Chapter 10 The Last Days of the Ten Murderers

We enjoyed our meal very much.Holmes was always eloquent when he was happy.He seemed to be in an unusually cheerful spirit tonight, so he chatted all over the place.I never knew he was so talkative. He talked about medieval pottery, Italy, Ceylon Buddhism, and future warships from fairy tales. He seemed to have studied all of them in particular, so he talked eloquently. Unceasingly, the depression of the past few days has been swept away.Ethelney Jones, also a chatty and easy-going man in his repose, enjoyed as much as he could of the elegant dinner.Personally, I felt that the end of the whole case seemed to be tonight, and I was as happy as Holmes to drink. The three guests were very happy, and no one mentioned our adventure after dinner.

After the meal, Holmes looked at his watch, filled three glasses of red wine and said, "One more glass, and I wish you success tonight. The time has come and we should start. Watson, do you have a pistol?" "There's one in the drawer. It used to be in the army." "You'd better take it with you, and be prepared. The car is waiting outside the door. He and I made an appointment to pick us up here at half past six." A little after seven we reached Westminster Dock, where the steamer was waiting.Holmes looked carefully, and asked: "Is there any sign on this boat to indicate that it is used by the police?"

"Yes, the green light on the side of the boat." "Then take it off." After the green light was taken off, we boarded the boat one after another.The cable was released, and Jones, Holmes, and I sat aft, with one other at the helm, one in charge of the machinery, and two burly sheriffs in front of us. Jones asked, "Where is the ship going?" "Go to the Tower of London and tell them to park the boat opposite Jack Berson's dock." Our boat was indeed very fast, passing countless laden barges, and a small steamer, Holmes smiled with satisfaction. He said: "At this speed, we can overtake all the boats in the river."

Jones said: "That's not likely, but it is indeed rare to see steamboats that can catch up with our speed." "We must catch the Dawn, a famous speedboat. It's all right now, Watson, and I can tell you about the current development. Do you remember that I said a very insignificant Obstacles stump me, am I not reconciled?" "still remember." "I have given my mind a complete rest by doing chemical analysis experiments. One of our great statesmen once said: 'A change of job is the best rest.' It was true at all. When After I had succeeded in dissolving hydrocarbons, I returned to Sholto's problem and reconsidered it. The boys I sent searched up and down, but to no avail. The steamboat wasn't moored at any docks and didn't turn around, and it didn't look like it was sinking itself to disappear-if it couldn't be found, of course, it was a possible hypothesis. I know Small is somewhat cunning, but I think He has not received much education, and it is impossible for him to have such thorough means. Since he has lived in Lunguo for a long time-this can be proved by the fact that he has scouted Yingnuma Villa for a long time, it is impossible for him not to need a It takes a short time—even a day—to make some preparations before leaving his lair for a long journey. In any case, it is a possibility."

I said: "I don't think this possibility is very high. I'm afraid he has already made preparations for a long journey before he takes action." "No, I don't think so. He won't give up until he's sure the lair is of no use to him. Another thought came to my mind: Jonozan Small would have guessed that his The grotesque appearance of the accomplice, however modified he might have been, would have attracted attention, and connected him with the Norwood tragedy, a layer which Small's cunning would not have overlooked. If you leave the nest after dark, you must return before dawn. According to Mrs. Smith, it was three o'clock when they boarded the boat at Smith's pier, and it would be dawn in more than an hour, and pedestrians would So much. So I don't think they will go very far. They paid Smith enough to keep quiet, booked his ship for the final voyage, and returned to the lair with the treasure. Read the papers for a day or two, listen to the news, and one night take the big ship they have booked from Gravesand or Kent Great Dock, and flee to America or other colonies."

"But he can't take the boat to the lair too." "Of course not. I don't think the ship will be too far away, even though we haven't seen it. In Small's position, he would have thought: If there were indeed police following her If, then, it would be much easier to track the boat if it was sent back or parked beside the docks, then how could it be possible to conceal the boat and at the same time use it without delay? If I What was to be done in his position? There was only one way, I thought, to bring the boat into a dock for minor repairs, so that it could be concealed and used with a few hours' notice. "

"It seems to be very simple." "Because it's so simple, it's easy to be overlooked. So I decided to follow this path to investigate. I immediately put on a sailor's costume and went to every dock in the downstream to inquire. Fifteen docks failed. , but when I asked about the sixteenth—Jacobson's Dockyard—I learned that two days ago, a man with wooden legs sent the Dawn into the dock to repair the rudder. The foreman there said to me:' It's the rudder with the red line on it, and there's nothing wrong with it." As he was speaking, a man came from there. It was none other than the missing owner, Merdecai Smith, who had drunk a lot. Of course I don't know him, but he called out his name and the name of the ship, and said: 'Our ship will be out of the dock at eight o'clock tonight. Remember, it will be eight o'clock. There is The two guests are going to take a boat, don't delay.' The bandits must have given him a lot of money, and he slapped his pockets full of silver coins at the workers, jingling. I followed him a few steps, and he ran into the A tavern. So I went back to the dock again, and I happened to meet one of my little helpers on the way, and I put him there to keep an eye on the steamboat. Let him stand at the exit of the dock, and made an appointment, when the steamboat came out of the dock. Season, waved a handkerchief to us as a signal. We rested on the river and watched his way. It would be a strange thing if he hadn't stolen it."

Jones said: "Regardless of whether these people are real murderers or not, your preparations are very thorough. But if it were me, I would definitely send a few capable police officers to arrest the criminals on the spot when they arrive at the Jacobsen Dock gone." "I dare not agree with this, because Small is a very cunning person. Before he sets off, he must send someone to check the movement. If there is any suspicious situation, he will naturally hide for another period of time." I said, "But if you keep an eye on Merdecai Smith, you can also find the bandit's lair."

"Then I'd be wasting all my time. I don't think ninety-nine percent Smith doesn't know where the bandits live. Smith has drinks and money to spend, and the rest asks what it does? Bandits Just send someone to inform him. I have considered all aspects, and I think this is the best way." In between conversations we have crossed several bridges over the Thames.When we left the city, the afterglow of the setting sun had already illuminated the cross on the roof of St. Paul's Church with golden light.It was dusk before we reached the Tower of London. Holmes pointed far away at the place where the mast wall stood close to the river bank in the Surrey area and said, "That's the Jack Berson Dockyard. Let our ship swim back and forth slowly under the cover of this string of barges." Looking ashore through the telescope, he said, "I've found the man I sent, but the handkerchief hasn't been waved yet."

Jones said impatiently: "Let's anchor downstream and wait for them." At this time, we were very anxious, and even the sheriffs and firemen who were not clear about our mission also showed signs of eagerness to try. air. Holmes replied: "Nine out of ten times they will go downstream, but we cannot ignore the upstream. From our present position, we can see the entrance and exit of the dock, but it is difficult for them to see us. There are no clouds tonight. The moonlight is bright, so let's stay here. You can see how crowded people are going and going under the gas lamp over there."

"Those are the workers who come off the dock." "Although the appearance of these people is dirty and vulgar, everyone has some immortal anger in their hearts. You can't imagine it just by looking at their appearance. This is not innate, life is a mystery." I said: "Some people say: Humans have souls among animals." Holmes said: "Winwood Rhett has a very good explanation of this problem. He argued that although each person is a difficult mystery, there are laws when human beings are aggregated. For example, you cannot predict a person. There are individualities, but the commonality of human beings can be ascertained. The individuality is different, but the commonality is eternal, and the statisticians say the same thing... Do you see that handkerchief? There is indeed a white thing waving there." I shouted: "That's right, that's the little helper you sent, I can see it clearly." "That's the Aurora," cried Holmes. "You see how fast she is going. Let us speed up, pilot, and run after the steamer with the yellow light. If we fail to catch her, I will never forgive myself." of." The Dawn was already out of the dock, hidden from sight by two or three boats.By the time we saw it again it was going pretty fast.It was rushing downstream along the river bank. Jones just shook his head when he saw it, and said: "This boat is extremely fast. We may not catch up with it." "We must overtake her," cried Holmes. "Fire up the coals, stoker! Do your best to overtake her! Burn our ship and overtake her!" We were hot on the heels, the boiler fire blazing fiercely.The powerful engine, panting and clanging like a heart of steel, cut through the calm river water with its pointed bow, sending billowing waves to the left and right sides respectively. Throbbing, the hull is trembling and leaping forward, like a living thing.A large yellow light on the ship's side sent a long, flickering beam forward.A black spot far ahead is the "Dawn", and there are two rows of white waves behind it, which shows the speed of its sailing.At that time, there were many large and small ships on the river, and we flew across and around.But the "Dawn" was still so fast, and we nailed it tightly behind it. Holmes called to the engine room: "Colliers, more coal, more coal! Get as much steam as you can!" The raging fire from the engine room below illuminated his anxious, eagle-like face. Jones looked at the Dawn and said, "I think we're a little bit caught up." I said: "We have indeed caught up a lot, and we can catch up in a few minutes." At this moment, something unfortunate happened.A steamboat towed three freighters across the road in front of us.Fortunately we turned the rudder sharply to avoid colliding with it.But by the time we rounded them and continued our pursuit, the Aurora had gone a full two hundred yards, but she was still in sight.At that time, the dark and hazy twilight had turned into a starry night.Our boilers were burning to the brim, and the force driving the ship was so great that the flimsy hull creaked and quivered.We have passed under the middle of London Bridge, passed the West India Dockyard and the long Deptford River, and rounded the Isle of Dogs.The "Dawn", which was just a black spot before, is now clearly visible.Jones directed our searchlights at it and caught sight of the figures on the deck.A man sat in the stern, with something black across his legs, and beside him crouched a group of black shadows, like a Newfoundland dog.A boy steered the helm, and in the red light of the boiler, Smith could be seen topless, desperately conspiring.At first they might not be sure whether we were chasing them, but now that we are following closely behind every corner, there is no problem of chasing them.At Greenwich the distance between the two ships was about three hundred paces, and at Blackwall they were not more than two hundred and fifty paces apart.I have been traveling all my life, I have hunted in many countries, and I have chased many wild animals, but I have never had such a thrill as chasing a man on the Thames tonight.We are one step closer to the boat in front. In the silent night, we can clearly hear the sound of the machinery on the boat in front.The man sitting on the stern was still squatting there, his hands seemed to be waving busy, and he kept raising his head to measure the distance between the two boats.We were getting closer, only four boats' length, and both were still galloping on.It was now near the mouth of the river, with Bucking Flat on one bank and Plumstead Marsh on the other.Jones yelled and ordered the boat to stop quickly, and the man at the stern heard our yelling, stood up from the deck and waved his fists, cursing loudly at us.He is strong and tall, standing with his legs apart.I saw that his right thigh was only supported by a wooden post.The black shadow curled up next to him heard his voice and stood up slowly. It turned out to be a black man with a short stature that I had never seen before.His big, misshapen head was covered with unkempt hair.Holmes was already holding the pistol in his hand, and I, seeing the strange creature, drew it out too.He was surrounded by something that looked like a black blanket, with only his face exposed.But this face, that ugly and strange shape is enough to make people lose their minds.I have never seen such a hideous grimace, with his small eyes gleaming fiercely, and his extremely thick lips, turned up from the root of his teeth, he is screaming at us, bursting out with half-beast rage. "The moment he raises his hand," said Holmes to me softly, and we were now only a boat away, and could see more clearly.The white man kept swearing with his legs outstretched, and the little black man turned toward our light with a full face of resentment, gnashing his teeth and screaming. Fortunately we can see them clearly.The little black man took out a short round wooden stick that looked like a wooden ruler from under the blanket and held it to his lips.We immediately pulled the trigger and fired two bullets.The black man turned around and threw his hands up, falling into Hanoi, and in an instant I saw his vicious eyes disappear in the white swirl.At this moment the wooden-legged man rushed to the rudder, and turned the tiller with all his strength, and the boat dashed toward the south bank, and we managed to avoid its stern by a few feet.We then changed direction and caught up.At that time, the "Dawn" had already approached the south bank, and there was a desolate wilderness on the bank. The moonlight shone on the open swamp, and patches of stagnant water and piles of rotting plants gathered on the ground.The steamboat ran aground on the shore, its bow in the air and its stern submerged in the water.The bandit jumped onto the bank, but his wooden leg sank in the mud.He struggled hard, but couldn't even take a step forward or backward.He jumped wildly with his left foot, but the wooden leg sank deeper and deeper into the mud.By the time we got the boat to shore, he was pinned there and couldn't move an inch.We threw a rope from the boat over his shoulders and pulled him aboard like a fish.The two Smiths, father and son, sat on the boat with sad faces. After listening to our orders, they reluctantly left the "Dawn" and walked to the boat here.A refined Indian iron box was placed on the deck of the ship, and it was known without question that it was the treasure box that caused Sholto's disaster.The case was keyless and very heavy, and we carried it carefully into our cabin.We towed the "Dawn" behind, and slowly sailed back upstream.We kept shining our searchlights on all sides of the river, but the black man had long since disappeared, and he must have died at the bottom of the Thames. "Look here," said Holmes, pointing to the hatch. "Our guns are almost late." Just behind where we had stood, there was a poisonous stinger, which came at about the time we fired.Holmes still shrugged his shoulders and smiled slightly at the stinger as usual, but I still think of the situation that was at stake that night with horror.

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