No. 5 The Adventure of the Priory School by Arthur Conan Doyle

No. 5 The Adventure of the Priory School by Arthur Conan Doyle
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Halloa ! halloa ! halloa ! what

? "

had come small black ribbon pathway in_the middle , clearly marked on_the sodden soil , was_the track bicycle

"Hurrah ! " I cried " we_have "

but Holmes was shaking his head , and_his face was puzzled and expectant rather than joyous

"A bicycle , certainly , but not the bicycle ," said " I_am familiar with forty- two different impressions left tyres this , as_you perceive , Dunlop, with patch upon_the outer cover Heidegger's tyres were palmer 's, leaving longitudinal stripes Aveling, the mathematical master , was sure point therefore , it_is_not Heidegger's track "

" the boy 's, then ? "

" possibly , if_we_could prove bicycle to_have_been in_his possession but this we_have utterly failed to_do this track , as_you perceive , was_made rider who was going from_the direction of_the school "

" towards ? "

" , , dear Watson the more deeply sunk impression , of_course , the hind wheel , upon_which the weight rests you perceive several places where has passed across and obliterated the more shallow mark of_the front one it_was undoubtedly heading away from_the school may may not connected with_our inquiry , but we_will follow backwards before any farther "

we_did , and at_the end few hundred yards lost the tracks as_we emerged from_the boggy portion of_the moor Following the path backwards, picked out another spot , where spring trickled across here , once again , was_the mark of_the bicycle , though nearly obliterated by_the hoofs cows after_that there_was sign , but the path ran right into ragged shaw , the wood which backed to_the school from_this wood the cycle must_have emerged Holmes sat down boulder and rested his chin in_his hands I had smoked two cigarettes before moved

" well , well ," said , last " it_is , of_course , possible that cunning man might change the tyre of_his bicycle in_order leave unfamiliar tracks criminal who was capable of_such thought man whom i_should_be proud to_do business with we_will leave this question undecided and hark back our morass again , for we_have left good_deal unexplored "

continued our systematic survey of_the edge of_the sodden portion of_the moor , and soon our perseverance was gloriously rewarded right across the lower part of_the bog lay miry path Holmes gave cry delight approached impression like fine bundle telegraph wires ran down the centre was_the palmer tyre

" here_is Herr Heidegger, sure enough ! " cried Holmes, exultantly " reasoning seems to_have_been pretty sound , Watson "

"I congratulate you "

" but we_have long way still to_go kindly walk clear of_the path now let_us follow the trail I_fear that_it_will not lead very far "

we_found , however , as_we advanced that_this portion of_the moor intersected with soft patches, and , though frequently lost sight of_the track , always succeeded picking once more

" do_you observe ," said Holmes, " that_the rider now undoubtedly forcing the pace ? there can_be no_doubt look at_this impression , where you get both tyres clear the one deep as_the other that_can only mean rider throwing his weight to_the handle - bar , man does when he_is sprinting Jove ! has had fall "

there_was broad , irregular smudge covering some yards of_the track then there were few footmarks, and_the tyre reappeared once more

"A side - slip ," I suggested

Holmes held crumpled branch flowering gorse horror I perceived that_the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson on_the path , too , and among_the heather were dark stains clotted blood

" bad ! " said Holmes " bad ! stand clear , Watson ! not unnecessary footstep ! what I_read here ? fell wounded , stood , remounted, proceeded but there_is other track cattle on_this side path he_was surely not gored bull ? impossible ! but I_see traces anyone else we_must push , Watson surely with stains as_well as_the track guide he_cannot escape now "

our was not very long one the tracks of_the tyre began curve fantastically upon_the wet and shining path suddenly , I looked ahead , the gleam metal caught eye from amid the thick gorse bushes out_of_them dragged bicycle , palmer -tyred, one pedal bent , and_the whole front horribly smeared and slobbered with blood on_the other side of_the bushes shoe was projecting ran round , and there lay the unfortunate rider he_was tall man , full bearded , with spectacles , one glass of_which had_been knocked out the cause of_his death was frightful blow upon_the head , which had crushed in_part of_his skull that could_have gone after receiving such injury said much for_the vitality and courage of_the man wore shoes , but socks, and_his open coat disclosed night - shirt beneath it_was undoubtedly the German master

Holmes turned the body over reverently, and examined with great attention then sat deep thought for time , and I could_see his ruffled brow that_this grim discovery had_not , in_his opinion , advanced much in_our inquiry

" it_is little difficult to_know what to_do , Watson," said , last " own inclinations are push this inquiry , for we_have already lost so_much time that we_cannot afford waste another hour on_the other hand , we_are bound inform the police of_the discovery , and to_see that_this poor fellow 's body looked after "

" I_could take note back "

" but I_need your company and assistance wait bit ! there_is fellow cutting peat yonder bring him over here , and he_will guide the police "

I brought the peasant across , and Holmes dispatched the frightened man with note Dr Huxtable

" now , Watson," said , " we_have picked two clues this_morning one is_the bicycle with_the palmer tyre, and see what that has led the other is_the bicycle patched Dunlop before start investigate that , let_us try realise what we_do know as_to make_the most , and separate the essential from_the accidental "

" first all i_wish impress upon you that_the boy certainly left of_his own free will got down from_his window and went off , either alone with someone that_is sure "

I assented

" well , now , let_us turn to_this unfortunate German master the boy was fully dressed when fled therefore , foresaw what he_would but the German went without his socks certainly acted very short notice "

" undoubtedly "

" why did ? because , from_his bedroom window , he_saw the flight of_the boy because he_wished overtake him and bring him back seized his bicycle , pursued the lad, and pursuing him met his death "

" would seem "

" now I come to_the critical part of_my argument the natural action man pursuing little boy would_be run after him he_would know that he_could overtake him but the German does_not do_so turns to_his bicycle I_am told that he_was excellent cyclist he_would_not do_this he_did_not_see that_the boy had some swift means escape "

" the other bicycle "

" let_us continue our reconstruction meets his death five miles from_the school -- not , mark you , which even lad might conceivably discharge , but savage blow dealt vigorous arm the lad, then , had companion in_his flight and_the flight was swift one , since took five miles before expert cyclist could overtake them yet survey the ground round the scene of_the tragedy what we_find ? few cattle tracks, nothing more i_took wide sweep round , and there_is path within fifty yards another cyclist could_have had nothing to_do with_the actual murder nor were there any human footmarks "

"Holmes," I cried , " this_is impossible "

" admirable ! " he_said "A most illuminating remark it_is impossible I state , and therefore I_must some respect have stated wrong yet you saw for_yourself can_you suggest any fallacy ? "

" he_could_not have $fractured$ his skull fall ? "

" morass , Watson ? "

" I_am wit 's end "

"Tut, tut; we_have solved some worse problems at_least we_have plenty material , if_we_can only use come , then , and , having exhausted the palmer , let_us_see what the Dunlop with_the patched cover has_to offer "

picked the track and followed onwards for some distance ; but soon the moor rose into long , heather - tufted curve , and left the watercourse behind further help from tracks could_be hoped for at_the spot where saw the last of_the Dunlop tyre might equally have led Holdernesse hall , the stately towers of_which rose some miles our left , low , grey village which lay front , and marked the position of_the chesterfield high road

as_we approached the forbidding and squalid inn , with_the sign game -cock above the door , Holmes gave sudden groan and clutched by_the shoulder save himself from falling had had one of_those violent strains of_the ankle which leave man helpless with difficulty limped up_to_the door , where squat , dark , elderly man was smoking black clay pipe

" how are_you , Mr Reuben Hayes ? " said Holmes

" who_are you , and how do_you get name pat ? " the countryman answered , with suspicious flash pair cunning eyes

" well , 's printed on_the board above your head 's easy to_see man who_is master of_his own house I suppose you haven 't such thing carriage your stables ? "

" ; I_have_not "

" I_can hardly put foot to_the ground "

"Don't put to_the ground "

" but I_can 't walk "

" well , then , hop "

Mr Reuben Hayes's manner was far from gracious , but Holmes took with admirable good -humour

" look here , man ," said " this_is really rather awkward fix for_me I don't mind how I get "

" neither I," said the morose landlord

" the matter very_important i_would offer you sovereign for_the use bicycle "

the landlord pricked his ears

" where do_you_want to_go ? "

" Holdernesse hall "

"Pals of_the Dook, I suppose ? " said the landlord , surveying our mud - stained garments with ironical eyes

Holmes laughed good -naturedly

" 'll be_glad_to_see , anyhow "

" why ? "

" because bring him news of_his lost son "

the landlord gave very visible start

" what , you 're on_his track ? "

" has_been heard Liverpool they expect to_get him every hour "

again swift change passed over the heavy , unshaven face his manner was suddenly genial

"I've less reason wish the Dook well than most men ," said , " for i_was his head coachman once , and cruel bad treated it_was him that sacked without character on_the word lying corn - Chandler but I'm glad_to_hear that_the young lord was heard Liverpool , and I'll help_you take_the news to_the hall "

" thank_you ," said Holmes " 'll have some food first then you_can bring round the bicycle "

"I haven 't got bicycle "

Holmes held sovereign

"I tell you , man , that I haven 't got one I'll let you_have two horses far as_the hall "

" well , well ," said Holmes, " 'll talk about_it when 've had something eat "

when were left alone in_the stone -flagged kitchen it_was astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered it_was nearly nightfall , and had eaten nothing since early morning , so_that spent some_time over our meal Holmes was lost thought , and once_or_twice walked over to_the window and stared earnestly out opened squalid courtyard in_the far corner was smithy , where grimy lad was work on_the other side were the stables Holmes had sat down again after one_of_these excursions, when suddenly sprang out of_his chair with loud exclamation