Chapter VII The Episode of the Barrel

welcome,”saidhe.“Stepin,sir.Keepclearofthebadgerforhebites.Ah,naughty,naughty,wouldyoutakeanipatthegentleman?”Thistoastoatwhichthrustitswickedheadandredeyesbetweenthebarsofitscage.“Don’tmindthat,sir:it’sonlyaslow-worm.Ithain’tgotnofangs,soIgivesittheruno’theroom,foritkeepsthebeetlesdown.Youmustnotmindmybein’justalittleshortwi’youatfirst,forI’mguyedatbythechildren,andthere’smanyaonejustcomesdownthislanetoknockmeup.WhatwasitthatMr.SherlockHolmeswanted,sir?” “Hewantedadogofyours.” “Ah!thatwouldbeToby.” “Yes,Tobywasthename.” “TobylivesatNo.7onthelefthere.”Hemovedslowlyforwardwithhiscandleamongthequeeranimalfamilywhichhehadgatheredroundhim.Intheuncertain,shadowylightIcouldseedimlythattherewereglancing,glimmeringeyespeepingdownatusfromeverycrannyandcorner.Eventheraftersaboveourheadswerelinedbysolemnfowls,wholazilyshiftedtheirweightfromonelegtotheotherasourvoicesdisturbedtheirslumbers. Tobyprovedtobeanugly,long-haired,lop-earedcreature,halfspanielandhalflurcher,brown-and-whiteincolour,withaveryclumsywaddlinggait.Itacceptedaftersomehesitationalumpofsugarwhichtheoldnaturalisthandedtome,and,havingthussealedanalliance,itfollowedmetothecab,andmadenodifficultiesaboutaccompanyingme.IthadjuststruckthreeonthePalaceclockwhenIfoundmyselfbackoncemoreatPondicherryLodge.Theex-prize-fighterMcMurdohad,Ifound,beenarrestedasanaccessory,andbothheandMr.Sholtohadbeenmarchedofftothestation.Twoconstablesguardedthenarrowgate,buttheyallowedmetopasswiththedogonmymentioningthedetective’sname. Holmeswasstandingonthedoor-step,withhishandsinhispockets,smokinghispipe. “Ah,youhavehimthere!”saidhe.“Gooddog,then!AtheneyJoneshasgone.Wehavehadanimmensedisplayofenergysinceyouleft.HehasarrestednotonlyfriendThaddeus,butthegatekeeper,thehousekeeper,andtheIndianservant.Wehavetheplacetoourselves,butforasergeantupstairs.Leavethedoghere,andcomeup.” WetiedTobytothehalltable,andre-ascendedthestairs.Theroomwasashehadleftit,savethatasheethadbeendrapedoverthecentralfigure.Aweary-lookingpolice-sergeantreclinedinthecorner. “Lendmeyourbull’s-eye,sergeant,”saidmycompanion.“Nowtiethisbitofcardroundmyneck,soastohangitinfrontofme.Thankyou.NowImustkickoffmybootsandstockings.—Justyoucarrythemdownwithyou,Watson.Iamgoingtodoalittleclimbing.Anddipmyhandkerchiefintothecreasote.Thatwilldo.Nowcomeupintothegarretwithmeforamoment.” Weclamberedupthroughthehole.Holmesturnedhislightoncemoreuponthefootstepsinthedust. “Iwishyouparticularlytonoticethesefootmarks,”hesaid.“Doyouobserveanythingnoteworthyaboutthem?” “Theybelong,”Isaid,“toachildorasmallwoman.” “Apartfromtheirsize,though.Istherenothingelse?” “Theyappeartobemuchasotherfootmarks.” “Notatall.Lookhere!Thisistheprintofarightfootinthedust.NowImakeonewithmynakedfootbesideit.Whatisthechiefdifference?” “Yourtoesareallcrampedtogether.Theotherprinthaseachtoedistinctlydivided.” “Quiteso.Thatisthepoint.Bearthatinmind.Now,wouldyoukindlystepovertothatflap-windowandsmelltheedgeofthewood-work?Ishallstayhere,asIhavethishandkerchiefinmyhand.” Ididashedirected,andwasinstantlyconsciousofastrongtarrysmell. “Thatiswhereheputhisfootingettingout.Ifyoucantracehim,IshouldthinkthatTobywillhavenodifficulty.Nowrundownstairs,loosethedog,andlookoutforBlondin.” BythetimethatIgotoutintothegroundsSherlockHolmeswasontheroof,andIcouldseehimlikeanenormousglow-wormcrawlingveryslowlyalongtheridge.Ilostsightofhimbehindastackofchimneys,buthepresentlyreappeared,andthenvanishedoncemoreupontheoppositeside.WhenImademywayroundthereIfoundhimseatedatoneofthecornereaves. “Thatyou,Watson?”hecried. “Yes.” “Thisistheplace.Whatisthatblackthingdownthere?” “Awater-barrel.” “Toponit?” “Yes.” “Nosignofaladder?” “No.” “Confoundthefellow!It’samostbreak-neckplace.Ioughttobeabletocomedownwherehecouldclimbup.Thewater-pipefeelsprettyfirm.He