of forming most devoted
friendships when their confidence has once been gained。' Mark that；
Watson。 Now； then； listen to this。 'They are naturally hideous； having
large； misshapen heads； small； fierce eyes； and distorted features。 Their
feet and hands； however； are remarkably small。 So intractable and fierce
are they that all the efforts of the British official have failed to win them
over in any degree。 They have always been a terror to shipwrecked
crews； braining the survivors with their stone…headed clubs； or shooting
them with their poisoned arrows。 These massacres are invariably
concluded by a cannibal feast。' Nice； amiable people； Watson！ If this
fellow had been left to his own unaided devices this affair might have
taken an even more ghastly turn。 I fancy that； even as it is； Jonathan
Small would give a good deal not to have employed him。〃
〃But how came he to have so singular a companion？〃
〃Ah； that is more than I can tell。 Since； however； we had already
determined that Small had come from the Andamans； it is not so very
wonderful that this islander should be with him。 No doubt we shall now
all about it in time。 Look here； Watson； you look regularly done。 Lie
down there on the sofa； and see if I can put you to sleep。〃
He took up his violin from the corner； and as I stretched myself out he
began to play some low； dreamy； melodious air；his own； no doubt； for he
had a remarkable gift for improvisation。 I have a vague remembrance of
his gaunt limbs； his earnest face； and the rise and fall of his bow。 Then I
seemed to be floated peacefully away upon a soft sea of sound； until I
found myself in dream… land； with the sweet face of Mary Morstan looking
down upon me。
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The Sign of the Four
CHAPTER IX A Break in the
Chain
It was late in the afternoon before I woke； strengthened and refreshed。
Sherlock Holmes still sat exactly as I had left him； save that he had laid
aside his violin and was deep in a book。 He looked across at me； as I
stirred； and I noticed that his face was dark and troubled。
〃You have slept soundly；〃 he said。 〃I feared that our talk would wake
you。〃
〃I heard nothing；〃 I answered。 〃Have you had fresh news； then？〃
〃Unfortunately； no。 I confess that I am surprised and disappointed。
I expected something definite by this time。 Wiggins has just been up to
report。 He says that no trace can be found of the launch。 It is a
provoking check； for every hour is of importance。〃
〃Can I do anything？ I am perfectly fresh now； and quite ready for
another night's outing。〃
〃No； we can do nothing。 We can only wait。 If we go ourselves； the
message might come in our absence； and delay be caused。 You can do
what you will； but I must remain on guard。〃
〃Then I shall run over to Camberwell and call upon Mrs。 Cecil
Forrester。 She asked me to； yesterday。〃
〃On Mrs。 Cecil Forrester？〃 asked Holmes； with the twinkle of a smile
in his eyes。
〃Well； of course Miss Morstan too。 They were anxious to hear what
happened。〃
〃I would not tell them too much；〃 said Holmes。 〃Women are never to
be entirely trusted；not the best of them。〃
I did not pause to argue over this atrocious sentiment。 〃I shall be
back in an hour or two；〃 I remarked。
〃All right！ Good luck！ But； I say； if you are crossing the river you
may as well return Toby； for I don't think it is at all likely that we shall
have any use for him now。〃
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I took our mongrel accordingly； and left him； together with a half…
sovereign； at the old naturalist's in Pinchin Lane。 At Camberwell I found
Miss Morstan a little weary after her night's adventures； but very eager to
hear the news。 Mrs。 Forrester； too； was full of curiosity。 I told them all
that we had done； suppressing； however； the more dreadful parts of the
tragedy。 Thus； although I spoke of Mr。 Sholto's death； I said nothing of
the exact manner and method of it。 With all my omissions； however；
there was enough to startle and amaze them。
〃It is a romance！〃 cried Mrs。 Forrester。 〃An injured lady； half a
million in treasure； a black cannibal； and a wooden…legged ruffian。 They
take the place of the conventional dragon or wicked earl。〃
〃And two knight…errants to the rescue；〃 added Miss Morstan； with a
bright glance at me。
〃Why； Mary； your fortune depends u