Знак четырех
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Thescentappearedtobemuchhotterthanbefore,forhehadnoteventoputhisnoseontheground,buttuggedathisleashandtriedtobreakintoarun.IcoldseebythegleaminHolmes’seyesthathethoughtwewerenearingtheendofourjourney.
OurcoursenowrandownNineElmsuntilwecametoBroderickandNelson’slargetimber-yard,justpasttheWhiteEagletavern.Herethedog,franticwithexcitement,turneddownthroughtheside-gateintotheenclosure,wherethesawyerswerealreadyatwork.Onthedogracedthroughsawdustandshavings,downanalley,roundapassage,betweentwowood-piles,andfinally,withatriumphantyelp,spranguponalargebarrelwhichstillstooduponthehand-trolleyonwhichithadbeenbrought.Withlollingtongueandblinkingeyes,Tobystooduponthecask,lookingfromonetotheotherofusforsomesignofappreciation.Thestavesofthebarrelandthewheelsofthetrolleyweresmearedwithadarkliquid,andthewholeairwasheavywiththesmellofcreasote.
SherlockHolmesandIlookedblanklyateachother,andthenburstsimultaneouslyintoanuncontrollablefitoflaughter.
