The Sign of Four Page #5

Well thank you Mrs. Smith.

Goodbye Jack.

Bye.

The main thing with

people of that sort

is never to let them

think that information

is of the slightest

importance to you.

If you do they

will instantly

shut up like an oyster.

Well our course seems

pretty clear now.

What would you do, then?

Get on the track

of the Aurora.

It would take days

if not months

to search every wharf

and landing place

on the harbor between

here and Greenwich.

What do you propose?

As our query has no reason

to fear that he's being hunted

I propose first

of all a bath.

And shave.

And then a good meal and

then some hours of sleep.

At the same time

mobilizing the Baker

Street division

of the detective

police force.

In other words

the irregulars.

Awe the energetic Jones

the ubiquitous reporter

fixed up the case

between them.

Watson look at this.

Here.

Mr. Jones' trained and

experienced faculties

were at once directed towards

the detection of the criminals.

His well-known

technical knowledge

and powers of

minute observation...

well it gets better still

the prompt and

energetic action

of the officers of the law

shows the great

advantage for the

single vigorous

and masterful mind.

Isn't it gorgeous?

We had a close shave of

being arrested ourselves.

I wouldn't answer

for our safety now

if he has another of

his attacks of energy.

Mr Holmes said

nothing of this.

You can't possibly

go in there.

I'm sorry Mr. Holmes

It's all right

Mrs. Hudson,

they are my guests.

Look, hats off.

I've got your message.

I brought 'em on sharp.

3 bob and a tenner

for the tickets.

Now Wiggins, in future

they can report to

you and you to me.

I cannot have the house

invaded in this way.

Oye stop that.

Sorry.

Now I want you to find

the steamboat Aurora.

Aurora.

Owner Mordecai Smith,

black with gold trim.

Richmond to Gravesend

both sides of the river.

Fine sir.

How much?

Old scale of pay

a guinea to the boy

who finds the boat.

Here is a day in advance.

If the launch

is above water

the irregulars

will find her.

They can go everywhere,

see everything.

If our man had

an easy task

just as ours ought to be.

One-legged men

are not so common

and this other man

must be unique.

The aborigines of

the Andaman Islands

may perhaps claim

the distinction

of being the smallest

race upon this earth.

They are a

fierce, morose,

and intractable people,

though capable of forming

the most devoted

friendships

when their confidence

has once been gained.

They have always been a

terror to shipwrecked crews,

braining the survivors with

their stone-headed clubs

or shooting them with

with poisoned arrows.

These massacres are

usually concluded

by a cannibal feast.

Nice, amiable people.

And what time would you

like for dinner Mr. Holmes?

Half past eight the

day after tomorrow.

You'll wear yourself

out old man.

I heard you marching

about all night.

You really must

get some rest.

I can't sleep.

This infernal problem

is consuming me.

No news?

None.

None whatsoever.

The whole river has been

searched from both sides.

Mrs. Smith has not

heard from her husband,

it's too much.

To be balked by

some petty obstacle

when all else has

been overcome.

See anything?

No nothing.

Shove off.

Or you'll feel the

back of my hand.

I'm not going to

tell you again boy.

A nice little craft.

Aye, she's a

good boat this.

We built her right

in this yard.

Fastest boat on the river.

What she in for?

Repairs to her rudder.

That's the order.

I can't find anything

amiss with it.

I want her in the water

by six o'clock tonight.

Fully coaled and steam up.

Right Mr. Smith

she'll be ready.

Six o'clock sharp, mind,

for 2 gentlemen that'll

not be kept waiting.

Right.

It's this Norwood

case Doctor.

I have a great deal

to worry and try me.

And this case is a

very dark one too.

Thank you.

I shall be most grateful

for Mr. Holmes' help.

Your friend is

a wonderful man

and not to be beat.

Well you maybe in

for a long wait.

Nope I don't think so.

Go to Baker

Street at once.

If I've not returned,

wait for me.

I am close on the track

of the Sholto gang.

Come with us tonight

if you want to be

in at the kill.

Good.

So he's on the

scent again?

He's been at

fault too has he?

Even the best of us are

thrown off sometimes.

Yes?

Sherlock Holmes?

What is it?

Are you Mr.

Sherlock Holmes?

No but I'm

acting for him.

I've come about

this right here.

If you have any

information

you may give to me.

There's a reward.

Is it about the

steam launch, Aurora?

I'm telling no one but

Mr. Sherlock Holmes.

No, no; come inside.

I'm a police officer.

You look like one.

No you will be

recompensated

for your loss of time.

You will not have

long to wait.

Sit down.

Cigar Mr. Jones?

Oh, thank you for

you very much.

As I was saying Doctor,

I consider your friend

Mr. Sherlock Holmes is

a man not to be beat.

He would have made

the most promising

police officer.

I don't care

who knows it.

With a little

more discipline

and a lot less theory.

Thank you.

You might offer me one.

Oh, you rogue

you would have

made an actor

and a rare one.

You had the proper

workhouse cough,

and those weak

legs of yours

there worth 10

pounds each.

A police officer,

I'm flattered.

Jones I shall need

a police launch

at the Westminster steps.

The fastest you have.

2 stout men,

yourself, myself,

Watson all of us armed.

That is easily arranged.

I will telephone

the local station.

When we get to the tower

we'll stop opposite

of Jacobson's Yard.

How did you find

the Aurora then?

Well I have reasons that

the launch couldn't be

far often despite

of its invisibility.

So gentlemen,

where could it be?

Well out of the

water I suppose.

In a repair or

boat builders yard.

Exactly.

One of my boys is

waiting by the yard

to give us the signal.

You planned it all

very neatly Mr. Holmes

but if the affair

were in my hands

I should have a body

of police in the yard

and arrested them

when they came down.

Which would

have been never.

This man Small is a

pretty shrewd fellow.

Anything suspicious

and he would lie snug

for another week.

Sir?

We're opposite

Jacobson's Yard now,

shall we move

downstream a little.

No this mist may be

of an advantage to us.

We must lie low and wait.

Your boy's signaling,

I can see it plainly.

There's the Aurora

going like the devil

She's very fast.

I doubt if we

shall catch her.

We must catch her!

Pile it on, stokers!

I'll never forgive myself

if she proves to

have some use.

Faster, faster.

This is the fast

boat they've got.

Pile on the coals.

Stoke her.

We must have her.

Even if we burn the boat.

Keep the light steady.

I can almost make

out his companion.

We're gaining.

Pile it on, stoker.

Give it all the

steam we've got.

I think we

gained a little.

I'm sure of it.

Absolutely.

Point the light

more to the left.

Keep it steady.

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