Pursuit to Algiers Page #6

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Oh, Watson,

have you met

Mr. Kingston and Mr. Childre?

I've seen them about.

Mr. Kingston and Mr. Childre

are archaeologists.

They're going to Egypt

to excavate a tomb.

And we've just

received a wireless

- that the British government...

- Egyptian.

Egyptian government has

granted its permission.

Congratulations.

Archaeologists,

they might have been

dug up themselves.

- Watson, please.

- Oh, sorry.

Was that you singing, ducky?

I could hear you

in the galley.

Capital. Really, it was.

What was it.

- Well, it was...

- Oh, it doesn't matter.

Well, is everybody ready?

The festival awaits.

We'll have a wonderful

time, ducky.

You'll observe that we

rearranged the seating order.

See, ducky, you're

this end, next to me.

You are at the other

end of the table.

I'm not going to let

you off, you know.

Let me off what?

This is our last

night together,

and you've been promising

the whole voyage

to tell me about one of

Sherlock Holmes' adventures.

Please do.

- Oh, isn't it a little early?

- No.

Hadn't we ought to

wait till after dinner?

Well, why not start now?

All right, now,

well, let's see.

Did any of you ever

hear of

the Giant Rat of Sumatra?

No, but it sounds

terribly gruesome.

It certainly was,

it never got in the

papers at the time,

too delicate a matter.

I don't suppose it'll do

any harm to tell it now.

It all began one

evening in Baker Street.

Holmes and I were

sitting in our rooms

when suddenly the

door opened slowly,

and in walked...

Sit down,

you're quite safe here.

I wish it would happen,

I don't like the suspense.

My dear Mirko,

as I have said before,

patience is an

admirable quality.

You should cultivate it.

One of the old pea soupers,

they're rare these...

Now, I hope you

all understand

the topography

of the place.

It's important,

devilishly important.

Now, let's see if

I can get it straight.

- Between these two knives is the Thames.

- That's right, the Thames.

- And the curette is the warehouse.

- The warehouse, that's right.

This boat is the salt server.

No, this salt server

is a boat, of course.

Oh, the salt server is the

boat, of course.

No, no, no. The salt server

is the boat.

Come on, Sheila,

where's your hat?

Oh, I'm sorry, I was listening

to your uncle's story. Here.

Oh, dear,

nothing happened.

Here, take mine.

Oh, oh, no, you don't.

No, this time I'm not

taking any chances,

I'm going to do it

all myself.

Wait a minute.

I don't think there's

a hat in that one.

Why don't you take mine.

I never wear paper hats.

Oh, well, thank you,

Mr. Holmes.

But I'm sorry you

won't wear it yourself,

I'm sure it'd be

very becoming.

As I was saying,

Holmes and I

crept down the alley

between the sinister

looking warehouses.

This stalk of

celery is Holmes

- and this bit of cheese is me.

- Oh, ducky.

But when we reach

the end of the alley,

it was a blank wall, so we

had to retrace our steps.

There was nothing

else to do.

- Was it a high wall?

- High, it was about six foot high.

I tried to climb it,

I said to Holmes

it was

absolutely ludicrous,

so he said to me, Watson,

there's nothing else for it,

and back we turned,

and down we went again.

Something has gone wrong.

- They've been down there.

- Be quiet.

It's that Holmes I tell you.

We should have

got rid of him.

Stay... stay here.

- Good evening, Mr. Holmes.

- Good evening.

Party over so soon?

No, I don't think so.

I imagine the festivities

are in full swing.

I just don't happen

to be much of a hand

at small talk

and pap... paper hats.

Oh, that's too bad.

Now me, I always enjoy

that sort of thing.

Really?

Then perhaps you'd like a

paper hat as a souvenir.

This one was at

Watson's nephew's place.

I'm sure he'd like you

to have it.

Not interested?

Oh, very well.

That's curious.

Good evening, Mr. Mirko.

"Nothing will go wrong,

this time, my dear Mirko."

...and after a desperate

chase up the river

and the police

launched Lestrade

finally apprehended the

missing soft of Wapping.

The freighter was thrown

out to sea and blown up.

And London, all England

for that matter,

was saved from the

terrible menace

of the

Giant Rat of Sumatra.

Oh, thank you very much.

I don't think I left

anything out, did I, Holmes?

I beg your pardon.

You're not listening

very closely?

I asked you if I

omitted anything.

I don't think so.

Nothing ever escapes

your eagle eye.

Oh, really, thanks a lot.

Oh, here's my

soup at last.

Getting hungry.

- Cheerio.

- Hi.

I can't believe this

is our last night.

It's funny,

I can't, either.

Archeologists,

going about like a

couple of conspirators.

You notice, Watson,

that our three friends

are conspicuous

by their absence?

Oh, now that you

mentioned it,

I don't see them

anywhere about.

Hello, we stopped.

Yes, we're off

Algiers at last.

Thank heavens for that.

We haven't yet delivered

His Majesty in safety.

I'm afraid I'll have

to take Nikolas away.

So early?

But nobody's getting off

the board until morning.

I'm sorry, I have a

lot of packing to do.

- Oh, I see.

- Goodnight.

Goodnight.

Are you having

a good time?

Oh, yes, he's wonderful.

Eh?

Oh, yes,

it's been wonderful.

Oh, has it?

We can relax

only when Nikolas

is safely in the

hands of his friends.

You remember the

identification you'll present?

Yes, of course.

Good, get your

hat and coat,

I'll stay here with

Nikolas until you return.

Yes?

The launch is waiting to

take Dr. Watson ashore, sir.

Good luck, old fellow,

and hurry.

You can rely on me,

Holmes.

- Bye, Nikolas.

- Good luck.

How long should it

take him, Mr. Holmes?

Oh, about half an hour,

I should think.

No one could say it's not

been an exciting trip.

That's to be expected.

We would have all have died

of boredom if it hadn't been.

Yes.

Sorry, Holmes,

I forgot my pipe.

Don't do anything

foolish, Mr. Holmes.

I dare say you're surprised

to see me, aren't you?

In a way, yes.

Impersonations are

a hobby of mine.

After Dr. Watson

left the cabin,

I managed to simulate

his voice at the door,

it was quite good.

However, it was fortunate

that you didn't hear it.

Yes, isn't it?

I think you must conceded,

Mr. Holmes,

that the last trick

of the game is mine.

Ah!

Gubec!

Our object now is not

to kill Mr. Holmes,

but to get the other one off the

boat as quickly as possible!

That's better!

Come on.

I must offer you our

sincerest congratulations

on the successful

accomplishment

of your so hazardous

mission, Dr. Watson.

Oh, thank you,

Mr. Levitz.

I don't mind admitting it was

one of our most difficult cases.

Mr. Holmes is

aboard the ship?

Indeed he is, I left him

guarding His Majesty.

Our country owes you a great

debt of gratitude, sir.

Oh, it was nothing at

all, sir, nothing at all.

Follow me, gentlemen.

Holmes?

Unlocked.

That's funny.

Holmes?

Locked.

Holmes!

What has happened?

Where's Nikolas?

Where is he?

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