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he remarked； 〃but no sign of a handkerchief。〃
〃Suppose we go down…stream a short way and lie in wait for them；〃
said Jones； eagerly。 We were all eager by this time； even the policemen
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and stokers； who had a very vague idea of what was going forward。
〃We have no right to take anything for granted；〃 Holmes answered。
〃It is certainly ten to one that they go down…stream； but we cannot be
certain。 From this point we can see the entrance of the yard； and they can
hardly see us。 It will be a clear night and plenty of light。 We must stay
where we are。 See how the folk swarm over yonder in the gaslight。〃
〃They are coming from work in the yard。〃
〃Dirty…looking rascals； but I suppose every one has some little
immortal spark concealed about him。 You would not think it； to look at
them。 There is no a priori probability about it。 A strange enigma is
man！〃
〃Some one calls him a soul concealed in an animal；〃 I suggested。
〃Winwood Reade is good upon the subject；〃 said Holmes。 〃He
remarks that； while the individual man is an insoluble puzzle； in the
aggregate he becomes a mathematical certainty。 You can； for example；
never foretell what any one man will do； but you can say with precision
what an average number will be up to。 Individuals vary； but percentages
remain constant。 So says the statistician。 But do I see a handkerchief？
Surely there is a white flutter over yonder。〃
〃Yes； it is your boy；〃 I cried。 〃I can see him plainly。〃
〃And there is the Aurora；〃 exclaimed Holmes； 〃and going like the
devil！ Full speed ahead； engineer。 Make after that launch with the
yellow light。 By heaven； I shall never forgive myself if she proves to
have the heels of us！〃
She had slipped unseen through the yard…entrance and passed behind
two or three small craft； so that she had fairly got her speed up before we
saw her。 Now she was flying down the stream； near in to the shore；
going at a tremendous rate。 Jones looked gravely at her and shook his
head。
〃She is very fast；〃 he said。 〃I doubt if we shall catch her。〃
〃We MUST catch her！〃 cried Holmes； between his teeth。 〃Heap it on；
stokers！ Make her do all she can！ If we burn the boat we must have
them！〃
We were fairly after her now。 The furnaces roared； and the powerful
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engines whizzed and clanked； like a great metallic heart。 Her sharp；
steep prow cut through the river…water and sent two rolling waves to right
and to left of us。 With every throb of the engines we sprang and quivered
like a living thing。 One great yellow lantern in our bows threw a long；
flickering funnel of light in front of us。 Right ahead a dark blur upon the
water showed where the Aurora lay； and the swirl of white foam behind
her spoke of the pace at which she was going。 We flashed past barges；
steamers； merchant…vessels； in and out； behind this one and round the
other。 Voices hailed us out of the darkness； but still the Aurora thundered
on； and still we followed close upon her track。
〃Pile it on； men； pile it on！〃 cried Holmes； looking down into the
engine…room； while the fierce glow from below beat upon his eager；
aquiline face。 〃Get every pound of steam you can。〃
〃I think we gain a little；〃 said Jones； with his eyes on the Aurora。
〃I am sure of it；〃 said I。 〃We shall be up with her in a very few
minutes。〃
At that moment； however； as our evil fate would have it； a tug with
three barges in tow blundered in between us。 It was only by putting our
helm hard down that we avoided a collision； and before we could round
them and recover our way the Aurora had gained a good two hundred
yards。 She was still； however； well in view； and the murky uncertain
twilight was setting into a clear starlit night。 Our boilers were strained to
their utmost； and the frail shell vibrated and creaked with the fierce energy
which was driving us along。 We had shot through the Pool； past the West
India Docks； down the long Deptford Reach； and up again after rounding
the Isle of Dogs。 The dull blur in front of us resolved itself now clearly
enough into the dainty Aurora。 Jones turned our search…light upon her； so
that we could plainly see the figures upon her deck。 One man sat by the
stern； with something black between his knees over which he stooped。
Beside him lay a dark mass which looked like a Newfoundland dog。 The
boy held the tiller； while against the red glare of the furnace I could see
old Smith； stripped to the waist； and shovelling coals for dear life。 They
may have had some doubt at first as to whether we were really pursuing
them； but now as we followed every winding and turning which they took
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there could no longer be any question about it。 At Greenwich we were
about three hundred paces behind them。 At Blackwall we could not have
been more than two hundred and fifty。 I have coursed many creatures in
many countries during my checkered career； but never did sport give me
such a wild thrill as this mad； flying man…hunt down the Thames。
Steadily we drew in upon them； yard by yard。 In the silence of the night
we could hear the panting and clanking of their machinery。 The man in
the stern still crouched upon the deck； and his arms were moving as
though he were busy； while every now and then he would look up and
measure with a glance the distance which still separated us。 Nearer we
came and nearer。 Jones yelled to them to stop。 We were not more than
four boat's lengths behind them； both boats flying at a tremendous pace。
It was a clear reach of the river； with Barking Leve