the sign of the four(那四个的记号)-第26章
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Aurora had been handed over to them two days ago by a wooden…legged
man； with some trivial directions as to her rudder。 'There ain't naught
amiss with her rudder；' said the foreman。 'There she lies； with the red
streaks。' At that moment who should come down but Mordecai Smith；
the missing owner？ He was rather the worse for liquor。 I should not； of
course； have known him； but he bellowed out his name and the name of
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his launch。 'I want her to…night at eight o'clock；' said he；'eight o'clock
sharp； mind； for I have two gentlemen who won't be kept waiting。' They
had evidently paid him well； for he was very flush of money； chucking
shillings about to the men。 I followed him some distance； but he
subsided into an ale…house： so I went back to the yard； and； happening to
pick up one of my boys on the way； I stationed him as a sentry over the
launch。 He is to stand at water's edge and wave his handkerchief to us
when they start。 We shall be lying off in the stream； and it will be a
strange thing if we do not take men； treasure； and all。〃
〃You have planned it all very neatly； whether they are the right men or
not；〃 said Jones； 〃but if the affair were in my hands I should have had a
body of police in Jacobson's Yard； and arrested them when they came
down。〃
〃Which would have been never。 This man Small is a pretty shrewd
fellow。 He would send a scout on ahead； and if anything made him
suspicious lie snug for another week。〃
〃But you might have stuck to Mordecai Smith； and so been led to their
hiding…place；〃 said I。
〃In that case I should have wasted my day。 I think that it is a hundred
to one against Smith knowing where they live。 As long as he has liquor
and good pay； why should he ask questions？ They send him messages
what to do。 No； I thought over every possible course； and this is the
best。〃
While this conversation had been proceeding； we had been shooting
the long series of bridges which span the Thames。 As we passed the City
the last rays of the sun were gilding the cross upon the summit of St。 Paul's。
It was twilight before we reached the Tower。
〃That is Jacobson's Yard；〃 said Holmes； pointing to a bristle of masts
and rigging on the Surrey side。 〃Cruise gently up and down here under
cover of this string of lighters。〃 He took a pair of night…glasses from his
pocket and gazed some time at the shore。 〃I see my sentry at his post；〃
he remarked； 〃but no sign of a handkerchief。〃
〃Suppose we go down…stream a short way and lie in wait for them；〃
said Jones； eagerly。 We were all eager by this time； even the policemen
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and stokers； who had a very vague idea of what was going forward。
〃We have no right to take anything for granted；〃 Holmes answered。
〃It is certainly ten to one that they go down…stream； but we cannot be
certain。 From this point we can see the entrance of the yard； and they can
hardly see us。 It will be a clear night and plenty of light。 We must stay
where we are。 See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight。〃
〃They are coming from work in the yard。〃
〃Dirty…looking rascals； but I suppose every one has some little
immortal spark concealed about him。 You would not think it； to look at
them。 There is no a priori probability about it。 A strange enigma is
man！〃
〃Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal；〃 I suggested。
〃Winwood Reade is good upon the subject；〃 said Holmes。 〃He
remarks that； while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle； in the
aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty。 You can； for example；
never foretell what any one man will do； but you can say with precision
what an average number will be up to。 Individuals vary； but percentages
remain constant。 So says the statistician。 But do I see a handkerchief？
Surely there is a white flutter over yonder。〃
〃Yes； it is your boy；〃 I cried。 〃I can see him plainly。〃
〃And there is the Aurora；〃 exclaimed Holmes； 〃and going like the
devil！ Full speed ahead； engineer。 Make after that launch with the
yellow light。 By heaven； I shall never forgive myself if she proves to
have the heels of us！〃
She had slipped unseen through the yard…entrance and passed behind
two or three small craft； so that she had fairly got her speed up before we
saw her。 Now she was flying down the stream； near in to the shore；
going at a tremendous rate。 Jones looked gravely at her and shook his
head。
〃She is very fast；〃 he said。 〃I doubt if we shall catch her。〃
〃We MUST catch her！〃 cried Holmes； between his teeth。 〃Heap it on；
stokers！ Make her do all she can！ If we burn the boat we must have
them！〃
We were fairly after her now。 The furnaces roared； and the powerful
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engines whizzed and clanked； like a great metallic heart。 Her sharp；
steep prow cut through the river…water and sent two rolling waves to right
and to left of us。 With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered
like a living thing。 One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long；
flickering funnel of light in front of us。 Right ahead a dark blur upon the
water showed where the Aurora lay； and the swirl of white foam behind
her spoke of the pace at which she was going。 We flashed past barges；
steamers； merchant…vessels； in and out； behind this one and round the
other。 Voices hailed us out of the darkness； but still the Aurora thundered
on； and still we followed close upon her track。
〃Pile it on； men； pile it on！〃 cried Holmes； looking down into the
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
