No. 9 The Adventure of the Lion's Mane by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 9 The Adventure of the Lion's Mane by Arthur Conan Doyle
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's Mane

Arthur Conan Doyle

it_is most singular thing that problem which_was certainly abstruse and unusual any which I_have faced long professional career should_have come to_me after retirement , and brought , were , very door occurred after withdrawal little Sussex home , when I had given myself entirely to_that soothing life nature for_which I had often yearned during the long years spent amid the gloom London at_this period of_my life the good Watson had passed almost beyond ken occasional week - end visit was_the most that I ever saw him thus I_must act own chronicler Ah ! had but been with , how_much he_might_have made wonderful happening and of_my eventual triumph against every difficulty ! as_it_is , however , I_must needs tell tale own plain way , showing words each step upon_the road which lay before I searched for_the mystery of_the lion 's Mane

villa situated upon_the southern slope of_the downs, commanding great view of_the channel at_this point the coast - line entirely chalk cliffs, which can only descended single , long , tortuous path , which_is steep and slippery at_the bottom of_the path lie hundred yards pebbles and shingle , even when_the tide full here and there , however , there_are curves and hollows which make splendid swimmingpools filled afresh with each flow this admirable beach extends for some miles each direction , save only one point where the little cove and village Fulworth break the line

house lonely I, old housekeeper , and bees have the estate all ourselves half mile off , however , Harold Stackhurst's well - known coaching establishment , the Gables, quite large place , which contains some score young fellows preparing for various professions, with staff several masters Stackhurst himself was well - known rowing blue in_his day , and excellent all - round scholar and I were always friendly from_the day I_came to_the coast , and was_the one man who was on_such terms with that we_could drop each_other in_the evenings without invitation

towards the end July , 1907, there_was severe gale , the wind blowing - channel , heaping the seas to_the base of_the cliffs and leaving lagoon at_the turn of_the tide on_the morning of_which I speak the wind had abated , and all nature was newly washed and fresh it_was impossible work upon delightful day , and I strolled out before breakfast enjoy the exquisite air I walked along the cliff path which led to_the steep descent to_the beach I walked I heard shout behind , and there_was Harold Stackhurst waving his hand cheery greeting

" what morning , Mr Holmes ! i_thought I should_see you out "

" going for swim , I_see "

" your old tricks again ," laughed, patting his bulging pocket " yes McPherson started early , and I expect I_may find him there "

Fitzroy McPherson was_the science master , fine upstanding young fellow whose life had_been crippled heart trouble following rheumatic fever he_was natural athlete , however , and excelled every game which did_not throw too great strain upon him summer and winter went for_his swim , and , I_am swimmer myself , I_have often joined him

at_this moment saw the man himself his head showed above the edge of_the cliff where the path ends then his whole appeared at_the top , staggering like drunken man the next instant threw his hands and , with terrible cry , fell upon his face Stackhurst and I rushed forward -- may have_been fifty yards -- and turned him on_his back he_was obviously dying those glazed sunken eyes and dreadful livid cheeks could mean nothing else one glimmer life came into his face for instant , and uttered two_or_three words with eager air warning they were slurred and indistinct , but ear the last of_them , which burst shriek from_his lips, were " the lion 's Mane " it_was utterly irrelevant and unintelligible , and yet I_could twist the sound into other sense then half raised himself from_the ground , threw his arms into_the air , and fell forward on_his side he_was dead

companion was paralyzed by_the sudden horror , but I, may well imagined , had every sense on_the alert and I had need , for it_was speedily evident that were in_the presence extraordinary case the man was dressed only in_his Burberry overcoat , his trousers , and unlaced pair canvas shoes fell over , his Burberry, which had_been simply thrown round his shoulders, slipped off , exposing his trunk stared amazement his back was covered with dark red lines as_though terribly flogged thin wire scourge the instrument with_which this punishment inflicted was clearly flexible , for_the long , angry weals curved round his shoulders and ribs there_was blood dripping down his chin , for had bitten through his lower lip in_the paroxysm of_his agony his drawn and distorted face told how terrible that agony had_been

i_was kneeling and Stackhurst standing by_the body when shadow fell across , and we_found that Ian Murdoch was our side Murdoch was_the mathematical coach at_the establishment , tall , dark , thin man , taciturn and aloof that none can_be said to_have_been his friend he_seemed live some high abstract region surds and conic sections, with little connect him with ordinary life he_was looked upon oddity by_the students, and would_have_been their butt , but there_was some strange outlandish blood in_the man , which showed itself not_only in_his coal - black eyes and swarthy face but also occasional outbreaks temper , which could only described ferocious one , being plagued little dog belonging McPherson, had caught the creature and hurled through_the plate - glass window , action for_which Stackhurst would certainly have given him his dismissal had not been very valuable teacher such was_the strange complex man who now appeared beside he_seemed to_be honestly shocked at_the sight before him , though the incident of_the dog may show that there_was great sympathy between_the dead man and himself

" poor fellow ! poor fellow ! what can I_do ? how can I help ? "

" were you with_him ? can_you tell what has happened ? "

" , , i_was late this_morning i_was not on_the beach all I_have come straight from_the Gables what can I_do ? "

" you_can hurry to_the police - station Fulworth report the matter once "

without word he_made off top speed , and I proceeded take_the matter hand , while Stackhurst, dazed at_this tragedy , remained by_the body first task naturally was note who was on_the beach from_the top of_the path I could_see the whole sweep , and it_was absolutely deserted save that two_or_three dark figures could_be seen far away moving towards the village Fulworth Having satisfied myself upon_this point , I walked slowly down the path there_was clay soft marl mixed with_the chalk , and every here and there I_saw the same footstep , both ascending and descending one else had gone down to_the beach by_this track that morning one place I observed the print open hand fingers towards the incline this could only mean that poor McPherson had fallen ascended there were rounded depressions, too , which suggested that had come down upon his knees more than once at_the bottom of_the path was_the considerable lagoon left by_the retreating tide at_the side McPherson had undressed , for there lay his towel rock it_was folded and dry , so_that would seem that , after all , had never entered the water once_or_twice I hunted round amid the hard shingle I_came little patches sand where the print of_his canvas shoe , and also of_his naked foot , could_be seen the latter fact proved that had made all ready bathe , though the towel indicated that had_not actually done

and here was_the problem clearly defined -- strange one had ever confronted the man had_not_been on_the beach more than quarter hour at_the most Stackhurst had followed him from_the Gables, there could_be no_doubt about_that had gone bathe and had stripped, as_the naked footsteps showed then had suddenly huddled on_his clothes again -- they were all dishevelled and unfastened -- and had returned without bathing, any rate without drying himself and_the reason for_his change purpose had_been that scourged some savage , inhuman fashion , tortured until bit his lip through in_his agony , and was left with only strength enough crawl away and die who had done this barbarous deed ? there were , it_is true , small grottos and caves in_the base of_the cliffs, but the low sun shone directly into them , and there_was place for concealment then , again , there were those distant figures on_the beach they seemed too far away to_have_been connected with_the crime , and_the broad lagoon in_which McPherson had intended bathe lay between him and them , lapping up_to_the rocks on_the sea two_or_three fishingboats were great distance their occupants might_be examined our leisure there were several roads for inquiry , but none which led any very obvious goal

when I last returned to_the body I_found that little group wondering folk had gathered round Stackhurst was , of_course , still there , and Ian Murdoch had just arrived with Anderson , the village constable , big , ginger -moustached man of_the slow , solid Sussex breed -- breed which covers much good sense under heavy , silent exterior listened everything , took note all said , and finally drew aside

"I'd be_glad your advice , Mr Holmes this_is big thing for_me handle , and I'll hear from Lewes I wrong "

I advised him send for_his immediate superior , and for doctor ; also allow nothing to_be moved , and few fresh footmarks possible to_be made , until they came in_the meantime I searched the dead man 's pockets there were his handkerchief , large knife , and small folding card - case from_this projected slip paper , which I unfolded and handed to_the constable there_was written on_it scrawling, feminine hand :

i_will_be there , you_may_be_sure MAUDIE

read like love affair, assignation , though when and where were the constable replaced in_the card - case and returned with_the other things to_the pockets of_the Burberry then , nothing more suggested itself, I walked back house for breakfast , having first arranged that_the base of_the cliffs should_be thoroughly searched

Stackhurst was round hour two to_tell that_the body had_been removed to_the Gables, where the inquest would_be held brought with_him some serious and definite news I expected , nothing found in_the small caves below the cliff , but had examined the papers McPherson's desk and there were several which showed intimate correspondence with certain miss Maud Bellamy, Fulworth had then established the identity of_the writer of_the note

" the police have the letters," explained " I_could_not bring them but there_is no_doubt that_it_was serious love affair I_see reason , however , connect with_that horrible happening save , indeed , that_the lady had made appointment with_him "

" but hardly bathing- pool which all you were in_the habit using," I remarked

" it_is mere chance ," said , " that several of_the students were_not with McPherson "

" was_it mere chance ? "

Stackhurst knit his brows thought

"Ian Murdoch held them back ," said " he_would insist upon some algebraic demonstration before breakfast poor chap, he_is dreadfully cut about_it all "

" and yet I gather that_they were_not friends "

" one_time they were_not but for year more Murdoch has_been near McPherson ever could_be anyone he_is_not very sympathetic disposition nature "

" I understand I seem remember your telling once about quarrel over the ill - usage dog "

" that blew over all right "

" but left some vindictive feeling, perhaps "

" , , I_am_sure they were real friends "

" well , then , we_must explore the matter of_the girl do_you_know her ? "

" everyone knows her she is_the beauty of_the neighbourhood -a real beauty , Holmes, who_would draw attention everywhere I_knew that McPherson was attracted her , but I had notion that_it had gone so_far as_these letters would seem indicate "

" but who_is she ? "

" she is_the daughter old Tom Bellamy who owns all the boats and bathing-cots Fulworth he_was fisherman start with , but now man some substance and_his son William run the business "

" shall walk into Fulworth and_see them ? "

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