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The inspector shook his head despondently； however。 〃It's a bad job；〃
he repeated； 〃and so Mr。 Athelney Jones will think。〃
His forecast proved to be correct； for the detective looked blank
enough when I got to Baker Street and showed him the empty box。 They
had only just arrived； Holmes； the prisoner； and he； for they had changed
their plans so far as to report themselves at a station upon the way。 My
companion lounged in his arm…chair with his usual listless expression；
while Small sat stolidly opposite to him with his wooden leg cocked over
his sound one。 As I exhibited the empty box he leaned back in his chair
and laughed aloud。
〃This is your doing； Small；〃 said Athelney Jones； angrily。
〃Yes； I have put it away where you shall never lay hand upon it；〃 he
cried； exultantly。 〃It is my treasure； and if I can't have the loot I'll take
darned good care that no one else does。 I tell you that no living man has
any right to it； unless it is three men who are in the Andaman convict…
barracks and myself。 I know now that I cannot have the use of it； and I
know that they cannot。 I have acted all through for them as much as for
myself。 It's been the sign of four with us always。 Well I know that they
would have had me do just what I have done； and throw the treasure into
the Thames rather than let it go to kith or kin of Sholto or of Morstan。 It
was not to make them rich that we did for Achmet。 You'll find the
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treasure where the key is； and where little Tonga is。 When I saw that
your launch must catch us； I put the loot away in a safe place。 There are
no rupees for you this journey。〃
〃You are deceiving us； Small；〃 said Athelney Jones； sternly。 〃If you
had wished to throw the treasure into the Thames it would have been
easier for you to have thrown box and all。〃
〃Easier for me to throw； and easier for you to recover；〃 he answered；
with a shrewd； sidelong look。 〃The man that was clever enough to hunt
me down is clever enough to pick an iron box from the bottom of a river。
Now that they are scattered over five miles or so； it may be a harder job。
It went to my heart to do it； though。 I was half mad when you came up
with us。 However； there's no good grieving over it。 I've had ups in my
life； and I've had downs； but I've learned not to cry over spilled milk。〃
〃This is a very serious matter； Small；〃 said the detective。 〃If you had
helped justice； instead of thwarting it in this way； you would have had a
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。
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〃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
wa