Знак чотирьох
VII. The Episode of the Barrel
Istherenothingelse?”
“Theyappeartobemuchasotherfootmarks.”
“Notatall.Lookhere!Thisistheprintofarightfootinthedust.NowImakeonewithmynakedfootbesideit.Whatisthechiefdifference?”
“Yourtoesareallcrampedtogether.Theotherprinthaseachtoedistinctlydivided.”
“Quiteso.Thatisthepoint.Bearthatinmind.Now,wouldyoukindlystepovertothatflap-windowandsmelltheedgeofthewood-work?Ishallstayhere,asIhavethishandkerchiefinmyhand.”
Ididashedirected,andwasinstantlyconsciousofastrongtarrysmell.
“Thatiswhereheputhisfootingettingout.Ifyoucantracehim,IshouldthinkthatTobywillhavenodifficulty.Nowrundownstairs,loosethedog,andlookoutforBlondin.”
BythetimethatIgotoutintothegroundsSherlockHolmeswasontheroof,andIcouldseehimlikeanenormousglow-wormcrawlingveryslowlyalongtheridge.Ilostsightofhimbehindastackofchimneys,buthepresentlyreappeared,andthenvanishedoncemoreupontheoppositeside.WhenImademywayroundthereIfoundhimseatedatoneofthecornereaves.
“Thatyou,Watson?”hecried.
“Yes.”
“Thisistheplace.Whatisthatblackthingdownthere?”
“Awater-barrel.”
“Toponit?”
“Yes.”
“Nosignofaladder?”
“No.”
“Confoundthefellow!It’samostbreak-neckplace.Ioughttobeabletocomedownwherehecouldclimbup.Thewater-pipefeelsprettyfirm.Heregoes,anyhow.”
Therewasascufflingoffeet,andthelanternbegantocomesteadilydownthesideofthewall.
