“That is Mrs. Toller in the cellar,” said she. “Her husband lies snoringon the kitchen rug. Here are his keys, which are the duplicates of Mr.
Rucastle’s.”
“You have done well indeed!” cried Holmes with enthusiasm.
“Now lead the way, and we shall soon see the end of this blackbusiness.”
We passed up the stair, unlocked the door, followed on downa passage, and found ourselves in front of the barricade whichMiss Hunter had described. Holmes cut the cord and removedthe transverse bar. Then he tried the various keys in the lock, butwithout success. No sound came from within, and at the silenceHolmes’ face clouded over.
“I trust that we are not too late,” said he. “I think, Miss Hunter,that we had better go in without you. Now, Watson, put your shoulderto it, and we shall see whether we cannot make our way in.”
It was an old rickety door and gave at once before our unitedstrength. Together we rushed into the room. It was empty. Therewas no furniture save a little pallet bed, a small table, and abasketful of linen. The skylight above was open, and the prisonergone.
“There has been some villainy here,” said Holmes; “this beautyhas guessed Miss Hunter’s intentions and has carried his victimoff.”
“But how?”
“Through the skylight. We shall soon see how he managed it.”
He swung himself up onto the roof. “Ah, yes,” he cried, “here’s theend of a long light ladder against the eaves. That is how he did it.”
“But it is impossible,” said Miss Hunter; “the ladder was notthere when the Rucastles went away.”
“He has come back and done it. I tell you that he is a clever anddangerous man. I should not be very much surprised if this werehe whose step I hear now upon the stair. I think, Watson, that itwould be as well for you to have your pistol ready.”
The words were hardly out of his mouth before a man appearedat the door of the room, a very fat and burly man, with a heavystick in his hand. Miss Hunter screamed and shrunk against thewall at the sight of him, but Sherlock Holmes sprang forward andconfronted him.
“You villain!” said he, “where’s your daughter?”
The fat man cast his eyes round, and then up at the openskylight.
“It is for me to ask you that,” he shrieked, “you thieves! Spiesand thieves! I have caught you, have I? You are in my power. I’llserve you!” He turned and clattered down the stairs as hard as hecould go.
“He’s gone for the dog!” cried Miss Hunter.
“I have my revolver,” said I.
“Better close the front door,” cried Holmes, and we all rusheddown the stairs together. We had hardly reached the hall whenwe heard the baying of a hound, and then a scream of agony, witha horrible worrying sound which it was dreadful to listen to. Anelderly man with a red face and shaking limbs came staggering outat a side door.
“My God!” he cried. “Someone has loosed the dog. It’s not beenfed for two days. Quick, quick, or it’ll be too late!”
Holmes and I rushed out and round the angle of the house, withToller hurrying behind us. There was the huge famished brute,its black muzzle buried in Rucastle’s throat, while he writhedand screamed upon the ground. Running up, I blew its brainsout, and it fell over with its keen white teeth still meeting in thegreat creases of his neck. With much labour we separated themand carried him, living but horribly mangled, into the house. Welaid him upon the drawing-room sofa, and having dispatched thesobered Toller to bear the news to his wife, I did what I could torelieve his pain. We were all assembled round him when the dooropened, and a tall, gaunt woman entered the room.
“Mrs. Toller!” cried Miss Hunter.