Notes

I took the lamp from him, and examined the machine very thoroughly: It was certainly a very large and powerful one. When I went back outside and pressed down the handles that controlled it. I could tell from the soft whistling sound that there was a sligh escape of water from one part into another. This was the explanation for the loss of pressure. A further examination showed that one of the rubber seals in the press had become worn and thin, and this was how the water was escaping. I pointed this out to my companions, who listened very carefully to what I said, and asked several questions about what they should do to put problem right. When I had made it clear to them, I went bad

inside the machine, and had another good look at it-to satisfy my own desire to find out what it was. I realized that the story of the Fuller's earth was a complete lie: it was impossible to believe that such a powerful machine could be intended for such a purpose. The walls were made of wood, but the floor was like a kind of iron bath. When I examined this more closely I saw that it was coated with another sort of metal. in a fine powder. I had bent down and was feeling this to find out exactly what it was. when I heard a few angry words in German and saw the Captain looking down at me. "What are you doing in there?" he asked. I was feeling angry with him for telling me lies. "I was admiring your Fuller's earth I said. "I think you ought to have told me the real purpose of your machine before asking me to advise you about it As soon as I had spoken. I wished I had not. A cold. hard expression came into Captain Stark's face, and I saw that his grey eyes were full of hatred. Very well!" he said. "I will show you everything about the machine!" He took a step backwards, shut the little door and quickly turned the key. I rushed towards it and pulled at the handle. Then I pushed and kicked at the door. but it held firm. "Captain Stark! Captain Stark'" I shouted."Let me out!" And then suddenly in the silence I heard a sound that sent my heart to my mouth with fear. It was the controlling handles being pressed down, and the slight whistling noise of the water.Captain Stark had turned on the machine. The lamp was still on the iron floor of the press, and by its light I saw that the black ceiling was coming down on me slowly and unsteadily, but with enough power to crush me into the floor with a terrible cry I threw myself against the door and tore with my nails at the lock. begged the Captain to let me out, but the sounds of the machinery drowned my cries. The ceiling was now only a foot or two above my head, and by raising my arm l could feel its hard

rough surface. Then the thought struck me that the pain of my death would depend very much position of my body at the last moment. If I lay on my face the weight would come on my backbone, and I trembled to think of the terrible sound of my own back breaking. Perhaps it would be easier the other way but had I enough courage to lie and look up at that fearful black shadow as it came nearer and neare? Already I was unable to stand up, when I noticed something that brought hope back to my heart I have said that though the floor and th ceiling were made of iron, the walls of the press were wooden. As I gave a last hopeless look around, I saw a thin line of yellow light between two of the boards; and this line became wider and wider as a small door was pushed backwards. For a moment I could hardly believe that here was a door that led away from death. The next moment I threw myself through, and lay half fainting on the other side.The door had closed again behind me, but the crash of the lamp as the ceiling struck it, and a few moments afterwards the sound of the top and bottom of the press meeting, made me realize what a narrow escape I had had. 'Suddenly, as I lay outside the press, I felt somebody pulling at my wrist, and I saw that I was on the stone floor of a narrow passage, and a woman with an oil lamp in her hand was bending over me. It was the same good friend whose earlier warning I ha so stupidly failed to take seriously "Come! Come!" she cried. "They will be here in a moment They will see that you are not there. Oh, do not waste valuable time, but come with me!" This time, at least, I took her advice. Unsteadily, I stood un and ran with her along the passage and down a narrow s which led to another broad passage just as we reached this passage, we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting two voices one answering the other -from the floor w here we

were, and from the one below. My guide stopped and looked around her as if she did not know what to do. Then she threw open a door which led into a bedroom, through the window of which the moon was shining brightly. It is your only chance she said."The window is high up, but perhaps you can jump out. As she spoke a light appeared at the other end of the passage, and I saw the thin figure of Captain Stark rushing forward with a lamp in one hand, and an axe in the other I rushed across the bedroom, threw open the window, and looked out. How quiet and pleasant the garden looked in the moonlight! It was about thirty feet down. I climbed out, but did not jump immediately, as I wanted to hear what was about to happen between stark and the lady who had saved me from death. If it were necessary I was determined, whatever the risk, to return and help her. This thought had hardy flashed through my mind before he was at the door, pushing his way past her: but she threw her arms around him, and tried to hold him back. Fritz! Fritz! Remember your promise after the last time!" she cried in English."You said it would never happen again. He will not tell anyone! Oh, I am sure he will not!" "You are crazy, Elise!" he shouted, struggling to free himself "You will be the ruin of us. He has seen too much. Let me pass, I say!" He pushed her to one side, rushed to the window, and struck at me with his axe. At that moment I was hanging by my hands to the bottom of the window I was conscious of a dull pain, and I fell into the garden below I was not hurt too much by the fall: so I got to my feet and rushed of among the bushes as fast as I could run -1 knew that was not out of danger yet. Suddenly, as I ran. I began to feel sick and faint. I looked down at my hand, which by now was really painful, and saw for the first time that my thumb had been cut off, and that blood was pouring from the wound. I attempted to

tie a piece of cloth round it. but suddenly I seemed to hear strange singing noise in my ears. and the next moment I finted and fell. I do not know how long I remained unconscious. It must have been a very long time, as it was daybreak when I woke up My clothes were wet through, and my coat was covered in blood from my wounded hand. The pain reminded me of all the details of my midnight adventure, and I jumped to my feet with the feeling that even now I might not be safe from my enemies. But, to my surprise, when I looked about me I could see neither the house nor the garden. I had been lying near the side of a country road. and not far of I saw a long low building. I walked along towards this, and found that it was the railway station where I had arrived the night before! Except for the wound on my hand everything that had happened during those terrible hours might have been a dream. still only half conscious, I went into the station. and asked about the morning train. There would be one to Reading in less than an hour The same railway man was on duty as at the time of my arrival. I asked him whether he had ever heard of Captain Lysander Stark. The name was not familiar to him. Had noticed a carriage waiting for me the night before? No, he ha not. Was there a police station anywhere near? There was one two r three miles away. It was too far for me to go in my weak state. I decided to until I got back to London before telling my story to the police. It was about half past six when I arrived, and I went first to have my wound banda After that, the doctor very kindly brought me along here. I should like to put the case into your hands, and vill do exactly what you advise: Sherlock Holmes and I sat in silence for some moments after listening to this strange account. Then Holmes pulled down from a shelf one of the thick, heavy books in which it was his habit to

stick pieces from the newspapers. Here is an advertisement that will interest you, he said. 'It appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this: "Lost on the 9th of this month, Mr Jeremiah Hayling, twenty-six years old, an engineer. He left his rooms at ten o'clock at night, and has not been heard of since. He was dressed in and so on. Yes! That must have been the last time the Captain needed to have his press repaired, I think Good heavens! cried my patient. Then that explains what the woman said. I have no doubt of it said Holmes. It is quite clear that the Captain is a determined man. who would not allow anything or anybody to stand in his way. Well, every moment is important, and so, if you feel strong enough. Mr Hatherley, we will go to Scotland Yard* and then to Eyford Two hours later we were all in the train together on our way from Reading to the little Berkshire village. There were Sherlock Holmes, Mr Hatherley the engineer,Bradstreet the Scotland Yard detective, a young policeman, and myself Bradstreet had spread a large-scale map of the Eyford area out on the seat. and was drawing a circle with Eyford at its centre. "There!" he said. That circle is twenty miles across ten miles from Exford in every direction. The place we want must be somewhere near that line.You said ten miles, I think, sir? The drive took more than an hour' said Mr Hatherley And you think that they brought you back all that way while you were unconscious?' They must have done so. I have a confused memory, too, of having been lifted and carried somewhere. I can't understand why they didn't kill you when they found you in the garden.' I said. Perhaps the woman begged Stark to let

ou go, and succeeded in softening him. I don't think that very likely" Hatherley answered. I never saw a more cruel face than his in my life oh, we shall soon find an explanation for all that: said Bradstreet. Well, I have drawn my circle, but I wish I knew at which point on it the wanted men are to be found. I think I could put my finger on the right point, said Holmes Really?" cried Bradstreet. So you have formed your opinion? Well, then, we shall see who agrees with you. I say it is to the south. as there are very few houses in that direction. And I say east, said Hather I think it is to the west, said the second policeman. There are several quiet little villages up there. And I think it is to the north Isaid. because th ere are no hills there, and Mr Hatherley says that he did not notiee the carriage going up my Bradstreet laughed. So we have opinions for north. south. east. and west. Which do you agree with, Mr Holmes?' I don't agree with any of them: Holmes answered. But we can't all be wrong! Oh, yes, you can! This is my point, he said. placing his finger on the centre of the circle. This is where we shall find them. But how do you explain the ten-mile drive asked Hatherley n surprise. Five miles out and five back. Nothing could be simpler You said yourself that the horse was quite fresh when you got in. That would be completely miles over rough roads. impossible if the horse had just gone ten thoughtfully Its quite a likely "Yes! said Bradstreet explanation. Of course it is not dificult to guess what kind of men these are es. said Holmes. They are forgers of coins on a large scale-

The press is used to form the mixture with which they make metal that looks like silver "We have known for some time that a clever group was at work said Bradstreet. They have made many thousands of forged silver coins. We even had clues which led to Reading. But we could get no further -they had covered their tracks too cleverly But now I think they are about to fall into our hands. But Bradstreet was mistaken. Those criminals never fell into the hands of the police. As our train came into Exford Station, we saw a broad line of smoke rising into the air behind some trees in the neighbourhood of the village. Is there a house on fire?' Bradstreet asked, as soon as we had got out. Yes, sir' said the stationmaster "When did the fire break out?' I hear that it was during the night, sir, but it has got worse, and by now the house is almost completely destroyed. "Whose house is it? Dr Becher's Tell me Hatherley interrupted, is Dr Becher a German. very thin, with a long sharp nose The stationmaster laughed loudly. No, sir, Dr Becher is an Englishman, and he's the fattest man in the village. But he has gentleman staying with him one of his patients, I believe who is a foreigner, and he is extremely thin. The stationmaster had not finished speaking before we were all hurrying in the direction of the fire. In front of us on a low hill there was a large white house. Smoke and flames were coming out of every window, while in the garden in front three fire engines were attempting. with little success. to control the fire. "That's the house!' cried Hatherley in great excitement. There are the bushes where I lay, and that second window is the one that I jumped from

Well, at least,' said Holmes you have had your revenge on them. I have no doubt that it was your oil lamp which, when it was crushed in the press, set fire to the wooden walls though no doubt Stark and Ferguson were too excited by their hunt for you to notice it at the time. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for those two men though I fear that by now they are almost at the other end of England And Holmes was right in his guess. From that day to this nothing has ever been heard of the beautiful woman, the cruel German. or the bad-tempered, silent Englishman. Early that morning a farmer had met a cart containing several people and some very large boxes. They were driving fast in the direction of Reading. But the criminals left no further signs, and even Holmes failed to discover any clues. We learnt that the firemen had found a human thumb,recently cut off, at a window on the second floor of the house, At about sunset they succeeded in putting the fire out, but by that time the roof had fallen in. and almost nothing remained of the forgers machinery inside the house. Large amounts of different metals were found in a building behind the house, but it was clear that the criminals had taken their stores of forged coins away with them in the boxes. The mystery of how Mr Hatherley had been carried from the garden to the roadside was quickly solved when Holmes found a double line of footprints in the soft earth. The engineer had been carried out by two people, one of whom had very small feet. and the other unusual large ones.On the who was most likely that the silent Englishman less fearless or less cruel than the German captain had helped the woman to carry the unconscious man out of the way of danger Well: said Hatherley a little sadly. it has been a strange affair for me! I have lost my thumb, and I have lost fifty pounds in pay. and what have I gained?'


"You have gained experience' said Holmes, laughing. And you have now got a true and interesting story of your own, which you will be able to tell every day for the rest of your life!'