Reading Help The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes Ch.IX-XII
many tons upon this metal floor. There are small lateral columns `
` of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and `
` multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine `
` goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working `
` of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will `
` have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set `
` it right.' `
` `
` "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very `
` thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of `
` exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and `
` pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by `
` the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed `
` a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An `
` examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was `
` round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to `
` fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause `
` of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who `
` followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical `
` questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I `
` had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the `
` machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. `
` It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth `
` was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose `
` that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a `
` purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a `
` large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a `
` crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was `
` scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a `
` muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the `
` colonel looking down at me. `
` `
` "'What are you doing there?' he asked. `
` `
` "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as `
` that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' `
` said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to `
` your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it `
` was used.' `
` `
` "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of `
` my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in `
` his grey eyes. `
` `
` "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He `
` took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key `
` in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it `
` was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and `
` shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' `
` `
` "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my `
` heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish `
` of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp `
` still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining `
` the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming `
` down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than `
` myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a `
` shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and `
` dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let `
` me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my `
` cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with `
` my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it `
` flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend `
` very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my `
` face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to `
` think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and `
` yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black `
` shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand `
` erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope `
` back to my heart. `
` `
` "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the `
` walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw `
` a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which `
` broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For `
` an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door `
` which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself `
` through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had `
` closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few `
` moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me `
` how narrow had been my escape. `
` `
` "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and `
` I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, `
` while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, `
` while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend `
` whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. `
` `
` "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a `
` moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste `
` the so-precious time, but come!' `
` `
` "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to `
` my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding `
` stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we `
` reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of `
` two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we `
` were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about `
` her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door `
` which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon `
` was shining brightly. `
` `
` "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be `
` that you can jump it.' `
` `
` "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the `
` passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark `
` rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a `
` butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, `
` flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and `
` wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be `
` more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I `
` hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between `
` my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, `
` then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. `
` The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at `
` the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round `
` him and tried to hold him back. `
` `
` "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise `
` after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be `
` silent! Oh, he will be silent!' `
` `
` "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from `
` her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me `
` pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the `
` window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and `
` was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was `
` conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the `
` garden below. `
` `
` "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and `
` rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I `
` understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, `
` however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. `
` I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and `
` then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and `
` that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my `
` handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my `
` ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the `
` rose-bushes. `
` `
` "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been `
` a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was `
` breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with `
` dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded `
` thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the `
` particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with `
` the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But `
` to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house `
` nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the `
` hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a `
` long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the `
` very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were `
` it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed `
` during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. `
` `
` "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning `
` train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The `
` same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I `
` arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel `
` Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a `
` carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was `
` there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three `
` miles off. `
` `
` "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined `
` to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the `
` police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first `
` to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to `
` bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do `
` exactly what you advise." `
` `
` We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to `
` this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down `
` from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he `
` placed his cuttings. `
` `
` "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It `
` appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: `
` 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged `
` twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten `
` o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was `
` dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that `
` the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." `
` `
` "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the `
` girl said." `
` `
` "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and `
` desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should `
` stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out `
` pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, `
` every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall `
` go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for `
` Eyford." `
` `
` Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train `
` together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. `
` There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector `
` Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. `
`
` of water outside which receive the force, and which transmit and `
` multiply it in the manner which is familiar to you. The machine `
` goes readily enough, but there is some stiffness in the working `
` of it, and it has lost a little of its force. Perhaps you will `
` have the goodness to look it over and to show us how we can set `
` it right.' `
` `
` "I took the lamp from him, and I examined the machine very `
` thoroughly. It was indeed a gigantic one, and capable of `
` exercising enormous pressure. When I passed outside, however, and `
` pressed down the levers which controlled it, I knew at once by `
` the whishing sound that there was a slight leakage, which allowed `
` a regurgitation of water through one of the side cylinders. An `
` examination showed that one of the india-rubber bands which was `
` round the head of a driving-rod had shrunk so as not quite to `
` fill the socket along which it worked. This was clearly the cause `
` of the loss of power, and I pointed it out to my companions, who `
` followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical `
` questions as to how they should proceed to set it right. When I `
` had made it clear to them, I returned to the main chamber of the `
` machine and took a good look at it to satisfy my own curiosity. `
` It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth `
` was the merest fabrication, for it would be absurd to suppose `
` that so powerful an engine could be designed for so inadequate a `
` purpose. The walls were of wood, but the floor consisted of a `
` large iron trough, and when I came to examine it I could see a `
` crust of metallic deposit all over it. I had stooped and was `
` scraping at this to see exactly what it was when I heard a `
` muttered exclamation in German and saw the cadaverous face of the `
` colonel looking down at me. `
` `
` "'What are you doing there?' he asked. `
` `
` "I felt angry at having been tricked by so elaborate a story as `
` that which he had told me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' `
` said I; 'I think that I should be better able to advise you as to `
` your machine if I knew what the exact purpose was for which it `
` was used.' `
` `
` "The instant that I uttered the words I regretted the rashness of `
` my speech. His face set hard, and a baleful light sprang up in `
` his grey eyes. `
` `
` "'Very well,' said he, 'you shall know all about the machine.' He `
` took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key `
` in the lock. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle, but it `
` was quite secure, and did not give in the least to my kicks and `
` shoves. 'Hullo!' I yelled. 'Hullo! Colonel! Let me out!' `
` `
` "And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound which sent my `
` heart into my mouth. It was the clank of the levers and the swish `
` of the leaking cylinder. He had set the engine at work. The lamp `
` still stood upon the floor where I had placed it when examining `
` the trough. By its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming `
` down upon me, slowly, jerkily, but, as none knew better than `
` myself, with a force which must within a minute grind me to a `
` shapeless pulp. I threw myself, screaming, against the door, and `
` dragged with my nails at the lock. I implored the colonel to let `
` me out, but the remorseless clanking of the levers drowned my `
` cries. The ceiling was only a foot or two above my head, and with `
` my hand upraised I could feel its hard, rough surface. Then it `
` flashed through my mind that the pain of my death would depend `
` very much upon the position in which I met it. If I lay on my `
` face the weight would come upon my spine, and I shuddered to `
` think of that dreadful snap. Easier the other way, perhaps; and `
` yet, had I the nerve to lie and look up at that deadly black `
` shadow wavering down upon me? Already I was unable to stand `
` erect, when my eye caught something which brought a gush of hope `
` back to my heart. `
` `
` "I have said that though the floor and ceiling were of iron, the `
` walls were of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw `
` a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards, which `
` broadened and broadened as a small panel was pushed backward. For `
` an instant I could hardly believe that here was indeed a door `
` which led away from death. The next instant I threw myself `
` through, and lay half-fainting upon the other side. The panel had `
` closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp, and a few `
` moments afterwards the clang of the two slabs of metal, told me `
` how narrow had been my escape. `
` `
` "I was recalled to myself by a frantic plucking at my wrist, and `
` I found myself lying upon the stone floor of a narrow corridor, `
` while a woman bent over me and tugged at me with her left hand, `
` while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend `
` whose warning I had so foolishly rejected. `
` `
` "'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They will be here in a `
` moment. They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste `
` the so-precious time, but come!' `
` `
` "This time, at least, I did not scorn her advice. I staggered to `
` my feet and ran with her along the corridor and down a winding `
` stair. The latter led to another broad passage, and just as we `
` reached it we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of `
` two voices, one answering the other from the floor on which we `
` were and from the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about `
` her like one who is at her wit's end. Then she threw open a door `
` which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon `
` was shining brightly. `
` `
` "'It is your only chance,' said she. 'It is high, but it may be `
` that you can jump it.' `
` `
` "As she spoke a light sprang into view at the further end of the `
` passage, and I saw the lean figure of Colonel Lysander Stark `
` rushing forward with a lantern in one hand and a weapon like a `
` butcher's cleaver in the other. I rushed across the bedroom, `
` flung open the window, and looked out. How quiet and sweet and `
` wholesome the garden looked in the moonlight, and it could not be `
` more than thirty feet down. I clambered out upon the sill, but I `
` hesitated to jump until I should have heard what passed between `
` my saviour and the ruffian who pursued me. If she were ill-used, `
` then at any risks I was determined to go back to her assistance. `
` The thought had hardly flashed through my mind before he was at `
` the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round `
` him and tried to hold him back. `
` `
` "'Fritz! Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise `
` after the last time. You said it should not be again. He will be `
` silent! Oh, he will be silent!' `
` `
` "'You are mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from `
` her. 'You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me `
` pass, I say!' He dashed her to one side, and, rushing to the `
` window, cut at me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and `
` was hanging by the hands to the sill, when his blow fell. I was `
` conscious of a dull pain, my grip loosened, and I fell into the `
` garden below. `
` `
` "I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I picked myself up and `
` rushed off among the bushes as hard as I could run, for I `
` understood that I was far from being out of danger yet. Suddenly, `
` however, as I ran, a deadly dizziness and sickness came over me. `
` I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and `
` then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and `
` that the blood was pouring from my wound. I endeavoured to tie my `
` handkerchief round it, but there came a sudden buzzing in my `
` ears, and next moment I fell in a dead faint among the `
` rose-bushes. `
` `
` "How long I remained unconscious I cannot tell. It must have been `
` a very long time, for the moon had sunk, and a bright morning was `
` breaking when I came to myself. My clothes were all sodden with `
` dew, and my coat-sleeve was drenched with blood from my wounded `
` thumb. The smarting of it recalled in an instant all the `
` particulars of my night's adventure, and I sprang to my feet with `
` the feeling that I might hardly yet be safe from my pursuers. But `
` to my astonishment, when I came to look round me, neither house `
` nor garden were to be seen. I had been lying in an angle of the `
` hedge close by the highroad, and just a little lower down was a `
` long building, which proved, upon my approaching it, to be the `
` very station at which I had arrived upon the previous night. Were `
` it not for the ugly wound upon my hand, all that had passed `
` during those dreadful hours might have been an evil dream. `
` `
` "Half dazed, I went into the station and asked about the morning `
` train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour. The `
` same porter was on duty, I found, as had been there when I `
` arrived. I inquired of him whether he had ever heard of Colonel `
` Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Had he observed a `
` carriage the night before waiting for me? No, he had not. Was `
` there a police-station anywhere near? There was one about three `
` miles off. `
` `
` "It was too far for me to go, weak and ill as I was. I determined `
` to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the `
` police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first `
` to have my wound dressed, and then the doctor was kind enough to `
` bring me along here. I put the case into your hands and shall do `
` exactly what you advise." `
` `
` We both sat in silence for some little time after listening to `
` this extraordinary narrative. Then Sherlock Holmes pulled down `
` from the shelf one of the ponderous commonplace books in which he `
` placed his cuttings. `
` `
` "Here is an advertisement which will interest you," said he. "It `
` appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: `
` 'Lost, on the 9th inst., Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged `
` twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his lodgings at ten `
` o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. Was `
` dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That represents the last time that `
` the colonel needed to have his machine overhauled, I fancy." `
` `
` "Good heavens!" cried my patient. "Then that explains what the `
` girl said." `
` `
` "Undoubtedly. It is quite clear that the colonel was a cool and `
` desperate man, who was absolutely determined that nothing should `
` stand in the way of his little game, like those out-and-out `
` pirates who will leave no survivor from a captured ship. Well, `
` every moment now is precious, so if you feel equal to it we shall `
` go down to Scotland Yard at once as a preliminary to starting for `
` Eyford." `
` `
` Some three hours or so afterwards we were all in the train `
` together, bound from Reading to the little Berkshire village. `
` There were Sherlock Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Inspector `
` Bradstreet, of Scotland Yard, a plain-clothes man, and myself. `
`