the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第24部分
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engine…room； while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager；
aquiline face。 〃Get every pound of steam you can。〃
〃I think we gain a little；〃 said Jones； with his eyes on the Aurora。
〃I am sure of it；〃 said I。 〃We shall be up with her in a very few
minutes。〃
At that moment； however； as our evil fate would have it； a tug with
three barges in tow blundered in between us。 It was only by putting our
helm hard down that we avoided a collision； and before we could round
them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred
yards。 She was still； however； well in view； and the murky uncertain
twilight was setting into a clear starlit night。 Our boilers were strained to
their utmost； and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy
which was driving us along。 We had shot through the Pool； past the West
India Docks； down the long Deptford Reach； and up again after rounding
the Isle of Dogs。 The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora。 Jones turned our search…light upon her； so
that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck。 One man sat by the
stern； with something black between his knees over which he stooped。
Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog。 The
boy held the tiller； while against the red glare of the furnace I could see
old Smith； stripped to the waist； and shovelling coals for dear life。 They
may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing
them； but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took
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there could no longer be any question about it。 At Greenwich we were
about three hundred paces behind them。 At Blackwall we could not have
been more than two hundred and fifty。 I have coursed many creatures in
many countries during my checkered career； but never did sport give me
such a wild thrill as this mad； flying man…hunt down the Thames。
Steadily we drew in upon them； yard by yard。 In the silence of the night
we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery。 The man in
the stern still crouched upon the deck； and his arms were moving as
though he were busy； while every now and then he would look up and
measure with a glance the distance which still separated us。 Nearer we
came and nearer。 Jones yelled to them to stop。 We were not more than
four boat's lengths behind them； both boats flying at a tremendous pace。
It was a clear reach of the river； with Barking Level upon one side and the
melancholy Plumstead Marshes upon the other。 At our hail the man in
the stern sprang up from the deck and shook his two clinched fists at us；
cursing the while in a high； cracked voice。 He was a good…sized；
powerful man； and as he stood poising himself with legs astride I could
see that from the thigh downwards there was but a wooden stump upon the
right side。 At the sound of his strident； angry cries there was movement
in the huddled bundle upon the deck。 It straightened itself into a little
black manthe smallest I have ever seenwith a great； misshapen head
and a shock of tangled； dishevelled hair。 Holmes had already drawn his
revolver； and I whipped out mine at the sight of this savage； distorted
creature。 He was wrapped in some sort of dark ulster or blanket； which
left only his face exposed； but that face was enough to give a man a
sleepless night。 Never have I seen features so deeply marked with all
bestiality and cruelty。 His small eyes glowed and burned with a sombre
light； and his thick lips were writhed back from his teeth； which grinned
and chattered at us with a half animal fury。
〃Fire if he raises his hand；〃 said Holmes； quietly。 We were within a
boat's…length by this time； and almost within touch of our quarry。 I can
see the two of them now as they stood； the white man with his legs far
apart； shrieking out curses； and the unhallowed dwarf with his hideous
face； and his strong yellow teeth gnashing at us in the light of our lantern。
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It was well that we had so clear a view of him。 Even as we looked he
plucked out from under his covering a short； round piece of wood； like a
school…ruler； and clapped it to his lips。 Our pistols rang out together。
He whirled round； threw up his arms； and with a kind of choking cough
fell sideways into the stream。 I caught one glimpse of his venomous；
menacing eyes amid the white swirl of the waters。 At the same moment
the wooden… legged man threw himself upon the rudder and put it hard
down； so that his boat made straight in for the southern bank； while we
shot past her stern； only clearing her by a few feet。 We were round after
her in an instant； but she was already nearly at the bank。 It was a wild
and desolate place； where the moon glimmered upon a wide expanse of
marsh…land； with pools of stagnant water and beds of decaying vegetation。
The launch with a dull thud ran up upon the mud…bank； with her bow in
the air and her stern flush with the water。 The fugitive sprang out； but his
stump instantly sank its whole length into the sodden soil。 In vain he
struggled and writhed。 Not one step could he possibly take either
forwards or backwards。 He yelled in impotent rage； and kicked
frantically into the mud with his other foot； but his struggles only bored
his wooden pin the deeper into the sticky bank。 When we brought our
launch alongside he was so firmly anchored that it was only by throwing
the end of a rope over his shoulders that we were able to haul him out； and
to drag him； like some evil fish； over our side。 The two Smiths； father
and son； sat sullenly in their launch； but came aboard meekly enough
when commanded。 The Aurora herself we hauled off and made fast to
our stern。 A solid iron chest of Indian workmanship stood upon the deck。
This； there could be no question； was the same that had contained the ill…
omened treasure of the Sholtos。 There was no key； but it was of
considerable weight； so we transferred it carefully to our own little cabin。
As we steamed slowly up…stream again； we flashed our search…light in
every direction； but there was no sign of the Islander。 Somewhere in the
dark ooze at the bottom of the Thames lie the bones of that strange visitor
to our shores。
〃See here；〃 said Holmes； pointing to the wooden hatchway。 〃We
were hardly quick enough with our pistols。〃 There； sure enough； just
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behind where we had been standing； stuck one of those murderous darts
which we knew so well。 It must have whizzed between us at the instant
that we fired。 Holmes smiled at it and shrugged his shoulders in his easy
fashion； but I confess that it turned me sick to think of the horrible death
which had passed so close to us that night。
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CHAPTER XI The Great Agra
Treasure
Our captive sat in the cabin opposite to the iron box which he had
done so much and waited so long to gain。 He was a sunburned； reckless…
eyed fellow； with a net…work of lines and wrinkles all over his mahogany
features； which told of a hard； open…air life。 There was a singular
prominence about his bearded chin which marked a man who was not to
be easily
