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revenge himself upon me。 We tottered together upon the brink of the
fall。 I have some knowledge； however； of baritsu； or the Japanese
system of wrestling； which has more than once been very useful to
me。 I slipped through his grip； and he with a horrible scream kicked
madly for a few seconds； and clawed the air with both his hands。 But
for all his efforts he could not get his balance； and over he went。
With my face over the brink； I saw him fall for a long way。 Then he
struck a rock； bounded off； and splashed into the water。〃
I listened with amazement to this explanation； which Holmes
delivered between the puffs of his cigarette。
〃But the tracks！〃 I cried。 〃I saw； with my own eyes； that two went
down the path and none returned。〃
〃It came about in this way。 The instant that the Professor had
disappeared； it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky chance
Fate had placed in my way。 I knew that Moriarty was not the only man
who had sworn my death。 There were at least three others whose
desire for vengeance upon me would only be increased by the death of
their leader。 They were all most dangerous men。 One or other would
certainly get me。 On the other hand； if all the world was convinced
that I was dead they would take liberties； these men； they would
soon lay themselves open； and sooner or later I could destroy them。
Then it would be time for me to announce that I was still in the
land of the living。 So rapidly does the brain act that I believe I had
thought this all out before Professor Moriarty had reached the
bottom of the Reichenbach Fall。
〃I stood up and examined the rocky wall behind me。 In your
picturesque account of the matter； which I read with great interest
some months later； you assert that the wall was sheer。 That was not
literally true。 A few small footholds presented themselves； and
there was some indication of a ledge。 The cliff is so high that to
climb it all was an obvious impossibility； and it was equally
impossible to make my way along the wet path without leaving some
tracks。 I might； it is true； have reversed my boots； as I have done on
similar occasions； but the sight of three sets of tracks in one
direction would certainly have suggested a deception。 On the whole；
then； it was best that I should risk the climb。 It was not a
pleasant business； Watson。 The fall roared beneath me。 I am not a
fanciful person； but I give you my word that I seemed to hear
Moriarty's voice screaming at me out of the abyss。 A mistake would
have been fatal。 More than once； as tufts of grass came out in my hand
or my foot slipped in the wet notches of the rock； I thought that I
was gone。 But I struggled upward； and at last I reached a ledge
several feet deep and covered with soft green moss； where I could
lie unseen； in the most perfect comfort。 There I was stretched； when
you； my dear Watson； and all your following were investigating in
the most sympathetic and inefficient manner the circumstances of my
death。
〃At last； when you had all formed your inevitable and totally
erroneous conclusions； you departed for the hotel； and I was left
alone。 I had imagined that I had reached the end of my adventures； but
a very unexpected occurrence showed me that there were surprises still
in store for me。 A huge rock； falling from above； boomed past me；
struck the path； and bounded over into the chasm。 For an instant I
thought that it was an accident； but a moment later； looking up； I saw
a man's head against the darkening sky； and another stone struck the
very ledge upon which I was stretched； within a foot of my head。 Of
course； the meaning of this was obvious。 Moriarty had not been
alone。 A confederate… and even that one glance had told me how
dangerous a man that confederate was… had kept guard while the
Professor had attacked me。 From a distance； unseen by me； he had
been a witness of his friend's death and of my escape。 He had
waited； and then making his way round to the top of the cliff； he
had endeavoured to succeed where his comrade had failed。
〃I did not take long to think about it； Watson。 Again I saw that
grim face look over the cliff； and I knew that it was the precursor of
another stone。 I scrambled down on to the path。 I don't think I
could have done it in cold blood。 It was a hundred times more
difficult than getting up。 But I had no time to think of the danger；
for another stone sang past me as I hung by my hands from the edge
of the ledge。 Halfway down I slipped； but； by the blessing of God； I
landed； torn and bleeding； upon the path。 I took to my heels； did
ten miles over the mountains in the darkness； and a week later I found
myself in Florence； with the certainty that no one in the world knew
what had become of me。
〃I had only one confidant… my brother Mycroft。 I owe you many
apologies； my dear Watson； but it was all…important that it should
be thought I was dead； and it is quite certain that you would not have
written so convincing an account of my unhappy end had you not
yourself thought that it was true。 Several times during the last three
years I have taken up my pen to write to you； but always I feared lest
your affectionate regard for me should tempt you to some
indiscretion which would betray my secret。 For that reason I turned
away from you this evening when you upset my books； for I was in
danger at the time； and any show of surprise and emotion upon your
part might have drawn attention to my identity and led to the most
deplorable and irreparable results。 As to Mycroft； I had to confide in
him in order to obtain the money which I needed。 The course of
events in London did not run so well as I had hoped； for the trial
of the Moriarty gang left two of its most dangerous members； my own
most vindictive enemies； at liberty。 I travelled for two years in
Tibet； therefore； and amused myself by visiting Lhassa； and spending
some days with the head lama。 You may have read of the remarkable
explorations of a Norwegian named Sigerson； but I am sure that it
never occurred to you that you were receiving news of your friend。 I
then passed through Persia； looked in at Mecca； and paid a short but
interesting visit to the Khalifa at Khartoum the results of which I
have communicated to the Foreign Office。 Returning to France； I
spent some months in a research into the coal…tar derivatives； which I
conducted in a laboratory at Montpellier； in the south of France。
Having concluded this to my satisfaction and learning that only one of
my enemies was now left in London I was about to return when my
movements were hastened by the news of this very remarkable Park
Lane Mystery； which not only appealed to me by its own merits； but
which seemed to offer some most peculiar personal opportunities。 I
came over at once to London； called in my own person at Baker
Street； threw Mrs。 Hudson into violent hysterics； and found that
Mycroft had preserved my rooms and my papers exactly as they had
always been。 So it was； my dear Watson； that at two o'clock to…day I
found myself in my old armchair in my own old room； and only w