Ì«×ÓүС˵Íø > Ó¢Óïµç×ÓÊé > the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ) >

µÚ27½Ú

the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ)-µÚ27½Ú

С˵£º the sign of the four(ÄÇËĸöµÄ¼ÇºÅ) ×ÖÊý£º ÿҳ4000×Ö

°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·­Ò³£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡




better¡¡chance¡¡at¡¡your¡¡trial¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Justice£¡¡¨¡¡snarled¡¡the¡¡ex¡­convict¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨A¡¡pretty¡¡justice£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Whose¡¡loot¡¡is¡¡

this£»¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡ours£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Where¡¡is¡¡the¡¡justice¡¡that¡¡I¡¡should¡¡give¡¡it¡¡up¡¡to¡¡those¡¡

who¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡earned¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Look¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡earned¡¡¡¡¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Twenty¡¡¡¡¡¡long¡¡

years¡¡in¡¡that¡¡fever¡­ridden¡¡swamp£»¡¡all¡¡day¡¡at¡¡work¡¡under¡¡the¡¡mangrove¡­tree£»¡¡

all¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡chained¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡filthy¡¡¡¡convict¡­huts£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡bitten¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡mosquitoes£»¡¡

racked¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡ague£»¡¡¡¡¡¡bullied¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡every¡¡¡¡¡¡cursed¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡­faced¡¡¡¡¡¡policeman¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡

loved¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡take¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡white¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡£¡¡That¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡earned¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡Agra¡¡

treasure£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡me¡¡of¡¡justice¡¡because¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡bear¡¡to¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡I¡¡

have¡¡paid¡¡this¡¡price¡¡only¡¡that¡¡another¡¡may¡¡enjoy¡¡it£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡would¡¡rather¡¡swing¡¡

a¡¡score¡¡of¡¡times£»¡¡or¡¡have¡¡one¡¡of¡¡Tonga's¡¡darts¡¡in¡¡my¡¡hide£»¡¡than¡¡live¡¡in¡¡a¡¡

convict's¡¡cell¡¡and¡¡feel¡¡that¡¡another¡¡man¡¡is¡¡at¡¡his¡¡ease¡¡in¡¡a¡¡palace¡¡with¡¡the¡¡

money¡¡that¡¡should¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡mine¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Small¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡dropped¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡mask¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡stoicism£»¡¡

and¡¡all¡¡this¡¡came¡¡out¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wild¡¡whirl¡¡of¡¡words£»¡¡while¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡blazed£»¡¡and¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡handcuffs¡¡¡¡¡¡clanked¡¡¡¡¡¡together¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡impassioned¡¡¡¡¡¡movement¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡

hands¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡could¡¡understand£»¡¡as¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡fury¡¡and¡¡the¡¡passion¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡

that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡no¡¡groundless¡¡or¡¡unnatural¡¡terror¡¡which¡¡had¡¡possessed¡¡Major¡¡

Sholto¡¡when¡¡he¡¡first¡¡learned¡¡that¡¡the¡¡injured¡¡convict¡¡was¡¡upon¡¡his¡¡track¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡'You¡¡¡¡¡¡forget¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡know¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡this£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡said¡¡¡¡¡¡Holmes¡¡¡¡¡¡quietly¡£¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡93¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡94¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



¡¨We¡¡¡¡¡¡have¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡your¡¡¡¡¡¡story£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡cannot¡¡¡¡¡¡tell¡¡¡¡¡¡how¡¡¡¡¡¡far¡¡¡¡¡¡justice¡¡¡¡¡¡may¡¡

originally¡¡have¡¡been¡¡on¡¡your¡¡side¡£¡¨¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡sir£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡very¡¡fair¡­spoken¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡though¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡that¡¡

I¡¡have¡¡you¡¡to¡¡thank¡¡that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡these¡¡bracelets¡¡upon¡¡my¡¡wrists¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Still£»¡¡I¡¡

bear¡¡no¡¡grudge¡¡for¡¡that¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡all¡¡fair¡¡and¡¡above¡­board¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡If¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡

hear¡¡my¡¡story¡¡I¡¡have¡¡no¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡hold¡¡it¡¡back¡£¡¡What¡¡I¡¡say¡¡to¡¡you¡¡is¡¡God's¡¡

truth£»¡¡every¡¡word¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Thank¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡can¡¡put¡¡the¡¡glass¡¡beside¡¡me¡¡here£»¡¡

and¡¡I'll¡¡put¡¡my¡¡lips¡¡to¡¡it¡¡if¡¡I¡¡am¡¡dry¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡a¡¡Worcestershire¡¡man¡¡myself£»born¡¡near¡¡Pershore¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡say¡¡

you¡¡would¡¡find¡¡a¡¡heap¡¡of¡¡Smalls¡¡living¡¡there¡¡now¡¡if¡¡you¡¡were¡¡to¡¡look¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

have¡¡often¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡taking¡¡a¡¡look¡¡round¡¡there£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡truth¡¡is¡¡that¡¡I¡¡was¡¡

never¡¡much¡¡of¡¡a¡¡credit¡¡to¡¡the¡¡family£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡doubt¡¡if¡¡they¡¡would¡¡be¡¡so¡¡very¡¡

glad¡¡to¡¡see¡¡me¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡were¡¡all¡¡steady£»¡¡chapel¡­going¡¡folk£»¡¡small¡¡farmers£»¡¡

well¡¡known¡¡and¡¡respected¡¡over¡¡the¡¡country¡­side£»¡¡while¡¡I¡¡was¡¡always¡¡a¡¡bit¡¡

of¡¡a¡¡rover¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡however£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡about¡¡eighteen£»¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡no¡¡

more¡¡trouble£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡got¡¡into¡¡a¡¡mess¡¡over¡¡a¡¡girl£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡only¡¡get¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡

again¡¡by¡¡taking¡¡the¡¡queen's¡¡shilling¡¡and¡¡joining¡¡the¡¡3d¡¡Buffs£»¡¡which¡¡was¡¡

just¡¡starting¡¡for¡¡India¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡wasn't¡¡destined¡¡to¡¡do¡¡much¡¡soldiering£»¡¡however¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡had¡¡just¡¡got¡¡past¡¡

the¡¡goose¡­step£»¡¡and¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡handle¡¡my¡¡musket£»¡¡when¡¡I¡¡was¡¡fool¡¡enough¡¡

to¡¡go¡¡swimming¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Ganges¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Luckily¡¡for¡¡me£»¡¡my¡¡company¡¡sergeant£»¡¡

John¡¡¡¡¡¡Holder£»¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡water¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡same¡¡¡¡¡¡time£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

finest¡¡swimmers¡¡in¡¡the¡¡service¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡crocodile¡¡took¡¡me£»¡¡just¡¡as¡¡I¡¡was¡¡half¡­¡¡

way¡¡across£»¡¡and¡¡nipped¡¡off¡¡my¡¡right¡¡leg¡¡as¡¡clean¡¡as¡¡a¡¡surgeon¡¡could¡¡have¡¡

done¡¡it£»¡¡just¡¡above¡¡the¡¡knee¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡with¡¡the¡¡shock¡¡and¡¡the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡blood£»¡¡I¡¡

fainted£»¡¡and¡¡should¡¡have¡¡drowned¡¡if¡¡Holder¡¡had¡¡not¡¡caught¡¡hold¡¡of¡¡me¡¡and¡¡

paddled¡¡for¡¡the¡¡bank¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡five¡¡months¡¡in¡¡hospital¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡at¡¡

last¡¡I¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡limp¡¡out¡¡of¡¡it¡¡with¡¡this¡¡timber¡¡toe¡¡strapped¡¡to¡¡my¡¡stump¡¡I¡¡

found¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡invalided¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡army¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡unfitted¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡active¡¡

occupation¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡was£»¡¡as¡¡you¡¡can¡¡imagine£»¡¡pretty¡¡down¡¡on¡¡my¡¡luck¡¡at¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¡for¡¡I¡¡

was¡¡a¡¡useless¡¡cripple¡¡though¡¡not¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡my¡¡twentieth¡¡year¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡However£»¡¡my¡¡

misfortune¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡soon¡¡¡¡¡¡proved¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡blessing¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡disguise¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡¡¡man¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡named¡¡

Abelwhite£»¡¡¡¡¡¡who¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡come¡¡¡¡¡¡out¡¡¡¡¡¡there¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡indigo¡­¡¡¡¡¡¡planter£»¡¡¡¡¡¡wanted¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡94¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡95¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



overseer¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡look¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡coolies¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡keep¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡£¡¡He¡¡

happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡our¡¡colonel's£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡an¡¡interest¡¡in¡¡me¡¡

since¡¡the¡¡accident¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡make¡¡a¡¡long¡¡story¡¡short£»¡¡the¡¡colonel¡¡recommended¡¡

me¡¡¡¡¡¡strongly¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡post¡¡¡¡¡¡and£»¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡work¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡mostly¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡done¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡

horseback£»¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡leg¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡obstacle£»¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡enough¡¡¡¡¡¡knee¡¡¡¡¡¡left¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡

keep¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡the¡¡saddle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡I¡¡had¡¡to¡¡do¡¡was¡¡to¡¡ride¡¡over¡¡the¡¡

plantation£»¡¡to¡¡keep¡¡an¡¡eye¡¡on¡¡the¡¡men¡¡as¡¡they¡¡worked£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡report¡¡the¡¡

idlers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡pay¡¡was¡¡fair£»¡¡I¡¡had¡¡comfortable¡¡quarters£»¡¡and¡¡altogether¡¡I¡¡was¡¡

content¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡spend¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡remainder¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡indigo¡­planting¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡

Abelwhite¡¡was¡¡a¡¡kind¡¡man£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡would¡¡often¡¡drop¡¡into¡¡my¡¡little¡¡shanty¡¡

and¡¡smoke¡¡a¡¡pipe¡¡with¡¡me£»¡¡for¡¡white¡¡folk¡¡out¡¡there¡¡feel¡¡their¡¡hearts¡¡warm¡¡

to¡¡each¡¡other¡¡as¡¡they¡¡never¡¡do¡¡here¡¡at¡¡home¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Well£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡never¡¡in¡¡luck's¡¡way¡¡long¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Suddenly£»¡¡without¡¡a¡¡note¡¡of¡¡

warning£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡mutiny¡¡¡¡broke¡¡¡¡upon¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡One¡¡¡¡month¡¡¡¡¡¡India¡¡¡¡lay¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡still¡¡

and¡¡peaceful£»¡¡to¡¡all¡¡appearance£»¡¡as¡¡Surrey¡¡or¡¡Kent£»¡¡the¡¡next¡¡there¡¡were¡¡two¡¡

hundred¡¡thousand¡¡black¡¡devils¡¡let¡¡loose£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡country¡¡was¡¡a¡¡perfect¡¡hell¡£¡¡

Of¡¡course¡¡you¡¡know¡¡all¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡gentlemen£»a¡¡deal¡¡more¡¡than¡¡I¡¡do£»¡¡very¡¡

like£»¡¡since¡¡reading¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡my¡¡¡¡line¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡only¡¡know¡¡¡¡what¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡saw¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡

own¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Our¡¡plantation¡¡was¡¡at¡¡a¡¡place¡¡called¡¡Muttra£»¡¡near¡¡the¡¡border¡¡of¡¡

the¡¡Northwest¡¡Provinces¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Night¡¡after¡¡night¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡sky¡¡was¡¡alight¡¡with¡¡

the¡¡¡¡¡¡burning¡¡¡¡¡¡bungalows£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡after¡¡¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡small¡¡¡¡¡¡companies¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡

Europeans¡¡¡¡¡¡passing¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡estate¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡their¡¡¡¡¡¡wives¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡children£»¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡

their¡¡way¡¡to¡¡Agra£»¡¡where¡¡were¡¡the¡¡nearest¡¡troops¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Abelwhite¡¡was¡¡an¡¡

obstinate¡¡man¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡had¡¡it¡¡in¡¡his¡¡head¡¡that¡¡the¡¡affair¡¡had¡¡been¡¡exaggerated£»¡¡

and¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡blow¡¡over¡¡as¡¡suddenly¡¡as¡¡it¡¡had¡¡sprung¡¡up¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡

on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡veranda£»¡¡¡¡¡¡drinking¡¡¡¡¡¡whiskey¡­pegs¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡smoking¡¡¡¡¡¡cheroots£»¡¡¡¡¡¡while¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡

country¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡blaze¡¡¡¡¡¡about¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡¡¡¡¡course¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡¡¡¡¡stuck¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡

Dawson£»¡¡who£»¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife£»¡¡used¡¡to¡¡do¡¡the¡¡book¡­work¡¡and¡¡the¡¡managing¡£¡¡

Well£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fine¡¡¡¡day¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡crash¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡came¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡been¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡distant¡¡

plantation£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡riding¡¡slowly¡¡home¡¡in¡¡the¡¡evening£»¡¡when¡¡my¡¡eye¡¡fell¡¡

upon¡¡something¡¡¡¡¡¡all¡¡¡¡¡¡huddled¡¡together¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡steep¡¡¡¡¡¡nullah¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

rode¡¡down¡¡to¡¡see¡¡what¡¡it¡¡was£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡struck¡¡through¡¡my¡¡heart¡¡when¡¡I¡¡

found¡¡it¡¡was¡¡Dawson's¡¡wife£»¡¡all¡¡cut¡¡into¡¡ribbons£»¡¡and¡¡half¡¡eaten¡¡by¡¡jackals¡¡

and¡¡native¡¡dogs¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡little¡¡further¡¡up¡¡the¡¡road¡¡Dawson¡¡himself¡¡was¡¡lying¡¡



¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡95¡¡


¡­¡¡Page¡¡96¡­

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Sign¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Four¡¡



on¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡face£»¡¡¡¡¡¡quite¡¡¡¡¡¡dead£»¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡¡¡empty¡¡¡¡¡¡revolver¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡hand¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡four¡¡

Sepoys¡¡¡¡¡¡lying¡¡¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡each¡¡¡¡¡¡other¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡front¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡him¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡reined¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡¡¡horse£»¡¡

wondering¡¡which¡¡way¡¡I¡¡should¡¡turn£»¡¡but¡¡at¡¡that¡¡moment¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡thick¡¡smoke¡¡

curling¡¡up¡¡from¡¡Abelwhite's¡¡bungalow¡¡and¡¡the¡¡flames¡¡beginning¡¡to¡¡burst¡¡

through¡¡the¡¡roof¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡then¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡do¡¡my¡¡employer¡¡no¡¡good£»¡¡but¡¡

would¡¡¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡throw¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡own¡¡¡¡¡¡life¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡¡¡¡¡meddled¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡matter¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡

where¡¡I¡¡stood¡¡I¡¡could¡¡see¡¡hundreds¡¡of¡¡the¡¡black¡¡fiends£»¡¡with¡¡their¡¡red¡¡coats¡¡

still¡¡on¡¡their¡¡backs£»¡¡dancing¡¡and¡¡howling¡¡round¡¡the¡¡burning¡¡house¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Some¡¡

of¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡pointed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡me£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡couple¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡bullets¡¡¡¡¡¡sang¡¡¡¡¡¡past¡¡¡¡¡¡my¡¡¡¡head£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡I¡¡

broke¡¡¡¡¡¡away¡¡¡¡across¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡paddy¡­fields£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡found¡¡¡¡¡¡myself¡¡¡¡¡¡late¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡night¡¡¡¡¡¡safe¡¡

within¡¡the¡¡walls¡¡at¡¡Agra¡£¡¡

¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨As¡¡it¡¡proved£»¡¡however£»¡¡there¡¡was¡¡no¡¡great¡¡safety¡¡there£»¡¡either¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡

whole¡¡country¡¡was¡¡up¡¡like¡¡a¡¡swarm¡¡of¡¡bees¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Wherever¡¡the¡¡English¡¡could¡¡

collect¡¡in¡¡little¡¡bands¡¡they¡¡held¡¡just¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡that¡¡their¡¡guns¡¡commanded¡£¡¡

Everywhere¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡else¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡helpless¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡fugitives¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡fight¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡

millions¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡hundreds£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡cruellest¡¡part¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡these¡¡

men¡¡that¡¡we¡¡fought¡¡against£»¡¡foot£»¡¡horse£»¡¡and¡¡gunners£»¡¡were¡¡our¡¡own¡¡picked¡¡

troops£»¡¡whom¡¡we¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡and¡¡trained£»¡¡handling¡¡our¡¡own¡¡weapons£»¡¡and¡¡

blowing¡¡our¡¡own¡¡bugle¡­calls¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡At¡¡Agra¡¡there¡¡were¡¡the¡¡3d¡¡Bengal¡¡Fusiliers£»¡¡

some¡¡Sikh

·µ»ØĿ¼ ÉÏÒ»Ò³ ÏÂÒ»Ò³ »Øµ½¶¥²¿ ÔÞ£¨0£© ²È£¨1£©

Äã¿ÉÄÜϲ»¶µÄ