"Mordecai Smith" was printed across it in large letters, and, underneath, "Boats to hire by the hour or day." A second inscription above the door informed us that a steam launch was kept,--a statement which was confirmed by a great pile of coke upon the jetty.

Sherlock Holmes looked slowly round, and his face assumed an ominous expression.
"This looks bad," said he.

"These fellows are sharper than I expected.
They seem to have covered their tracks.

There has, I fear, been preconcerted management here." He was approaching the door of the house, when it opened, and a little, curly-headed lad of six came running out, followed by a stoutish, red-faced woman with a large sponge in her hand.
"You come back and be washed, Jack," she shouted.

"Come back, you young imp; for if your father comes home and finds you like that, he'll let us hear of it." "Dear little chap!" said Holmes, strategically.