stores　of　nervous　energy　upon　which　to　draw。　His　springy　step　never
  slowed　until　suddenly；　when　he　was　a　hundred　yards　in　front　of　me；
  he　halted；　and　I　saw　him　throw　up　his　hand　with　a　gesture　of　grief　and
  despair。　At　the　same　instant　an　empty　dog…cart；　the　horse　cantering；
  the　reins　trailing；　appeared　round　the　curve　of　the　road　and　rattled
  swiftly　towards　us。
  〃Too　late；　Watson；　too　late！〃　cried　Holmes；　as　I　ran　panting　to
  his　side。　〃Fool　that　I　was　not　to　allow　for　that　earlier　train！　It's
  abduction；　Watson…　abduction！　Murder！　Heaven　knows　what！　Block　the
  road！　Stop　the　horse！　That's　right。　Now；　jump　in；　and　let　us　see　if
  I　can　repair　the　consequences　of　my　own　blunder。〃
  We　had　sprung　into　the　dog…cart；　and　Holmes；　after　turning　the
  horse；　gave　it　a　sharp　cut　with　the　whip；　and　we　flew　back　along　the
  road。　As　we　turned　the　curve；　the　whole　stretch　of　road　between　the
  Hall　and　the　heath　was　opened　up。　I　grasped　Holmes's　arm。
  〃That's　the　man！〃　I　gasped。
  A　solitary　cyclist　was　coming　towards　us。　His　head　was　down　and　his
  shoulders　rounded；　as　he　put　every　ounce　of　energy　that　he　possessed
  on　to　the　pedals。　He　was　flying　like　a　racer。　Suddenly　he　raised　his
  bearded　face；　saw　us　close　to　him；　and　pulled　up；　springing　from　his
  machine。　That　coal…black　beard　was　in　singular　contrast　to　eyes　were
  as　bright　as　if　he　had　a　fever。　He　stared　at　us　and　at　the　dog…cart。
  Then　a　look　of　amazement　came　over　his　face。
  〃Halloa！　Stop　there！〃　he　shouted；　holding　his　bicycle　to　block　our
  road。　〃Where　did　you　get　that　dog…cart？　Pull　up；　man！〃　he　yelled；
  drawing　a　pistol　from　his　side　〃Pull　up；　I　say；　or；　by　George；　I'll
  put　a　bullet　into　your　horse。〃
  Holmes　threw　the　reins　into　my　lap　and　sprang　down　from　the　cart。
  〃You're　the　man　we　want　to　see。　Where　is　Miss　Violet　Smith？〃　he
  said；　in　his　quick；　clear　way。
  〃That's　what　I'm　asking　you。　You're　in　her　dog…cart。　You　ought　to
  know　where　she　is。〃
  〃We　met　the　dog…cart　on　the　road。　There　was　no　one　in　it。　We　drove
  back　to　help　the　young　lady。〃
  〃Good　Lord！　Good　Lord！　What　shall　I　do？〃　cried　the　stranger；　in　an
  ecstasy　of　despair。　〃They've　got　her；　that　hell…hound　Woodley　and
  the　blackguard　parson。　Come；　man；　come；　if　you　really　are　her
  friend。　Stand　by　me　and　we'll　save　her；　if　I　have　to　leave　my
  carcass　in　Charlington　Wood。〃
  He　ran　distractedly；　his　pistol　in　his　hand；　towards　a　gap　in　the
  hedge。　Holmes　followed　him；　and　I；　leaving　the　horse　grazing　beside
  the　road；　followed　Holmes。
  〃This　is　where　they　came　through；〃　said　he；　pointing　to　the　marks　of
  several　feet　upon　the　muddy　path。　〃Halloa！　Stop　a　minute！　Who's　this
  in　the　bush？〃
  It　was　a　young　fellow　about　seventeen；　dressed　like　an　ostler；
  with　leather　cords　and　gaiters。　He　lay　upon　his　back；　his　knees
  drawn　up；　a　terrible　cut　upon　his　head。　He　was　insensible；　but
  alive。　A　glance　at　his　wound　told　me　that　it　had　not　penetrated　the
  bone。
  〃That's　Peter；　the　groom；〃　cried　the　stranger。　〃He　drove　her。　The
  beasts　have　pulled　him　off　and　clubbed　him。　Let　him　lie；　we　can't　do
  him　any　good；　but　we　may　save　her　from　the　worst　fate　that　can
  befall　a　woman。〃
  We　ran　frantically　down　the　path；　which　wound　among　the　trees。　We
  had　reached　the　shrubbery　which　surrounded　the　house　when　Holmes
  pulled　up。
  〃They　didn't　go　to　the　house。　Here　are　their　marks　on　the　left…
  here；　beside　the　laurel　bushes。　Ah！　I　said　so。〃
  As　he　spoke；　a　woman's　shrill　scream…　a　scream　which　vibrated　with　a
  frenzy　of　horror…　burst　from　the　thick；　green　clump　of　bushes　in　front
  of　us。　It　ended　suddenly　on　its　highest　note　with　a　choke　and　a
  gurgle。
  〃This　way！　This　way！　They　are　in　the　bowling…alley；〃　cried　the
  stranger；　darting　through　the　bushes。　〃Ah；　the　cowardly　dogs！　Follow
  me；　gentlemen！　Too　late！　too　late！　by　the　living　Jingo！〃
  We　had　broken　suddenly　into　a　lovely　glade　of　greensward
  surrounded　by　ancient　trees。　On　the　farther　side　of　it；　under　the
  shadow　of　a　mighty　oak；　there　stood　a　singular　group　of　three
  people。　One　was　a　woman；　our　client；　drooping　and　faint；　a
  handkerchief　round　her　mouth。　Opposite　her　stood　a　brutal；
  heavy…faced；　redmoustached　young　man；　his　gaitered　legs　parted　wide；
  one　arm　akimbo；　the　other　waving　a　riding　crop；　his　whole　attitude
  suggestive　of　triumphant　bravado。　Between　them　an　elderly；
  gray…bearded　man；　wearing　a　short　surplice　over　a　light　tweed　suit；
  had　evidently　just　completed　the　wedding　service；　for　he　pocketed
  his　prayer…book　as　we　appeared；　and　slapped　the　sinister　bridegroom
  upon　the　back　in　jovial　congratulation。
  〃They're　married？〃　I　gasped。
  〃Come　on！〃　cried　our　guide；　〃come　on！〃　He　rushed　across　the　glade；
  Holmes　and　I　at　his　heels。　As　we　approached；　the　lady　staggered
  against　the　trunk　of　the　tree　for　support。　Williamson；　the
  ex…clergyman；　bowed　to　us　with　mock　politeness；　and　the　bully；
  Woodley；　advanced　with　a　shout　of　brutal　and　exultant　laughter。
  〃You　can　take　your　beard　off；　Bob；〃　said　he。　〃I　know　you；　right
  enough。　Well；　you　and　your　pals　have　just　come　in　time　for　me　to　be
  able　to　introduce　you　to　Mrs。　Woodley。〃
  Our　guide's　answer　was　a　singular　one。　He　snatched　off　the　dark
  beard　which　had　disguised　him　and　threw　it　on　the　ground；　disclosing　a
  long；　sallow；　clean…shaven　face　below　it。　Then　he　raised　his
  revolver　and　covered　the　young　ruffian；　who　was　advancing　upon　him
  with　his　dangerous　riding　crop　swinging　in　his　hand。
  〃Yes；〃　said　our　ally；　〃I　am　Bob　Carruthers；　and　I'll　see　this
  woman　righted；　if　I　have　to　swing　for　it。　I　told　you　what　I'd　do　if
  you　molested　her；　and；　by　the　Lord！　I'll　be　as　good　as　my　word。〃
  〃You're　too　late。　She's　my　wife。〃
  〃No；　she's　your　widow。〃
  His　revolver　cracked；　and　I　saw　the　blood　spurt　from　the　front　of
  Woodley's　waistcoat。　He　spun　round　with　a　scream　and　fell　upon　his
  back；　his　hideous　red　face　turning　suddenly　to　a　dreadful　mottled
  pallor。　The　old　man；　still　clad　in　his　surplice；　burst　into　such　a
  string　of　foul　oaths　as　I　have　never　heard；　and　pulled　out　a
  revolver　of　his　own；　but；　before　he　could　raise　it；　he　was　looking
  down　the　barrel　of　Holmes's　weapon。
  〃Enough　of　this；〃　said　my　friend；　coldly。　〃Drop　that　pistol！　Watson；
  pick　it　up！　Hold　it　to　his　head。　Thank　you。　You；　Carruthers；　give　me
  that　revolver。　We'll　have　no　more　violence。　Come；　hand　it　over！〃
  〃Who　are　you；　then？〃
  〃My　name　is　Sherlock　Holmes。〃
  〃Good　Lord！〃
  〃You　have　heard　of　me；　I　see。　I　will　represent　the　official　police
  until　their　arrival。　Here；　you！〃　he　shouted　to　a　frightened　groom；　who
  had　appeared　at　the　edge　of　the　glade。　〃Come　here。　Take　this　note　as
  hard　as　you　can　ride　to　Farnham。〃　He　scribbled　a　few　words　upon　a　leaf
  from　his　notebook。　〃Give　it　to　the　superintendent　at　the
  police…station。　Until　he　comes；　I　must　detain　you　all　under　my
  personal　custody。〃
  The　strong；　masterful　personality　of　Holmes　dominated　the　tragic
  scene；　and　all　were　equally　puppets　in　his　hands。　Williamson　and
  Carruthers　found　themselves　carrying　the　wounded　Woodley　into　the
  house；　and　I　gave　my　arm　to　the　frightened　girl。　The　injured　man　was
  laid　on　his　bed；　and　at　Holmes's　request　I　examined　him。　I　carried
  my　report　to　where　he　sat　in　the　old　tapestry…hung　dining…room　with
  his　two　prisoners　before　him。
  〃He　will　live；〃　said　I。
  〃What！〃　cried　Carruthers；　springing　out　of　his　chair。　〃I'll　go
  upstairs　and　finish　him　first。　Do　you　tell　me　that　that　angel；　is　to
  be　tied　to　Roaring　Jack　Woodley　for　life？〃
  〃You　need　not　concern　yourself　about　that；〃　said　Holmes。　〃There
  are　two　very　good　reasons　why　she　should；　under　no　circumstances；　be
  his　wife。　In　the　first　place；　we　are　very　safe　in　questioning　Mr。
  Williamson's　right　to　solemnize　a　marriage。〃
  〃I　have　been　ordained；〃　cried　the　old　rascal。
  〃And　also　unfrocked。〃
  〃Once　a　clergyman；　always　a　clergyman。〃
  〃I　think　not。　How　about　the　license？〃
  〃We　had　a　license　for　the　marriage。　I　have　it　here　in　my　pocket。〃
  〃Then　you　got　it　by　trick。　But；　in　any　case　a　forced　marriage　is
  no　marriage；　but　it　is　a　very　serious　felony；　as　you　will　discover
  before　you　have　finished。　You'll　have　time　to　think　the　point　out
  during　the　next　ten　years　or　so；　unless　I　am　mistaken。　As　to　you；
  Carruthers；　you　would　have　done　better　to　keep　your　pistol　in　your
  pocket。〃
  〃I　begin　to　think　so；　Mr。　Holmes；　but　when　I　thought　of　all　the
  precaution　I　had　taken　to　shield　this　girl…　for　I　loved　her；　Mr。
  Holmes；　and　it　is　the　only　time　that　ever　I　knew　what　love　was…　it
  fairly　drove　me　mad　to　think　that　she　was　in　the　power　of　the　greatest
  brute　and　bully　in　South　Africa…　a　man　whose　name　is　a　holy　terror
  from　Kimberley　to　Johannesburg。　Why；　Mr。　Holmes；　you'll　hardly　believe
  it；　but　ever　since　that　girl　has　been　in　my　employment　I　never　once
  let　her　go　past　this　house；　where　I　knew　rascals　were　lurking；　without
  following　her　on　my　bicycle；　to　see　that　she　came　to　no　harm。　I　kept
  my　distance　from　her；　and　I　wore　a　beard；　so　that　she　should　not
  recognize　me；　for　she　is　a　good　and　high…spirited　girl；　and　she
  wouldn't　have　stayed　in　my　employment　long　if　she　had　thought　that　I
  was　foll