No. 6 The Adventure of the Black Peter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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. one should always look for a possible alternative and provide against it . it_is_the first rule of criminal investigation ."

" what, then, is_the alternative ? "

" the line of investigation which I_have myself been pursuing . it may give_us nothing . I_cannot tell . but at_least I_shall follow it to_the end ."

several letters were waiting for Holmes at baker street . he snatched one_of_them up, opened it, and burst out into a triumphant chuckle of laughter .

" excellent, Watson . the alternative develops . have_you telegraph forms ? just write a couple of messages for_me: ` Sumner, Shipping agent, Ratcliff highway . send three men on, to arrive ten to- morrow morning .-- Basil .' that's my name in those parts . the other is: ` inspector Stanley Hopkins, 46, lord street, Brixton . come breakfast to- morrow at nine-thirty . important . wire if unable to_come .-- Sherlock Holmes .' there, Watson, this infernal case has haunted me for ten days .I hereby banish it completely from my presence . to- morrow I trust that we_shall hear the last of it for ever ."

sharp at_the hour named inspector Stanley Hopkins appeared, and we sat down together to_the excellent breakfast which Mrs Hudson had prepared . the young detective was in high spirits at his success .

" you really think that your solution must_be correct ? " asked Holmes .

" I_could_not imagine a more complete case ."

" it did_not seem to_me conclusive ."

" you astonish me, Mr Holmes . what more could one ask for ? "

"Does your explanation cover every point ? "

" undoubtedly . I_find that young Neligan arrived at_the Brambletye hotel on_the very day of_the crime . he_came on_the pretence of playing golf . his room was on_the ground- floor, and he_could get out when he liked . that very night he went down to woodman's Lee, saw Peter Carey at_the hut, quarrelled with_him, and killed him with_the harpoon . then, horrified by what he had done, he fled out_of_the hut, dropping the note- book which he had brought with_him in_order to question Peter Carey about these different securities . you_may_have observed that some_of_them were marked with ticks, and_the others -- the great majority -- were_not . those which are ticked have_been traced on_the London market; but the others presumably were still in_the possession of Carey, and young Neligan, according to_his own account, was anxious to recover them in_order to_do_the right thing by his father's creditors . after his flight he_did_not dare to approach the hut again for some_time; but at last he forced himself to_do_so in_order_to_obtain the information which he_needed . surely that_is all simple and obvious ? "

Holmes smiled and shook his head .

" it seems to_me to_have only_one drawback, Hopkins, and_that is that_it_is intrinsically impossible . have_you tried to drive a harpoon through a body ? no ? Tut, tut, my dear_Sir, you_must really pay attention to_these details . my friend Watson could tell you that I spent a whole morning in_that exercise . it_is no easy matter, and requires a strong and practised arm . but this blow was delivered with_such violence that_the head of_the weapon sank deep into_the wall . do_you imagine that_this anaemic youth was capable of so frightful an assault ? is he the man who hobnobbed in rum and water with black Peter in_the dead of_the night ? was_it his profile that was seen on_the blind two nights before ? no, no, Hopkins; it_is another and a more formidable person for whom we_must seek ."

the detective's face had grown longer and longer during Holmes's speech . his hopes and_his ambitions were all crumbling about him . but he_would_not abandon his position without a struggle .

" you_can't deny that Neligan was present that night, Mr Holmes . the book will prove that .I fancy that I_have evidence enough to satisfy a jury, even if_you_are able to pick a hole in_it . besides, Mr Holmes, I_have laid my hand upon my man . as_to_this terrible person of yours, where is he ? "

"I rather fancy that he_is on_the stair," said Holmes, serenely ." i_think, Watson, that you_would do well to_put that revolver where you_can reach it ." he rose, and laid a written paper upon a side- table ." now we_are ready," said he .

there had_been some talking in gruff voices outside, and now Mrs Hudson opened the door to_say that there were three men inquiring for captain Basil .

" show them in one by one," said Holmes .

the first who entered was a little ribston-pippin of a man, with ruddy cheeks and fluffy white side-whiskers .Holmes had drawn a letter from_his pocket .

" what name ? " he asked .

"James Lancaster ."

" I_am sorry, Lancaster, but the berth is full . here_is half a sovereign for your trouble . just step into_this room and wait there for_a_few_minutes ."

the second man was a long, dried- up creature, with lank hair and sallow cheeks . his name was Hugh Pattins . he also received his dismissal, his half- sovereign, and_the order to wait .

the third applicant was a man of remarkable appearance .a fierce bull- dog face was framed in a tangle of hair and beard, and two bold dark eyes gleamed behind the cover of thick, tufted, overhung eyebrows . he saluted and stood sailor- fashion, turning his cap round in_his hands .

" your_name ? " asked Holmes .

" Patrick Cairns ."

"Harpooner ? "

" yes, sir .Twenty-six voyages ."

"Dundee, I suppose ? "

" yes, sir ."

" and ready to start with an exploring ship ? "

" yes, sir ."

" what wages ? "

"Eight pounds a month ."

" could you start at once ? "

" as_soon_as I get my kit ."

" have_you your papers ? "

" yes, sir ." he_took a sheaf of worn and greasy forms from_his pocket .Holmes glanced over them and returned them .

" you_are just the man i_want," said he ." here's the agreement on_the side- table . if_you sign it the whole matter will_be settled ."

the seaman lurched across the room and took up the pen .

" shall I sign here ? " he asked, stooping over the table .

Holmes leaned over his shoulder and passed both hands over his neck .

" this_will do," said he .

I heard a click of steel and abellow like an enraged bull . the next instant Holmes and_the seaman were rolling on_the ground together . he_was a man of_such gigantic strength that, even with_the handcuffs which Holmes had so deftly fastened upon his wrists, he_would_have very quickly overpowered my friend had Hopkins and I not rushed to_his rescue . only when I pressed the cold muzzle of_the revolver to_his temple did he at last understand that resistance was vain . we lashed his ankles with cord and rose breathless from_the struggle .

" I_must really apologise, Hopkins," said Sherlock Holmes; " I_fear that_the scrambled eggs are cold . however, you_will enjoy the rest of your breakfast all the better, will_you not, for_the thought that you_have brought your case to a triumphant conclusion ."

Stanley Hopkins was speechless with amazement .

"I don't know what to_say, Mr Holmes," he blurted out at last, with a very red face ." it seems to_me that I_have_been making a fool of myself from_the beginning .I understand now, what i_should never have forgotten, that I_am the pupil and you_are the master . even now I_see what you have_done, but I don't know how you_did it, or what it signifies ."

" well, well," said Holmes, good-humouredly ." we all learn by experience, and your lesson this_time is_that you_should never lose sight of_the alternative . you were so absorbed in young Neligan that you_could_not spare a thought to Patrick Cairns, the true murderer of Peter Carey ."

the hoarse voice of_the seaman broke in on_our conversation .

" see here, mister," said he, "I make no complaint of being man- handled in_this fashion, but i_would_have you call things by their right names . you say I murdered Peter Carey; I_say I killed Peter Carey, and there's all the difference . maybe you don't believe what I_say . maybe you_think I_am just slinging you a yarn ."

" not at all," said Holmes ." let_us hear what you_have to_say ."

" it's soon told, and, by_the lord, every word of it_is truth . I_knew black Peter, and when he pulled out his knife I whipped a harpoon through him sharp, for I_knew that_it_was him or me . that's how he died . you_can call it murder .Anyhow, I'd as soon die with a rope round my neck as with black Peter's knife in my heart ."

" how came you there ? " asked Holmes .

"I'll tell it you from_the beginning . just sit me up a little so as I_can speak easy . it_was in '83 that_it happened -- August of_that year .Peter Carey was master of_the sea unicorn, and i_was spare harpooner . we were coming out_of_the ice- pack on_our way home, with head winds and a week's southerly gale, when we picked up a little craft that had_been blown north . there_was one man on her -- a landsman . the crew had thought she_would founder, and had made for_the Norwegian coast in_the dinghy .I guess they were all drowned . well, we took him on board, this man, and he and_the skipper had some long talks in_the cabin . all the baggage we took off with_him was one tin box . so_far as I_know, the man's name was never mentioned, and on_the second night he disappeared as_if he had never been . it_was given out that he had either thrown himself overboard or fallen overboard in_the heavy weather that we were having . only_one man knew what had happened to him, and_that was me, for with my own eyes I_saw the skipper tip up his heels and put him over the rail in_the middle watch of a dark night, two days before we sighted the Shetland lights .

" well, I kept my knowledge to myself and waited to_see what would come of it . when we got back to Scotland it_was easily hushed up, and nobody asked any questions .a stranger died by an accident, and it_was nobody's business to inquire . shortly after Peter Carey gave up the sea, and it_was long years before I_could find where he_was .I guessed that he had done the deed for_the sake of what_was in_that tin box, and_that he_could afford now to_pay me well for keeping my mouth shut .

" I_found out where he_was through a sailor man that had met him in London, and down I went to squeeze him . the first night he_was reasonable enough, and was ready to_give_me what would make me free of_the sea for life . we were to fix it all two nights later . when I_came I_found him three parts drunk and in a vile temper . we sat down and we drank and we yarned about old times, but the more he drank the less I liked the look on_his face .I spotted that harpoon upon_the wall, and i_thought I_might need it before i_was through . then at last he broke out at me, spitting and cursing, with murder in_his eyes and a great clasp- knife in_his hand . he had_not time to_get it from_the sheath before I had the harpoon through him .Heavens ! what a yell he_gave; and_his face gets between me and my sleep ! I stood there, with_his blood splashing round me, and I waited for a bit; but all was quiet, so i_took heart once more .I looked round, and there_was the tin box on a shelf .I had as_much right to_it as Peter Carey, anyhow, so i_took it with me and left the hut . like a fool I left my baccy- pouch upon_the table .

" now I'll tell you the queerest part of_the whole story .I had hardly got outside the hut when I heard someone coming, and I hid among_the bushes .a man came slinking along, went into_the hut, gave a cry as_if he had seen a ghost, and legged it as hard as he_could run until he_was out of sight . who he_was or what he_wanted is more than I_can tell . for_my part I walked ten miles, got a train at Tunbridge Wells, and so reached London, and no one the wiser .

" well, when I_came to examine the box I_found there_was no money in_it, and nothing but papers that i_would_not dare to_sell .I had lost my hold on black Peter, and was stranded in London without ashilling . there_was only my trade left . I_saw these advertisements about harpooners and high wages, so I went to_the shipping agents, and_they sent me here . that's all I_know, and I_say again that if I killed black Peter the law should give_me thanks, for I saved them the price of a hempen rope ."

"A very clear statement," said Holmes, rising and lighting his pipe ." i_think, Hopkins, that you_should lose no time in conveying your prisoner to a place of safety . this room is_not well adapted for a cell, and Mr Patrick Cairns occupies too large a proportion of_our carpet ."

" Mr Holmes," said Hopkins, " I_do_not know how to express my gratitude . even now I_do_not understand how you attained this result ."

" simply by having the good fortune to_get the right clue from_the beginning . it_is very possible if I had known about_this note- book it might_have led away my thoughts, as it did yours . but all I heard pointed in_the one direction . the amazing strength, the skill in_the use of_the harpoon, the rum and water, the seal- skin tobacco- pouch, with_the coarse tobacco -- all these pointed to a seaman, and one who had_been a whaler . i_was convinced that_the initials `P .C .' upon_the pouch were a coincidence, and not those of Peter Carey, since he seldom smoked, and no pipe was found in_his cabin . you remember that I asked whether whisky and brandy were in_the cabin . you said they were . how_many landsmen are there who_would drink rum when they_could get these other spirits ? yes, i_was certain it_was a seaman ."

" and how did you find him ? "

" my dear_Sir, the problem had become a very simple one . if_it were a seaman, it could only be a seaman who had_been with_him on_the sea unicorn . so_far as I_could learn he had sailed in no other ship .I spent three days in wiring to Dundee, and at_the end of_that_time I had ascertained the names of_the crew of_the sea unicorn in 1883 . when I_found Patrick Cairns among_the harpooners my research was nearing its end .I argued that_the man was probably in London, and_that he_would desire to leave the country for a time .I therefore spent some days in_the east- end, devised an arctic expedition, put forth tempting terms for harpooners who_would serve under captain Basil -- and behold the result ! "

" wonderful ! " cried Hopkins ." wonderful ! "

" you_must obtain the release of young Neligan as_soon_as_possible," said Holmes ."I confess that i_think you owe him some apology . the tin box must_be returned to him, but, of_course, the securities which Peter Carey has sold are lost for ever . there's the cab, Hopkins, and you_can remove your man . if_you_want me for_the trial, my address and_that of Watson will_be somewhere in Norway -- I'll send particulars later ."

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