yī tiān zǎo chén， wǒ men yī qǐ yòng zǎo cān， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào：
　　 “ huá shēng， kǒng pà wǒ zhǐ hǎo qù yī cì liǎo。 ”
　　“ qù yī cì？！ shàng nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ dào dá tè mù 'ěr， qù jīn sī pí lán。”
　　 wǒ tīng liǎo bìng bù jīng qí。 lǎo shí shuō， wǒ běn lái gǎn dào qí guài de shì， mù qián zài yīng guó gè dì dào chù dōuzài tán lùn zhe yī jiàn lí qí gǔ guài de 'àn jiàn， kě shì fú 'ěr mó sī què méi yòu guò wèn。 tā zhěng rì lǐ jǐn zhòu shuāng méi， dī tóu chén sī， zài wū nèi zǒu lái zǒu qù， zhuāng shàng yī dǒu yòu yī dǒu de liè xìng yān yè， xī gè méi wán， duì wǒ tí chū de wèn tí hé yì lùn， wán quán zhì zhī bù lǐ。 bào kān jīng shòu rén gěi wǒ men sòng lái dāng tiān de gè zhǒng bào zhǐ， tā yě jǐn jǐn shāo yī guò mù jiù rēng dào yī bàng。 rán 'ér， jìn guǎn tā chén mò bù yǔ， wǒ wán quán qīng chǔ dì zhī dào， fú 'ěr mó sī zhèng zài zǎi xì kǎo lǜ zhe shénme。 dāng qián， rén men miàn qián zhǐ yòu yī gè wèn tí， pò qiē xū yào fú 'ěr mó sī de fēn xī tuī lùn zhì néng qù jiě jué， nà jiù shì wéi sài kè sī bēi jǐn biāo sài zhōng de míng jū qí yì de shī zōng hé xùn mǎ shī de cǎn sǐ。 suǒ yǐ， tā tū rán shēng chēng， tā dǎ suàn chū fā qù diào chá zhè jiàn xì jù xìng de qí 'àn， zhè bù chū wǒ suǒ liào， yě zhèng zhōng wǒ xià huái。
　　“ yào shì wǒ bù fáng 'ài nǐ de huà， wǒ hěn yuàn hé nǐ yī tóng qù。”
　　“ qīn 'ài de huá shēng， nǐ néng hé wǒ yī tóng qù， nà wǒ fēi cháng gāo xīng。 wǒ xiǎng nǐ cǐ qù jué bù huì bái bái làng fèi shí jiān de， yīn wéi zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ yòu yī xiē tè diǎn， kàn lái tā kě néng shì jí wéi dú tè de。 wǒ xiǎng， wǒ men dào pà dīng dùn gāng hǎo néng gǎn shàng huǒ chē， zài lù shàng wǒ zài bǎ zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de qíng kuàng xiáng xì tán yī tán。 nǐ zuì hǎo néng bǎ nǐ nà gè shuāng tǒng wàng yuǎn jìng dài shàng。”
　　 yī xiǎo shí yǐ hòu， wǒ men yǐ zuò zài shǐ wǎng 'āi kè sài tè de tóu děng chē xiāng lǐ， yī dǐng dài hù 'ěr de lǚ xíng mào yǎn zhù fú 'ěr mó sī nà zhāng lún kuò fēn míng de miàn kǒng， tā zhèng zài cōng cōng liú lǎn tā zài pà dīng dùn chē zhàn mǎi dào de yī duī dāng tiān bào zhǐ。 wǒ men zǎo yǐ guò liǎo léi dīng zhàn hěn yuǎn， tā bǎ zuì hòu kàn de nà zhāng bào zhǐ sài zài zuò wèi xià miàn， ná chū xiāng yān hé lái ràng wǒ xī yān。
　　“ wǒ men xíng jìn dé hěn kuài，” fú 'ěr mó sī wàng zhe chuāng wài， kàn liǎo kàn biǎo shuō dào，” xiàn zài wǒ men měi xiǎo shí de chē sù shì wǔ shí sān yīng lǐ bàn。”
　　“ wǒ méi yòu zhù yì shù sì fēn zhī yī yīng lǐ de lù gān，” wǒ shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ yě méi zhù yì。 kě shì zhè tiáo tiě lù xiàn fù jìn diàn xiàn gān de jiàngé shì liù shí mǎ， suǒ yǐ jì suàn qǐ lái hěn jiǎn dān。 wǒ xiǎng nǐ duì yú yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè bèi hài hé yín sè bái 'é mǎ shī zōng de shì， yǐ jīng zhī dào liǎo bā。”
　　“ wǒ yǐ jīng kàn dào diàn xùn hé xīn wén bào dào liǎo。”
　　“ duì zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ， sī wéi tuī lǐ de yì shù， yīngdāng yòng lái zǎi xì chá míng shì shí xì jié， ér bù shì qù xún zhǎo xīn de zhèng jù。 zhè jiàn cǎn 'àn jí bù píng fán， rú cǐ fèi jiě， bìng qiě yǔ nà me duō rén yòu qièshēn lì hài guān xì， shǐ wǒ men pō fèi tuī cè、 cāi xiǎng hé jiǎ shè。 kùn nán zài yú， xū yào bǎ nà xiē què záo de shì shí héng héng wú kě zhēng biàn de shì shí yǔ nà xiē lǐ lùn jiā、 jì zhě xū gòu fěn shì zhī cí qū bié kāi lái。 wǒ men de zé rèn shì lì zú yú kě kào de gēn jù， dé chū jié lùn， bìng què dìng zài dāng qián zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ lǐ nǎ yī xiē wèn tí shì zhù yào de。 xīng qī 'èr wǎn shàng， wǒ jiē dào mǎ zhù rén luó sī shàng xiào hé jǐng cháng gé léi gē lǐ liǎng gè rén de diàn bào， gé léi gē lǐ qǐng wǒ yǔ tā hé zuò zhēn pò zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ。”
　　“ xīng qī 'èr wǎn shàng！” wǒ jīng hū dào，” jīn tiān yǐ jīng shì xīng qī sì zǎo chén liǎo。 wèishénme nǐ zuó tiān bù dòng shēn ní？”
　　“ wǒ qīn 'ài de huá shēng， zhè shì wǒ de guò cuò， kǒng pà wǒ huì fā shēng hěn duō cuò wù， ér bìng bù xiàng nà xiē zhǐ shì tōng guò nǐ de huí yì lù zhī dào wǒ de rén suǒ xiǎng xiàng de nà yàng。 shì shí shì， wǒ bìng bù xiāng xìn zhè pǐ yīng guó míng jū huì yǐn cáng dé zhè me jiǔ， tè bié shì zài dá tè mù 'ěr běi bù zhè yàng rén yān xī shǎo de dì fāng。 zuó tiān wǒ shí shí kè kè zhǐ wàng zhe néng tīng dào zhǎo dào mǎ de xiāo xī， ér nà gè guǎi mǎ de rén jiù shì shā hài yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè de xiōng shǒu。 nǎ zhī dào liǎo jīn tiān， wǒ fā xiàn chú liǎo zhuō zhù nián qīng rén fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn yǐ wài， méi yòu rèn hé jìn zhǎn。 wǒ gǎn dào shì gāi wǒ xíng dòng de shí hòu liǎo。 bù guò， wǒ jué dé zuó tiān de shí jiān yě bìng méi yòu bái bái làng fèi。”
　　“ nà me shuō， nǐ yǐ jīng zuò chū liǎo fēn xī pàn duàn。”
　　“ zhì shǎo wǒ duì zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de zhù yào shì shí yòu liǎo yī xiē liǎo jiě。 xiàn zài wǒ kě yǐ duì nǐ yī yī liè jǔ chū lái。 wǒ jué dé， nòng qīng yī jiàn 'àn zǐ de zuì hǎo bàn fǎ， jiù shì néng bǎ tā de qíng kuàng duì lìng yī gè rén jiǎng qīng chǔ。 cǐ wài， rú guǒ wǒ bù gào sù nǐ wǒ men xiàn zài zhǎng wò shénme qíng kuàng， wǒ jiù hěn nán zhǐ wàng dé dào nǐ de bāng zhù。”
　　 wǒ xiàng hòu yǎng kào zài yǐ bèi shàng， chōu liǎo yī kǒu xuějiā， fú 'ěr mó sī fǔ shēn xiàng qián， yòng tā nà shòu cháng de shí zhǐ zài tā zuǒ shǒu zhǎng shàng zhǐ diǎn zhe， xiàng wǒ shuō míng yǐn qǐ wǒ men zhè cì lǚ xíng de shì jiàn de gěng gài。
　　“ yín sè bái 'é mǎ，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ shì suǒ mò mì zhǒng， hé tā chí míng de zǔ xiān yī yàng， shǐ zhōng bǎo chí zhe yōu xiù de jì lù。 tā yǐ jīng shì wǔ suì kǒu liǎo， zài sài mǎ chǎng shàng měi cì dū wéi tā nà xìng yùn de zhù rén luó sī shàng xiào yíng dé tóu jiǎng。 zài zhè cì bù xìng shì jiàn yǐ qián， tā shì wéi sài kè sī bēi jǐn biāo sài de guànjūn， rén men zài tā shēn shàng de dǔ zhù shì sān bǐ yī。 rán 'ér tā shì sài mǎ shì hǎo zhě zuì 'ài de míng jū， ér ① qiě cóng wèi shǐ tā de 'àihào zhě luò kōng， yīn cǐ， jí shǐ shì zhè yàng de xuán shū de dǔ zhù，① dǔ zhù sān bǐ yī shì zhǐ bǐ sài huò dǎ dǔ shí， yíng shí zhǐ ná duì fāng yī fèn， shū shí zé gěi duì fāng sān fèn。 héng héng yì zhě zhù yě yòu jù kuǎn yā zài tā shēn shàng。 suǒ yǐ， shè fǎ zǔ zhǐ yín sè bái 'é mǎ qù cān jiā xià xīng qī 'èr de bǐ sài， xiǎn rán tóng xǔ duō rén de qièshēn lì hài xī xī xiāng guān。
　　“ dāng rán， zài shàng xiào xùn mǎ jiù suǒ zài dì jīn sī pí lán， rén mendōu zhī dào zhè zhǒng shì shí， suǒ yǐ， duì zhè pǐ míng jū cǎi qǔ liǎo gè zhǒng yù fáng cuò shī lái bǎo hù tā。 xùn mǎ rén yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè yuán shì luó sī shàng xiào de sài mǎ qí shī， hòu lái yīn tǐ zhòng zēng jiā， cái lìng huàn tā rén。 sī tè léi kè zài shàng xiào jiā zuò liǎo wǔ nián qí shī， qī nián xùn mǎ shī， píng shí de biǎo xiàn shì yī gè rè xīn cháng de chéng shí pú rén。 sī tè léi kè shǒu xià yòu sān gè xiǎo mǎ guān。 mǎ jiù bù dà， yī gòng zhǐ yòu sì qí mǎ。 yī gè xiǎo mǎ guān měi tiān wǎn shàng dū zhù zài mǎ jiù lǐ， lìng wài liǎng gè jiù shuì zài cǎo liào péng zhōng。 sān gè xiǎo huǒ zǐ de pǐn xíng dōuhěn hǎo。 yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè yǐ jīng jié hūn， zhù zài lí mǎ jiù 'èr bǎi mǎ yuǎn jìn de yī zuò xiǎo bié shù lǐ。 tā méi yòu hái zǐ， yòu yī gè nǚ pú， shēng huó hái suàn shū shì。 nà gè dì fāng hěn huāng liáng， zài běi biān bàn yīng lǐ yǐ wài， yòu jǐ zuò bié shù， shì tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn de chéng bāo shāng jiàn zào de， zhuān gōng bìng rén liáo yǎng yǐ jí qí tā yuàn lái hū xī dá tè mù 'ěr xīn xiān kōng qì de rén zhù yòng。 xiàng xī 'èr yīng lǐ yǐ wài jiù shì tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn， chuān guò huāng yě， dà yuē yě yòu 'èr yīng lǐ yuǎn jìn， yòu yī gè méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù， shì shǔ yú bā kè wò tè xūn jué de， guǎn lǐ rén míng jiào sài lā sī · bù lǎng。 huāng yě qí tā fāng xiàng zé yì cháng huāng liáng， zhǐ yòu shǎo shù liú làng de jí bǔ sài rén sàn jū zhe。 zhè jiàn huò shì fā shēng de xīng qī yī wǎn shàng， jī běn qíng kuàng jiù shì zhè yàng。
　　“ zhè tiān wǎn shàng， xiàng píng cháng yī yàng， zhè xiē mǎ pǐ jīng guò xùn liàn， shuà xǐ， mǎ jiù zài jiǔ diǎn zhōng shàng liǎo suǒ。 liǎng gè xiǎo mǎ guān dào sī tè léi kè jiā qù， zài chú fáng lǐ yòng guò wǎn fàn。 dì sān gè xiǎo mǎ guān nèi dé · hēng tè liú xià kānshǒu。 jiǔ diǎn guò jǐ fēn yǐ hòu， nǚ pú yī dí sī · bā kè sī tè bǎ nèi dé de wǎn fàn sòng dào mǎ jiù lái， zhè shì yī pán gālí yáng ròu。 tā méi yòu dài yǐn liào， yīn wéi mǎ jiù lǐ yòu zì lái shuǐ， àn guī dìng， kàn mǎ fáng de rén zài zhí bān shí， bù néng hē bié de yǐn liào。 yīn wéi tiān hěn hēi， zhè tiáo xiǎo lù yòu chuān guò huāng yě， suǒ yǐ zhè gè nǚ pú dài zhe yī zhǎn tí dēng。
　　“ yī dí sī · bā kè sī tè zǒu dào lí mǎ jiù bù dào sān shí mǎ shí， yī gè rén cóng 'àn chù zǒu chū lái， jiào tā zhàn zhù。 zài tí dēng de huáng sè dēng guāng xià， tā kàn dào zhè gè rén chuān dài dé xiàng gè shàng liú shè huì de rén， shēn chuān yī tào huī sè huā ní yī fú， tóu dài yī dǐng ní mào， jiǎo dēng yī shuāng dài bǎng tuǐ de gāo tǒng xuē zǐ， shǒu ná yī gēn chén zhòng de yuán tóu shǒu zhàng。 rán 'ér gěi tā yìn xiàng zuì shēn de shì， tā de liǎn sè guòfèn cāng bái， shén qíng jǐn zhāng bù 'ān。 tā xiǎng， zhè gè rén de nián líng kǒng pà yào zài sān shí suì yǐ shàng。
　　“ ' nǐ néng gào sù wǒ zhè shì shénme dì fāng má？ ' tā wèn dào， ' yào bù shì kàn dào nǐ de dēng guāng， wǒ zhēn xiǎng zài huāng yě lǐ guò yè liǎo。 '
　　“ ' nǐ zǒu dào jīn sī pí lán mǎ jiù bàng biān liǎo。 ' nǚ pú shuō。
　　“ ā， zhēn de！ zhēn hǎo yùn qì！ ' tā jiào dào， ' wǒ zhī dào měi tiān wǎn shàng yòu yī gè xiǎo mǎ guān dú zì yī rén shuì zài zhè lǐ。 huò xǔ zhè jiù shì nǐ gěi tā sòng de wǎn fàn bā。 wǒ xiāng xìn nǐ zǒng bù huì nà me jiāo 'ào， lián yī jiàn xīn yī fú de qián yě bù xiè zuàn bā？ ' zhè gè rén cóng bèi xīn kǒu dài lǐ tāo chū yī zhāng dié qǐ lái de bái zhǐ piàn， ‘ wù bì zài jīn tiān wǎn shàng bǎ zhè dōng xī sòng gěi nà gè hái zǐ， nà nǐ jiù néng dé dào kě yǐ mǎi yī jiàn zuì piào liàng de shàng yī de qián。 '
　　“ tā zhè zhǒng rèn zhēn de yàng zǐ， shǐ yī dí sī dà wéi jīng hài， gǎn máng cóng tā shēn bàng páo guò qù， bēn dào chuāng xià， yīn wéi tā guàn yú cóng chuāng kǒu bǎ fàn dì guò qù。 chuāng hù yǐ jīng dǎ kāi liǎo， hēng tè zuò zài xiǎo zhuō bàng biān。 yī dí sī gāng gāng kāi kǒu yào bǎ fā shēng de shì gào sù tā， zhè shí mò shēng rén yòu zǒu guò lái。
　　“ ' wǎn 'ān， ' mò shēng rén cóng chuāng wài xiàng lǐ tàn wàng zhe shuō dào， ' wǒ yòu huà tóng nǐ shuō， ' gū niàn fā shì shuō， zài tā shuō huà shí， tā fā xiàn tā shǒu lǐ zuàn zhe yī zhāng xiǎo zhǐ piàn， lù chū yī jiǎo lái。
　　“ ' nǐ dào zhè lǐ yòu shénme shì？ ' xiǎo mǎ guān wèn dào。
　　“ ' zhè jiàn shì kě yǐ shǐ nǐ kǒu dài lǐ zhuāng xiē dōng xī， ' mò shēng rén shuō dào， ' nǐ men yòu liǎng qí mǎ cān jiā wéi sài kè sī bēi jǐn biāo sài， yī pǐ shì yín sè bái 'é mǎ， yī pǐ shì bèi 'ā dé。 nǐ bǎ kě kào de xiāo xī tòu lù gěi wǒ， nǐ bù huì chī kuī de。 tīng shuō zài wǔ fú lóng jù lí sài mǎ zhōng， bèi 'ā dé kě yǐ chāo guò yín sè bái 'é mǎ yī bǎi① mǎ， nǐ men zì jǐ dū bǎ dǔ zhù yā dào bèi 'ā dé shēn shàng， zhè shì zhēn de má？ '
　　“ ' zhè me shuō， ' nǐ shì yī gè gāi sǐ de sài mǎ tàn zǐ liǎo！ ' zhè gè xiǎo mǎ guān hǎn dào， ' xiàn zài wǒ yào ràng nǐ zhī dào， zài jīn sī pí lán wǒ men shì zěn yàng duì fù zhè xiē jiā huǒ de。 ' tā páo guò qù bǎ gǒu fàng chū lái。 zhè gè gū niàn gǎn jǐn bēn huí jiā qù， bù guò tā yī miàn páo， yī miàn xiàng hòu wàng， tā kàn dào nà gè mò shēng rén hái fǔ shēn xiàng chuāng nèi tàn wàng。 kě shì， guò liǎo yī fēn zhōng， hēng tè dài zhe liè gǒu yī tóng páo chū lái shí， zhè gè rén yǐ jīng zǒu kāi liǎo， jìn guǎn hēng tè dài zhe gǒu rào zhe mǎ jiù zhuǎn liǎo yī juàn， yě méi yòu fā xiàn zhè gè rén de zōng yǐng。”
　　“ děng yī děng，” wǒ wèn dào，” xiǎo mǎ guān dài zhe gǒu páo chū qù shí， méi yòu bǎ mén suǒ shàng má？”
　　“ tài hǎo liǎo， huá shēng， tài hǎo liǎo！” wǒ de huǒ bàn dī shēng shuō dào，“ wǒ rèn wéi zhè yī diǎn fēi cháng zhòng yào， suǒ yǐ zuó tiān tè yì wǎng dá tè mù 'ěr fā liǎo yī fēng diàn bào chá wèn zhè jiàn shì。 xiǎo mǎ guān zài lí kāi yǐ qián bǎ mén suǒ shàng liǎo。 wǒ hái kě yǐ bǔ chōng yī diǎn， zhè shàn chuāng hù xiǎo dé bù néng zuàn jìn rén lái。
　　“ hēng tè děng nà liǎng gè tóng huǒ xiǎo mǎ guān huí lái yǐ hòu， biàn pài rén qù xiàng xùn mǎ shī bào xìn， bǎ fā shēng de shì qíng gào sù tā。 sī tè léi kè tīng dào bào gào yǐ hòu， suī bù zhī dào zhè lǐ miàn shí zài de yòng yì shì shénme， què fēi cháng jīng huāng。 zhè jiàn shì shǐ tā xīn shén bù 'ān， suǒ yǐ， sī tè léi kè tài tài zài bàn yè yī diǎn zhōng xǐng lái shí， fā xiàn tā zhèng zài chuān yī fú。 sī tè léi kè duì tā qī zǐ de xún wèn huí dá shuō， yīn wéi tā guà niàn zhè jǐ qí mǎ， suǒ yǐ yī zhí bù néng rù shuì， tā dǎ suàn dào mǎ jiù qù kàn kàn tā men shì① fú lóng： yīng guó cháng dù dān wèi， děng yú bā fēn zhī yī yīng lǐ。 héng héng yì zhě zhù fǒu yī qiē zhèng cháng。 sī tè léi kè de qī zǐ tīng dào yǔ diǎn dí dí dā dā dì dǎ zài chuāng shàng， yāng qiú tā liú zài jiā lǐ， kě shì tā bù gù qī zǐ de qǐng qiú， pī shàng yǔ yī jiù lí kāi liǎo jiā。
　　“ sī tè léi kè tài tài zǎo chén qī diǎn zhōng yī jué xǐng lái， fā jué tā zhàng fū hái méi huí lái， jí máng chuān hǎo yī fú， bǎ nǚ pú jiào xǐng， yī tóng dào mǎ jiù qù liǎo。 zhǐ jiàn jiù mén dà kāi， hēng tè zuò zài yǐ zǐ shàng， shēn zǐ suō chéng yī tuán， wán quán hūn mí bùxǐng rén shì， jiù nèi de míng jū bù zhī qù xiàng， xùn mǎ shī yě háo wú zōng yǐng。
　　“ tā men gǎn kuài bǎ shuì zài cǎo liào péng lǐ de liǎng gè xiǎo mǎ guān jiào xǐng， yīn wéi tā men liǎng gè rén shuìde fēi cháng sǐ， suǒ yǐ wǎn shàng shénme yě méi tīng dào。 hēng tè xiǎn rán shòu dào qiáng liè má zuì jì de yǐng xiǎng， suǒ yǐ zěn me yě jiào bù xǐng tā， liǎng gè xiǎo mǎ guān hé liǎng gè fù nǚ zhǐ hǎo rèn hēng tè shuì zài nà lǐ bù guǎn， dū páo chū qù xún zhǎo shī zōng de xùn mǎ shī hé míng jū。 tā men yuán yǐ wéi xùn mǎ shī chū yú mǒu zhǒng yuán yīn bǎ mǎ lā chū qù jìn xíng zǎo xùn liàn， kě shì tā men dēng shàng fáng zǐ fù jìn de xiǎo shān qiū xiàng zhōu wéi de huāng yě wàng guò qù， méi yòu kàn dào shī zōng de míng jū de yī diǎn yǐng zǐ， què fā xiàn yī jiàn dōng xī， shǐ tā men yù gǎn dào fā shēng liǎo bù xìng shì jiàn。
　　“ lí mǎ jiù sì fēn zhī yī yīng lǐ yuǎn de dì fāng， sī tè léi kè de dà yī zài jīn què huā cóng zhōng pù lù chū lái。 nà fù jìn de huāng yě shàng yòu yī gè 'āo xiàn de dì fāng， jiù zài zhè lǐ tā men zhǎo dào liǎo bù xìng de xùn mǎ shī de shī tǐ。 tā de tóu lú yǐ bèi zá dé fěn suì， fēn míng shì zāo dào shénme chén zhòng xiōng qì de měng liè dǎ jī。 tā gǔ shàng yě shòu liǎo shāng， yòu yī dào hěn zhěng qí de cháng shāng hén， xiǎn rán shì bèi yī zhǒng fēi cháng ruì lì de xiōng qì gē pò de。 sī tè léi kè yòu shǒu wò zhe yī bǎ xiǎo dāo， xuè kuài yī zhí níng dào dāo bǎ shàng， hěn míng xiǎn， tā yǔ gōng jī tā de duì shǒu bó dǒu guò， tā de zuǒ shǒu jǐn wò zhe yī tiáo hēi hóng xiāngjiàn de sī lǐng dài， nǚ pú rèn chū lái， nà gè dào mǎ jiù lái de mò shēng rén tóu tiān wǎn shàng jiù dài zhe zhè yàng de lǐng dài。 hēng tè huī fù zhī jué yǐ hòu， yě zhèng míng zhè tiáo lǐng dài shì nà gè rén de。 tā què xìn jiù shì zhè gè mò shēng rén zhàn zài chuāng kǒu de shí hòu， zài gālí yáng ròu lǐ xià liǎo má zuì yào， zhè yàng jiù shǐ mǎ jiù shī qù liǎo kānshǒu rén。 zhì yú nà shī qù de míng jū， zài bù xìng de shān gǔ dǐ bù ní dì shàng liú yòu chōng zú de zhèng míng， shuō míng bó dǒu shí míng jū yě zài chǎng。 kě shì nà tiān zǎo chén tā jiù shī zōng liǎo， jìn guǎn zhòng jià xuán shǎng， dá tè mù 'ěr suǒ yòu de jí bǔ sài réndōu zài zhù yì zhe， què yī diǎn xiāo xī yě méi yòu。 zuì hòu hái yòu yī diǎn， jīng guò huà yàn zhèng míng， zhè gè xiǎo mǎ guān chī shèng xià de wǎn fàn lǐ hán yòu dà liàng má zuì jì， ér zài tóng yī tiān wǎn shàng sī tè léi kè jiā lǐ de rén yě chī tóng yàng de cài， què méi yòu rèn hé bù liáng hòu guǒ。
　　“ quán 'àn de jī běn shì shí jiù shì zhè yàng。 wǒ jiǎng shí bǎ yī qiē tuī cè dū pāo diào liǎo， jìn kě néng bù jiā rèn hé xū shì。 xiàn zài wǒ bǎ jǐng shǔ chǔlǐ zhè jiàn shì suǒ cǎi qǔ de cuò shī xiàng nǐ jiǎng yī jiǎng。
　　“ shòu mìng diào chá gāi 'àn de jǐng cháng gé léi gē lǐ shì yī gè hěn yòu néng lì de guān yuán。 yào shì tā de bǐng fù lǐ duō shǎo zài yòu yī diǎn 'ér xiǎng xiàng lì， nà tā zhǔn huì zài nà mén zhí yè zhōng dé dào gāo shēng。 tā dào liǎo chū shì dì diǎn， lì kè zhǎo dào liǎo nà gè xián yí fàn， bìng bǎ tā dài bǔ qǐ lái。 zhǎo dào nà gè rén bìng bù nán， yīn wéi tā jiù zhù zài wǒ gāng cái tí dào de nà xiē xiǎo bié shù lǐ。 tā de míng zì， hǎo xiàng jiào fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn。 tā shì yī gè chū shēn gāo guì、 shòu guò hěn hǎo jiào yù de rén， zài sài mǎ chǎng shàng céng huī huò guò dà liàng qián cái， xiàn zài kào zài lún dūn tǐ yù jù lè bù lǐ zuò mǎ pǐ yù shòu yuán hú kǒu。 jiǎn chá tā de dǔ zhù jì lù běn， fā xiàn tā bǎ zǒng shù wǔ qiān bàng de dǔ zhù yā zài yín sè bái 'é mǎ bài běi shàng。 bèi bǔ yǐ hòu， xīn pǔ sēn zhù dòng shuō míng tā dào dá tè mù 'ěr shì xī wàng tàn tīng yòu guān jīn sī pí lán míng jū de qíng kuàng， yě xiǎng liǎo jiě yòu guān dì 'èr míng jū dé sī bā lè de xiāo xī。 dé sī bā lè shì yóu méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù de sài lā sī · bù lǎng zhào guǎn de。 duì nà tiān wǎn shàng de shì， tā yě bù fǒu rèn， kě shì què jiě shì shuō， tā bìng méi yòu 'è yì， zhǐ bù guò xiǎng dé dào dì yī shǒu qíng bào 'ér yǐ。 zài gěi tā kàn nà tiáo lǐng dài yǐ hòu， tā liǎn sè lì shí biàn dé cāng bái yì cháng， sī háo bù néng shuō míng tā de lǐng dài shì zěn yàng luò dào bèi hài rén shǒu zhōng de。 tā de yī fú hěn shī， shuō míng nà tiān yè wǎn céng mào yǔ wài chū， ér tā de bīn chǎn E mù shǒu zhàng shàng duān xiāng zhe qiān tóu， rú guǒ yòng tā fǎn fù dǎ jī， nà tā jiù wán quán kě yǐ zuò wǔ qì， shǐ xùn mǎ shī zāo dào rú cǐ kě pà de chuāngshāng zhì sǐ。 kě shì cóng lìng yī fāng miàn kàn， xīn pǔ sēn shēn shàng què méi yòu shāng hén， ér sī tè léi kè dāo shàng de xuè jì shuō míng zhì shǎo yòu yī gè xí jī tā de xiōng shǒu shēn shàng dài yòu dāo shāng， gài kuò dì shuō， qíng kuàng jiù shì zhè yàng。 huá shēng， rú guǒ nǐ néng gěi wǒ yī xiē qǐ fā， nà wǒ jiù fēi cháng gǎn jī nǐ liǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yǐ tā nà zhǒng dú tè de néng lì bǎ qíng kuàng jiǎng shù dé fēi cháng qīng chǔ， shǐ wǒ tīng dé rù liǎo shén。 jìn guǎn wǒ yǐ jīng zhī dào liǎo dà bù fēn qíng kuàng， wǒ hái shì kàn bù chū zhè xiē shì qíng hù xiāng zhī jiān yòu shénme guān xì， huò zhè xiē guān xì yòu xiē shénme zhòng yào yì yì。
　　“ huì bù huì shì zài bó dǒu shí， sī tè léi kè dà nǎo shòu liǎo shāng， rán hòu zì jǐ bǎ zì jǐ gē shāng liǎo ní？” wǒ tí chū liǎo kàn fǎ。
　　“ kě néng xìng hěn dà， shí yòu shì rú cǐ，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ zhè yàng de huà， duì bèi gào yòu lì de yī gè zhèng jù jiù bù cún zài liǎo。”
　　“ hái yòu，” wǒ shuō dào，“ wǒ xiàn zài hái bù zhī dào de yì jiàn shì shénme。”
　　“ wǒ dān xīn wǒ men de tuī lùn zhèng hé tā men de yì jiàn xiāng fǎn，” wǒ de péng yǒu yòu lā huí huà tí shuō，” jù wǒ suǒ zhī， men rèn wéi， fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn bǎ kānshǒu mǎ fáng de rén má zuì dǎo yǐ hòu， yòng tā shì xiān shè fǎ fù zhì hǎo de yàoshì dǎ kāi mǎ jiù dà mén， bǎ yín sè bái 'é mǎ qiān chū lái。 xiǎn rán， tā shì dǎ suàn bǎ mǎ tōu zǒu de。 mǎ pèi tóu méi yòu liǎo， suǒ yǐ xīn pǔ sēn bì rán bǎ zhè gè lǐng dài tào zài mǎ zuǐ shàng， rán hòu， jiù ràng mén nà me dà chǎng zhe， bǎ mǎ qiān dào huāng yě shàng， zài bàn lù pèng dào liǎo xùn mǎ shī， huò zhě shì bèi xùn mǎ shī zhuī shàng， zhè yàng zì rán jiù yǐn qǐ liǎo zhēng chǎo， jìn guǎn sī tè léi kè céng yòng nà bǎ xiǎo dāo zì wèi， xīn pǔ sēn què méi yòu shòu dào sī háo shāng hài， ér xīn pǔ sēn zé yòng tā nà chén zhòng de shǒu zhàng bǎ xùn mǎ shī tóu lú dǎ suì。 rán hòu， zhè gè tōu mǎ zéi bǎ mǎ cáng zài yǐn bì de dì fāng， yào bù jiù shì zài tā men bó dǒu shí， nà qí mǎ tuō jiāng táo zǒu， xiàn zài zhèng piào bó zài huāng yě zhōng。 zhè jiù shì men duì zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ de kàn fǎ。 jìn guǎn zhè zhǒng shuō fǎ shì bù dà kě kào de， kě shì suǒ yòu qí tā jiě shì zé gèng shì bù kě néng de liǎo。 bù guǎn zěn yàng， zhǐ yào wǒ dào dá xiàn chǎng， wǒ huì hěn kuài bǎ qíng kuàng chá qīng de， zài zhè yǐ qián， wǒ shí zài kàn bù chū wǒ men rú hé néng cóng dāng qián qíng kuàng xiàng qián kuà jìn yī bù。”
　　 wǒ men dào dá xiǎo zhèn tǎ wéi sī tuō kè shí， yǐ jīng shì bàng wǎn shí fēn liǎo。 tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn jiù xiàng dùn pái shàng de fú diāo yī yàng， zuò luò zài dá tè mù 'ěr liáo kuò yuán yě de zhōng xīn， chē zhàn shàng yǐ yòu liǎng wèi shēn shì zài děng hòu wǒ men， yī wèi shēn cái gāo dà， miàn róng yīng jùn， shēng zhe quán qū de tóu fā hé hú xū， yī shuāng dàn lán sè de yǎn jīng jiǒng jiǒng fā guāng。 lìng yī gè rén shēn cái 'ǎi xiǎo， jī jǐng yì cháng， fēi cháng gān jìng lì luò， shēn chuān lǐ fú dà yī， jiǎo shàng shì yī shuāng yòu bǎng tuǐ de gāo tǒng xuē zǐ， xiū jiǎn zhěng qí de luò sāi hú zǐ， dài zhe yī zhǐ dān yǎn jìng， zhè gè rén jiù shì zhù míng de tǐ yù 'àihào zhě luó sī shàng xiào。 qián yī gè rén zé shì jǐng cháng gé léi gē lǐ， tā yǐ jīng yù mǎn yīng guó zhēn tàn jiè liǎo。
　　“ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng， nǐ néng qián lái， wǒ zhēn gǎn dào gāo xīng，” shàng xiào shuō dào，” jǐng cháng yǐ jìn yī qiē lì liàng wèiwǒ men tàn chá， wǒ yuàn jìn yī qiē lì liàng shè fǎ wéi kě lián de sī tè léi kè bào chóu， bìng zhòng xīn zhǎo dào wǒ de míng jū。”
　　“ yòu shénme xīn de jìn zhǎn má？” fú 'ěr mó sī wèn dào。
　　“ hěn bào qiàn， wǒ men de shōu huò hěn shǎo，” jǐng cháng shuō dào，“ wài miàn yòu yī liàng chǎng péng mǎ chē， nǐ yī dìng yuàn yì zài tiān hēi yǐ qián qù kàn kàn xiàn chǎng， wǒ men kě yǐ zài lù shàng tán yī tán。”
　　 yī fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， wǒ men yǐ jīng zuò zài shū shì de sì lún mǎ chē lǐ， qīng jié dì chuān guò dé wén jùn de zhè gè gǔ yǎ de chéng shì。 jǐng cháng gé léi gē lǐ mǎn nǎo zǐ dōushì qíng kuàng， tāo tāo bù jué dì jiǎng gè méi wán。 fú 'ěr mó sī 'ǒu 'ěr wèn yī wèn， huò chā yī liǎng jù huà。 wǒ pō gǎn xīng qù dì zhù yì qīng tīng zhè liǎng wèi zhēn tàn de duì huà， luó sī shàng xiào zé bào bì xiàng hòu yǐ kào zhe， mào zǐ xié lā dào shuāng yǎn shàng。 gé léi gē lǐ bǎ tā de yì jiàn xì tǒng dì shuō liǎo chū lái， jīhū hé fú 'ěr mó sī zài huǒ chē shàng de yù yán wán quán yī yàng。
　　“ fǎ wǎng yǐ bǎ fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn jǐn jǐn tào zhù，” gé léi gē lǐ shuō dào，” wǒ gè rén xiāng xìn tā jiù shì xiōng shǒu； tóng shí， wǒ yě rèn shí dào zhèng jù hái bù què záo， rú yòu xīn de jìn zhǎn， hěn kě néng tuī fān zhè zhǒng zhèng jù。”
　　“ nà me sī tè léi kè de dāo shāng yòu shì zěn me huí shì ní？”
　　“ wǒ men dé chū de jié lùn shì， zài tā dǎo xià qù shí zì jǐ huá shāng de。”
　　“ zài wǒ men lái zhè lǐ de lù shàng， wǒ de péng yǒu huá shēng yī shēng yě shì zhè yàng tuī cè de。 zhè yàng de huà， qíng kuàng jiù duì xīn pǔ sēn bù lì liǎo。”
　　“ nà shì háo wú yí wèn de liǎo。 xīn pǔ sēn jì méi yòu dāo， yòu méi yòu shāng hén。 kě shì， duì tā bù lì de zhèng jù què shì fēi cháng què záo de。 tā duì nà pǐ shī zōng de míng jū fēi cháng zhù yì， yòu yòu dú hài xiǎo mǎ guān de xián yí， tā hái zài nà wǎn bào yǔ zhōng wài chū， bìng qiě yòu yī gēn chén zhòng de shǒu zhàng， tā de lǐng dài yě zài bèi hài rén shǒu zhōng。 wǒ xiǎng， wǒ men wán quán kě yǐ tí chū sù sòng liǎo。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī yáo liǎo yáo tóu。
　　“ yī gè cōng míng de lǜ shī wán quán kě yǐ bǎ tā bó dǎo，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，” tā wèishénme yào cóng mǎ jiù zhōng bǎ mǎ tōu zǒu ní？ jiǎ rú tā xiǎng shā hài tā， wèishénme bù zài mǎ jiù nèi dòng shǒu ní？ zài tā shēn shàng fā xiàn yòu fù zhì de yàoshì má？ shì nǎ jiā yào pǐn shāng mài gěi tā de liè xìng má zuì jì？ shǒu xiān， tā yī gè wài xiāng rén néng bǎ mǎ cáng dào nǎ lǐ？ kuàng qiě hái shì zhè yàng yī pǐ míng jū？ tā yào nǚ pú zhuǎn jiāo gěi kàn mǎ fáng shàonián de nà zhāng zhǐ， tā zì jǐ yòu shì zěn me jiě shì de ní？”
　　“ tā shuō nà shì yī zhāng shí bàng de chāo piào。 tā de qián bāo lǐ què shí yòu yī zhāng shí bàng de zhǐ bì。 bù guò nǐ suǒ tí de qí tā yí nán wèn tí bìng bù xiàng nǐ suǒ xiǎng xiàng de nà me nán yú jiě jué。 tā zài zhè yī dì qū bìng bù shì yī gè mò shēng rén。 měi nián xià jì tā yào dào tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn lái zhù liǎng cì。 má zuì jì kě néng shì cóng lún dūn dài lái de。 zhè bǎ yàoshì， jì yǐ dá dào shǐ yòng mùdì， yě xǔ zǎo yǐ rēng diào。 nà pǐ míng jū kě néng zài huāng yě zhōng de kēng xué lǐ huò zài yī gè fèi jiù kuàng kēng lǐ。”
　　“ zhì yú nà tiáo lǐng dài， tā zěn me shuō de ní？”
　　“ tā chéng rèn nà shì tā de lǐng dài， kě shì què shēng chēng yǐ jīng yí shī liǎo。 bù guò yòu yī gè xīn qíng kuàng zú yǐ zhèng míng shì tā bǎ mǎ cóng mǎ jiù zhōng qiān chū lái de。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī cè 'ěr qīng tīng zhe。
　　“ wǒ men fā xiàn xǔ duō zú jì， shuō míng yòu yī huǒ jí bǔ sài rén zài xīng qī yī yè wǎn lái dào jù fā shēng xiōng shā 'àn dì diǎn yī yīng lǐ zhī nèi de dì fāng。 xīng qī 'èr tā men jiù lí kāi liǎo。 xiàn zài， wǒ men jiǎ dìng， zài xīn pǔ sēn hé jí bǔ sài rén zhī jiān yòu mǒu xiē xié yì， zài xīn pǔ sēn bèi rén zhuī gǎn shàng shí， tā bù shì kě yǐ bǎ mǎ jiāo gěi jí bǔ sài rén má？ xiàn zài nà pǐ míng jū bù shì kě yǐ réng zài nà xiē jí bǔ sài rén shǒu zhōng má？”
　　“ zhè dāng rán kě néng。”
　　“ zhèng zài huāng yuán shàng sōu xún zhè xiē jí bǔ sài rén。 wǒ yě bǎ tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn zhōu wéi shí yīng lǐ yǐ nèi měi yī jiā mǎ jiù hé xiǎo fáng wū dū jiǎn chá guò liǎo。”
　　“ tīng shuō， jiù zài fù jìn bù shì hái yòu yī jiā xùn mǎ jiù má？”
　　“ duì， zhè yī diǎn wǒ men dāng rán bù néng hū shì。 yīn wéi tā men de mǎ dé sī bā lè shì dǎ dǔ zhōng de dì 'èr míng jū， míng jū yín sè bái 'é mǎ de shī zōng duì tā men fēi cháng yòu lì。 chuán shuō xùn mǎ shī sài lā sī · bù lǎng zài zhè gè bǐ sài xiàng mù zhōng xià liǎo hěn dà dǔ zhù， zài shuō， tā duì kě lián de sī tè léi kè bìng bù yǒu hǎo。 bù guò， wǒ men yǐ jīng jiǎn chá liǎo zhè xiē mǎ jiù， méi yòu fā xiàn tā hé zhè jiàn shì yòu shénme guān xì。”
　　“ xīn pǔ sēn zhè gè rén hé méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù de lì yì méi yòu shénme guān xì má？”
　　“ wán quán méi yòu guān xì。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiàng hòu kào zài chē zuò kào bèi shàng， tán huà zhōng duàn liǎo。 jǐ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， wǒ men de mǎ chē yǐ tíng zài lù bàng yī zuò zhěng qí de hóng zhuān cháng yán xiǎo bié shù qián， xiāng jù bù yuǎn， chuān guò xùn mǎ chǎng， shì yīzhuàng cháng cháng de huī wǎ fáng。 sì wài shì píng huǎn qǐ fú de huāng yuán， pū mǎn gǔ tóng sè kū wěi de fèng wěi cǎo， yī zhí yán shēn dào tiān biān， zhǐ yòu tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn de yī xiē jiān tǎ 'ǒu 'ěr bǎ huāng yuán zhē duàn。 zài xiàng xī qù， hái yòu yī qún fáng wū zhē duàn huāng yuán， nà jiù shì méi pǔ lǐ tōng de yī xiē mǎ jiù。 chú liǎo fú 'ěr mó sī yǐ wài， wǒ mendōu tiào xià chē lái。 fú 'ěr mó sī réng yǎng kào zài chē zuò kào bèi shàng， shuāng mù yuǎn wàng zhe tiān kōng， chū shén dì níng sī zhe。 wǒ guò qù pèng liǎo pèng tā de gēbei， tā cái měng rán tiào xià chē lái。
　　“ duì bù qǐ，” fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ shēn tǐ zhuànxiàng luó sī shàng xiào， luó sī shàng xiào zhèng jīng qí dì wàng zhe tā， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ zhèng zài huàn xiǎng。” tā de shuāng yǎn fā chū yì yàng de guāng cǎi， jìn lì yì zhì zhe xīng fèn de xīn qíng， wǒ gēn jù yǐ wǎng de jīng yàn， zhī dào tā yǐ jīng yòu liǎo xiàn suǒ， dàn xiǎng bù chū tā shì cóng shénme dì fāng zhǎo dào nà xiàn suǒ de。
　　“ yě xǔ nǐ yuàn yì lì kè jiù dào fàn zuì xiàn chǎng qù bā？ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng，” gé léi gē lǐ shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng wǒ hái shì xiān zài zhè lǐ shāo tíng yī tíng， chá qīng yī liǎng gè xì jié wèn tí。 wǒ kàn， sī tè léi kè de shī tǐ yǐ jīng tái huí dào zhè lǐ liǎo bā？”
　　“ shì de， jiù zài lóu shàng。 míng tiān cái néng yàn shī。”
　　“ tā zài nǐ zhè lǐ fú wù duō nián liǎo bā？ luó sī shàng xiào。”
　　“ duì， wǒ yī zhí jué dé tā shì yī gè chū sè de pú rén。”
　　“ jǐng cháng， wǒ xiǎng nǐ yǐ jīng jiǎn chá guò sǐ zhě yī dài lǐ de dōng xī bìng liè liǎo qīng dān bā？
　　“ wǒ bǎ dōng xī dū fàng zài qǐ jū shì lǐ， nǐ rú guǒ yuàn yì kàn， jiù qù kàn bā。”
　　“ nà tài hǎo lā。”
　　 wǒ mendōu zǒu jìn qián tīng， wéi zhe zhōng jiān de yī zhāng zhuō zǐ zuò xià lái， jǐng cháng dǎ kāi liǎo yī gè fāng xíng xī hé， bǎ yī xiē dōng xī fàng zài wǒ men miàn qián。 zhè lǐ yòu yī hé huǒ chái， yī gēn liǎng yīng cùn cháng de là zhú， yī zhī yòng 'ōu shí nán gēn zhì chéng de Ａ Ｄ Ｐ pái yān dǒu， yī gè hǎi bào pí yān dài， lǐ miàn zhuāng zhe bàn 'àng sī qiē dé cháng cháng de bǎn yān sī， yī kuài dài jīn biǎo liàn de yín huái biǎo， wǔ gè yī yīng bàng jīn bì， yī gè lǚ zhì qiān bǐ hé， jǐ zhāng zhǐ， yī bǎ xiàng yá bǐng xiǎo dāo， dāo rèn fēi cháng jīng zhì、 jiān yìng， shàng miàn kè zhe lún dūn wéi sī gōng sī zì yàng。
　　“ zhè bǎ dāo zǐ hěn qí tè，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō zhe， bǎ dāo ná qǐ dǎliang liǎo yī huì，” wǒ xiǎng， dāo shàng yòu xuè jì， zhè jiù shì sǐ zhě ná zhe de nà bǎ dāo zǐ bā？ huá shēng， zhè yàng de dāo zǐ nǐ yī dìng hěn shú xī bā。”
　　“ zhè jiù shì wǒ men yī shēng suǒ shuō de yǎn yì dāo，” wǒ shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ yě zhè yàng xiǎng。 dāo rèn fēi cháng jīng zhì， shì zuò fēi cháng jīng mì de shǒu shù yòng de。 yī gè rén dài zhe zhè yàng de xiǎo dāo zài bào yǔ zhōng wài chū， yòu méi yòu bǎ tā fàng dào yī dài lǐ， zhè dǎo shì hěn qí guài de shì。”
　　“ wǒ men zài tā de shī tǐ bàng biān zhǎo dào zhè bǎ xiǎo dāo de ruǎn mù yuán qiào，” jǐng cháng shuō dào，“ tā de qī zǐ gào sù wǒ men zhè bǎ dāo yuán běn fàng zài shū zhuāng tái shàng， tā zài zǒu chū jiā mén shí bǎ tā dài shàng liǎo， zhè běn lái bù shì yī jiàn dé shǒu de wǔ qì， kě shì huò xǔ zài zhè zhǒng shí kè zhè shì tā néng ná dào de zuì hǎo wǔ qì liǎo。”
　　“ fēi cháng kě néng。 zhè xiē zhǐ shì zěn me huí shì ní？”
　　“ sān zhāng shì mài cǎo shāng de shōu jù。 yī zhāng shì luó sī shàng xiào gěi tā de zhǐ shì xìn。 lìng yī zhāng shì fù nǚ fú shì shāng de sān shí qī bàng shí wǔ xiān lìng fā piào， kāi pú rén shì bāng dé jiē lāi sū lì 'ěr tài tài。 fā piào shì kāi gěi wēi lián · dé bǐ xī 'ěr xiān shēng de。 sī tè léi kè tài tài gào sù guò wǒ men， dé bǐ xī 'ěr xiān shēng shì tā zhàng fū de péng yǒu， wǎng lái xìn jiàn yòu shí jiù jì dào tā zhè lǐ。”
　　“ dé bǐ xī 'ěr tài tài dǎo hěn kuò chuò ní，” fú 'ěr mó sī kàn liǎo kàn fā piào shuō dào，” èr shí 'èr jī ní yī jiàn yī fú kě bù suàn piányí luó。 bù guò， zhè lǐ méi yòu shénme kě chá kàn de liǎo， wǒ men xiàn zài kě yǐ dào fàn zuì xiàn chǎng qù liǎo。”
　　 wǒ men zǒu chū qǐ jū shì， yī gè nǚ rén zhèng zài guò dào děng zhe， tā zǒu shàng qián lái， yòng shǒu lā liǎo lā jǐng cháng de yī xiù。 zhè gè nǚ rén miàn róng qiáo cuì， shòuxuē， xiǎn chū jìn rì lái pō shòu jīng xià。
　　“ nǐ zhuā dào tā men liǎo má？ nǐ zhǎo dào tā men liǎo má？” tā qì chuǎn xū xū dì shuō dào。
　　“ méi yòu， sī tè léi kè tài tài。 bù guò fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng yǐ jīng cóng lún dūn dào zhè lǐ lái bāng zhù wǒ men， wǒ men yī dìng jìn quán lì qù pò 'àn。”
　　“ bù jiǔ yǐ qián wǒ kěn dìng zài pǔ lì máo sī yī zuò gōng yuán lǐ jiàn guò nǐ， sī tè léi kè tài tài，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ bù， xiān shēng， nǐ nòng cuò liǎo。”
　　“ āi yā！ wǒ kě yǐ fā shì。 nǐ nà shí chuānzhuó yī jiàn dàn huī sè xiāng duǒ niǎo máo de wài tào。”
　　“ wǒ cóng lái méi yòu yī jiàn zhè yàng de yī fú， xiān shēng，” zhè gè nǚ rén dá dào。
　　“ ā， zhè jiù wán quán qīng chǔ liǎo，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào， dào liǎo yī xià qiàn， jiù suí zhe jǐng cháng zǒu chū lái liǎo。 zǒu bù duō yuǎn， biàn chuān guò huāng yuán lái dào fā xiàn sǐ shī de dì diǎn， kēng biān jiù shì céng jīng guà zhe dà yī de jīn què huā cóng。
　　“ wǒ tīng shuō， nà wǎn bìng méi yòu fēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ méi yòu， dàn shì yǔ xià dé hěn dà。”
　　“ jì rán shì zhè yàng， nà me dà yī jué bù shì bèi fēng chuī dào jīn què huā cóng shàng， ér shì yòu rén fàng dào zhè lǐ de。”
　　“ duì， shì yòu rén guà dào jīn què huā cóng shàng de。”
　　“ zhè dǎo hěn zhí dé zhù yì。 wǒ fā jué zhè lǐ yòu xǔ duō zú jì。 bù yòng shuō， cóng xīng qī yī yè wǎn qǐ， yòu hǎo duō rén dào guò zhè lǐ。”
　　“ zài shī tǐ bàng biān céng jīng fàng liǎo yī zhāng cǎo xí， wǒ men dà jiādōu zhàn zài xí zǐ shàng。”
　　“ tài hǎo liǎo。”
　　“ zhè dài zǐ lǐ yòu sī tè léi kè chuān de yī zhǐ cháng tǒng xuē， fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn de yī zhǐ pí xié hé yín sè bái 'é mǎ de yī kuài tí tiě。”
　　“ wǒ qīn 'ài de jǐng cháng， nǐ zhēn gāo míng！” fú 'ěr mó sī jiē guò bù dài， zǒu dào dī wā chù， bǎ cǎo xí lā dào zhōng jiān， rán hòu shēn cháng bó zǐ fú shēn xí shàng， shuāng shǒu tuō zhe xià bā， zǎi xì chá kàn miàn qián bèi jiàn tà de ní tǔ。” hā！ zhè shì shénme？” fú 'ěr mó sī tū rán hǎn dào。 zhè shì yī gēn shāo liǎo yī bàn de là huǒ chái， zhè gēn là huǒ chái shàng miàn guǒ zhe ní， měng rán yī kàn， hǎo xiàng shì yī gēn xiǎo xiǎo de mù gùn。
　　“ bù néng xiǎng xiàng， wǒ zěn me huì bǎ tā hū lüè liǎo。” jǐng cháng shén qíng 'ào nǎo dì shuō dào。
　　“ tā mái zài ní tǔ lǐ， shì bù róng yì fā xiàn de， wǒ suǒ yǐ néng kàn dào tā， shì yīn wéi wǒ zhèng zài yòu yì zhǎo tā。”
　　“ zěn me！ nǐ běn lái jiù liào dào kě néng zhǎo dào zhè gè má？”
　　“ wǒ xiǎng zhè bù shì bù kě néng de。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī cóng dài zǐ lǐ ná chū cháng tǒng xuē hé dì shàng de jiǎo yìn yī yī bǐ jiào， rán hòu pá dào kēng biān， màn màn pú fú qián jìn dào yáng chǐ cǎo hé jīn què huā cóng jiān。
　　“ kǒng pà zhè lǐ bù huì yòu gèng duō de hén jì liǎo，” jǐng cháng shuō dào，“ wǒ zài zhōu wéi yī bǎi mǎ zhī nèi dū zǎi xì jiǎn chá guò liǎo。”
　　“ díquè！” fú 'ěr mó sī zhàn qǐ lái shuō dào，“ nǐ jì rán zhè yàng shuō， wǒ jiù bù bì zài duō cǐ yī jǔ liǎo。 kě shì wǒ dǎo yuàn yì zài tiān hēi yǐ qián， zài huāng yuán shàng lüè wēi zǒu yī zǒu， míng tiān duì zhè lǐ de dì xíng jiù kě yǐ shú xī yī xiē， wǒ xiǎng， wèile tǎo gè jí lì， wǒ bǎ zhè kuài mǎ tí tiě zhuāng zài wǒ yī dài lǐ。”
　　 luó sī shàng xiào duì wǒ de huǒ bàn zhè yàng cóng róng bù pò、 yòu tiáo bù wěn de gōng zuò fāng fǎ， gǎn dào fēi cháng bù nài fán， kàn liǎo kàn tā de biǎo。
　　“ wǒ xī wàng nǐ hé wǒ yī qǐ huí qù， jǐng cháng，” luó sī shàng xiào shuō dào，“ yòu jǐ jiàn shì， wǒ xiǎng tīng yī tīng nǐ de yì jiàn， tè bié shì， wǒ men yào bù yào xiàng gōng zhòng shēng míng， bǎ wǒ men de nà qí mǎ de míng zì cóng cān jiā sài mǎ de míng dān zhōng qǔ xiāo。”
　　“ dāng rán bù bì liǎo，” fú 'ěr mó sī guǒ duàn dì gāo shēng shuō dào，“ wǒ yī dìng néng ràng tā cān jiā bǐ sài。”
　　 shàng xiào diǎn liǎo diǎn tóu。
　　“ tīng dào nǐ de yì jiàn， wǒ hěn gāo xīng， xiān shēng，” luó sī shàng xiào shuō dào，“ qǐng nǐ zài huāng yuán shàng zǒu yī zǒu zhī hòu， dào kě lián de sī tè léi kè jiā zhǎo wǒ men， rán hòu wǒ men yī qǐ chéng chē dào tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn qù。”
　　 luó sī shàng xiào hé jǐng cháng yǐ jīng fǎn huí， fú 'ěr mó sī hé wǒ liǎng gè rén yī qǐ zài huāng yuán shàng màn màn sàn bù。 xī yáng rǎn rǎn yǐnmò dào méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù hòu miàn， wǒ men miàn qián guǎng kuò wú yín de píng yuán shàng mù yù zhe jīn guāng， wǎn xiá sǎ shè zài yáng chǐ cǎo hé hēi méi shàng。 kě shì miàn duì zhè xuàn lì jǐng sè， fú 'ěr mó sī què wú yì xīn shǎng， wán quán chén jìn zài shēn sī zhī zhōng。
　　“ huá shēng， zhè yàng bā，” tā zhōng yú shuō dào，“ wǒ men xiān bǎ shì shuí shā hài yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè de wèn tí zàn shí fàng xià， mù qián jǐn xiàn yú xún zhǎo mǎ de xià luò。 xiàn zài， jiǎ shè zài bēi jù fā shēng de dāng shí huò zài bēi jù fā shēng hòu， zhè qí mǎ tuō jiāng táo páo， tā néng páo dào shénme dì fāng qù ní？ mǎ shì 'ài hé qún de。 àn zhào tā de běn xìng， tā bù shì huí dào jīn sī pí lán mǎ jiù， jiù shì páo dào méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù qù liǎo。 tā zěn me huì zài huāng yuán shàng luàn páo ní？ jiǎ shǐ rú cǐ， tā yī dìng huì bèi rén kàn dào de。 jí bǔ sài rén yòu wèishénme yào guǎi zǒu tā ní？ zhè xiē rén pǐn cháng yī tīng shuō chū liǎo shénme luàn zǐ， zǒng shì duǒ dé yuǎn yuǎn de， wéi kǒng bèi jiū chán bù xiū。 tā men shì bù huì rèn wéi néng mài diào zhè yàng yī pǐ míng jū de。 yào shì dài shàng tā， tā men yào mào hěn dà fēng xiǎn 'ér qiě yī wú suǒ huò， zhè yī diǎn shì fēi cháng qīng chǔ de。”
　　“ nà me， mǎ zài nǎ lǐ ní？”
　　“ wǒ yǐ jīng shuō guò， tā bù shì dào jīn sī pí lán jiù shì dào méi pǔ lǐ tōng qù liǎo。 xiàn zài bù zài jīn sī pí lán， nà yī dìng zài méi pǔ lǐ tōng。 wǒ men jiù 'àn zhè gè jiǎ xiǎng qù bàn， kàn jiēguǒ zěn me yàng。 jǐng cháng shuō guò， zhè yī piàn huāng yuán de tǔ zhì fēi cháng jiān yìng 'ér qiě gān zào， kě shì xiàng méi pǔ lǐ tōng dì shì zé yù lái yù dī， cóng zhè lǐ nǐ kě yǐ kàn dào nà biān shì yī gè cháng cháng de dī wā dì dài， zài xīng qī yī yè wǎn yī dìng shì fēi cháng cháo shī de。 yào shì wǒ men de jiǎ dìng bù cuò， nà me zhè pǐ míng jū bì rán huì jīng guò nà lǐ， wǒ men jiù kě yǐ zài nà lǐ zhǎo dào tā de tí yìn liǎo。”
　　 wǒ men biān tán biān zǒu， xīng zhì bó bó， jǐ fēn zhōng yǐ hòu， jiù zǒu dào wǒ men suǒ shuō de wā dì liǎo。 wǒ 'àn zhào fú 'ěr mó sī de yào qiú， xiàng yòu biān zǒu qù， fú 'ěr mó sī zé zǒu xiàng zuǒ fāng， kě shì wǒ zǒu liǎo hái bù dào wǔ shí bù， jiù tīng dào tā jiào wǒ， bìng qiě kàn dào tā xiàng wǒ zhāo shǒu。 yuán lái zài tā miàn qián sōng ruǎn de tǔ dì shàng yòu yī xiē qīng xī de mǎ tí yìn， ér fú 'ěr mó sī cóng dài lǐ qǔ chū mǎ tí tiě yǔ dì shàng de tí yìn yī duì zhào， jìng wán quán wěn hé。
　　“ nǐ qiáo shè xiǎng gāi shì duō me zhòng yào，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ gé léi gē lǐ jiù quē fá zhè zhǒng sù zhì。 wǒ men duì yǐ fā shēng de shì kě néng shì shénme yòu suǒ shè xiǎng， bìng 'àn shè xiǎng de qíng kuàng qù bàn， jiēguǒ zhèng míng yòu dào lǐ。 nà wǒ men jiù jìn xíng xià qù bā。”
　　 wǒ men chuān guò shī ruǎn de dī wā dì duàn， zǒu guò liǎo sì fēn zhī yī yīng lǐ de gān yìng de cǎo dì， dì xíng kāi shǐ xià xié， chóngxīn fā xiàn liǎo mǎ tí yìn， hòu lái mǎ tí yìn yòu zhōng duàn liǎo bàn yīng lǐ guāng jǐng， kě shì zài méi pǔ lǐ tōng fù jìn， què yòu fā xiàn liǎo mǎ tí yìn。 fú 'ěr mó sī shǒu xiān fā xiàn liǎo tā， tā zhàn zài nà lǐ yòng shǒu zhǐ diǎn， liǎn shàng xiàn chū shèng lì de xǐ yuè shén qíng。 zài mǎ tí yìn bàng biān kě yǐ míng xiǎn kàn chū hái yòu yī gè nán rén de jiǎo yìn。
　　“ kāi shǐ zhè qí mǎ shì dú xíng de。” wǒ dà shēng shuō dào。
　　“ wán quán rú cǐ。 kāi shǐ tā shì dú xíng de。 hēi， zhè shì zěn me huí shì？”
　　 yuán lái zhè liǎng zhǒng zú jì tū rán cháo jīn sī pí lán fāng xiàng zhuǎn qù。 fú 'ěr mó sī chuī qǐ kǒu shào， wǒ men liǎng gè rén zhuī zōng qián jìn。 fú 'ěr mó sī shuāng mù jǐn dīng zhe zú jì， kě shì wǒ 'ǒu rán xiàng bàng biān yī kàn， shǐ wǒ jīng qí de shì， wǒ kàn dào zhè tóng yàng de zú jì yòu zhé huí yuán fāng xiàng。
　　“ huá shēng， nǐ zhēn shì hǎo yàng de，” zài wǒ zhǐ gěi fú 'ěr mó sī kàn shí， tā shuō dào，” nǐ shǐ wǒ men shǎo páo hǎo duō lù， yào bù rán wǒ men jiù zǒu huí tóu lù liǎo。 wǒ men xiàn zài hái 'àn zhé huí de zú jì zǒu bā。”
　　 wǒ men zǒu liǎo méi yòu duō yuǎn， zú jì zài tōng wǎng méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù dà mén de lì qīng lù shàng zhōng duàn liǎo。 wǒ men gāng yī kào jìn mǎ jiù， yī gè mǎ fū cóng lǐ miàn páo chū lái。
　　“ wǒ men zhè lǐ bù zhǔn xián rén dòu liú，” nà gè rén shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ zhǐ xiǎng wèn yī gè wèn tí，” fú 'ěr mó sī bǎ mǔ zhǐ hé shí zhǐ chā dào bèi xīn kǒu dài lǐ shuō dào，“ yào shì míng tiān zǎo chén wǔ diǎn zhōng wǒ lái bài fǎng nǐ de zhù rén sài lā sī · bù lǎng xiān shēng， shì bù shì tài zǎo liǎo？”
　　“ shàng dì bǎo yòu nǐ， xiān shēng， rú guǒ nà shí yòu rén lái， tā huì jiē jiàn de， yīn wéi tā zǒng shì dì yī gè qǐ chuáng。 kě shì tā lái liǎo， xiān shēng， nǐ zì jǐ qù wèn tā bā。 bù， xiān shēng， bù xíng， rú guǒ ràng tā kàn jiàn wǒ ná nǐ de qián， tā jiù huì gǎn zǒu wǒ， jiǎ rú nǐ yuàn yì gěi de huà， qǐng děng yī huì。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī gāng yào cóng kǒu dài lǐ ná chū yī kuài bàn kè lǎng de jīn bì， tīng dào① zhè huà， suí jí fàng huí yuán chù， yī gè miàn róng zhēng níng kě pà de lǎo rén cóng mén nèi dà tà bù dì zǒu liǎo chū lái， shǒu zhōng huī wǔ zhe yī zhī liè biān。
　　“ zhè shì gànshénme， dào sēn？！” tā jiào hǎn dào，” bù xǔ xián tán！ qù de shì！ hái yòu nǐ men， nǐ men jiū jìng lái gànshénme？”
　　“ wǒ men yào hé nǐ tán shí fēn zhōng， wǒ de hǎo xiān shēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī hé yán yuè sè dì shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ méi yòu shí jiān hé měi gè yóu shǒu hǎo xián de rén tán huà， wǒ men zhè lǐ bù xǔ shēng① bàn kè lǎng： hé 'èr xiān lìng liù biàn shì。 héng héng yì zhě zhù rén tíng liú。 zǒu kāi， yào bù rán wǒ jiù fàng gǒu yǎo nǐ men。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī fǔ shēn xiàng qián， zài tā 'ěr bàng dī yǔ liǎo jǐ jù。 tā měng rán tiào qǐ lái， miàn hóng 'ěr chì。
　　“ chě huǎng！” tā gāo hǎn dào，” wú chǐ huǎng yán！”
　　“ hěn hǎo。 wǒ men shì zài zhè lǐ dāng zhòng zhēng lùn hǎo ní， hái shì dào nǐ de kè tīng lǐ tán yī tán hǎo ní？”
　　“ ā， yào shì nǐ yuàn yì， qǐng bā。”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī wēi wēi yī xiào。
　　“ wǒ bù huì ràng nǐ děng hěn jiǔ de。 huá shēng，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ xiàn zài， bù lǎng xiān shēng， wǒ wán quán tīng nǐ fēn fù。”
　　 guò liǎo yòu 'èr shí fēn zhōng， fú 'ěr mó sī hé tā chóngxīn zǒu chū lái shí， tiān shàng de hóng guāng yǐ jīng wán quán 'àn xià lái liǎo。 wǒ cóng lái hái méi jiàn guò yòu shuí huì xiàng sài lā sī · bù lǎng nà yàng yī shà nà jiān jiù yòu nà me dà de zhuǎn biàn。 tā de miàn sè huī bái， é shàng mǎn shì hàn zhū， tā de shuāng shǒu chàn dǒu， shǒu zhōng de liè biān xiàng fēng zhōng de xì shù zhī yī yàng bǎi dòng。 tā nà zhǒng zhuān héng bà dào de shén qíng yě yī sǎo 'ér guāng， wèi suō dì suí zài wǒ de huǒ bàn shēn bàng， xiàng yī tiáo gǒu gēn zhe tā de zhù rén yī yàng。
　　“ yī dìng zhào nín de zhǐ shì qù bàn。 yī dìng wán quán zhào bàn。” tā shuō dào。
　　“ yī dìng bù néng chū cuò，” fú 'ěr mó sī huí tóu kàn zhe tā shuō dào。 tā zhàn zhàn jīng jīng， hǎo xiàng cóng fú 'ěr mó sī de mù guāng zhōng kàn dào liǎo kě pà de wēi lì。
　　“ ā， shì de， yī dìng bù huì chū cuò。 bǎo zhèng chū chǎng。 wǒ yào bù yào gǎi biàn tā？”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiǎng liǎo xiǎng， hū rán zòng shēng dà xiào，” bù， bù yòng liǎo。” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ huì xiě xìn tōng zhī nǐ。 bù xǔ shuǎ huā zhāo， ǹg， fǒu zé ……”
　　“ ā， qǐng xiāng xìn wǒ， qǐng xiāng xìn wǒ！”
　　“ hǎo， wǒ xiǎng kě yǐ xiāng xìn nǐ。 ǹg， míng tiān yī dìng tīng wǒ de xìn。” bù lǎng duō duō suo suo dì xiàng tā shēn guò shǒu lái， fú 'ěr mó sī háo bù lǐ cǎi， zhuǎn shēn jiù zǒu， yú shì wǒ men biàn xiàng fǎn huí jīn sī pí lán de fāng xiàng zǒu qù。
　　“ xiàng sài lā sī · bù lǎng zhè yàng yī huì 'ér qì zhuàng rú niú、 yī huì 'ér yòu dǎn xiǎo rú shǔ、 ér qiě nú qì shí zú de zá zhǒng， wǒ dǎo hěn shǎo jiàn guò ní。” zài wǒ men tuō zhe chén zhòng de jiǎo bù fǎn huí shí， fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào。
　　“ nà me shuō， mǎ zài tā nà lǐ liǎo？”
　　“ tā yuán běn xū shēng dònghè， xiǎng bǎ shì qíng lài diào。 kě shì wǒ bǎ tā nà tiān zǎo chén gān de shì shuō dé fēn háo bùchà， yīn cǐ tā xiāng xìn wǒ dāng shí shì zài chǒu zhe tā。 nǐ dāng rán huì zhù yì dào nà gè tè shū de fāng tóu xié yìn， bù lǎng de cháng tǒng xuē zhèng hé tā yī yàng。 hái yòu， zhè zhǒng shì dāng rán bù shì xià rén men dǎn gǎn zuò de。 gēn jù tā zǒng shì dì yī gè qǐ chuáng de xí guàn， wǒ duì tā shuō， tā shì zěn me fā jué yòu yī pǐ qí guài de mǎ zài huāng yě shàng pái huái de， yòu shì zěn me chū qù yíng tā de， dāng tā kàn dào nà qí mǎ míng bù xū chuán de bái 'é tóu shí， yòu shì rú hé dì xǐ chū wàng wài de， yīn wéi zhǐ yòu zhè qí mǎ cái néng zhàn bài tā xià dǔ zhù de nà yī qí mǎ， ér bù yì jìng rán luò dào liǎo zì jǐ de shǒu zhōng。 hòu lái wǒ yòu xù shù shuō， tā kāi shǐ yī shǎn niàn jiān shì rú hé dǎ suàn bǎ mǎ sòng huí jīn sī pí lán， hòu lái yòu shì rú hé dǒu qǐ xié niàn， xiǎng bǎ mǎ yī zhí cáng dào bǐ sài jié shù de， yīn 'ér shì zěn yàng bǎ mǎ qiān huí lái， cáng zài méi pǔ lǐ tōng de。 wǒ bǎ zhè yī qiē xì jié dū jiǎng gěi tā tīng， tā bù dé bù rèn shū， zhǐ xiǎng bǎo quán zì jǐ de shēng mìng liǎo。”
　　“ kě shì mǎ jiù bù shì sōu chá guò liǎo má？”
　　“ ā， xiàng tā zhè yàng de lǎo mǎ hùn zǐ shì guǐ jì duō duān de。”
　　“ jì rán tā wèile qièshēn lì yì kě yǐ shāng hài nà pǐ míng jū， kě nǐ xiàn zài hái bǎ mǎ liú zài tā shǒu lǐ， nǐ nán dào bù dān xīn má？”
　　“ wǒ qīn 'ài de huǒ jì， tā huì xiàng bǎo hù yǎn zhū yī yàng bǎo hù tā de。 yīn wéi tā zhī dào shòu kuān dà de wéi yī xī wàng jiù shì bǎo zhèng nà qí mǎ de 'ān quán 'ā。”
　　“ wǒ jué dé luó sī shàng xiào wú lùn rú hé bù shì yī gè kěn kuān shù bié rén de rén。”
　　“ zhè jiàn shì bìng bù qǔ jué yú luó sī shàng xiào。 wǒ kě yǐ zì xíng qí shì， gēn jù zì jǐ de xuǎn zé duì zhǎng wò de qíng kuàng duō shuō huò shǎo shuō。 zhè jiù shì fēi guān fāng zhēn tàn de yòu lì tiáo jiàn。 huá shēng， wǒ bù zhī dào nǐ shì fǒu fā xiàn， luó sī shàng xiào duì wǒ yòu diǎn 'ào màn。 xiàn zài wǒ xiǎng ná tā lái shāo wēi kāi kāi xīn。 bù yào gào sù tā guān yú mǎ de shì。”
　　“ méi yòu nǐ de xǔ kě wǒ yī dìng bù shuō。”
　　“ ér qiě zhè jiàn shì yǔ shì shuí shā hài yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè de wèn tí xiāng bǐ， dāng rán shì wēi bù zú dào de liǎo。”
　　“ nǐ dǎ suàn zhuī chá xiōng shǒu má？”
　　“ zhèng xiāng fǎn， wǒ men liǎng gè rén jīn tiān jiù chéng yè chē fǎn huí lún dūn。”
　　 wǒ péng yǒu de huà wán quán chū hū wǒ de yì liào zhī wài。 wǒ men dào dé wén jùn cái jǐ gè xiǎo shí， ér yī kāi shǐ diào chá yán jiū jiù gānde zhè me piào liàng， xiàn zài tā jìng rán yào sǎ shǒu huí qù， zhè kě shǐ wǒ bǎi sī bù jiě liǎo。 zài wǒ men fǎn huí xùn mǎ shī yù suǒ de tú zhōng， bù lùn wǒ zěn yàng zhuī wèn， tādōu jué kǒu bù tán cǐ shì。 shàng xiào hé jǐng cháng zǎo yǐ zài kè tīng děng zhe wǒ men。
　　“ wǒ hé wǒ de péng yǒu dǎ suàn chéng yè chē fǎn huí chéng lǐ，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，” yǐ jīng hū xī guò nǐ men dá tè mù 'ěr de xīn xiān kōng qì liǎo， kě zhēn lìng rén xīn kuàng shén yí 'ā。”
　　 jǐng cháng mù dèng kǒu dāi， shàng xiào qīng miè dì piē piē zuǐ。
　　“ zhè me shuō lái nǐ shì duì ná huò shā hài kě lián de sī tè léi kè de xiōng shǒu sàng shī xìn xīn liǎo，” shàng xiào shuō dào。
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī sǒng liǎo sǒng shuāng jiān。
　　“ zhè yòu hěn dà kùn nán，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ kě shì wǒ wán quán xiāng xìn， nǐ de mǎ kě yǐ cān jiā xīng qī 'èr de bǐ sài， qǐng nǐ zhǔn bèi hǎo sài mǎ qí shī bā。 wǒ kě yǐ yào yī zhāng yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè de zhào piàn má？”
　　 jǐng cháng cóng yī gè xìn fēng zhōng chōu chū yī zhāng zhào piàn dì gěi fú 'ěr mó sī。
　　“ qīn 'ài de gé léi gē lǐ， nǐ bǎ wǒ xū yào de dōng xī shì xiān dū zhǔn bèi qí quán liǎo。 qǐng nǐ zài zhè lǐ shāo děng piàn kè， wǒ xiǎng xiàng nǚ pú wèn yī gè wèn tí。”
　　“ wǒ yīnggāi chéng rèn， duì wǒ men zhè wèi cóng lún dūn lái de gù wèn wǒ pō wéi shī wàng，” wǒ de péng yǒu gāng yī zǒu chū qù， luó sī shàng xiào biàn zhí jié liǎo dāng dì shuō dào，“ wǒ kàn bù chū tā lái zhè 'ér yǐ hòu yòu shénme jìn zhǎn。”
　　“ zhì shǎo tā yǐ xiàng nǐ bǎo zhèng， nǐ de mǎ yī dìng néng cān jiā bǐ sài，” wǒ shuō dào。
　　“ shì de， tā xiàng wǒ bǎo zhèng liǎo，” shàng xiào sǒng liǎo sǒng shuāng jiān shuō dào，“ dàn yuàn tā zhǎo dào liǎo wǒ nà qí mǎ， zhèng míng tā bù shì xiā shuō。”
　　 wèile wéi hù wǒ de péng yǒu， wǒ zhèng zhǔn bèi bó chì tā， kě shì fú 'ěr mó sī yòu zǒu jìn wū lái。
　　“ xiān shēng men，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ xiàn zài wǒ yǐ jīng wán quán zhǔn bèi hǎo dào tǎ wéi sī tuō kè zhèn qù liǎo。”
　　 zài wǒ men shàng sì lún mǎ chē shí， yī gè xiǎo mǎ guān gěi wǒ men dǎ kāi chē mén。 fú 'ěr mó sī sì hū hū rán xiǎng qǐ liǎo shénme， biàn fǔ shēn xiàng qián， lā liǎo lā xiǎo mǎ guān de yī xiù。
　　“ nǐ men de wéi chǎng lǐ yòu yī xiē mián yáng，” fú 'ěr mó sī wèn dào，” shuí zhào liào tā men？”
　　“ shì wǒ， xiān shēng。”
　　“ nǐ fā xiàn jìn lái tā men yòu shénme máo bìng má？”
　　“ ā， xiān shēng， méi shí me dà bù liǎo de shì， bù guò yòu sān zhǐ bǒ zú liǎo。”
　　 wǒ kàn chū， fú 'ěr mó sī jí wéi mǎn yì， yīn wéi tā cuō zhe shuāng shǒu， lie zhe zuǐ qīng qīng dì xiào liǎo。
　　“ dà dǎn de tuī cè， huá shēng， kě tuī cè dé fēi cháng zhǔn，” fú 'ěr mó sī niē liǎo yī xià wǒ de shǒu bì， shuō dào，“ gé léi gē lǐ， wǒ quàn nǐ zhù yì yī xià yáng qún zhōng de zhè zhǒng qí yì bìng zhèng。 zǒu bā！ chē fū。”
　　 luó sī shàng xiào liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng hé yǐ qián yī yàng， xiǎn chū duì wǒ péng yǒu de cái néng bù shí fēn xiāng xìn de shén tài， kě shì wǒ cóng jǐng cháng liǎn shàng de biǎo qíng kàn chū， fú 'ěr mó sī de huà shǐ tā fēi cháng zhù yì。
　　“ nǐ duàn dìng zhè shì hěn zhòng yào de má？” gé léi gē lǐ wèn dào。
　　“ fēi cháng zhòng yào。”
　　“ nǐ hái yào wǒ zhù yì qí tā yī xiē wèn tí má？”
　　“ zài nà tiān yè lǐ， gǒu de fǎn yìng shì qí guài de。”
　　“ nà tiān wǎn shàng， gǒu méi yòu shénme yì cháng fǎn yìng 'ā。”
　　“ zhè zhèng shì qí guài de dì fāng。” xiē luò kè · fú 'ěr mó sī tí xǐng dào。
　　 sì tiān yǐ hòu， wǒ hé fú 'ěr mó sī jué dìng chéng chē dào wēn qiē sī tè shì qù kàn wéi sài kè sī bēi jǐn biāo sài。 luó sī shàng xiào rú yuē zài chē zhàn bàng yíng jiē wǒ men， wǒ men chéng zuò tā nà gāo dà de mǎ chē dào chéng wài páo mǎ chǎng qù。 luó sī shàng xiào miàn sè yīn chén， tài dù fēi cháng lěng dàn。
　　“ zhí dào xiàn zài wǒ de mǎ yī diǎn xiāo xī yě méi yòu，” shàng xiào shuō dào。
　　“ wǒ xiǎng nǐ kàn dào tā， zǒng néng rèn dé tā bā？” fú 'ěr mó sī wèn dào。
　　 shàng xiào jí wéi nǎo nù。
　　“ wǒ zài sài mǎ chǎng yǐ jīng 'èr shí nián liǎo， yǐ qián cóng lái hái méi yòu tīng guò zhè yàng de wèn tí，” tā shuō zhe，” lián xiǎo hái zǐ yě rèn dé yín sè bái 'é mǎ de bái 'é tóu hé tā nà bān bó de yòu qián tuǐ。”
　　“ dǔ zhù zěn me yàng？”
　　“ zhè cái shì 'ào miào zhī chù ní。 zuó tiān shì shí wǔ bǐ yī， kě shì chā 'é yuè lái yuè xiǎo liǎo， xiàn zài jìng diē dào sān bǐ yī。”
　　“ hā！” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ fēn míng shì yòu rén zhī dào liǎo shénme xiāo xī。”
　　 mǎ chē shǐ dǐ kàn tái de wéi qiáng， wǒ kàn dào sài mǎ pái shàng cān jiā sài mǎ de míng dān。
　　 wéi sài kè sī jīn bēi sài
　　 sài mǎ nián líng： yǐ sì、 wǔ suì kǒu wéi xiàn。 sài chéng： yī yīng lǐ wǔ fú lóng。 měi mǎ jiāo kuǎn wǔ shí bàng。 tóu míng chú jīn bēi wài dé jiǎng yī qiān bàng。 dì 'èr míng dé jiǎng sān bǎi bàng。 dì sān míng dé jiǎng 'èr bǎi bàng。
　　 yī、 xī 'ēn · niú dùn xiān shēng de sài mǎ ní gé luó。 qí shī zhe hóng mào， zōng huáng sè shàng yī。
　　 èr、 wò dé luò shàng xiào de sài mǎ pà jí lì sī tè。 qí shī zhe táo hóng mào， hēi lán sè shàng yī。
　　 sān、 bā kè wò tè xūn jué de sài mǎ dé sī bā lè。 qí shī zhe huáng mào， huáng sè yī xiù。
　　 sì、 luó sī shàng xiào de sài mǎ yín sè bái 'é mǎ。 qí shī zhe hēi mào， hóng sè shàng yī。
　　 wǔ、 bā 'ěr mò lā 'ěr gōng jué de sài mǎ 'ài lǐ sī。 qí shī zhe huáng mào， huáng hēi tiáo wén shàng yī。
　　 liù、 xīn gé lì fú tè xūn jué de sài mǎ lā sī bō 'ěr。 qí shī zhe zǐ sè mào， hēi sè yī xiù。
　　“ wǒ men bǎ yī qiē xī wàng dū jì tuō zài nǐ de huà shàng liǎo， bǎ zhǔn bèi hǎo de lìng yījì mǎ yě chè chū liǎo bǐ sài，” shàng xiào shuō dào，“ shénme， nà shì shénme？ míng jū yín sè bái 'é mǎ？”
　　“ yín sè bái 'é mǎ， wǔ bǐ sì！” sài mǎ dǔ kè gāo shēng hǎn dào，” yín sè bái 'é mǎ， wǔ bǐ sì！ dé sī bā lè， wǔ bǐ shí wǔ！ qí yú sài mǎ， wǔ bǐ sì！”
　　“ suǒ yòu de sài mǎdōu biān liǎo hào，” wǒ dà shēng shuō dào，“ liù qī mǎdōu chū chǎng liǎo。”
　　“ liù qī mǎdōu chū chǎng liǎo？ nà me shuō， wǒ de mǎ yě chū lái liǎo，” shàng xiào yì cháng jiāo jí bù 'ān dì hǎn dào，” kě shì wǒ méi kàn dào tā， méi yòu wǒ nà zhǒng yán sè de mǎ guò lái。”
　　“ gāng páo guò wǔ pǐ， nà pǐ yī dìng shì nǐ de。”
　　 wǒ zhèng shuō zhe， yòu yī pǐ jiáo jiàn de lì sè mǎ piào hàn dì cóng bàng mǎ wéi lán nèi páo chū lái， cóng wǒ men miàn qián huǎn pèi 'ér guò， mǎ bèi shàng zuò zhe shàng xiào nà wèi zhòng suǒ zhōu zhī de hēi mào hóng yī qí shī。
　　“ nà bù shì wǒ de mǎ，” mǎ zhù rén gāo hǎn dào，” zhè qí mǎ shēn shàng yī gēn bái máo yě méi yòu。 nǐ dào dǐ gǎo liǎo shénme guǐ， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng？”
　　“ wèi， wèi， wǒ men lái kàn tā páode zěn yàng，” wǒ de péng yǒu chén zhe lěng jìng dì shuō dào， tā yòng wǒ de shuāng tǒng wàng yuǎn jìng zhù yì guān kàn liǎo jǐ fēn zhōng，” tài hǎo liǎo！ kāi shǐ dé tài hǎo liǎo！” tā yòu tū rán hǎn dào，” tā men guò lái liǎo， yǐ jīng guǎi wān liǎo！”
　　 wǒ men cóng mǎ chē shàng wàng guò qù， sài mǎ yī zhí páo guò lái， qíng jǐng yì cháng zhuàng guān。 liù qī mǎ yuán lái jǐn 'āi zài yī qǐ， shèn zhì yī tiáo dì tǎn kě yǐ bǎ liù qī mǎ yī pū gài shàng， kě shì páo dào zhōng tú， méi pǔ lǐ tōng mǎ jiù de huáng mào qí shī jiù páo dào qián miàn。 kě shì， zài tā men páo guò wǒ men miàn qián shí， dé sī bā lè de lì qì yǐ jīng hào jìn liǎo， ér luó sī shàng xiào de míng jū què yī chōng 'ér shàng， chí guò zhōng diǎn， bǐ tā de duì shǒu zǎo dào liù mǎ shēn cháng， bā 'ěr mò lā 'ěr gōng jué de 'ài lǐ sī míng liè dì sān。
　　“ zhè yàng kàn lái， zhēn shì wǒ nà qí mǎ liǎo，” shàng xiào bǎ yī zhǐ shǒu zhē dào shuāng yǎn shàng wàng zhe， qì chuǎn xū xū dì shuō dào，“ wǒ chéng rèn， wǒ shí zài mō bù zhe tóu nǎo。 nǐ bù rèn wéi nǐ bǎ mì mì bǎo shǒu dé shí jiān tài jiǔ liǎo má？ fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng。”
　　“ dāng rán liǎo， shàng xiào， nǐ mǎ shàng huì zhī dào yī qiē qíng kuàng de。 wǒ men xiàn zài shùn biàn yī qǐ qù kàn kàn zhè qí mǎ。 tā zài zhè lǐ，” fú 'ěr mó sī jì xù shuō dào， zhè shí wǒ men yǐ jīng zǒu jìn bàng mǎ de wéi lán， zhè dì fāng zhǐ zhǔn xǔ mǎ zhù rén hé tā men de péng yǒu jìn qù，” nǐ zhǐ yào yòng jiǔ jīng bǎ mǎ miàn hé mǎ tuǐ xǐ yī xǐ， nǐ jiù kě yǐ kàn dào tā jiù shì nà pǐ yín sè bái 'é mǎ。”
　　“ nǐ zhēn shǐ wǒ dà chī yī jīng！”
　　“ wǒ zài dào mǎ zhě shǒu zhōng zhǎo dào liǎo tā， biàn shàn zì zuò zhù ràng tā zhè yàng lái cān jiā mǎ sài liǎo。”
　　“ wǒ qīn 'ài de xiān shēng， nǐ zuòde zhēn shén mì。 zhè qí mǎ kàn lái fēi cháng jiàn zhuàng、 liáng hǎo。 tā yī shēng zhōng cóng lái hái méi yòu xiàng jīn tiān páode zhè yàng hǎo。 wǒ dāng chū duì nǐ de cái néng yòu xiē huái yí， shí zài gǎn dào wàn fēn bào qiàn。 nǐ gěi wǒ zhǎo dào liǎo mǎ， tì wǒ zuò liǎo jiàn dà hǎo shì， rú guǒ nǐ néng zhuā dào shā hài yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè de xiōng shǒu， nǐ jiù gèng gěi wǒ bāng liǎo dà máng liǎo。”
　　“ zhè jiàn shì， wǒ yě bàn dào liǎo。” fú 'ěr mó sī bù huāng bù máng dì shuō dào。
　　 shàng xiào hé wǒdōu chī jīng dì wàng zhe fú 'ěr mó sī， shàng xiào wèn dào：
　　“ nǐ yǐ jīng zhuā dào tā liǎo？ nà me， tā zài nǎ lǐ？”
　　“ tā jiù zài zhè lǐ。”
　　“ zhè lǐ！ zài nǎ 'ér？”
　　“ cǐ kè jiù hé wǒ zài yī qǐ。”
　　 shàng xiào qì dé mǎn liǎn tōng hóng。
　　“ wǒ wán quán chéng rèn wǒ shòu dào liǎo nǐ de hǎo chù， fú 'ěr mó sī xiān shēng，” shàng xiào shuō dào，“ kě shì wǒ rèn wéi nǐ gāng cái de huà， bù shì 'è zuò jù jiù shì wǔ rǔ rén！”
　　 fú 'ěr mó sī xiào liǎo qǐ lái。
　　“ wǒ xiàng nǐ bǎo zhèng， wǒ bìng méi yòu rèn wéi nǐ tóng zuì fàn yòu shénme lián xì， shàng xiào，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ zhēn zhèng de xiōng shǒu jiù zhàn zài nǐ shēn hòu，” tā zǒu guò qù， bǎ shǒu fàng dào zhè pǐ liáng mǎ guāng huá de mǎ jǐng shàng。
　　“ zhè qí mǎ！” shàng xiào hé wǒ liǎng gè rén tóng shí gāo shēng hǎn dào。
　　“ shì de， zhè qí mǎ。 jiǎ rú wǒ shuō míng， tā shì wèile zì wèi shā rén， nà jiù kě yǐ jiǎn qīng tā de zuì guò liǎo。 ér yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè shì yī gè gēn běn bù zhí dé nǐ xìn rèn de rén。 xiàn zài líng xiǎng liǎo， wǒ xiǎng zài xià yīcháng bǐ sài zhōng， shāo shāo yíng yī diǎn。 wǒ men zài zhǎo shìdàng de shí jī xiáng xì tán yī tán bā。”
　　 nà tiān wǎn shàng wǒ men chéng zuò pǔ 'ěr mén shì kè chē fǎn huí lún dūn， wǒ men de péng yǒu xiáng xì dì jiǎng shù xīng qī yī yè wǎn dá tè mù 'ěr xùn mǎ jiù lǐ fā shēng de nà xiē shì， hé tā de jiě jué fāng fǎ， shǐ wǒ men tīng dé rù liǎo shén， wǒ liào xiǎng， luó sī shàng xiào hé wǒ běn rén yī yàng， jué dé lǚ chéng shì tài duǎn liǎo。
　　“ wǒ chéng rèn，” fú 'ěr mó sī shuō dào，“ wǒ gēn jù bào zhǐ bào dào suǒ xíng chéng de gài niàn， shì wán quán bù zhèng què de。 kě shì zhè lǐ réng rán yòu yī xiē jì xiàng， rú guǒ bù shì tā xì jié suǒ yǎn gài de huà， nà běn lái shì fēi cháng zhòng yào de。 wǒ dào dé wén jùn qù shí， yě shēn xìn fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn jiù shì zuì fàn。 dāng rán， nà shí wǒ yě céng kàn dào bìng méi yòu què záo de zhèng jù。 ér zài wǒ chéng zuò mǎ chē， gāng hǎo lái dào xùn mǎ shī fáng qián shí， wǒ tū rán xiǎng dào gālí yáng ròu jù yòu zhòng yào de yì yì。 nǐ men gāi jì dé， zài nǐ mendōu cóng chē shàng xià lái shí， wǒ nà shí zhèng zài chū shén， réng jiù zuò zhe bù dòng。 wǒ shì zài duì wǒ zì jǐ de tóu nǎo gǎn dào jīng yì， wǒ zěn me jìng néng hū lüè liǎo zhè yàng yī tiáo míng xiǎn de xiàn suǒ。”
　　“ wǒ chéng rèn，” shàng xiào shuō dào，“ shèn zhì xiàn zài wǒ yě kàn bù chū gālí yáng ròu duì wǒ men yòu shénme bāng zhù。”
　　“ tā shì wǒ tuī lǐ suǒ liàn zhōng de dì yī gè huán jié。 nòng chéng fěn mò de má zuì jì jué bù shì méi yòu qì wèi de。 zhè qì wèi suī bù nán wén， kě shì néng chá jué chū lái。 yào shì bǎ tā càn zài pǔ tōng de cài lǐ miàn， chī de rén háo wú yí wèn kě yǐ fā xiàn chū lái， kě néng jiù bù huì zài chī xià qù。 ér gālí zhèng shì kě yǐ yǎn gài zhè zhǒng qì wèi de dōng xī。 bù kě néng shè xiǎng， mò shēng rén fěi cí luó yī · xīn pǔ sēn nà tiān wǎn shàng huì bǎ gālí dài dào xùn mǎ rén jiā zhōng qù yòng。 lìng yī zhǒng tè bié guài dàn de shè xiǎng shì， nà tiān wǎn shàng tā dài zhe nòng chéng fěn mò de má zuì jì qián lái， zhèng hǎo pèng dào kě yǐ yǎn gài zhè zhǒng qì wèi de cài yáo， zhè zhǒng qiǎo hé dāng rán shì nán yǐ zhì xìn de。 yīn cǐ， xīn pǔ sēn zhè gè xián yí jiù pái chú liǎo。 yú shì， wǒ de zhù yì zhòng diǎn jiù luò dào sī tè léi kè fū fù shēn shàng。 zhǐ yòu zhè liǎng gè rén néng xuǎn zé gālí yáng ròu gōng zhè tiān wǎn shàng de wǎn cān yòng。 má zuì jì shì zài cài zuò hǎo yǐ hòu zhuān mén gěi xiǎo mǎ guān jiā jìn qù de， yīn wéi bié rén yě chī liǎo tóng yàng de cài dàn méi yòu huài zuò yòng。 nà me tā men liǎng gè rén zhōng nǎ yī gè jiē jìn zhè fèn cài yáo 'ér wèi bèi nǚ qǐ fā xiàn ní？
　　“ zài jiě jué zhè gè wèn tí yǐ qián， wǒ liǎo jiě dào zhè tiáo gǒu bù chū shēng de zhòng yào xìng， yīn wéi yī gè kě kào de tuī lùn zǒng huì qǐ fā chū qí tā de wèn tí lái。 wǒ cóng xīn pǔ sēn zhè gè chāqǔ zhōng zhī dào， mǎ jiù zhōng yòu yī tiáo gǒu， rán 'ér， jìn guǎn yòu rén jìn lái， bìng qiě bǎ mǎ qiān zǒu， tā jìng háo bù fèi jiào， méi yòu jīng dòng shuì zài cǎo liào péng lǐ de liǎng gè kàn mǎ fáng de rén。 xiǎn rán， zhè wèi wǔ yè lái kè shì zhè tiáo gǒu fēi cháng shú xī de rén wù。
　　“ wǒ yǐ jīng què xìn， huò zhě shuō chàbù duō què xìn， yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè zài shēn yè lái dào mǎ jiù， bǎ mǎ qiān zǒu liǎo。 wèile shénme mùdì ní？ xiǎn rán， shì bù huái hǎo yì， bù rán， tā wèishénme yào má zuì tā zì jǐ de xiǎo mǎ guān ní？ kě shì， wǒ yī xià zǐ xiǎng bù chū wèishénme。 yǐ qián yòu guò yī xiē 'àn zǐ， xùn mǎ shī tōng guò dài lǐ rén bǎ dà liàng de dǔ zhù yā zài zì jǐ de mǎ de bài běi shàng， rán hòu wèile qī piàn， gù yì bù ràng zì jǐ de mǎ dé shèng。 yòu shí， zài sài mǎ zhōng gù yì fàng màn sù dù 'ér shū diào。 yòu shí tā men yòng yī xiē gèng yòu bǎ wò gèng yīn xiǎn jiǎo huá de shǒu fǎ。 zhè lǐ yòng de shì shénme shǒu fǎ ní？ wǒ xī wàng jiǎn chá sǐ zhě de yī dài lǐ de dōng xī hòu zài zuò chū jié lùn。
　　“ shì shí zhèng shì rú cǐ， nǐ men zǒng bù huì wàng jì zài sǐ zhě shǒu zhōng fā xiàn de nà bǎ qí tè de xiǎo dāo bā， dāng rán méi yòu yī gè shén zhì zhèng cháng de rén huì ná tā lái dāng wǔ qì shǐ yòng。 zhèng xiàng huá shēng yī shēng gào sù wǒ men de nà yàng， zhè shì wài kē shǒu shù shì yòng lái zuò zuì jīng mì shǒu shù de shǒu shù dāo。 nà tiān wǎn shàng， zhè bǎ xiǎo dāo yě shì zhǔn bèi yòng lái zuò jīng mì shǒu shù de。 luó sī shàng xiào， nǐ duì sài mǎ shì yòu fēng fù jīng yàn de， nǐ zǒng gāi zhī dào， zài mǎ de hòu huái gǔ jiàn zǐ ròu shàng cóng pí xià huàyī xiǎo dào qīng qīng de shāng hén， nà shì jué duì xiǎn bù chū hén jì lái de。 jīng guò zhè yàng chǔlǐ de mǎ jiāng màn màn chū xiàn xiē qīng wēi de bǒ zú， ér zhè huì bèi rén dàngzuò shì xùn liàn guò dù huò shì yòu yī diǎn fēng shī tòng， kě shì què bù huì bèi rén fā xiàn shì yī gè 'āng zàng de yīn móu。”
　　“ è gùn！ huài dàn！” shàng xiào dà shēng rǎng dào。
　　“ wǒ men yǐ jīng qīng chǔ yuē hàn · sī tè léi kè bǎ mǎ qiān dào huāng yě qù de mùdì liǎo。 ér zhè yàng yī pǐ liè mǎ shòu dào dāo cì yǐ hòu， yī dìng gāo shēng sī jiào， yīn 'ér huì jīng xǐng zài cǎo liào péng shuì jué de rén。 suǒ yǐ jué duì xū yào dào yě wài qù gān zhè gè gòu dāng。”
　　“ wǒ zhēn xiā liǎo yǎn！” shàng xiào gāo hǎn dào，” guài bù dé tā yào yòng là zhú hé huǒ chái liǎo。”
　　“ shì 'ā， jīng guò jiǎn chá tā de dōng xī yǐ hòu， wǒ fēi cháng xìng yùn dì bù jǐn fā xiàn liǎo tā de fàn zuì fāng fǎ， shèn zhì lián tā de fàn zuì dòng jī yě zhǎo dào liǎo。 shàng xiào， nǐ shì yī gè lǎo yú shì gù de rén， nǐ dāng rán zhī dào yī gè rén bù huì bǎ bié rén de zhàng dān zhuāng zài zì jǐ de kǒu dài lǐ。 wǒ men yī bān réndōu shì zì jǐ jiě jué zì jǐ de zhàng wù。 suǒ yǐ wǒ lì jí duàn dìng， sī tè léi kè guò zhe chónghūn shēng huó， bìng qiě lìng yòu yī suǒ zhù zhái。 cóng nà fèn zhàng dān kě yǐ kàn chū， zhè jiàn 'àn zǐ lǐ yī dìng yòu yī gè 'ài huī huò de nǚ rén。 jí shǐ xiàng nǐ zhè yàng duì pú rén kāng kǎi dà fāng de rén， yě hěn nán liào xiǎng dào tā men néng huā 'èr shí jī ní gěi nǚ rén mǎi yī jiàn yī fú。 wǒ céng chèn qǐ bù bèi xiàng sī tè léi kè fū rén dǎ tīng guò zhè jiàn yī fú de shì， kě shì tā wén suǒ wèi wén， zhè shǐ wǒ hěn mǎn yì， shuō míng zhè jiàn shì hé tā méi yòu guān xì。 wǒ jì xià liǎo fú shì shāng de dì zhǐ， běn néng dì gǎn dào wǒ dài shàng sī tè léi kè de zhào piàn yī dìng néng hěn róng yì dì jiě jué zhè wèi shén mì de dé bǐ xī 'ěr xiān shēng de wèn tí。
　　“ cóng nà shí qī， yī qiē jiù dū qīng chǔ liǎo。 sī tè léi kè bǎ mǎ qiān dào yī gè kēng xué lǐ， zài nà lǐ tā diǎn qǐ là zhú， shǐ rén jiā kàn bù dào。 xīn pǔ sēn zài táo zǒu shí bǎ lǐng dài diū liǎo， sī tè léi kè bǎ tā jiǎn qǐ lái， huò xǔ shì dǎ suàn yòng lái bǎng mǎ tuǐ。 dào liǎo kēng xué， tā zǒu dào mǎ hòu miàn， diǎn qǐ liǎo là zhú， kě shì tū rán yī liàng， mǎ shòu dào jīng hài， chū yú dòng wù de tè yì běn néng yù gǎn dào yòu rén yào jiā hài yú tā， biàn měng liè dì liào qǐ jué zǐ lái， tiě tí zǐ zhèng tī dào sī tè léi kè 'é tóu shàng， ér zhè shí sī tè léi kè wèile nà zhǒng xì zhì de gōng zuò， bù gù xià yǔ， yǐ jīng bǎ tā de dà yī tuō diào， suǒ yǐ zài tā dǎo xià qù shí， xiǎo dāo jiù bǎ tā zì jǐ de dà tuǐ huá pò liǎo。 wǒ shuō dé qīng chǔ má？”
　　“ miào 'ā！” shàng xiào hǎn dào，” miào 'ā！ nǐ hǎo xiàng qīn yǎn kàn dào liǎo yī yàng。”
　　“ wǒ chéng rèn， wǒ zuì hòu de yī diǎn tuī cè shì fēi cháng dà dǎn de。 zài wǒ kàn lái， sī tè léi kè shì gè guǐ jì duō duān de jiā huǒ， tā bù jīng guò shì yàn shì bù huì qīng yì zài mǎ huái gǔ jiàn ròu shàng zuò zhè zhǒng xì zhì de shǒu shù de。 tā néng zài shénme dōng xī shàng zuò shí yàn ní？ wǒ kàn dào liǎo mián yáng， biàn tí liǎo yī gè wèn tí， shèn zhì lián wǒ zì jǐ yě gǎn dào jīng qí， dé dào de huí dá jìng shuō míng wǒ de tuī cè shì zhèng què de。
　　“ wǒ huí lún dūn hòu， bài fǎng liǎo nà wèi fú shì shāng， tā rèn chū sī tè léi kè shì nà gè huà míng dé bǐ xī 'ěr de kuò chuò gù kè， tā yòu yī gè dǎ bàn dé hěn piào liàng de qī zǐ， tè bié xǐ hǎo háo huá de fú shì。 wǒ háo bù huái yí， jiù shì zhè gè nǚ rén shǐ sī tè léi kè bèi shàng liǎo mǎn shēn de zhài wù， yīn 'ér zǒu shàng fàn zuì de dào lù。”
　　“ chú liǎo yī gè wèn tí yǐ wài。 nǐ bǎ yī qiēdōu shuō dé yī qīng 'èr chǔ，” shàng xiào dà shēng shuō dào，“ zhè qí mǎ zài nǎ lǐ ní？”
　　“ ā， tā tuō jiāng táo páo liǎo， nǐ de yī wèi lín jū zhào liào liǎo tā。 zài zhè gè wèn tí shàng wǒ men bì xū kuān róng。 wǒ xiǎng， rú guǒ wǒ méi yòu nòng cuò de huà， yǐ jīng dào liǎo kè lā péng zhàn， guò bù liǎo shí fēn zhōng wǒ men jiù dào wéi duō lì yà chē zhàn liǎo。 rú guǒ nǐ yuàn yì dào wǒ men nà lǐ xī xī yān， shàng xiào， wǒ hěn gāo xīng bǎ qí tā yī xiē xì jié jiǎng gěi nǐ tīng， yī dìng huì shǐ nǐ pō gǎn xīng qù de。”

　　"I am afraid, Watson, that I shall have to go," said Holmes, as we sat down together to our breakfast one morning.
　　
　　"Go! Where to?"
　　
　　"To Dartmoor; to King's Pyland."
　　
　　I was not surprised. Indeed, my only wonder was that he had not already been mixed up in this extraordinary case, which was the one topic of conversation through the length and breadth of England. For a whole day my companion had rambled about the room with his chin upon his chest and his brows knitted, charging and recharging his pipe with the strongest black tobacco, and absolutely deaf to any of my questions or remarks. Fresh editions of every paper had been sent up by our news agent, only to be glanced over and tossed down into a corner. Yet, silent as he was, I knew perfectly well what it was over which he was brooding. There was but one problem before the public which could challenge his powers of analysis, and that was the singular disappearance of the favorite for the Wessex Cup, and the tragic murder of its trainer. When, therefore, he suddenly announced his intention of setting out for the scene of the drama it was only what I had both expected and hoped for.
　　
　　"I should be most happy to go down with you if I should not be in the way," said I.
　　
　　"My dear Watson, you would confer a great favor upon me by coming. And I think that your time will not be misspent, for there are points about the case which promise to make it an absolutely unique one. We have, I think, just time to catch our train at Paddington, and I will go further into the matter upon our journey. You would oblige me by bringing with you your very excellent field-glass."
　　
　　And so it happened that an hour or so later I found myself in the corner of a first-class carriage flying along en route for Exeter, while Sherlock Holmes, with his sharp, eager face framed in his ear-flapped travelling-cap, dipped rapidly into the bundle of fresh papers which he had procured at Paddington. We had left Reading far behind us before he thrust the last one of them under the seat, and offered me his cigar-case.
　　
　　"We are going well," said he, looking out the window and glancing at his watch. "Our rate at present is fifty-three and a half miles an hour."
　　
　　"I have not observed the quarter-mile posts," said I.
　　
　　"Nor have I. But the telegraph posts upon this line are sixty yards apart, and the calculation is a simple one. I presume that you have looked into this matter of the murder of John Straker and the disappearance of Silver Blaze?"
　　
　　"I have seen what the Telegraph and the Chronicle have to say."
　　
　　"It is one of those cases where the art of the reasoner should be used rather for the sifting of details than for the acquiring of fresh evidence. The tragedy has been so uncommon, so complete and of such personal importance to so many people, that we are suffering from a plethora of surmise, conjecture, and hypothesis. The difficulty is to detach the framework of fact--of absolute undeniable fact--from the embellishments of theorists and reporters. Then, having established ourselves upon this sound basis, it is our duty to see what inferences may be drawn and what are the special points upon which the whole mystery turns. On Tuesday evening I received telegrams from both Colonel Ross, the owner of the horse, and from Inspector Gregory, who is looking after the case, inviting my cooperation."
　　
　　"Tuesday evening!" I exclaimed. "And this is Thursday morning. Why didn't you go down yesterday?"
　　
　　"Because I made a blunder, my dear Watson--which is, I am afraid, a more common occurrence than any one would think who only knew me through your memoirs. The fact is that I could not believe it possible that the most remarkable horse in England could long remain concealed, especially in so sparsely inhabited a place as the north of Dartmoor. From hour to hour yesterday I expected to hear that he had been found, and that his abductor was the murderer of John Straker. When, however, another morning had come, and I found that beyond the arrest of young Fitzroy Simpson nothing had been done, I felt that it was time for me to take action. Yet in some ways I feel that yesterday has not been wasted."
　　
　　"You have formed a theory, then?"
　　
　　"At least I have got a grip of the essential facts of the case. I shall enumerate them to you, for nothing clears up a case so much as stating it to another person, and I can hardly expect your co-operation if I do not show you the position from which we start."
　　
　　I lay back against the cushions, puffing at my cigar, while Holmes, leaning forward, with his long, thin forefinger checking off the points upon the palm of his left hand, gave me a sketch of the events which had led to our journey.
　　
　　"Silver Blaze," said he, "is from the Somomy stock, and holds as brilliant a record as his famous ancestor. He is now in his fifth year, and has brought in turn each of the prizes of the turf to Colonel Ross, his fortunate owner. Up to the time of the catastrophe he was the first favorite for the Wessex Cup, the betting being three to one on him. He has always, however, been a prime favorite with the racing public, and has never yet disappointed them, so that even at those odds enormous sums of money have been laid upon him. It is obvious, therefore, that there were many people who had the strongest interest in preventing Silver Blaze from being there at the fall of the flag next Tuesday.
　　
　　"The fact was, of course, appreciated at King's Pyland, where the Colonel's training-stable is situated. Every precaution was taken to guard the favorite. The trainer, John Straker, is a retired jockey who rode in Colonel Ross's colors before he became too heavy for the weighing-chair. He has served the Colonel for five years as jockey and for seven as trainer, and has always shown himself to be a zealous and honest servant. Under him were three lads; for the establishment was a small one, containing only four horses in all. One of these lads sat up each night in the stable, while the others slept in the loft. All three bore excellent characters. John Straker, who is a married man, lived in a small villa about two hundred yards from the stables. He has no children, keeps one maid-servant, and is comfortably off. The country round is very lonely, but about half a mile to the north there is a small cluster of villas which have been built by a Tavistock contractor for the use of invalids and others who may wish to enjoy the pure Dartmoor air. Tavistock itself lies two miles to the west, while across the moor, also about two miles distant, is the larger training establishment of Mapleton, which belongs to Lord Backwater, and is managed by Silas Brown. In every other direction the moor is a complete wilderness, inhabited only by a few roaming gypsies. Such was the general situation last Monday night when the catastrophe occurred.
　　
　　"On that evening the horses had been exercised and watered as usual, and the stables were locked up at nine o'clock. Two of the lads walked up to the trainer's house, where they had supper in the kitchen, while the third, Ned Hunter, remained on guard. At a few minutes after nine the maid, Edith Baxter, carried down to the stables his supper, which consisted of a dish of curried mutton. She took no liquid, as there was a water-tap in the stables, and it was the rule that the lad on duty should drink nothing else. The maid carried a lantern with her, as it was very dark and the path ran across the open moor.
　　
　　"Edith Baxter was within thirty yards of the stables, when a man appeared out of the darkness and called to her to stop. As he stepped into the circle of yellow light thrown by the lantern she saw that he was a person of gentlemanly bearing, dressed in a gray suit of tweeds, with a cloth cap. He wore gaiters, and carried a heavy stick with a knob to it. She was most impressed, however, by the extreme pallor of his face and by the nervousness of his manner. His age, she thought, would be rather over thirty than under it.
　　
　　"'Can you tell me where I am?' he asked. 'I had almost made up my mind to sleep on the moor, when I saw the light of your lantern.'
　　
　　"'You are close to the King's Pyland training-stables,' said she.
　　
　　"'Oh, indeed! What a stroke of luck!' he cried. 'I understand that a stable-boy sleeps there alone every night. Perhaps that is his supper which you are carrying to him. Now I am sure that you would not be too proud to earn the price of a new dress, would you?' He took a piece of white paper folded up out of his waistcoat pocket. 'See that the boy has this to-night, and you shall have the prettiest frock that money can buy.'
　　
　　"She was frightened by the earnestness of his manner, and ran past him to the window through which she was accustomed to hand the meals. It was already opened, and Hunter was seated at the small table inside. She had begun to tell him of what had happened, when the stranger came up again.
　　
　　"'Good-evening,' said he, looking through the window. 'I wanted to have a word with you.' The girl has sworn that as he spoke she noticed the corner of the little paper packet protruding from his closed hand.
　　
　　"'What business have you here?' asked the lad.
　　
　　"'It's business that may put something into your pocket,' said the other. 'You've two horses in for the Wessex Cup--Silver Blaze and Bayard. Let me have the straight tip and you won't be a loser. Is it a fact that at the weights Bayard could give the other a hundred yards in five furlongs, and that the stable have put their money on him?'
　　
　　"'So, you're one of those damned touts!' cried the lad. 'I'll show you how we serve them in King's Pyland.' He sprang up and rushed across the stable to unloose the dog. The girl fled away to the house, but as she ran she looked back and saw that the stranger was leaning through the window. A minute later, however, when Hunter rushed out with the hound he was gone, and though he ran all round the buildings he failed to find any trace of him."
　　
　　"One moment," I asked. "Did the stable-boy, when he ran out with the dog, leave the door unlocked behind him?"
　　
　　"Excellent, Watson, excellent!" murmured my companion. "The importance of the point struck me so forcibly that I sent a special wire to Dartmoor yesterday to clear the matter up. The boy locked the door before he left it. The window, I may add, was not large enough for a man to get through.
　　
　　"Hunter waited until his fellow-grooms had returned, when he sent a message to the trainer and told him what had occurred. Straker was excited at hearing the account, although he does not seem to have quite realized its true significance. It left him, however, vaguely uneasy, and Mrs. Straker, waking at one in the morning, found that he was dressing. In reply to her inquiries, he said that he could not sleep on account of his anxiety about the horses, and that he intended to walk down to the stables to see that all was well. She begged him to remain at home, as she could hear the rain pattering against the window, but in spite of her entreaties he pulled on his large mackintosh and left the house.
　　
　　"Mrs. Straker awoke at seven in the morning, to find that her husband had not yet returned. She dressed herself hastily, called the maid, and set off for the stables. The door was open; inside, huddled together upon a chair, Hunter was sunk in a state of absolute stupor, the favorite's stall was empty, and there were no signs of his trainer.
　　
　　"The two lads who slept in the chaff-cutting loft above the harness-room were quickly aroused. They had heard nothing during the night, for they are both sound sleepers. Hunter was obviously under the influence of some powerful drug, and as no sense could be got out of him, he was left to sleep it off while the two lads and the two women ran out in search of the absentees. They still had hopes that the trainer had for some reason taken out the horse for early exercise, but on ascending the knoll near the house, from which all the neighboring moors were visible, they not only could see no signs of the missing favorite, but they perceived something which warned them that they were in the presence of a tragedy.
　　
　　"About a quarter of a mile from the stables John Straker's overcoat was flapping from a furze-bush. Immediately beyond there was a bowl-shaped depression in the moor, and at the bottom of this was found the dead body of the unfortunate trainer. His head had been shattered by a savage blow from some heavy weapon, and he was wounded on the thigh, where there was a long, clean cut, inflicted evidently by some very sharp instrument. It was clear, however, that Straker had defended himself vigorously against his assailants, for in his right hand he held a small knife, which was clotted with blood up to the handle, while in his left he clasped a red and black silk cravat, which was recognized by the maid as having been worn on the preceding evening by the stranger who had visited the stables. Hunter, on recovering from his stupor, was also quite positive as to the ownership of the cravat. He was equally certain that the same stranger had, while standing at the window, drugged his curried mutton, and so deprived the stables of their watchman. As to the missing horse, there were abundant proofs in the mud which lay at the bottom of the fatal hollow that he had been there at the time of the struggle. But from that morning he has disappeared, and although a large reward has been offered, and all the gypsies of Dartmoor are on the alert, no news has come of him. Finally, an analysis has shown that the remains of his supper left by the stable-lad contain an appreciable quantity of powdered opium, while the people at the house partook of the same dish on the same night without any ill effect.
　　
　　"Those are the main facts of the case, stripped of all surmise, and stated as baldly as possible. I shall now recapitulate what the police have done in the matter.
　　
　　"Inspector Gregory, to whom the case has been committed, is an extremely competent officer. Were he but gifted with imagination he might rise to great heights in his profession. On his arrival he promptly found and arrested the man upon whom suspicion naturally rested. There was little difficulty in finding him, for he inhabited one of those villas which I have mentioned. His name, it appears, was Fitzroy Simpson. He was a man of excellent birth and education, who had squandered a fortune upon the turf, and who lived now by doing a little quiet and genteel book-making in the sporting clubs of London. An examination of his betting-book shows that bets to the amount of five thousand pounds had been registered by him against the favorite. On being arrested he volunteered that statement that he had come down to Dartmoor in the hope of getting some information about the King's Pyland horses, and also about Desborough, the second favorite, which was in charge of Silas Brown at the Mapleton stables. He did not attempt to deny that he had acted as described upon the evening before, but declared that he had no sinister designs, and had simply wished to obtain first-hand information. When confronted with his cravat, he turned very pale, and was utterly unable to account for its presence in the hand of the murdered man. His wet clothing showed that he had been out in the storm of the night before, and his stick, which was a Penang-lawyer weighted with lead, was just such a weapon as might, by repeated blows, have inflicted the terrible injuries to which the trainer had succumbed. On the other hand, there was no wound upon his person, while the state of Straker's knife would show that one at least of his assailants must bear his mark upon him. There you have it all in a nutshell, Watson, and if you can give me any light I shall be infinitely obliged to you."
　　
　　I had listened with the greatest interest to the statement which Holmes, with characteristic clearness, had laid before me. Though most of the facts were familiar to me, I had not sufficiently appreciated their relative importance, nor their connection to each other.
　　
　　"Is it not possible," I suggested, "that the incised wound upon Straker may have been caused by his own knife in the convulsive struggles which follow any brain injury?"
　　
　　"It is more than possible; it is probable," said Holmes. "In that case one of the main points in favor of the accused disappears."
　　
　　"And yet," said I, "even now I fail to understand what the theory of the police can be."
　　
　　"I am afraid that whatever theory we state has very grave objections to it," returned my companion. "The police imagine, I take it, that this Fitzroy Simpson, having drugged the lad, and having in some way obtained a duplicate key, opened the stable door and took out the horse, with the intention, apparently, of kidnapping him altogether. His bridle is missing, so that Simpson must have put this on. Then, having left the door open behind him, he was leading the horse away over the moor, when he was either met or overtaken by the trainer. A row naturally ensued. Simpson beat out the trainer's brains with his heavy stick without receiving any injury from the small knife which Straker used in self-defence, and then the thief either led the horse on to some secret hiding-place, or else it may have bolted during the struggle, and be now wandering out on the moors. That is the case as it appears to the police, and improbable as it is, all other explanations are more improbable still. However, I shall very quickly test the matter when I am once upon the spot, and until then I cannot really see how we can get much further than our present position."
　　
　　It was evening before we reached the little town of Tavistock, which lies, like the boss of a shield, in the middle of the huge circle of Dartmoor. Two gentlemen were awaiting us in the station--the one a tall, fair man with lion-like hair and beard and curiously penetrating light blue eyes; the other a small, alert person, very neat and dapper, in a frock-coat and gaiters, with trim little side-whiskers and an eye-glass. The latter was Colonel Ross, the well-known sportsman; the other, Inspector Gregory, a man who was rapidly making his name in the English detective service.
　　
　　"I am delighted that you have come down, Mr. Holmes," said the Colonel. "The Inspector here has done all that could possibly be suggested, but I wish to leave no stone unturned in trying to avenge poor Straker and in recovering my horse."
　　
　　"Have there been any fresh developments?" asked Holmes.
　　
　　"I am sorry to say that we have made very little progress," said the Inspector. "We have an open carriage outside, and as you would no doubt like to see the place before the light fails, we might talk it over as we drive."
　　
　　A minute later we were all seated in a comfortable landau, and were rattling through the quaint old Devonshire city. Inspector Gregory was full of his case, and poured out a stream of remarks, while Holmes threw in an occasional question or interjection. Colonel Ross leaned back with his arms folded and his hat tilted over his eyes, while I listened with interest to the dialogue of the two detectives. Gregory was formulating his theory, which was almost exactly what Holmes had foretold in the train.
　　
　　"The net is drawn pretty close round Fitzroy Simpson," he remarked, "and I believe myself that he is our man. At the same time I recognize that the evidence is purely circumstantial, and that some new development may upset it."
　　
　　"How about Straker's knife?"
　　
　　"We have quite come to the conclusion that he wounded himself in his fall."
　　
　　"My friend Dr. Watson made that suggestion to me as we came down. If so, it would tell against this man Simpson."
　　
　　"Undoubtedly. He has neither a knife nor any sign of a wound. The evidence against him is certainly very strong. He had a great interest in the disappearance of the favorite. He lies under suspicion of having poisoned the stable-boy, he was undoubtedly out in the storm, he was armed with a heavy stick, and his cravat was found in the dead man's hand. I really think we have enough to go before a jury."
　　
　　Holmes shook his head. "A clever counsel would tear it all to rags," said he. "Why should he take the horse out of the stable? If he wished to injure it why could he not do it there? Has a duplicate key been found in his possession? What chemist sold him the powdered opium? Above all, where could he, a stranger to the district, hide a horse, and such a horse as this? What is his own explanation as to the paper which he wished the maid to give to the stable-boy?"
　　
　　"He says that it was a ten-pound note. One was found in his purse. But your other difficulties are not so formidable as they seem. He is not a stranger to the district. He has twice lodged at Tavistock in the summer. The opium was probably brought from London. The key, having served its purpose, would be hurled away. The horse may be at the bottom of one of the pits or old mines upon the moor."
　　
　　"What does he say about the cravat?"
　　
　　"He acknowledges that it is his, and declares that he had lost it. But a new element has been introduced into the case which may account for his leading the horse from the stable."
　　
　　Holmes pricked up his ears.
　　
　　"We have found traces which show that a party of gypsies encamped on Monday night within a mile of the spot where the murder took place. On Tuesday they were gone. Now, presuming that there was some understanding between Simpson and these gypsies, might he not have been leading the horse to them when he was overtaken, and may they not have him now?"
　　
　　"It is certainly possible."
　　
　　"The moor is being scoured for these gypsies. I have also examined every stable and out-house in Tavistock, and for a radius of ten miles."
　　
　　"There is another training-stable quite close, I understand?"
　　
　　"Yes, and that is a factor which we must certainly not neglect. As Desborough, their horse, was second in the betting, they had an interest in the disappearance of the favorite. Silas Brown, the trainer, is known to have had large bets upon the event, and he was no friend to poor Straker. We have, however, examined the stables, and there is nothing to connect him with the affair."
　　
　　"And nothing to connect this man Simpson with the interests of the Mapleton stables?"
　　
　　"Nothing at all."
　　
　　Holmes leaned back in the carriage, and the conversation ceased. A few minutes later our driver pulled up at a neat little red-brick villa with overhanging eaves which stood by the road. Some distance off, across a paddock, lay a long gray-tiled out-building. In every other direction the low curves of the moor, bronze-colored from the fading ferns, stretched away to the sky-line, broken only by the steeples of Tavistock, and by a cluster of houses away to the westward which marked the Mapleton stables. We all sprang out with the exception of Holmes, who continued to lean back with his eyes fixed upon the sky in front of him, entirely absorbed in his own thoughts. It was only when I touched his arm that he roused himself with a violent start and stepped out of the carriage.
　　
　　"Excuse me," said he, turning to Colonel Ross, who had looked at him in some surprise. "I was day-dreaming." There was a gleam in his eyes and a suppressed excitement in his manner which convinced me, used as I was to his ways, that his hand was upon a clue, though I could not imagine where he had found it.
　　
　　"Perhaps you would prefer at once to go on to the scene of the crime, Mr. Holmes?" said Gregory.
　　
　　"I think that I should prefer to stay here a little and go into one or two questions of detail. Straker was brought back here, I presume?"
　　
　　"Yes; he lies upstairs. The inquest is to-morrow."
　　
　　"He has been in your service some years, Colonel Ross?"
　　
　　"I have always found him an excellent servant."
　　
　　"I presume that you made an inventory of what he had in his pockets at the time of his death, Inspector?"
　　
　　"I have the things themselves in the sitting-room, if you would care to see them."
　　
　　"I should be very glad." We all filed into the front room and sat round the central table while the Inspector unlocked a square tin box and laid a small heap of things before us. There was a box of vestas, two inches of tallow candle, an A D P brier-root pipe, a pouch of seal-skin with half an ounce of long-cut Cavendish, a silver watch with a gold chain, five sovereigns in gold, an aluminum pencil-case, a few papers, and an ivory-handled knife with a very delicate, inflexible blade marked Weiss & Co., London.
　　
　　"This is a very singular knife," said Holmes, lifting it up and examining it minutely. "I presume, as I see blood-stains upon it, that it is the one which was found in the dead man's grasp. Watson, this knife is surely in your line?"
　　
　　"It is what we call a cataract knife," said I.
　　
　　"I thought so. A very delicate blade devised for very delicate work. A strange thing for a man to carry with him upon a rough expedition, especially as it would not shut in his pocket."
　　
　　"The tip was guarded by a disk of cork which we found beside his body," said the Inspector. "His wife tells us that the knife had lain upon the dressing-table, and that he had picked it up as he left the room. It was a poor weapon, but perhaps the best that he could lay his hands on at the moment."
　　
　　"Very possible. How about these papers?"
　　
　　"Three of them are receipted hay-dealers' accounts. One of them is a letter of instructions from Colonel Ross. This other is a milliner's account for thirty-seven pounds fifteen made out by Madame Lesurier, of Bond Street, to William Derbyshire. Mrs. Straker tells us that Derbyshire was a friend of her husband's and that occasionally his letters were addressed here."
　　
　　"Madam Derbyshire had somewhat expensive tastes," remarked Holmes, glancing down the account. "Twenty-two guineas is rather heavy for a single costume. However there appears to be nothing more to learn, and we may now go down to the scene of the crime."
　　
　　As we emerged from the sitting-room a woman, who had been waiting in the passage, took a step forward and laid her hand upon the Inspector's sleeve. Her face was haggard and thin and eager, stamped with the print of a recent horror.
　　
　　"Have you got them? Have you found them?" she panted.
　　
　　"No, Mrs. Straker. But Mr. Holmes here has come from London to help us, and we shall do all that is possible."
　　
　　"Surely I met you in Plymouth at a garden-party some little time ago, Mrs. Straker?" said Holmes.
　　
　　"No, sir; you are mistaken."
　　
　　"Dear me! Why, I could have sworn to it. You wore a costume of dove-colored silk with ostrich-feather trimming."
　　
　　"I never had such a dress, sir," answered the lady.
　　
　　"Ah, that quite settles it," said Holmes. And with an apology he followed the Inspector outside. A short walk across the moor took us to the hollow in which the body had been found. At the brink of it was the furze-bush upon which the coat had been hung.
　　
　　"There was no wind that night, I understand," said Holmes.
　　
　　"None; but very heavy rain."
　　
　　"In that case the overcoat was not blown against the furze-bush, but placed there."
　　
　　"Yes, it was laid across the bush."
　　
　　"You fill me with interest, I perceive that the ground has been trampled up a good deal. No doubt many feet have been here since Monday night."
　　
　　"A piece of matting has been laid here at the side, and we have all stood upon that."
　　
　　"Excellent."
　　
　　"In this bag I have one of the boots which Straker wore, one of Fitzroy Simpson's shoes, and a cast horseshoe of Silver Blaze."
　　
　　"My dear Inspector, you surpass yourself!" Holmes took the bag, and, descending into the hollow, he pushed the matting into a more central position. Then stretching himself upon his face and leaning his chin upon his hands, he made a careful study of the trampled mud in front of him. "Hullo!" said he, suddenly. "What's this?" It was a wax vesta half burned, which was so coated with mud that it looked at first like a little chip of wood.
　　
　　"I cannot think how I came to overlook it," said the Inspector, with an expression of annoyance.
　　
　　"It was invisible, buried in the mud. I only saw it because I was looking for it."
　　
　　"What! You expected to find it?"
　　
　　"I thought it not unlikely."
　　
　　He took the boots from the bag, and compared the impressions of each of them with marks upon the ground. Then he clambered up to the rim of the hollow, and crawled about among the ferns and bushes.
　　
　　"I am afraid that there are no more tracks," said the Inspector. "I have examined the ground very carefully for a hundred yards in each direction."
　　
　　"Indeed!" said Holmes, rising. "I should not have the impertinence to do it again after what you say. But I should like to take a little walk over the moor before it grows dark, that I may know my ground to-morrow, and I think that I shall put this horseshoe into my pocket for luck."
　　
　　Colonel Ross, who had shown some signs of impatience at my companion's quiet and systematic method of work, glanced at his watch. "I wish you would come back with me, Inspector," said he. "There are several points on which I should like your advice, and especially as to whether we do not owe it to the public to remove our horse's name from the entries for the Cup."
　　
　　"Certainly not," cried Holmes, with decision. "I should let the name stand."
　　
　　The Colonel bowed. "I am very glad to have had your opinion, sir," said he. "You will find us at poor Straker's house when you have finished your walk, and we can drive together into Tavistock."
　　
　　He turned back with the Inspector, while Holmes and I walked slowly across the moor. The sun was beginning to sink behind the stables of Mapleton, and the long, sloping plain in front of us was tinged with gold, deepening into rich, ruddy browns where the faded ferns and brambles caught the evening light. But the glories of the landscape were all wasted upon my companion, who was sunk in the deepest thought.
　　
　　"It's this way, Watson," said he at last. "We may leave the question of who killed John Straker for the instant, and confine ourselves to finding out what has become of the horse. Now, supposing that he broke away during or after the tragedy, where could he have gone to? The horse is a very gregarious creature. If left to himself his instincts would have been either to return to King's Pyland or go over to Mapleton. Why should he run wild upon the moor? He would surely have been seen by now. And why should gypsies kidnap him? These people always clear out when they hear of trouble, for they do not wish to be pestered by the police. They could not hope to sell such a horse. They would run a great risk and gain nothing by taking him. Surely that is clear."
　　
　　"Where is he, then?"
　　
　　"I have already said that he must have gone to King's Pyland or to Mapleton. He is not at King's Pyland. Therefore he is at Mapleton. Let us take that as a working hypothesis and see what it leads us to. This part of the moor, as the Inspector remarked, is very hard and dry. But it falls away towards Mapleton, and you can see from here that there is a long hollow over yonder, which must have been very wet on Monday night. If our supposition is correct, then the horse must have crossed that, and there is the point where we should look for his tracks."
　　
　　We had been walking briskly during this conversation, and a few more minutes brought us to the hollow in question. At Holmes' request I walked down the bank to the right, and he to the left, but I had not taken fifty paces before I heard him give a shout, and saw him waving his hand to me. The track of a horse was plainly outlined in the soft earth in front of him, and the shoe which he took from his pocket exactly fitted the impression.
　　
　　"See the value of imagination," said Holmes. "It is the one quality which Gregory lacks. We imagined what might have happened, acted upon the supposition, and find ourselves justified. Let us proceed."
　　
　　We crossed the marshy bottom and passed over a quarter of a mile of dry, hard turf. Again the ground sloped, and again we came on the tracks. Then we lost them for half a mile, but only to pick them up once more quite close to Mapleton. It was Holmes who saw them first, and he stood pointing with a look of triumph upon his face. A man's track was visible beside the horse's.
　　
　　"The horse was alone before," I cried.
　　
　　"Quite so. It was alone before. Hullo, what is this?"
　　
　　The double track turned sharp off and took the direction of King's Pyland. Holmes whistled, and we both followed along after it. His eyes were on the trail, but I happened to look a little to one side, and saw to my surprise the same tracks coming back again in the opposite direction.
　　
　　"One for you, Watson," said Holmes, when I pointed it out. "You have saved us a long walk, which would have brought us back on our own traces. Let us follow the return track."
　　
　　We had not to go far. It ended at the paving of asphalt which led up to the gates of the Mapleton stables. As we approached, a groom ran out from them.
　　
　　"We don't want any loiterers about here," said he.
　　
　　"I only wished to ask a question," said Holmes, with his finger and thumb in his waistcoat pocket. "Should I be too early to see your master, Mr. Silas Brown, if I were to call at five o'clock to-morrow morning?"
　　
　　"Bless you, sir, if any one is about he will be, for he is always the first stirring. But here he is, sir, to answer your questions for himself. No, sir, no; it is as much as my place is worth to let him see me touch your money. Afterwards, if you like."
　　
　　As Sherlock Holmes replaced the half-crown which he had drawn from his pocket, a fierce-looking elderly man strode out from the gate with a hunting-crop swinging in his hand.
　　
　　"What's this, Dawson!" he cried. "No gossiping! Go about your business! And you, what the devil do you want here?"
　　
　　"Ten minutes' talk with you, my good sir," said Holmes in the sweetest of voices.
　　
　　"I've no time to talk to every gadabout. We want no stranger here. Be off, or you may find a dog at your heels."
　　
　　Holmes leaned forward and whispered something in the trainer's ear. He started violently and flushed to the temples.
　　
　　"It's a lie!" he shouted, "an infernal lie!"
　　
　　"Very good. Shall we argue about it here in public or talk it over in your parlor?"
　　
　　"Oh, come in if you wish to."
　　
　　Holmes smiled. "I shall not keep you more than a few minutes, Watson," said he. "Now, Mr. Brown, I am quite at your disposal."
　　
　　It was twenty minutes, and the reds had all faded into grays before Holmes and the trainer reappeared. Never have I seen such a change as had been brought about in Silas Brown in that short time. His face was ashy pale, beads of perspiration shone upon his brow, and his hands shook until the hunting-crop wagged like a branch in the wind. His bullying, overbearing manner was all gone too, and he cringed along at my companion's side like a dog with its master.
　　
　　"Your instructions will be done. It shall all be done," said he.
　　
　　"There must be no mistake," said Holmes, looking round at him. The other winced as he read the menace in his eyes.
　　
　　"Oh no, there shall be no mistake. It shall be there. Should I change it first or not?"
　　
　　Holmes thought a little and then burst out laughing. "No, don't," said he; "I shall write to you about it. No tricks, now, or--"
　　
　　"Oh, you can trust me, you can trust me!"
　　
　　"Yes, I think I can. Well, you shall hear from me to-morrow." He turned upon his heel, disregarding the trembling hand which the other held out to him, and we set off for King's Pyland.
　　
　　"A more perfect compound of the bully, coward, and sneak than Master Silas Brown I have seldom met with," remarked Holmes as we trudged along together.
　　
　　"He has the horse, then?"
　　
　　"He tried to bluster out of it, but I described to him so exactly what his actions had been upon that morning that he is convinced that I was watching him. Of course you observed the peculiarly square toes in the impressions, and that his own boots exactly corresponded to them. Again, of course no subordinate would have dared to do such a thing. I described to him how, when according to his custom he was the first down, he perceived a strange horse wandering over the moor. How he went out to it, and his astonishment at recognizing, from the white forehead which has given the favorite its name, that chance had put in his power the only horse which could beat the one upon which he had put his money. Then I described how his first impulse had been to lead him back to King's Pyland, and how the devil had shown him how he could hide the horse until the race was over, and how he had led it back and concealed it at Mapleton. When I told him every detail he gave it up and thought only of saving his own skin."
　　
　　"But his stables had been searched?"
　　
　　"Oh, an old horse-faker like him has many a dodge."
　　
　　"But are you not afraid to leave the horse in his power now, since he has every interest in injuring it?"
　　
　　"My dear fellow, he will guard it as the apple of his eye. He knows that his only hope of mercy is to produce it safe."
　　
　　"Colonel Ross did not impress me as a man who would be likely to show much mercy in any case."
　　
　　"The matter does not rest with Colonel Ross. I follow my own methods, and tell as much or as little as I choose. That is the advantage of being unofficial. I don't know whether you observed it, Watson, but the Colonel's manner has been just a trifle cavalier to me. I am inclined now to have a little amusement at his expense. Say nothing to him about the horse."
　　
　　"Certainly not without your permission."
　　
　　"And of course this is all quite a minor point compared to the question of who killed John Straker."
　　
　　"And you will devote yourself to that?"
　　
　　"On the contrary, we both go back to London by the night train."
　　
　　I was thunderstruck by my friend's words. We had only been a few hours in Devonshire, and that he should give up an investigation which he had begun so brilliantly was quite incomprehensible to me. Not a word more could I draw from him until we were back at the trainer's house. The Colonel and the Inspector were awaiting us in the parlor.
　　
　　"My friend and I return to town by the night-express," said Holmes. "We have had a charming little breath of your beautiful Dartmoor air."
　　
　　The Inspector opened his eyes, and the Colonel's lip curled in a sneer.
　　
　　"So you despair of arresting the murderer of poor Straker," said he.
　　
　　Holmes shrugged his shoulders. "There are certainly grave difficulties in the way," said he. "I have every hope, however, that your horse will start upon Tuesday, and I beg that you will have your jockey in readiness. Might I ask for a photograph of Mr. John Straker?"
　　
　　The Inspector took one from an envelope and handed it to him.
　　
　　"My dear Gregory, you anticipate all my wants. If I might ask you to wait here for an instant, I have a question which I should like to put to the maid."
　　
　　"I must say that I am rather disappointed in our London consultant," said Colonel Ross, bluntly, as my friend left the room. "I do not see that we are any further than when he came."
　　
　　"At least you have his assurance that your horse will run," said I.
　　
　　"Yes, I have his assurance," said the Colonel, with a shrug of his shoulders. "I should prefer to have the horse."
　　
　　I was about to make some reply in defence of my friend when he entered the room again.
　　
　　"Now, gentlemen," said he, "I am quite ready for Tavistock."
　　
　　As we stepped into the carriage one of the stable-lads held the door open for us. A sudden idea seemed to occur to Holmes, for he leaned forward and touched the lad upon the sleeve.
　　
　　"You have a few sheep in the paddock," he said. "Who attends to them?"
　　
　　"I do, sir."
　　
　　"Have you noticed anything amiss with them of late?"
　　
　　"Well, sir, not of much account; but three of them have gone lame, sir."
　　
　　I could see that Holmes was extremely pleased, for he chuckled and rubbed his hands together.
　　
　　"A long shot, Watson; a very long shot," said he, pinching my arm. "Gregory, let me recommend to your attention this singular epidemic among the sheep. Drive on, coachman!"
　　
　　Colonel Ross still wore an expression which showed the poor opinion which he had formed of my companion's ability, but I saw by the Inspector's face that his attention had been keenly aroused.
　　
　　"You consider that to be important?" he asked.
　　
　　"Exceedingly so."
　　
　　"Is there any point to which you would wish to draw my attention?"
　　
　　"To the curious incident of the dog in the night-time."
　　
　　"The dog did nothing in the night-time."
　　
　　"That was the curious incident," remarked Sherlock Holmes.
　　
　　Four days later Holmes and I were again in the train, bound for Winchester to see the race for the Wessex Cup. Colonel Ross met us by appointment outside the station, and we drove in his drag to the course beyond the town. His face was grave, and his manner was cold in the extreme.
　　
　　"I have seen nothing of my horse," said he.
　　
　　"I suppose that you would know him when you saw him?" asked Holmes.
　　
　　The Colonel was very angry. "I have been on the turf for twenty years, and never was asked such a question as that before," said he. "A child would know Silver Blaze, with his white forehead and his mottled off-foreleg."
　　
　　"How is the betting?"
　　
　　"Well, that is the curious part of it. You could have got fifteen to one yesterday, but the price has become shorter and shorter, until you can hardly get three to one now."
　　
　　"Hum!" said Holmes. "Somebody knows something, that is clear."
　　
　　As the drag drew up in the enclosure near the grand stand I glanced at the card to see the entries.
　　
　　Wessex Plate (it ran) 50 sovs each h ft with 1000 sovs added for four and five year olds. Second, L300. Third, L200. New course (one mile and five furlongs). Mr. Heath Newton's The Negro. Red cap. Cinnamon jacket. Colonel Wardlaw's Pugilist. Pink cap. Blue and black jacket. Lord Backwater's Desborough. Yellow cap and sleeves. Colonel Ross's Silver Blaze. Black cap. Red jacket. Duke of Balmoral's Iris. Yellow and black stripes. Lord Singleford's Rasper. Purple cap. Black sleeves.
　　
　　"We scratched our other one, and put all hopes on your word," said the Colonel. "Why, what is that? Silver Blaze favorite?"
　　
　　"Five to four against Silver Blaze!" roared the ring. "Five to four against Silver Blaze! Five to fifteen against Desborough! Five to four on the field!"
　　
　　"There are the numbers up," I cried. "They are all six there."
　　
　　"All six there? Then my horse is running," cried the Colonel in great agitation. "But I don't see him. My colors have not passed."
　　
　　"Only five have passed. This must be he."
　　
　　As I spoke a powerful bay horse swept out from the weighing enclosure and cantered past us, bearing on its back the well-known black and red of the Colonel.
　　
　　"That's not my horse," cried the owner. "That beast has not a white hair upon its body. What is this that you have done, Mr. Holmes?"
　　
　　"Well, well, let us see how he gets on," said my friend, imperturbably. For a few minutes he gazed through my field-glass. "Capital! An excellent start!" he cried suddenly. "There they are, coming round the curve!"
　　
　　From our drag we had a superb view as they came up the straight. The six horses were so close together that a carpet could have covered them, but half way up the yellow of the Mapleton stable showed to the front. Before they reached us, however, Desborough's bolt was shot, and the Colonel's horse, coming away with a rush, passed the post a good six lengths before its rival, the Duke of Balmoral's Iris making a bad third.
　　
　　"It's my race, anyhow," gasped the Colonel, passing his hand over his eyes. "I confess that I can make neither head nor tail of it. Don't you think that you have kept up your mystery long enough, Mr. Holmes?"
　　
　　"Certainly, Colonel, you shall know everything. Let us all go round and have a look at the horse together. Here he is," he continued, as we made our way into the weighing enclosure, where only owners and their friends find admittance. "You have only to wash his face and his leg in spirits of wine, and you will find that he is the same old Silver Blaze as ever."
　　
　　"You take my breath away!"
　　
　　"I found him in the hands of a faker, and took the liberty of running him just as he was sent over."
　　
　　"My dear sir, you have done wonders. The horse looks very fit and well. It never went better in its life. I owe you a thousand apologies for having doubted your ability. You have done me a great service by recovering my horse. You would do me a greater still if you could lay your hands on the murderer of John Straker."
　　
　　"I have done so," said Holmes quietly.
　　
　　The Colonel and I stared at him in amazement. "You have got him! Where is he, then?"
　　
　　"He is here."
　　
　　"Here! Where?"
　　
　　"In my company at the present moment."
　　
　　The Colonel flushed angrily. "I quite recognize that I am under obligations to you, Mr. Holmes," said he, "but I must regard what you have just said as either a very bad joke or an insult."
　　
　　Sherlock Holmes laughed. "I assure you that I have not associated you with the crime, Colonel," said he. "The real murderer is standing immediately behind you." He stepped past and laid his hand upon the glossy neck of the thoroughbred.
　　
　　"The horse!" cried both the Colonel and myself.
　　
　　"Yes, the horse. And it may lessen his guilt if I say that it was done in self-defence, and that John Straker was a man who was entirely unworthy of your confidence. But there goes the bell, and as I stand to win a little on this next race, I shall defer a lengthy explanation until a more fitting time."
　　
　　We had the corner of a Pullman car to ourselves that evening as we whirled back to London, and I fancy that the journey was a short one to Colonel Ross as well as to myself, as we listened to our companion's narrative of the events which had occurred at the Dartmoor training-stables upon the Monday night, and the means by which he had unravelled them.
　　
　　"I confess," said he, "that any theories which I had formed from the newspaper reports were entirely erroneous. And yet there were indications there, had they not been overlaid by other details which concealed their true import. I went to Devonshire with the conviction that Fitzroy Simpson was the true culprit, although, of course, I saw that the evidence against him was by no means complete. It was while I was in the carriage, just as we reached the trainer's house, that the immense significance of the curried mutton occurred to me. You may remember that I was distrait, and remained sitting after you had all alighted. I was marvelling in my own mind how I could possibly have overlooked so obvious a clue."
　　
　　"I confess," said the Colonel, "that even now I cannot see how it helps us."
　　
　　"It was the first link in my chain of reasoning. Powdered opium is by no means tasteless. The flavor is not disagreeable, but it is perceptible. Were it mixed with any ordinary dish the eater would undoubtedly detect it, and would probably eat no more. A curry was exactly the medium which would disguise this taste. By no possible supposition could this stranger, Fitzroy Simpson, have caused curry to be served in the trainer's family that night, and it is surely too monstrous a coincidence to suppose that he happened to come along with powdered opium upon the very night when a dish happened to be served which would disguise the flavor. That is unthinkable. Therefore Simpson becomes eliminated from the case, and our attention centers upon Straker and his wife, the only two people who could have chosen curried mutton for supper that night. The opium was added after the dish was set aside for the stable-boy, for the others had the same for supper with no ill effects. Which of them, then, had access to that dish without the maid seeing them?
　　
　　"Before deciding that question I had grasped the significance of the silence of the dog, for one true inference invariably suggests others. The Simpson incident had shown me that a dog was kept in the stables, and yet, though some one had been in and had fetched out a horse, he had not barked enough to arouse the two lads in the loft. Obviously the midnight visitor was some one whom the dog knew well.
　　
　　"I was already convinced, or almost convinced, that John Straker went down to the stables in the dead of the night and took out Silver Blaze. For what purpose? For a dishonest one, obviously, or why should he drug his own stable-boy? And yet I was at a loss to know why. There have been cases before now where trainers have made sure of great sums of money by laying against their own horses, through agents, and then preventing them from winning by fraud. Sometimes it is a pulling jockey. Sometimes it is some surer and subtler means. What was it here? I hoped that the contents of his pockets might help me to form a conclusion.
　　
　　"And they did so. You cannot have forgotten the singular knife which was found in the dead man's hand, a knife which certainly no sane man would choose for a weapon. It was, as Dr. Watson told us, a form of knife which is used for the most delicate operations known in surgery. And it was to be used for a delicate operation that night. You must know, with your wide experience of turf matters, Colonel Ross, that it is possible to make a slight nick upon the tendons of a horse's ham, and to do it subcutaneously, so as to leave absolutely no trace. A horse so treated would develop a slight lameness, which would be put down to a strain in exercise or a touch of rheumatism, but never to foul play."
　　
　　"Villain! Scoundrel!" cried the Colonel.
　　
　　"We have here the explanation of why John Straker wished to take the horse out on to the moor. So spirited a creature would have certainly roused the soundest of sleepers when it felt the prick of the knife. It was absolutely necessary to do it in the open air."
　　
　　"I have been blind!" cried the Colonel. "Of course that was why he needed the candle, and struck the match."
　　
　　"Undoubtedly. But in examining his belongings I was fortunate enough to discover not only the method of the crime, but even its motives. As a man of the world, Colonel, you know that men do not carry other people's bills about in their pockets. We have most of us quite enough to do to settle our own. I at once concluded that Straker was leading a double life, and keeping a second establishment. The nature of the bill showed that there was a lady in the case, and one who had expensive tastes. Liberal as you are with your servants, one can hardly expect that they can buy twenty-guinea walking dresses for their ladies. I questioned Mrs. Straker as to the dress without her knowing it, and having satisfied myself that it had never reached her, I made a note of the milliner's address, and felt that by calling there with Straker's photograph I could easily dispose of the mythical Derbyshire.
　　
　　"From that time on all was plain. Straker had led out the horse to a hollow where his light would be invisible. Simpson in his flight had dropped his cravat, and Straker had picked it up--with some idea, perhaps, that he might use it in securing the horse's leg. Once in the hollow, he had got behind the horse and had struck a light; but the creature frightened at the sudden glare, and with the strange instinct of animals feeling that some mischief was intended, had lashed out, and the steel shoe had struck Straker full on the forehead. He had already, in spite of the rain, taken off his overcoat in order to do his delicate task, and so, as he fell, his knife gashed his thigh. Do I make it clear?"
　　
　　"Wonderful!" cried the Colonel. "Wonderful! You might have been there!"
　　
　　"My final shot was, I confess a very long one. It struck me that so astute a man as Straker would not undertake this delicate tendon-nicking without a little practice. What could he practice on? My eyes fell upon the sheep, and I asked a question which, rather to my surprise, showed that my surmise was correct.
　　
　　"When I returned to London I called upon the milliner, who had recognized Straker as an excellent customer of the name of Derbyshire, who had a very dashing wife, with a strong partiality for expensive dresses. I have no doubt that this woman had plunged him over head and ears in debt, and so led him into this miserable plot."
　　
　　"You have explained all but one thing," cried the Colonel. "Where was the horse?"
　　
　　"Ah, it bolted, and was cared for by one of your neighbors. We must have an amnesty in that direction, I think. This is Clapham Junction, if I am not mistaken, and we shall be in Victoria in less than ten minutes. If you care to smoke a cigar in our rooms, Colonel, I shall be happy to give you any other details which might interest you."