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we found a reply waiting for us at our hotel。 Holmes
tore it open； and then with a bitter curse hurled it
into the grate。
〃I might have known it！〃 he groaned。 〃He has
escaped！〃
〃Moriarty？〃
〃They have secured the whole gang with the exception
of him。 He has given them the slip。 Of course； when
I had left the country there was no one to cope with
him。 But I did think that I had put the game in their
hands。 I think that you had better return to England；
Watson。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because you will find me a dangerous companion now。
This man's occupation is gone。 He is lost if he
returns to London。 If I read his character right he
will devote his whole energies to revenging himself
upon me。 He said as much in our short interview； and
I fancy that he meant it。 I should certainly
recommend you to return to your practice。〃
It was hardly an appeal to be successful with one who
was an old campaigner as well as an old friend。 We
sat in the Strasburg salle…唷璵anger arguing the
question for half an hour； but the same night we had
resumed our journey and were well on our way to
Geneva。
For a charming week we wandered up the Valley of the
Rhone； and then； branching off at Leuk； we made our
way over the Gemmi Pass； still deep in snow； and so；
by way of Interlaken； to Meiringen。 It was a lovely
trip； the dainty green of the spring below； the virgin
white of the winter above； but it was clear to me that
never for one instant did Holmes forget the shadow
which lay across him。 In the homely Alpine villages
or in the lonely mountain passes； I could tell by his
quick glancing eyes and his sharp scrutiny of every
face that passed us； that he was well convinced that；
walk where we would； we could not walk ourselves clear
of the danger which was dogging our footsteps。
Once； I remember； as we passed over the Gemmi； and
walked along the border of the melancholy Daubensee； a
large rock which had been dislodged from the ridge
upon our right clattered down and roared into the lake
behind us。 In an instant Holmes had raced up on to
the ridge； and； standing upon a lofty pinnacle； craned
his neck in every direction。 It was in vain that our
guide assured him that a fall of stones was a common
chance in the spring…time at that spot。 He said
nothing； but he smiled at me with the air of a man who
sees the fulfillment of that which he had expected。
And yet for all his watchfulness he was never
depressed。 On the contrary； I can never recollect
having seen him in such exuberant spirits。 Again and
again he recurred to the fact that if he could be
assured that society was freed from Professor Moriarty
he would cheerfully bring his own career to a
conclusion。
〃I think that I may go so far as to say； Watson； that
I have not lived wholly in vain；〃 he remarked。 〃If my
record were closed to…night I could still survey it
with equanimity。 The air of London is the sweeter for
my presence。 In over a thousand cases I am not aware
that I have ever used my powers upon the wrong side。
Of late I have been tempted to look into the problems
furnished by nature rather than those more superficial
ones for which our artificial state of society is
responsible。 Your memoirs will draw to an end；
Watson； upon the day that I crown my career by the
capture or extinction of the most dangerous and
capable criminal in Europe。〃
I shall be brief； and yet exact； in the little which
remains for me to tell。 It is not a subject on which
I would willingly dwell； and yet I am conscious that a
duty devolves upon me to omit no detail。
It was on the 3d of May that we reached the little
village of Meiringen； where we put up at the
Englischer Hof； then kept by Peter Steiler the elder。
Our landlord was an intelligent man； and spoke
excellent English； having served for three years as
waiter at the Grosvenor Hotel in London。 At his
advice； on the afternoon of the 4th we set off
together； with the intention of crossing the hills and
spending the night at the hamlet of Rosenlaui。 We had
strict injunctions； however； on no account to pass the
falls of Reichenbach； which are about half…way up the
hill； without making a small detour to see them。
It is indeed； a fearful place。 The torrent； swollen
by the melting snow； plunges into a tremendous abyss；
from which the spray rolls up like the smoke from a
burning house。 The shaft into which the river hurls
itself is a immense chasm； lined by glistening
coal…black rock； and narrowing into a creaming；
boiling pit of incalculable depth； which brims over
and shoots the stream onward over its jagged lip。 The
long sweep of green water roaring forever down； and
the thick flickering curtain of spray hissing forever
upward； turn a man giddy with their constant whirl and
clamor。 We stood near the edge peering down at the
gleam of the breaking water far below us against the
black rocks； and listening to the half…human shout
which cam booming up with the spray out of the abyss。
The path has been cut half…way round the fall to
afford a complete view； but it ends abruptly； and the
traveler has to return as he came。 We had turned to
do so； when we saw a Swiss lad come running along it
with a letter in his hand。 It bore the mark of the
hotel which we had just left； and was addressed to me
by the landlord。 It appeared that within a very few
minutes of our leaving； and English lady had arrived
who was in the last stage of consumption。 She had
wintered at Davos Platz； and was journeying now to
join her friends at Lucerne； when a sudden hemorrhage
had overtaken her。 It was thought that she could
hardly live a few hours； but it would be a great
consolation to her to see an English doctor； and； if I
would only return； etc。 The good Steiler assured me
in a postscript that he would himself look upon my
compliance as a very great favor； since the lady
absolutely refused to see a Swiss physician； and he
could not but feel that he was incurring a great
responsibility。
The appeal was one which could not be ignored。 It was
impossible to refuse the request of a
fellow…countrywoman dying in a strange land。 Yet I
had my scruples about leaving Holmes。 It was finally
agreed； however； that he should retain the young Swiss
messenger with him as guide and companion while I
returned to Meiringen。 My friend would stay some
little time at the fall； he said； and would then walk
slowly over the hill to Rosenlaui； where I was to
rejoin him in the evening。 As I turned away I saw
Holmes； with his back against a rock and his arms
folded； gazing down at the rush of the waters。 It was
the last that I was ever destined to see of him in
this world。
When I was near the bottom of the descent I looked
back。 It was impossible； from that position； to see
the fall； but I could see the curving path which winds
over the shoulder of the hill and leads to it。 Along
this a man was； I remember； walking very rapidly。
I could see his black figure clearly outlined against
the green behind him。 I noted him； and the energy wit
which he walked but he passed from my mind again as I
hurried on upon my errand。
It may have been a little over an hour before I
reached Meiringen。 Old Steiler was standing at the
porch of his hotel。
〃Well；〃 said I； as I came hurrying up； 〃I trust that
she is no worse？〃
a look of surprise passed over his face； and at the
first quiver of his eyebrows my heart turned to lead
in my breast。
〃You did not write this？〃 I said； pulling the letter
from my pocket。 〃There is no sick Englishwoman in the
hotel？〃
〃Certainly not！〃 he cried。 〃But it has the hotel mark
upon it！ Ha； it must have been written by that tall
Englishman who came in after you had gone。 He said〃
but I waited for none of the landlord's explanations。
In a tingle of fear I was already running down the
village street； and making for the path which I had so
lately descended。 It had taken me an hour to come
down。 For all my efforts two more had passed before I
found myself at the fall of Reichenbach once more。
There was Holmes's Alpine…stock still leaning against
the rock by which I had left him。 But there was no
sign of him； and it was in vain that I shouted。 My
only answer was my own voice reverberating in a
rolling echo from the cliffs around me。
It was the sight of that Alpine…stock which turned me
cold and sick。 He had not gone to Rosenlaui； then。
He had remained on that three…foot path； with sheer
wall on one side and sheer drop on the other； until
his enemy had overtaken him。 The young Swiss had gone
too。 He had probably been in the pay of Moriarty； and
had left the two men together。 And then what had
happened？ Who was to tell us what had happened then？
I stood for a minute or two to collect