wereawareofthesoftlappingofagitatedwater.Heseemedtobestirringupthemoatwithsomethingwhichheheldinhishand.Thensuddenlyhehauledsomethinginasafishermanlandsafish—somelarge,roundobjectwhichobscuredthelightasitwasdraggedthroughtheopencasement.
“Now!”criedHolmes.“Now!”
Wewerealluponourfeet,staggeringafterhimwithourstiffenedlimbs,whileheranswiftlyacrossthebridgeandrangviolentlyatthebell.Therewastheraspingofboltsfromtheotherside,andtheamazedAmesstoodintheentrance.Holmesbrushedhimasidewithoutawordand,followedbyallofus,rushedintotheroomwhichhadbeenoccupiedbythemanwhomwehadbeenwatching.
Theoillamponthetablerepresentedtheglowwhichwehadseenfromoutside.ItwasnowinthehandofCecilBarker,whoheldittowardsusasweentered.Itslightshoneuponhisstrong,resolute,clean-shavedfaceandhismenacingeyes.
“Whatthedevilisthemeaningofallthis?”hecried.“Whatareyouafter,anyhow?”
Holmestookaswiftglanceround,andthenpounceduponasoddenbundletiedtogetherwithcordwhichlaywhereithadbeenthrustunderthewritingtable.
“Thisiswhatweareafter,Mr.Barker—thisbundle,weightedwithadumb-bell,whichyouhavejustraisedfromthebottomofthemoat.”
BarkerstaredatHolmeswithamazementinhisface.“Howinthundercameyoutoknowanythingaboutit?”heasked.
“SimplythatIputitthere.”
“Youputitthere!You!”
“PerhapsIshouldhavesaid'replaceditthere,'”saidHolmes.“Youwillremember,InspectorMacDonald,thatIwassomewhatstruckbytheabsenceofadumb-bell.Idrewyourattentiontoitbutwiththepressureofothereventsyouhadhardlythetimetogiveittheconsiderationwhichwouldhaveenabledyoutodrawdeductionsfromit.Whenwaterisnearandaweightismissingitisnotaveryfar-fetchedsuppositionthatsomethinghasbeensunkinthewater.TheideawasatleastworthtestingsowiththehelpofAmes,whoadmittedmetotheroom,andthecrookofDr.Watson'sumbrella,Iwasablelastnighttofishupandinspectthisbundle.
“Itwasofthefirstimportance,however,thatweshouldbeabletoprovewhoplaceditthere.Thisweaccomplishedbytheveryobviousdeviceofannouncingthatthemoatwouldbedriedto-morrow,whichhad,ofcourse,theeffectthatwhoeverhadhiddenthebundlewouldmostcertainlywithdrawitthemomentthatdarknessenabledhimtodoso.Wehavenolessthanfourwitnessesastowhoitwaswhotookadvantageoftheopportunity,andso,Mr.Barker,Ithinkthewordliesnowwithyou.”
SherlockHolmesputthesoppingbundleuponthetablebesidethelampandundidthecordwhichboundit.Fromwithinheextractedadumb-bell,whichhetosseddowntoitsfellowinthecorner.Nexthedrewforthapairofboots.“American,asyouperceive,”heremarked,pointingtothetoes.Thenhelaiduponthetablealong,deadly,sheathedknife.Finallyheunravelledabundleofclothing,comprisingacompletes