No. 6 The Adventure of the Black Peter by Arthur Conan Doyle
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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 asailor 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 avile 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 agreat clasp-knife in_his hand .He had_not time to_get it from_the sheath before I had the harpoon through him .Heavens ! what ayell he_gave; and_his face gets between me and my sleep ! I stood there, with_his blood splashing round me, and I waited for abit; but all was quiet, so i_took heart once more .I looked round, and there_was the tin box on ashelf .I had as_much right to_it as Peter Carey, anyhow, so i_took it with me and left the hut .Like afool 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 .aman came slinking along, went into_the hut, gave acry as_if he had seen aghost, 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 atrain 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 ahempen 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 aplace of safety .This room is_not well adapted for acell, and Mr Patrick Cairns occupies too large aproportion 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 aseaman, and one who had_been awhaler . i_was convinced that_the initials `P .C .' upon_the pouch were acoincidence, 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 aseaman ."

"And how did you find him ? "

"My dear_Sir, the problem had become avery simple one . if_it were aseaman, it could only be aseaman 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 atime .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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