" 'I tell you, and I my word , that moment not my own master, and all like dim dream when I look back I drinking hard of late, two things together fairly turned my brain There's something throbbing in my head now, like docker's hammer, but that morning I seemed all Niagara whizzing and buzzing in my ears

" 'Well, to my heels, and l ran cab I had heavy oak stick in my hand, and I tell you red first; but as I ran I got cunning, too, and hung back little them without being seen They pulled up soon railway station good crowd round the booking-office, so I got quite close without being seen They took tickets for New Brighton So did I, but I got in three carriages behind them When we reached it they walked along the Parade, and never more than hundred yards At last them hire boat and start for row, for very hot day, thought, , cooler water

" ' just as given into my hands bit of haze, and you more than few hundred yards I hired boat , and I pulled after them I the blur craft, but they were going nearly as fast as I, and been long mile shore before I caught them up The haze was like curtain all round us, and there were we three middle of it My God, shall I ever forget their faces saw who was boat that was closing in upon them ? She screamed out He swore like madman and jabbed at me with an oar, for seen death in my eyes I got past it and got one in with my stick that crushed his head like an egg spared her, perhaps, for all my madness, but she threw her arms round him, crying out to him, and calling him "Alec " I struck again, and she lay stretched beside him like wild beast then that had tasted blood If Sarah there, Lord, she joined them I pulled out my knife, and -- well, there ! I've said enough It kind of savage joy when how Sarah would feel when she had such signs of what her meddling had brought about Then I tied the bodies boat, stove plank, and stood by until they had sunk owner would think had lost their bearings haze, and had drifted off out to sea I cleaned myself up, got back to land, and joined my ship without soul having suspicion of what had passed That night up the packet for Sarah Cushing, and it from Belfast

" 'There the whole truth of it hang me, or do what you like with me, but punish me as punished already shut my eyes but those two faces staring at me -- staring at me stared when my boat broke haze I killed them quick, but killing me slow; and if another night of it either mad or dead before morning You won't put me alone into cell, sir ? Por pity's sake don't, and may you be treated in your day of agony treat me now '

" the meaning of it, Watson ? " said Holmes solemnly als he laid down the paper "What object is served circle of misery and violence and fear ? It must tend to some end, or else our universe is ruled by chance, unthinkable But what end ? the great standing perennial problem human reason is as far from an answer as ever "