Знак чотирьох
X. The End of the Islander
Therewasonemanattherudder,onetotendtheengines,andtwoburlypolice-inspectorsforward.
“Whereto?”askedJones.
“TotheTower.TellthemtostopoppositeJacobson’sYard.”
Ourcraftwasevidentlyaveryfastone.Weshotpastthelonglinesofloadedbargesasthoughtheywerestationary.Holmessmiledwithsatisfactionasweoverhauledariversteamerandleftherbehindus.
“Weoughttobeabletocatchanythingontheriver,”hesaid.
“Well,hardlythat.Buttherearenotmanylaunchestobeatus.”
“WeshallhavetocatchtheAurora,andshehasanameforbeingaclipper.Iwilltellyouhowthelandlies,Watson.YourecollecthowannoyedIwasatbeingbalkedbysosmallathing?”
“Yes.”
“Well,Igavemymindathoroughrestbyplungingintoachemicalanalysis.Oneofourgreateststatesmenhassaidthatachangeofworkisthebestrest.Soitis.WhenIhadsucceededindissolvingthehydrocarbonwhichIwasatworkat,IcamebacktoourproblemoftheSholtos,andthoughtthewholematteroutagain.Myboyshadbeenuptheriveranddowntheriverwithoutresult.Thelaunchwasnotatanylanding-stageorwharf,norhaditreturned.Yetitcouldhardlyhavebeenscuttledtohidetheirtraces,—thoughthatalwaysremainedasapossiblehypothesisifallelsefailed.IknewthismanSmallhadacertaindegreeoflowcunning,butIdidnotthinkhimcapableofanythinginthenatureofdelicatefinesse.Thatisusuallyaproductofhighereducation.
