“If the launch is above water they will find her,” said Holmes as he rose from the table and lit his pipe. “They can go everywhere, see everything, overhear everyone. I expect to hear before evening that they have spotted her. In the meanwhile, we can do nothing but await results. We cannot pick up the broken trail until we find either the Aurora or Mr. Mordecai Smith.”

“Toby could eat these scraps, I dare say. Are you going to bed, Holmes?”

“No: I am not tired. I have a curious constitution. I never remember feeling tired by work, though idleness exhausts me completely. I am going to smoke and to think over this queer business to which my fair client has introduced us. If ever man had an easy task, this of ours ought to be. Wooden-legged men are not so common, but the other man must, I should think, be absolutely unique.”

“That other man again!”

“I have no wish to make a mystery of him to you, anyway. But you must have formed your own opinion. Now, do consider the data. Diminutive footmarks, toes never fettered by boots, naked feet, stone-headed wooden mace, great agility, small poisoned darts. What do you make of all this?”

“A savage!” I exclaimed. “Perhaps one of those Indians who were the associates of Jonathan Small.”

“Hardly that,” said he. “When first I saw signs of strange weapons I was inclined to think so, but the remarkable character of the footmarks caused me to reconsider my views. Some of the inhabitants of the Indian Peninsula are small men, but none could have left such marks as that. The Hindoo proper has long and thin feet. The sandal-wearing Mohammedan has the great toe well separated from the others because the thong is commonly passed between. These little darts, too, could only be shot in one way. They are from a blow-pipe. Now, then, where are we to find our savage?”

“South America,” I hazarded.

He stretched his hand up and took down a bulky volume from the shelf.

“This is the first volume of a gazetteer which is now being published. It may be looked upon as the very latest authority. What have we here?

“Andaman Islands, situated 340 miles to the north of Sumatra, in the Bay of Bengal.

Hum! hum! What’s all this? Moist climate, coral reefs, sharks, Port Blair, convict barracks, Rutland Island, cottonwoods — Ah here we are!

“The aborigines of the Andaman Islands may perhaps

claim the distinction of being the smallest race upon this

earth, though some anthropologists prefer the Bushmen of

Africa, the Digger Indians of America, and the Terra del

Fuegians. The average height is rather below four feet,

although many full-grown adults may be found who are

very much smaller than this. They are a fierce, morose,

and intractable people, though capable of forming most

devoted friendships when their confidence has once been

gained.

Mark that, Watson. Now, then listen to this.

“They are naturally hideous, having large, misshapen heads,