登陆注册
14822400000020

第20章

It happened like this: I was in Denver. I had been there many years; sometimes I remember how many, sometimes I don't--but it isn't any matter. All of a sudden I got a notice to leave, or I would be exposed for a horrible crime committed long before--years and years before--in the East.

I knew about that crime, but I was not the criminal; it was a cousin of mine of the same name. What should I better do? My head was all disordered by fear, and I didn't know. I was allowed very little time--only one day, I think it was. I would be ruined if I was published, and the people would lynch me, and not believe what I said. It is always the way with lynchings: when they find out it is a mistake they are sorry, but it is too late--the same as it was with Mr. Holmes, you see. So I said I would sell out and get money to live on, and run away until it blew over and I could come back with my proofs. Then I escaped in the night and went a long way off in the mountains somewhere, and lived disguised and had a false name.

I got more and more troubled and worried, and my troubles made me see spirits and hear voices, and I could not think straight and clear on any subject, but got confused and involved and had to give it up, because my head hurt so. It got to be worse and worse; more spirits and more voices. They were about me all the time; at first only in the night, then in the day too. They were always whispering around my bed and plotting against me, and it broke my sleep and kept me fagged out, because I got no good rest.

And then came the worst. One night the whispers said, "We'll never manage, because we can't see him, and so can't point him out to the people."

They sighed; then one said: "We must bring Sherlock Holmes. He can be here in twelve days."

They all agreed, and whispered and jibbered with joy. But my heart broke; for I had read about that man, and knew what it would be to have him upon my track, with his superhuman penetration and tireless energies.

The spirits went away to fetch him, and I got up at once in the middle of the night and fled away, carrying nothing but the hand-bag that had my money in it--thirty thousand dollars; two-thirds of it are in the bag there yet. It was forty days before that man caught up on my track.

I just escaped. From habit he had written his real name on a tavern register, but had scratched it out and written "Dagget Barclay" in the place of it. But fear gives you a watchful eye and keen, and I read the true name through the scratches, and fled like a deer.

He has hunted me all over this world for three years and a half--the Pacific states, Australasia, India--everywhere you can think of; then back to Mexico and up to California again, giving me hardly any rest; but that name on the registers always saved me, and what is left of me is alive yet. And I am so tired! A cruel time he has given me, yet I give you my honor I have never harmed him nor any man.

That was the end of the story, and it stirred those boys to blood-heat, he sure of it. As for me--each word burnt a hole in me where it struck.

We voted that the old man should bunk with us, and be my guest and Hillyer's. I shall keep my own counsel, naturally; but as soon as he is well rested and nourished, I shall take him to Denver and rehabilitate his fortunes.

The boys gave the old fellow the bone-smashing good-fellowship handshake of the mines, and then scattered away to spread the news.

At dawn next morning Wells-Fargo Ferguson and Ham Sandwich called us softly out, and said, privately:

"That news about the way that old stranger has been treated has spread all around, and the camps are up. They are piling in from everywhere, and are going to lynch the P'fessor. Constable Harris is in a dead funk, and has telephoned the sheriff. Come along!"

We started on a run. The others were privileged to feel as they chose, but in my heart's privacy I hoped the sheriff would arrive in time; for I had small desire that Sherlock Holmes should hang for my deeds, as you can easily believe. I had heard a good deal about the sheriff, but for reassurance's sake I asked:

"Can he stop a mob?"

"Can he stop a mob! Can Jack Fairfax stop a mob! Well, I should smile!

Ex-desperado--nineteen scalps on his string. Can he! Oh, I say!"

As we tore up the gulch, distant cries and shouts and yells rose faintly on the still air, and grew steadily in strength as we raced along. Roar after roar burst out, stronger and stronger, nearer and nearer; and at last, when we closed up upon the multitude massed in the open area in front of the tavern, the crash of sound was deafening. Some brutal roughs from Daly's gorge had Holmes in their grip, and he was the calmest man there; a contemptuous smile played about his lips, and if any fear of death was in his British heart, his iron personality was master of it and no sign of it was allowed to appear.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 生化尸劫

    生化尸劫

    这是生化的时代,也是末日的时代。这是令人绝望的时代,也是让人崛起的时代。
  • 四十五度仰望星空

    四十五度仰望星空

    警校生,梦想是当一名人民警察,却因为家庭的变故,改变了女主一生的命运,最终,她能否完成自己所谓的信仰?
  • 昆仑古纪

    昆仑古纪

    一本名为《昆仑古纪》的上古奇书,竟然将四个年轻人引入上古华夏秘境,窥测到华夏从古至今的诡秘历史和沧桑变迁,究竟是谁在守护着华夏大地?炎黄子孙,在历代的文明演进中扮演了什么样的角色?天地玄黄,宇宙洪荒。日月盈昃,辰宿列张。神说:“万物皆有其秘事,况天地乎?”
  • 青春不留白01

    青春不留白01

    青春不留白因为有成长的烦恼,所以青春是萌动的;因为初生牛犊不怕虎,所以青春是百无禁忌;因为有初恋,所以青春是美好与苦涩的;……青春如歌,或婉转,或高亢,或忧郁……每个人都有青春,但每个人的青春都风格迥异。但什么样的青春,才最无遗憾?最丰满?且看《青春不留白》让我们的青春不留白;……
  • 穿过蔷薇花落下的时光

    穿过蔷薇花落下的时光

    他以为第一次看到她,是她在副楼的天台上,她把自己摆成是最舒适的姿势像极了一只慵懒的猫,就像隆冬即将结束。他没有察觉到心里的冰雪开始融化。其实他初遇她是在一个春天的蔷薇花下……
  • 武道战天下

    武道战天下

    在2500年这个人类已经征服银河系,基本上靠着机器生活大多人类只知道玩乐的年代,在联盟意外得到一个神奇之物,由联盟推出武道。
  • 英灵之巅

    英灵之巅

    三个人两世情缘,却因一场误会在前世结下,彼此在谁也不知道谁的情况下同时重生在同一片不为人知的大陆,两个孤儿,一个小姐便是他们的最初身份,两个孤儿是兄妹,相互依靠扶持,开始他们的养父母被贼寇所害,两人退出学院,彼此依靠,探索新世界......一个是不用修炼也是天才的天才,一个是陪伴一生的痴情的人儿......
  • 反物质纪元

    反物质纪元

    那时辰,没有人知道,连天上的使者也不知道,子也不知道,唯父知道。
  • 老子智慧讲座

    老子智慧讲座

    本书介绍了在中国古典哲学的理论体系中,《道德经》占据了十分特殊的位置,老子提出许多重要的哲学思想,它是中国古典哲学这个体系的基础。
  • 末世的清宁阳光之剧本库

    末世的清宁阳光之剧本库

    重污染的末世,人类怎么活着?...讲述一群人,聚集到一个普通大学,一个叫‘清宁阳光学会’社团组织,一起生活的故事。