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When I got back after my visit to you, the very first thing I saw next morning was a fresh crop of dancing men.

They had been drawn in chalk upon the black wooden door of the tool-house, which stands beside the lawn in full view of the front windows.

I took an exact copy, and here it is." He unfolded a paper and laid it upon the table.

Here is a copy of the hieroglyphics:-

"Excellent!" said Holmes. "Excellent! Pray continue."

"When I had taken the copy I rubbed out the marks; but two mornings later a fresh inscription had appeared. I have a copy of it here":-

[symbols]

Holmes rubbed his hands and chuckled with delight.

"Our material is rapidly accumulating," said he.

"Three days later a message was left scrawled upon paper, and placed under a pebble upon the sun-dial.

Here it is.

The characters are, as you see, exactly the same as the last one.

After that I determined to lie in wait; so I got out my revolver and I sat up in my study, which overlooks the lawn and garden.

About two in the morning I was seated by the window, all being dark save for the moonlight outside, when I heard steps behind me, and there was my wife in her dressing-gown.

She implored me to come to bed.

I told her frankly that I wished to see who it was who played such absurd tricks upon us.

She answered that it was some senseless practical joke, and that I should not take any notice of it.

"'If it really annoys you, Hilton, we might go and travel, you and I, and so avoid this nuisance.'

"'What, be driven out of our own house by a practical joker?' said I. 'Why, we should have the whole county laughing at us.'

"'Well, come to bed,' said she, 'and we can discuss it in the morning.'

"Suddenly, as she spoke, I saw her white face grow whiter yet in the moonlight, and her hand tightened upon my shoulder.

Something was moving in the shadow of the tool-house.

I saw a dark, creeping figure which crawled round the corner and squatted in front of the door.

Seizing my pistol I was rushing out, when my wife threw her arms round me and held me with convulsive strength.

I tried to throw her off, but she clung to me most desperately.

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