Знак чотирьох
X. The End of the Islander
Hewasagood-sized,powerfulman,andashestoodpoisinghimselfwithlegsastrideIcouldseethatfromthethighdownwardstherewasbutawoodenstumpupontherightside.Atthesoundofhisstrident,angrycriestherewasmovementinthehuddledbundleuponthedeck.Itstraighteneditselfintoalittleblackman—thesmallestIhaveeverseen—withagreat,misshapenheadandashockoftangled,dishevelledhair.Holmeshadalreadydrawnhisrevolver,andIwhippedoutmineatthesightofthissavage,distortedcreature.Hewaswrappedinsomesortofdarkulsterorblanket,whichleftonlyhisfaceexposed;butthatfacewasenoughtogiveamanasleeplessnight.NeverhaveIseenfeaturessodeeplymarkedwithallbestialityandcruelty.Hissmalleyesglowedandburnedwithasombrelight,andhisthicklipswerewrithedbackfromhisteeth,whichgrinnedandchatteredatuswithahalfanimalfury.
“Fireifheraiseshishand,”saidHolmes,quietly.Wewerewithinaboat’s-lengthbythistime,andalmostwithintouchofourquarry.Icanseethetwoofthemnowastheystood,thewhitemanwithhislegsfarapart,shriekingoutcurses,andtheunhalloweddwarfwithhishideousface,andhisstrongyellowteethgnashingatusinthelightofourlantern.
Itwaswellthatwehadsoclearaviewofhim.Evenaswelookedhepluckedoutfromunderhiscoveringashort,roundpieceofwood,likeaschool-ruler,andclappedittohislips.Ourpistolsrangouttogether.Hewhirledround,threwuphisarms,andwithakindofchokingcoughfellsidewaysintothestream.
