Знак чотирьох
X. The End of the Islander
Jonesturnedoursearch-lightuponher,sothatwecouldplainlyseethefiguresuponherdeck.Onemansatbythestern,withsomethingblackbetweenhiskneesoverwhichhestooped.BesidehimlayadarkmasswhichlookedlikeaNewfoundlanddog.Theboyheldthetiller,whileagainsttheredglareofthefurnaceIcouldseeoldSmith,strippedtothewaist,andshovellingcoalsfordearlife.Theymayhavehadsomedoubtatfirstastowhetherwewerereallypursuingthem,butnowaswefollowedeverywindingandturningwhichtheytooktherecouldnolongerbeanyquestionaboutit.AtGreenwichwewereaboutthreehundredpacesbehindthem.AtBlackwallwecouldnothavebeenmorethantwohundredandfifty.Ihavecoursedmanycreaturesinmanycountriesduringmycheckeredcareer,butneverdidsportgivemesuchawildthrillasthismad,flyingman-huntdowntheThames.Steadilywedrewinuponthem,yardbyyard.Inthesilenceofthenightwecouldhearthepantingandclankingoftheirmachinery.Themaninthesternstillcroucheduponthedeck,andhisarmsweremovingasthoughhewerebusy,whileeverynowandthenhewouldlookupandmeasurewithaglancethedistancewhichstillseparatedus.Nearerwecameandnearer.Jonesyelledtothemtostop.Wewerenotmorethanfourboat’slengthsbehindthem,bothboatsflyingatatremendouspace.Itwasaclearreachoftheriver,withBarkingLevelupononesideandthemelancholyPlumsteadMarshesupontheother.Atourhailthemaninthesternsprangupfromthedeckandshookhistwoclinchedfistsatus,cursingthewhileinahigh,crackedvoice.
