"All would now well had it not been knowledge of what they had done that there were times when my life hung balance confined to my room, terrorized most horrible threats, cruelly ill-used to break my spirit- see this stab on my shoulder bruises from end to end arms- and gag was thrust into my mouth one occasion when I tried window For five days this cruel imprisonment continued, with hardly enough food to hold body and soul together This afternoon good lunch was brought me, but the moment after it that I drugged In sort of dream I remember being half-led, half-carried carriage, same state conveyed train Only then, wheels were almost moving, did I suddenly my liberty lay in my own hands I sprang out, they tried to drag me back, and had it not been help good man, who led me cab, never have broken away Now, thank God, beyond their power forever "

We had all listened intently remarkable statement Holmes who broke the silence

"Our difficulties over," he remarked, shaking his head "Our police work ends, but our legal work begins "

"Exactly," said I "A plausible lawyer could make it out as an act of self-defence hundred crimes background, but only on that tried "

"Come, come," said Baynes cheerily, " better law than that Self-defence is To entice man in cold blood object of murdering him is another, whatever danger fear No, no, all be justified when we see the tenants of High Gable next Guildford Assizes "

matter of history, however, that little time was still to elapse Tiger of San Pedro should meet deserts Wily and bold, he companion threw their pursuer off their track by entering lodging-house in Edmonton Street and leaving back-gate into Curzon Square day they were seen no more in England Some six months afterwards the Marquess of Montalva and Signor Rulli, his secretary, were both murdered in their rooms Hotel Escurial at Madrid The crime was ascribed to Nihilism, murderers were never arrested Inspector Baynes visited us at Baker Street with printed description dark face secretary, and masterful features, the magnetic black eyes, tufted brows master doubt that justice, if belated, had come at last

"A chaotic case, my dear Watson," said Holmes over an evening pipe " possible it compact form dear to your heart It covers two continents, concerns two groups of mysterious persons, further complicated highly respectable presence friend, Scott Eccles, whose inclusion shows me deceased Garcia had scheming mind and well-developed instinct of self-preservation remarkable only fact that amid perfect jungle of possibilities we, worthy collaborator, the inspector, have kept our close hold essentials and so been guided along the crooked and winding path any point not quite clear ? "

"The object mulatto cook's return ? "

" strange creature kitchen may account The man was primitive savage backwoods of San Pedro, and his fetish When his companion and he had fled to some prearranged retreat- already occupied, by confederate- the companion had persuaded him to leave so compromising an article of furniture But the mulatto's heart was with it, and driven back , when, on reconnoitring window, policeman Walters in possession He waited three days longer, and then his piety or his superstition drove him once more Inspector Baynes, who, usual astuteness, had minimized the incident before me, had really recognized its importance and had left trap into which the creature walked point, Watson ? "

"The torn bird, the pail of blood, the charred bones, all the mystery weird kitchen ? "

Holmes smiled as he turned up an entry notebook

"I spent morning British Museum reading up and other points quotation from Eckermann's Voodooism Negroid Religions:

The true voodoo-worshipper attempts nothing of importance without certain sacrifices which are intended to propitiate his unclean gods In extreme cases these rites form of human sacrifices followed by cannibalism The more usual victims are white cock, plucked in pieces alive, or black goat, whose throat is cut and body burned