I left it with my cigarette-box and my
stick and I walked along the pathway, Moriarty still at my
heels. When I reached the end I stood at bay. He drew no
weapon, but he rushed at me and threw his long arms around me.
He knew that his own game was up, and was only anxious to
revenge himself upon me. We tottered together upon the brink
of the fall. I have some knowledge, however, of baritsu, or the
Japanese system of wrestling, which has more than once been very
useful to me. I slipped through his grip, and he with a
horrible scream kicked madly for a few seconds and clawed the
air with both his hands. But for all his efforts he could not
get his balance, and over he went. With my face over the brink
I saw him fall for a long way. Then he struck a rock, bounded
off, and splashed into the water."
I listened with amazement to this explanation, which Holmes
delivered between the puffs of his cigarette.
"But the tracks!" I cried. "I saw with my own eyes that two
went down the path and none returned."
"It came about in this way. The instant that the Professor had
disappeared it struck me what a really extraordinarily lucky
chance Fate had placed in my way.
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