巴斯克维尔猎犬-第8节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


rs，so　it　would　keep　out　the　wind　and　the　rain．This　must　be　the　place　where　the　mysteri…　ous　man　was　hiding！I　would　soon　know　his　secret．

As　I　walked　towards　the　hut，I　saw　that　someone　had　cer…tainly　been　using　it．A　path　had　been　worn　up　to　the　door．I　took　my　revolver　out　of　my　pocket，and　checked　that　it　was　ready　to　fire．I　walked　quickly　and　quietly　up　to　the　hut，and　looked　inside．The　place　was　empty．

But　this　was　certainly　where　the　man　lived。As　I　looked　round　the　hut，I　knew　that　the　mysterious　man　must　have　a　very　strong　character．No　other　person　could　live　in　conditions　as　bad　as　these．There　were　some　blankets　on　a　flat　stone　where　the　man　slept．There　had　been　a　fire　in　one　corner．There　were　some　cooking　pots，and　a　large　bowl　half　full　of　wa…　ter．In　the　middle　of　the　hut　was　another　large　flat　stone　which　was　used　as　a　table，and　on　it　was　the　bag　the　boy　had　been　carrying．Under　the　bag　I　saw　a　piece　of　paper　with　writing　on　it．Quickly，I　picked　up　the　paper　and　read　what　was　written　on　it．It　said：‘Dr　Watson　has　gone　to　Newtown．’

I　realized　that　the　mysterious　man　had　told　someone　to　watch　me，and　this　was　a　message　from　his　spy．Was　the　man　a　dangerous　enemy？　Or　was　he　a　friend　who　was　watching　us　to　make　sure　we　were　safe？I　decided　I　would　not　leave　the　hut　until　I　knew．

Outside，the　sun　was　low　in　the　sky．Everything　looked　calm　and　peaceful　in　the　golden　evening　light．But　I　did　not　feel　peaceful　or　calm．I　felt　frightened　as　I　waited　for　the　mysterious　man．

Then　I　heard　footsteps　coming　towards　the　hut．As　they　came　closer，I　moved　into　the　darkest　corner　of　the　hut．I　did　not　want　the　man　to　see　me　until　I　had　looked　closely　at　him．The　footsteps　stopped，and　I　could　hear　nothing　at　all．Then　the　man　began　to　move　again，and　the　footsteps　came　closer．A　shadow　fell　across　the　door　of　the　hut．

‘It's　a　lovely　evening，my　dear　Watson，’said　a　voice　I　knew　well．‘I　really　think　you　will　enjoy　it　more　out　here．’

　　



　
13　　Too　Late

　　

For　a　moment　or　two　I　could　neither　breathe　nor　move．

Then　I　felt　my　fear　and　unhappiness　disappear，as　I　knew　that　I　was　no　longer　alone　in　my　responsibility　for　Sir　Henry．The　dangers　all　around　me　did　not　seem　so　frightening．The　cool　voice　could　belong　to　only　one　man　in　the　world．‘Holmes！’I　cried．‘Holmes！’

I　went　outside　the　hut，and　there　was　Holmes．He　was　sit…　ting　on　a　stone，and　his　grey　eyes　were　dancing　with　amuse…　ment．He　was　thin　and　worn，but　bright　and　wide…awake．His　skin　was　brown　from　the　wind　and　the　sun．But　his　chin　was　smooth，and　his　shirt　was　white．He　did　not　look　like　a　man　who　had　been　living　in　the　middle　of　the　moor．

‘I　have　never　been　so　glad　to　see　anyone　in　my　life，’I　said，‘nor　so　surprised．’

‘I　am　surprised，too，’Holmes　said，as　he　shook　me　warmly　by　the　hand．‘How　did　you　find　me？’

I　told　him　about　Frankland，and　how　I　had　seen　the　boy　with　the　food．

Holmes　went　into　the　hut，and　looked　at　the　food，and　at　the　note　with　it．‘　I　guess　that　you　have　been　to　see　Mrs　Laura　Lyons，’　he　said，and　when　I　told　him　that　he　was　right，he　went　on：‘　When　we　put　together　everything　that　each　of　us　has　discovered，I　expect　we　shall　know　almost　everything　about　this　case．’

‘But　how　did　you　get　here？’I　asked　him．‘And　what　have　you　been　doing？　I　thought　you　had　to　finish　your　case　in　Lon…　don．’

‘That　is　what　I　wanted　you　to　think，’he　said．

‘Then　you　have　tricked　me，and　have　no　confidence　in　me，’　I　said．I　was　upset　and　angry　because　he　had　not　told　me　his　plans．

‘I　am　sorry　if　it　seems　I　have　tricked　you，my　dear　Watson．I　did　not　want　our　enemy　to　know　I　was　here，but　I　wanted　to　be　near　enough　to　make　sure　that　you　and　Sir　Henry　were　safe．You　are　a　kind　person—too　kind　to　leave　me　alone　out　here　in　bad　weather．Our　enemy　would　guess　I　was　here　if　he　saw　you　coming　out　with　food，or　with　important　news．You　have　been　a　very　real　help　to　me．Your　letters　with　all　their　valuable　information　have　been　brought　to　me．You　have　done　excellent　work，and　without　you　I　would　not　have　all　the　im…　portant　details　I　needed．’

Holmes’　warm　words　of　thanks　made　me　feel　much　happier，and　I　saw　that　he　was　right．

‘That's　better，’he　said，as　he　saw　the　shadow　lift　from　my　face．‘Now　tell　me　about　your　visit　to　Mrs　Laura　Lyons．’

I　told　Holmes　everything　Mrs　Lyons　had　said．

This　is　all　very　important，’Holmes　said．‘It　answers　ques…　tions　I　have　been　unable　to　answer、Did　you　know　that　Mrs　Lyons　and　Stapleton　are　very　close　friends？　They　often　meet，and　they　write　to　each　other．Perhaps　I　can　use　this　informa…　tion　to　turn　Stapleton's　wife　against　him…’

‘His　wife？’I　asked．‘Who　and　where　is　she？’

‘The　lady　called　Miss　Stapleton，who　pretends　to　be　his　sis…ter，is　really　his　wife，’said　Holmes．

‘Good　heavens，Holmes！Are　you　sure？If　she　is　his　wife，why　did　Stapleton　allow　Sir　Henry　to　fall　in　love　with　her？’　‘Sir　Henry　hurt　nobody　except　himself　when　he　fell　in　love　with　her．Stapleton　took　care　that　Sir　Henry　did　not　make　love　to　her．I　repeat　that　the　lady　is　his　wife，and　not　his　sister．They　came　here　only　two　years　ago，and　before　that　he　had　owned　a　school　in　the　north　of　England．He　told　you　that，and　you　told　me　in　your　letter．I　checked　on　the　school，and　found　that　the　man　who　had　owned　it　went　away　with　his　wife　when　the　school　closed．They　changed　their　name，but　the　couple　who　were　described　to　me　were　without　doubt　the　Stapletons．’‘But　why　do　they　pretend　to　be　brother　and　sister？’　I　asked．‘Because　Stapleton　thought　that　she　would　be　very　much　more　useful　to　him　if　she　appeared　to　be　a　free　woman．’

Suddenly　I　saw　behind　Stapleton's　smiling　face　a　heart　with　murder　in　it．‘So　he　is　our　enemy！He　is　the　man　who　followed　us　in　London！　And　the　warning　note　to　Sir　Henry　came　form　Miss　Stapleton．’

‘Exactly，’said　Holmes．

‘But　if　Miss　Stapleton　is　really　his　wife，why　is　he　a　close　friend　of　Mrs　Laura　Lyons？’

‘Your　excellent　work　has　given　us　the　answer　to　that　ques－　tion，Watson　When　you　told　me　that　Mrs　Lyons　was　getting　a　divorce，I　realized　that　she　hoped　to　marry　Stapleton．He　told　her　that　he　was　unmarried，and　that　he　wanted　to　make　her　his　wife．When　she　learns　the　truth，she　may　decide　to　help　us．We　must　go　and　see　her　tomorrow．’

‘One　last　question，Holmes，’I　said。‘What　is　Stapleton　try…　ing　to　do？’

Holmes　dropped　his　voice　as　he　answered：‘Murder，cold…　blooded　murder．That　is　what　Stapleton　is　trying　to　do．Do　not　ask　me　for　details．I　am　about　to　catch　him　in　a　trap．There　is　only　one　danger——that　he　will　act　before　I　am　ready．Another　day，or　perhaps　two，and　I　shall　complete　my　case．Until　then　you　must　guard　Sir　Henry　very　closely．You　should　be　with　him　today．However，what　you　have　discovered　is　very　valuable．’

As　he　finished　speaking，an　awful　scream——a　long　cry　of　pain　and　horror——broke　the　silence　of　the　moor．The　sound　turned　my　blood　to　ice．

‘Oh，my　God，’I　whispered．‘What　is　that？’

Holmes　had　jumped　to　his　feet．‘Where　is　it，Watson？’　he　whispered，and　I　could　see　that　he　was　shaken　by　the　scream．

The　hopeless　cry　came　again，louder，nearer，and　more　terrible　than　before．With　it　came　a　new　sound——deep　and　frightening．‘The　hound！’cried　Holmes．‘Come，Watson，come！Great　heavens！If　we　are　too　late…’

　　



　
14　　Death　on　the　Moor　

　　

Holmes　started　running　over　the　moor，and　I　followed　him．From　somewhere　in　front　of　us　came　one　more　hopeless　scream．It　was　followed　by　the　sound　of　something　falling　heavily．We　stopped　and　listened．

I　saw　Holmes　put　his　hand　to　his　head。‘　He　has　won，Wat…son．We’　re　too　late。I　was　mad　not　to　act　sooner．And　you，Watson，look　what　happens　when　you　leave　the　man　I　asked　you　to　guard．But　if　the　worst　has　happened，we　shall　see　that　Stapleton　doesn't　go　free．’

We　ran　through　the　dark　towards　the　place　where　the　cries　had　come　from．We　reached　a　rocky　edge　from　which　a　steep　side　fell　away。Below　us　we　saw　the　body　of　a　man．He　was　ly…ing　with　his　face　down　on　the　ground．He　had　fallen　on　his　head，which　was　bent　under　him，and　his　neck　was　broken．Holmes　lit　a　match．We　saw　with　horror　the　blood　running　out　onto　the　ground　from　his　head．

We　both　remembered　clearly　the　suit　the　man　was　wearing．It　was　a　thick，red…brown　country　suit．It　was　the　suit　Sir　Hen…ry　had　been　wearing　on　the　morning　when　we　first　met　him　in　Baker　Street．We　saw　it　for　a　moment　and　then　the　match　went　out。Our　hearts　turned　sick　and　cold　inside　us．

‘The　devil！The　murderer！I　shall　never　forgive　myself　for　leaving　Sir　Henry　alone，’I　whispered　angrily．

‘It's　more　my　fault　than　yours，’said　Holmes．‘I　have　let　this　good　man　die　because　I　was　busy　with　the　last　details　of　my　case．It　is　the　greatest　mistake　I　have　ever　made．But　why　did　he　come　out　onto　the　moor？I　told　him　it　would　lead　to　his　death．Now　both　Sir　Henry　and　his　uncle　have　been　murdered．By　heavens，clever　as　he　is，I　shall　trap　Stapleton　before　another　day　is　past．’

With　heavy　hearts　we　stood　on　either　side　of　the　broken　body．Then　Holmes　bent　over　the　body　and　began　to　move　it．