Arthur Conan Doyle

“ It was from Uncle Stephen.
“On no account let John get out at Congleton,” said the message. “He will find trap waiting seven o’clock evening train Stedding Bridge, one station further down line. Let him drive not me, but Garth Farm House—six miles. There will receive instructions. Do not fail; only you to look to.” “That is true enough,” said my mother. “As far as I know, your uncle has not a friend in the world, nor has he ever deserved one. He has always been a hard man in his dealings, and he held back his money from your father at a time when a few pounds would have saved him from ruin. ”

“ When my meal was finished he ordered his man Enoch to unpack my gun. I observed that two other guns, old rusted weapons, were leaning against the wall beside the window. To the reader: this is posted so that you'll know that someone has stolen this story from another source.
“It’s the window I’m afraid of,” said my uncle, in the deep, reverberant voice which contrasted oddly with his plump little figure. “The door’s safe against anything short of dynamite, but the windows a terror. Hi! Hi!” he yelled, “don’t walk across the light! You can duck when you pass the lattice.” ”

“ I thought better of my uncle when I saw how readily the man consented. Whomever else he had wronged, this one at least seemed to love him.
“Put your cloak on and your ’at, Enoch, and out with you by the back door. You know the way across the moor to the Purcells’. Tell them that I must ’ave the cart first thing in the mornin’, and that Purcell must come with the shepherd as well. We must get clear of this or we are done. First thing in the mornin’, Enoch, and ten pound for the job. Keep the black cloak on and move slow, and they will never see you. We’ll keep the ’ouse till you come back.” ”

“ Stephen Maple’s nephew, come to visit him.” “You are, are you? Well, I wish you joy of your uncle and of your visit too. Quick’s the word, lads for we must be aboard before morning. What shall we do with the old ’un?” “Trice him up Yankee fashion and give him six dozen,” said one of the seamen.
“D’you hear, you cursed Cockney thief? We’ll beat the life out of you if you don’t give back what you’ve stolen. Where are they? I know you never parted with them.” My uncle pursed up his lips and shook his head, with a face in which his fear and his obstinacy contended. ”

“ He will find that to serve me will pay him better than the engineering, and if I pass away (though, thank God, there is no reason to complain as to my health) you will see that I have not forgotten my brother’s son. Congleton is the station, and then a drive of four miles to Greta House, where I am now living. I will send a trap to meet the seven o’clock train, for it is the only one which stops here. Mind that you send him, Ellen, for I have very strong reasons for wishing him to be with me. Let bygones be bygones if there has been anything between us in the past. ”

“ A distant cry rang from out of the darkness, and then another one, short and sharp like the wail of the curlew.
“It’s Enoch!” said my uncle, gripping my arm. “They’re killin’ poor old Enoch.” The cry came again, much nearer, and I heard the sound of hurrying steps and a shrill call for help.
“They are after ’im!” cried my uncle, rushing to the front door. He picked up the lantern and flashed it through the little shutter. Up the yellow funnel of light a man was running frantically, his head bowed and a black cloak fluttering behind him. The moor seemed to be alive with dim pursuers. “The bolt! ”

“ He went click-clacking about the room with his great foot like one distracted. There was something piteous and babylike in that big bald head, and for the first time I felt a gush of pity for him.
“Come, uncle,” said I, “you are living in a civilized land. There is a law that will bring these gentry to order. Let me drive over to the county police-station to-morrow morning and I’ll soon set things right.” ”

“ If I met any one I should get no pay.
“You met that sailor on the road?”.
“Yes, and I think he was one of them.” “One of whom?” “One of the folk that have come on the fells. They are watchin’ Greta House, and Maister Maple is afeard of them. That’s why he wanted us to keep clear of them, and that’s why I’ve been a-trying to dodge ’em.” Here was something definite at last. Some body of men were threatening my uncle. ”

“ Stand by me till mornin’, and I stand by you while there’s breath in my body.
The cart will be ’ere by five. What isn’t ready we can afford to leave be’ind. We’ve only to load up and make for the early train at Congleton.” “Will they let us pass?” “In broad daylight they dare not stop us. There will be six of us, if they all come, and three guns. We can fight our way through. Where can they get guns, common, wandering seamen? A pistol or two at the most. If we can keep them out for a few hours we are safe. Enoch must be ’alf way to Purcell’s by now.” ”

“ But he shook his head at me.
“ ‘E’s cunning and ’e’s cruel,” said he. “I can’t draw a breath without thinking of him, cos ’e buckled up three of my ribs. ’E’ll kill me this time, sure. There’s only one chance. We must leave what we ’ave not packed, and we must be off first thing tomorrow mornin’. Great God, what’s that!” A tremendous knock upon the door had reverberated through the house and then another and another. An iron fist seemed to be beating upon it. My uncle collapsed into his chair. I seized a gun and ran to the door. ”

“ I have brought the gentleman.” There was a sharp click, and a small wooden shutter flew open in the door. The gleam of a lantern shone upon us for a few seconds. Then the shutter closed again; with a great rasping of locks and clattering of bars, the door was opened, and I saw my uncle standing framed in that vivid yellow square cut out of the darkness. ”

“ And why all this mystery about getting out at a distant station and driving to the wrong address? He has got himself into some trouble and he wishes us to get him out of it. When he has used us he will throw us aside as he has done before. ”

“ The seamen tied my uncle by the wrists to two of these. Then one of them undid his leather belt.
“The buckle end, Jim,” said the captain. “Give him the buckle.” “You cowards,” I cried; “to beat an old man!” “We’ll beat a young one next,” said he, with a malevolent glance at my corner. “Now, Jim, cut a wad out of him!” “Give him one more chance!” cried one of the seamen. “Aye, aye,” growled one or two others. “Give the swab a chance!” “If you turn soft, you may give them up for ever,” said the captain. “One thing or the other! You must lash it out of him ”

“ The cart will be round then, and you and me and Enoch and the boy William can guard the things as far as Congleton station. Did you see anything of them on the fells?” “Yes,” said I; “a sailor stopped us on the way.” “Ala, I knew they were watching us. That was why I asked you to get out at the wrong station and to drive to Purcell’s instead of comin’ ’ere we are blockaded—that’s the word.” “And there was another,” said I, “a man with a pipe.” “What was ’e like?” “Thin face, freckles, a peaked—” My uncle gave a hoarse scream. ”

“ Let John bring gun. Remember Stedding Bridge, not Congleton.” And so, with a gun-case added to my luggage and some surprise at my uncle’s insistence, I started off upon my adventure. The journey lies over the main Northern Railway as far as the station of Carnfield, where one changes for the little branch line which winds over the fells. In all England there is no harsher or more impressive scenery. ”

“ I asked.
“Well, well, you are one of ’is own folk,” said he. “ ’E ’as passed away; yes, yes, it is all over and done. I can tell you about it, no man better, but mum’s the word with old Enoch unless master wants ’im to speak. But his own nephew who came to ’elp ’im in the hour of need—yes, yes, Mister John, you ought to know.
“It was like this, sir. Your uncle ’ad ’is grocer’s business at Stepney, but ’e ’ad another business also. ’E would buy as well as sell, and when ’e bought ’e never asked no questions where the stuff came from. Why should ’e? ”

“ There’s only one way out of it, and that is to bang together, unless, as the saying goes, you mean to hang apart. There’s only one witness—” He looked at me with his malicious little eyes, and I saw that he had something that gleamed— either a knife or a revolver—in the breast of his pea-jacket. ”

“ The captain, which ’is name was Elias, ’e came to see the master, and what d’yoa think that ’e ’ad to sell? Why, sir, as I’m a livin’ sinner ’e ’ad a packet of diamonds for all the world just the same as what was lost out o’ that there African steamer. ”