No. 1 The Adventure of Silver Blaze by Arthur Conan Doyle
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overcoat was not blown against the furze- bush, but placed there ."

" yes, it_was laid across the bush ."

" you fill me with interest, I perceive that_the ground has_been trampled up a good_deal . no_doubt many feet have_been here since Monday night ."

"A piece of matting has_been laid here at_the side, and we_have all stood upon that ."

" excellent ."

" in_this bag I_have one_of_the boots which Straker wore, one of Fitzroy Simpson's shoes, and a cast horseshoe of silver blaze ."

" my dear inspector, you surpass yourself ! " Homes took the bag, and, descending into_the hollow, he pushed the matting into a more central position . then stretching himself upon his face and leaning his chin upon his hands, he_made a careful study of_the trampled mud in front of him ."Hullo ! " said he, suddenly ." what's this ? " it_was a wax vesta half burned, which_was so coated with mud that_it looked at first like a little chip of wood .

" I_cannot think how I_came to overlook it," said the inspector, with an expression of annoyance .

" it_was invisible, buried in_the mud .I only saw it because i_was looking for_it ."

" what ! you expected to_find it ? "

" i_thought it not unlikely ."

he_took the boots from_the bag, and compared the impressions of each of_them with marks upon_the ground . then he clambered up_to_the rim of_the hollow, and crawled about among_the ferns and bushes .

" I_am afraid that_there_are no more tracks," said the inspector ." I_have examined the ground very carefully for a hundred yards in each direction ."

" indeed ! " said Holmes, rising ."I should_not have the impertinence to_do_it again after what you say . but i_should like to_take a little walk over the moor before it grows dark, that I_may know my ground to- morrow, and i_think that I_shall put this horseshoe into my pocket for luck ."

colonel Ross, who had shown some signs of impatience at my companion's quiet and systematic method of work, glanced at his watch ." i_wish you_would come back with me, inspector," said he ." there_are several points on_which i_should like your advice, and especially as_to whether we_do_not owe it to_the public to remove our horse's name from_the entries for_the cup ."

" certainly not," cried Holmes, with decision ." i_should let the name stand ."

the colonel bowed ." I_am very glad_to_have had your opinion, sir," said he ." you_will_find us at poor Straker's house when_you have finished your walk, and we_can drive together into Tavistock ."

he turned back with_the inspector, while Holmes and I walked slowly across the moor . the sun was beginning to sink behind the stables of Mapleton, and_the long, sloping plain in front of us was tinged with gold, deepening into rich, ruddy browns where the faded ferns and brambles caught the evening light . but the glories of_the landscape were all wasted upon my companion, who was sunk in_the deepest thought .

" it's this_way, Watson," said he at last ." we_may leave the question of who killed John Straker for_the instant, and confine ourselves to finding out what has become of_the horse . now, supposing that he broke away during or after_the tragedy, where could he have_gone to ? the horse is a very gregarious creature . if left to himself his instincts would_have_been either to return to king's Pyland or go over to Mapleton . why should he run wild upon_the moor ? he_would surely have_been seen by now . and why should gypsies kidnap him ? these people always clear out when_they hear of trouble, for they_do_not wish to_be pestered by_the police . they_could_not hope to_sell such a horse . they_would run a great risk and gain nothing by taking him . surely that_is clear ."

" where is he, then ? "

" I_have already said that he_must_have gone to king's Pyland or to Mapleton . he_is_not at king's Pyland . therefore he_is at Mapleton . let_us take that as aworking hypothesis and_see what it leads us to . this part of_the moor, as_the inspector remarked, is very hard and dry . but if falls away towards Mapleton, and you_can see from here that_there_is a long hollow over yonder, which_must have_been very wet on Monday night . if our supposition is correct, then the horse must_have crossed that, and there_is the point where we_should look for_his tracks ."

we had_been walking briskly during this conversation, and a few more minutes brought us to_the hollow in_question . at Holmes' request I walked down the bank to_the right, and he to_the left, but I had_not taken fifty paces before I heard him give a shout, and saw him waving his hand to_me . the track of a horse was plainly outlined in_the soft earth in front of him, and_the shoe which he_took from_his pocket exactly fitted the impression .

" see the value of imagination," said Holmes ." it_is_the one quality which Gregory lacks . we imagined what might_have happened, acted upon_the supposition, and find ourselves justified . let_us proceed ."

we crossed the marshy bottom and passed over a quarter of a mile of dry, hard turf . again the ground sloped, and again we came on_the tracks . then we lost them for half a mile, but only to pick them up once more quite close to Mapleton . it_was Holmes who saw them first, and he stood pointing with a look of triumph upon his face .a man's track was visible beside the horse's .

" the horse was alone before," I cried .

" quite so . it_was alone before .Hullo, what_is this ? "

the double track turned sharp off and took the direction of king's Pyland .Homes whistled, and we both followed along after it . his eyes were on_the trail, but I happened to look a little to one side, and saw to my surprise the same tracks coming back again in_the opposite direction .

" one for_you, Watson," said Holmes, when I pointed it out ." you_have saved us a long walk, which would_have brought us back on_our own traces . let_us follow the return track ."

we had_not to_go far . it ended at_the paving of asphalt which led up_to_the gates of_the Mapleton stables . as_we approached, a groom ran out from_them .

" we don't want any loiterers about here," said he .

"I only wished to ask a question," said Holmes, with_his finger and thumb in_his waistcoat pocket ." should I be too early to_see your master, Mr Silas brown, if I were to_call at five o'clock to- morrow morning ? "

" bless you, sir, if any_one is about he_will_be, for he_is always the first stirring . but here he_is, sir, to answer your questions for himself . no, sir, no; it_is as_much as my place is worth to let him see me touch your money .Afterwards, if_you like ."

as Sherlock Holmes replaced the half- crown which he had drawn from_his pocket, a fierce- looking elderly man strode out from_the gate with ahunting- crop swinging in_his hand .

" what's this, Dawson ! " he cried ." no gossiping ! go about_your business ! and you, what the devil do_you_want here ? "

"Ten minutes' talk with_you, my good sir," said Holmes in_the sweetest of voices .

"I've no time to_talk to every gadabout . we_want no stranger here . be off, or you_may find a dog at your heels ."

Holmes leaned forward and whispered something in_the trainer's ear . he started violently and flushed to_the temples .

" it's a lie ! " he shouted, " an infernal lie ! "

" very_good . shall we argue about_it here in public or talk it over in your parlour ? "

"Oh, come in if_you_wish to ."

Holmes smiled ." I_shall_not keep you more than a few_minutes, Watson," said he ." now, Mr brown, I_am quite at your disposal ."

it_was twenty minutes, and_the reds had all faded into greys before Holmes and_the trainer reappeared . never have I seen such a change as had_been brought about in Silas brown in_that short time . his face was ashy pale, beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and_his hands shook until the hunting- crop wagged like a branch in_the wind . his bullying, overbearing manner was all gone too, and he cringed along at my companion's side like a dog with its master .

" you instructions will_be_done . it shall all be_done," said he .

" there_must_be no mistake," said Holmes, looking round at him . the other winced as he read the menace in_his eyes .

"Oh no, there shall be no mistake . it shall be there . should I change it first or not ? "

Holmes thought a little and then burst out laughing ." no, don't," said he; " I_shall write to_you about_it . no tricks, now, or--"

"Oh, you_can trust me, you_can trust me ! "

" yes, i_think I_can . well, you shall hear from me to- morrow ." he turned upon his heel, disregarding the trembling hand which the other held out to him, and we set off for king's Pyland .

"A more perfect compound of_the bully, coward, and sneak than master Silas brown I_have seldom met with," remarked Holmes as_we trudged along together .

" he has_the horse, then ? "

" he tried to bluster out of it, but I described to him so exactly what his actions had_been upon that morning that he_is convinced that i_was watching him . of_course you observed the peculiarly square toes in_the impressions, and_that his own boots exactly corresponded to_them . again, of_course no subordinate would_have dared to_do such a thing .I described to him how, when according to_his custom he was_the first down, he perceived a strange horse wandering over the moor . how he went out to_it, and_his astonishment at recognising, from_the white forehead which_has given the favourite its name, that chance had put in_his power the only horse which could beat the one upon_which he had put his money . then I described how his first impulse had_been to lead him back to king's Pyland, and how the devil had shown him how he_could hide the horse until the race was over, and how he had led it back and concealed it at Mapleton . when i_told him every detail he_gave it up and thought only of saving his own skin ."

" but his stables had_been searched ? "

"Oh, and old horse-fakir like him has many a dodge ."

" but are_you not afraid to leave the horse in_his power now, since he has every interest in injuring it ? "

" my dear fellow, he_will guard it as_the apple of_his eye . he_knows that his only hope of mercy is to_produce it safe ."

" colonel Ross did_not impress me as a man who_would_be likely to show much mercy in any case ."

" the matter does_not rest with colonel Ross .I follow my own methods, and tell as_much or as little as I choose . that_is_the advantage of being unofficial .I don't know whether you observed it, Watson, but the colonel's manner has_been just a trifle cavalier to_me . I_am inclined now to_have a little amusement at his expense . say nothing to him about_the horse ."

" certainly not without your permission ."

" and of_course this_is all quite a minor point compared to_the question of who killed John Straker ."

" and you_will devote yourself to_that ? "

" on_the contrary, we both go back to London by_the night train ."

i_was thunderstruck by my friend's words . we had only been a few hours in Devonshire, and_that he_should give up an investigation which he had begun so brilliantly was quite incomprehensible to_me . not a word more could I draw from_him until we were back at_the trainer's house . the colonel and_the inspector were awaiting us in_the parlour .

" my friend and I return to town by_the night- express," said Holmes ." we_have_had acharming little breath of your beautiful Dartmoor air ."

the inspector opened his eyes, and_the colonel's lip curled in a sneer .

" so you despair of arresting the murderer of poor Straker," said he .

Holmes shrugged his shoulders ." there_are certainly grave difficulties in_the way," said he ." I_have every hope, however, that your horse will start upon Tuesday, and I beg that you_will_have your jockey in readiness . might I ask for a photograph of Mr John Straker ? "

the inspector took one from an envelope and handed it to him .

" my dear Gregory, you anticipate all my wants . if I_might ask_you to wait here for an instant, I_have a question which i_should like to_put to_the maid ."

" I_must say that I_am rather disappointed in_our London consultant," said colonel Ross, bluntly, as my friend left the room ." I_do_not_see that we_are any further than when he_came ."

" at_least you_have his assurance that your horse will run," said I .

" yes, I_have his assurance," said the colonel, with a shrug of_his shoulders ." i_should prefer to_have the horse ."

i_was about to_make some reply in defence of_my friend when he entered the room again .

" now, gentlemen," said he, " I_am quite ready for Tavistock ."

as_we stepped into_the carriage one_of_the stable-lads held the door open for_us .a sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes, for he leaned forward and touched the lad upon_the sleeve .

" you_have a few sheep in_the paddock," he_said ." who attends to_them ? "

" I_do, sir ."

" have_you noticed anything amiss with_them of late ? "

" well, sir, not of much account; but three of_them have_gone lame, sir ."

I could_see that Holmes was extremely pleased, for

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