I moved my head to look cabinet behind me When I turned again Sherlock Holmes was standing smiling at me across my study table I rose to my feet, stared at him for some seconds in utter amazement, and then it appears that fainted first last time in my life Certainly grey mist swirled before my eyes, and when it cleared my collar-ends undone tingling after-taste of brandy upon my lips Holmes was bending over my chair, his flask hand

"My dear Watson," said the well-remembered voice, "I owe you thousand apologies I had no idea that so affected "

I gripped him arm

"Holmes ! " I cried " really you ? Can it indeed be that alive ? possible that you succeeded in climbing out awful abyss ? "

"Wait moment," said he " sure that really fit to discuss things ? you serious shock by my unnecessarily dramatic reappearance "

" all right, but indeed, Holmes, hardly believe my eyes Good heavens, that you -- you of all men -- standing in my study ! " Again I gripped him sleeve and felt the thin, sinewy arm beneath it "Well, you're not spirit, anyhow," said I "My dear chap, overjoyed you Sit down and tell me how you came alive out dreadful chasm "

He sat opposite and lit cigarette old nonchalant manner dressed seedy frock-coat book merchant, but the rest individual lay in pile of white hair and old books table Holmes looked even thinner and keener than of old, but dead-white tinge aquiline face which told me that his life recently healthy one

" to stretch myself, Watson," said he " no joke when tall man has foot off his stature for several hours on end Now, my dear fellow, matter explanations , if ask for your co-operation, hard and dangerous night's work in front of us Perhaps it better if I an account whole situation work is finished "

" full of curiosity much prefer to hear now "

"You'll come with me to-night ? "

" like and where you like "

" indeed like the old days time for mouthful of dinner before go Well, then, chasm I had no serious difficulty in getting out of it, very simple reason that I never was "

"You never were ? "

"No, Watson, I never was My note was absolutely genuine I had little doubt that I had come end career when I perceived the somewhat sinister figure late Professor Moriarty standing narrow pathway which led to safety an inexorable purpose grey eyes I exchanged some remarks , therefore, and obtained his courteous permission to write the short note which you afterwards received I left it with my cigarette-box and my stick and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my heels When I reached the end I stood at bay He drew no weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me that his own game was up, and was only anxious to revenge himself upon me We tottered together brink fall some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the Japanese system of wrestling, more than once been very useful I slipped through his grip, and he with horrible scream kicked madly for few seconds and clawed the air with both his hands But for all his efforts get his balance, and over he went With my face over the brink him fall for long way Then he struck rock, bounded off, and splashed water "

I listened with amazement explanation, which Holmes delivered puffs cigarette

"But the tracks ! " I cried " with my own eyes that two went down the path and none returned "

"It came about The instant Professor had disappeared it struck me what really extraordinarily lucky chance Fate had placed in my way that Moriarty was not the only man who had sworn my death There were three others whose desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased death leader They were all most dangerous men One or other would certainly get me other hand, if all the world was convinced that dead take liberties, these men, lay themselves open, and sooner or later destroy them Then it time to announce that still land living So rapidly does the brain act that I believe I had thought this all out before Professor Moriarty had reached the bottom Reichenbach Fall

"I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me In your picturesque account matter, which with great interest some months later, you assert wall was sheer not literally true few small footholds presented themselves, and some indication of ledge The cliff is so high that to climb it all was an obvious impossibility, and equally impossible my way along the wet path without leaving some tracks , true, have reversed my boots, as on similar occasions, but the sight of three sets of tracks in one direction would certainly have suggested deception whole, then, best that risk the climb not pleasant business, Watson The fall roared beneath me not fanciful person, but I my word that I seemed to hear Moriarty's voice screaming at me abyss mistake fatal More than once, as tufts of grass came out in my hand or my foot slipped wet notches rock, that gone But I struggled upwards, and at last I reached ledge several feet deep and covered with soft green moss, where lie unseen most perfect comfort There stretched , my dear Watson, and all your following were investigating most sympathetic and inefficient manner the circumstances death

"At last, had all formed your inevitable and totally erroneous conclusions, you departed hotel and left alone I had imagined that I had reached the end adventures, but very unexpected occurrence showed me that there were surprises still in store huge rock, falling from above, boomed past me, struck the path, and bounded over chasm For an instant an accident; but moment later, looking up, man's head against the darkening sky, and another stone struck the very ledge stretched, within foot head , the meaning of obvious Moriarty alone confederate -- and even that one glance had told me how dangerous man that confederate was -- had kept guard while the Professor had attacked me From distance, unseen by me, he witness friend's death and escape He had waited, and then, making his way round top cliff, he had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed

" take long , Watson Again that grim face look over the cliff, and the precursor of another stone I scrambled down on path I don't think done it in cold blood hundred times more difficult than getting up But I had no time danger, for another stone sang past me as I hung by my hands edge ledge Halfway down I slipped, but blessing of God I landed, torn and bleeding, path to my heels, did ten miles over the mountains darkness, and week later myself in Florence certainty that no one knew what had become of me