Sherlock Holmes and the Engineer's Thumb

My friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, has solved many cases during the years we've been friends, but Mr. Hatherley's thumb was the one that I brought to him. It was so strange and dramatic that it's worth recording, even if it didn't give my friend many opportunities to use that reasoning which has made him famous.

It was in the summer of 1889, just after I got married, these events happened. I'd finally left Holmes' flat, although I visited him continually. As I lived near Paddington Station in London, I got a few patients from the railway staff. I had cured one of them of a long and painful disease and he brought me as many new patients as he could.

One morning, just before seven, I was woken by the maid telling me two men from Paddington were waiting for me. I got dressed quickly, for I knew by experience that railway cases were usually serious. My old patient was standing outside my office.

"He's in there," he whispered. And he went off, without even giving me time to thank him.

I found a man sitting at the table. He had a handkerchief round one of his hands with bloodstains on it. He was young, not more than twenty-five, but he was extremely pale and reminded me of a man suffering from some anxiety, which it took all his strength to control.

"I'm sorry to wake you up so early, Doctor," he said, "but I've had an accident during the night. I came in by train this morning and when I asked at Paddington where I might find a doctor, a kind man brought me here."

I picked up his business card. "Mr. Victor Hatherley, hydraulic engineer, 16A, Victoria Street (3rd floor)." Those were the name, job and address of my visitor. "I'm sorry I've kept you waiting," I said. "You've come straight from an overnight journey, which must have been tiring. Drink this." I gave him some water and the colour began to come back to his cheeks.

"That's better!" he said. "And now, Doctor, perhaps you'd look at my thumb or rather the place where my thumb used to be."

He held out his hand. It made me shudder to look at it. There were four fingers and a horrible red cut where the thumb should have been.

"Good heavens!" I cried, "This is a terrible injury. There must have been a lot of blood."

"Yes, there was. I fainted when it was done and I think I must have been unconscious for a long time. When I woke up, I found that it was still bleeding, so I put my handkerchief very tightly round the wrist."

"Excellent! You should have been a doctor. This has been done," I said, examining the wound, "by something very heavy and sharp."

"An axe," he said.

"An accident, I suppose?"

"No."

"What! A murderous attack?"

I cleaned the wound and finally covered it with bandages.

"How's that?" I asked when I had finished.

"Very good! I feel like a new man. I was very weak, but I've had a lot of trouble."

"Perhaps you'd better not speak about it. It's obviously upsetting."

"Oh, no, not now. I'll have to tell the police, anyway; but, except for my wound, I'd be surprised if they believed me, because it's a strange story and I haven't got any proof; and, even if they believe me, the clues I can give them are so vague that I doubt anyone will be arrested."

"Ha!" I shouted. "If it's a problem you need solved, I strongly recommend you to come to my friend, Mr. Sherlock Holmes, before you go to the police."

"Oh, I've heard of that man," answered my visitor, "and I'd be very glad if he'd look into the case. Would you introduce me to him?"

"I'll do better. I'll take you round to him myself. We'll just be in time to have a little breakfast with him. Do you feel well enough?"

"Yes, I won't feel comfortable until I've told my story."

"Then I'll call a cab and I'll be with you in a moment." I rushed upstairs, explained the matter to my wife and in five minutes was in a cab, driving with my new friend to see Holmes.

Holmes was, as I expected, sitting in his dressing-gown, reading The Times and smoking his pipe. He welcomed us in his quiet but friendly way, got fresh eggs and joined us in a good meal. When it was finished, he said to his new guest:

"It's easy to see that you've had a hard night, Mr. Hatherley," he said. "Please sit down in that armchair and make yourself at home. Tell us what you can, but stop when you're tired."

"Thank-you," said my patient, "but I think your breakfast has made me much better already. I'll take as little of your time as possible, so I'll start my story at once."

Holmes sat in another armchair with the tired look which always hid his sharp intelligence, while I sat opposite him and we listened in silence to the strange story which our visitor told us.

"You must know," he said, "that I'm a bachelor, living alone in London. I'm a hydraulic engineer. Two years ago, my father's death allowed me enough money to start in business for myself.

"I suppose everyone finds his start in business very slow. In two years I've had one small job and that is absolutely all my profession has brought me. Every day from nine in the morning until four in the afternoon, I waited in my little office, until at last I came to believe I'd never have any work at all.

"Yesterday, however, just as I was thinking of leaving the office, my clerk entered to say there was a gentleman who wanted to see me on business. He brought his business card too, with the name of 'Colonel Lysander Stark' on it. Following the Colonel was a tall but extremely thin man. I don't think I've ever seen so thin a man. Yet this was not because of illness, for his eye was bright, he walked quickly and looked confident. His age was nearer forty than thirty.

"'Mr. Hatherley?' he said, with a slight German accent. 'I’m told you’re not only skilled in your job but also capable of keeping a secret.'

"I thanked him. 'Can I ask who recommended me?'

"'Well, perhaps it's better not to tell you just at the moment. I know from the same man that you are both an orphan and a bachelor and are living alone in London.'

"'That is quite right,' I answered, 'but I can't see what this has to do with my professional qualifications. I understand that it was work you wanted to speak to me about?'

"Exactly. But you'll find everything I say is important. I have a job for you, but secrecy is essential – absolute secrecy, you understand, and of course we may expect that from a man who is alone.'

"'If I promise to keep a secret,' I said, 'you can trust me.'

"He looked very hard at me as I spoke and I'd never seen so suspicious a look.

"'Do you promise, then?' he said at last.

"'Yes, I promise.'

"'Very good.' He suddenly jumped up and, running across the room, opened the door. The passage outside was empty.

"'That's all right,' he said, coming back. 'I know clerks are sometimes curious about their employers' business. Now we can talk safely.' He pulled his chair close to mine and stared at me with the same questioning look.

"Even though I needed this customer, I showed my impatience.

"'Please tell me your business, sir,' I said, 'my time’s important.'

"'How would fifty pounds for a night's work be?' he asked. "'I say a night's work, but an hour's would be nearer. I simply want your opinion about a hydraulic machine which is causing trouble. If you show us what's wrong we'll soon repair it ourselves. What do you think?'

"'The work seems light and the pay generous.'

"'Exactly. We want you to come tonight by the last train. There's a train from Paddington which would get you there about 11:15. I’ll meet you at the station and drive you there.'

"'There is a drive, then?'

"'Yes, our little place is in the country. It is seven miles from Eyford Station.'

"'Then we can hardly get there before midnight. I suppose there's no chance of a train back. I'll have to stop the night. Couldn’t I come at a more convenient time?'

"'We think it best for you to come late. That's why we are paying a young man a fee which would buy an opinion from the heads of your profession. Still, of course, if you don’t want the business, you can just say so.'

"I thought of the fifty pounds and how very useful it would be. 'Not at all,' said I, 'I'll be very happy to come. However, I’d like to understand clearly what you want me to do.'

"'Of course. It's natural for you to be curious. I suppose we're safe from eavesdroppers? You're probably aware that fuller's-earth is a valuable product and that it's only found in one or two places in England? A little time ago, I bought a small place - a very small place - and I was lucky enough to discover there was fuller's-earth in one of my fields. When I looked more closely, however, I found it was comparatively small and that it formed a link between two much larger ones on the right and left - both of them, however, in my neighbours' gardens. These good people did not know their land had a gold-mine of fuller's-earth.

"Naturally, it was in my interest to buy their land before they discovered its true value, but unfortunately I had no money to do this. I told a few of my friends the secret, however, and they suggested that we should secretly work our own little deposit and that in this way we'd earn the money to buy the neighbouring fields. This we have now been doing for some time and to help us we made a hydraulic machine. This, as I have already explained, is out of order, and we want your advice on the subject.

"However, if people knew that we had hydraulic engineers coming to our little house, everybody would soon know the facts. That's why I've made you promise me that you won't tell a human being that you're going to Eyford tonight. I hope that I make it all clear?'

"'I understand you,' I said. 'The only point I can’t understand is how a hydraulic machine could be useful for getting fuller's-earth, which is dug out of a pit.'

"'Ah!' he said carelessly, 'we have our own way. You know all my secrets now, Mr. Hatherley, and I’ve shown you how I trust you.' He got up as he spoke. 'I’ll expect you, then, at Eyford at 11:15.'

"'I’ll certainly be there.'

"Well, when I came to think it over calmly, I was astonished. On the one hand, of course, I was glad, for the fee was at least ten times what I'd have asked and it might lead to other work. On the other hand, my client's behaviour made me uncomfortable and I couldn't believe his explanation about fuller's-earth. However, I ate a good supper and started off. I never said anything to anyone.

"I reached the little station after eleven o'clock. I was the only passenger who got out there and there was nobody on the platform. However, I found the man I'd met in the morning waiting in the shadow on the other side. Without a word he hurried me into a cab."

"One horse?" asked Holmes.

"Yes, only one."

"Tired-looking or fresh?"

"Oh, fresh."

"Thank you. I'm sorry to interrupt you. Please continue your most interesting story."

"We drove for at least an hour. Colonel Stark said it was only seven miles, but I think from the speed we went and the time we took that it was nearer twelve. He sat in silence and I realised he was looking at me all the time. The country roads weren't very good and it was an uncomfortable journey. I tried to see where we were, but I could see nothing except the occasional bright passing light. Now and then I spoke to break the boredom of the journey, but the Colonel answered only in monosyllables and the conversation soon stopped. At last, however, the journey ended. Colonel Stark jumped out and pulled me quickly into the house. We stepped right out of the cab and into the hall so that I didn't even get a glance at the house.

"It was dark inside the house and the Colonel looked for some matches. Suddenly a door opened at the other end of the hall and a long bar of light shot out. It grew wider and a woman appeared with a lamp in her hand, held above her head.

I could see she was pretty and her dress was expensive. She spoke a few words in a foreign language like she was asking a question and, when my companion answered in a rude monosyllable, the lamp nearly fell from her hand. Colonel Stark went up to her, whispered something in her ear and, then, pushing her back into the room she had come from, he walked towards me again with the lamp in his hand.

"'Perhaps you wouldn't mind waiting in this room for a few minutes,' he said, throwing open another door. It was a quiet, plainly furnished room with a round table in the centre, with several German books on it. Colonel Stark put down the lamp near the door. 'I shan't keep you waiting long,' he said and vanished into the darkness.

"I glanced at the books on the table and, although I can't understand German, I could see that two of them were on science, the others poetry. It was a wonderfully silent house. There was an old clock ticking loudly somewhere, but otherwise everything was deadly still. A feeling of uneasiness began to steal over me. Who were these German people and what were they doing living in this strange, out-of-the-way place? And where was the place, anyway? I was ten miles or so from Eyford, that was all I knew, but whether north, south, east, or west I had no idea. On the other hand, some large towns could be nearby, so the place might not be so private after all. But it was certain from the absolute stillness that we were in the country. I walked up and down the room, feeling I was earning my fifty pounds.

"Suddenly, the door of my room slowly opened. The woman was standing there, the darkness of the hall behind her, the light from my lamp on her beautiful face. I could see at once that she was sick with fear. She held up one shaking finger to warn me to be silent and she said a few whispered words of broken English to me, her eyes looking like those of a frightened horse into the darkness behind her.

"'Go,' she said, trying hard to speak calmly; 'Go. Don't stay here. There is nothing good for you here.'

"'But, madam,' I said, 'I haven't yet done what I came for. I can’t leave until I’ve seen the machine.'

"'It’s not worth waiting,' she went on. 'You can walk out the door; there’s nobody to stop you.' And then, seeing that I smiled and shook my head, she suddenly stepped forward with her hands together. 'Get away from here!' she whispered, 'Get away from here before it’s too late!'

"But I'm quite stubborn. I thought of my fifty-pound fee, of my tiring journey and of the unpleasant night in front of me. Was it all for nothing? This woman might be mentally ill. So, although the woman had shaken my confidence, I still shook my head and said I was staying where I was. Suddenly, a door slammed and the sound of footsteps was heard on the stairs. She listened for a moment and vanished as suddenly and as noiselessly as she had come.

"The newcomers were Colonel Stark and a short thick man with a beard growing from his double chin, who was introduced to me as Mr. Ferguson.

"'This is my secretary and manager,' said the Colonel. 'By the way, I was under the impression that I left this door shut just now. I am sorry if it was cold.'

"'On the contrary,' I said, 'I opened the door myself because the room was a little warm.'

"He looked at me suspiciously. 'Perhaps we'd better start our business, then,' said he. 'Mr. Ferguson and I will take you to see the machine. It’s in the house.'

"'What, you dig fuller's-earth in the house?'

"'No, no. But never mind that. All we want is you to examine the machine and let us know what’s wrong with it.'

"We went upstairs together, the Colonel first with the lamp, the fat manager and I behind him. It was an old house, with passages, narrow staircases and low doors. There were no carpets and no furniture above the ground floor and the damp was coming through, green and unhealthy. I tried to look as calm as possible but I hadn't forgotten the lady's warnings and I watched my two companions closely. Ferguson seemed a miserable and silent man but he was at least English.

"Colonel Stark stopped before a low door, which he unlocked. There was a small, square room, which the three of us couldn't enter at one time. Ferguson remained outside and the Colonel showed me in.

"'We are now,' he said, 'actually inside the machine and it would be very unpleasant for us if anyone turned it on. The machine works well but it has lost a little of its power. Perhaps you’ll have a look at it and show us how we can put it right.'

"I took the lamp and examined the machine very carefully. It was huge and capable of enormous pressure. When I went outside, however, and pressed the levers which controlled it, I knew at once that there was a leak. I quickly found the cause and pointed it out to my employers, who followed my remarks very carefully and asked several practical questions about how they should put it right. When I had made it clear to them, I returned to the room to find out more about the machine. It was obvious at a glance that the story of the fuller's-earth was a lie because it would be ridiculous to use a powerful engine for that. The walls were made of wood and, when I examined them, I saw metal all over them. I was trying to see exactly what it was when I heard some comments in German and saw the corpse-like face of the Colonel looking down at me.

"'What are you doing there?' he asked.

"I felt angry because he’d tricked me. 'I was admiring your fuller's-earth,' I said; 'I think I could advise you about your machine better if I knew how you used it.'

"The moment I said the words, I was sorry. His face was hard.

"'Very well,' said he, 'you can know all about the machine.' He took a step backward, slammed the little door, and turned the key in the lock. I rushed towards it, but it was definitely locked.

'Hello!' I shouted. 'Hello, Colonel! Let me out!'

"And then suddenly in the silence I heard a frightening sound. He'd started the engine. The lamp still stood on the floor where I'd put it. I saw the ceiling coming down slowly but with terrible force. I threw myself, screaming, against the door. I asked the Colonel to let me out, but the noise of the engine covered my cries. The ceiling was only a little above my head. Then it occurred to me that the pain of my death would depend on my position. If I lay on my face the weight would come on my backbone and I thought of that dreadful break. Easier the other way, perhaps; and yet, had I got the courage to look up at that deadly black shadow above me? Already I couldn't stand up straight, when I saw something which brought back my hope.

"I've said that although the floor and ceiling were iron, the walls were made of wood. As I gave a last hurried glance around, I saw a thin line of light between two of the wooden boards. For a moment, I couldn't believe that here was a door which led away from death. The next moment, I threw myself through the door and lay half-fainting on the other side. The panel had closed behind me, but the crash of the lamp told me how narrowly I had escaped.

"I found myself lying on the stone floor, while a woman stood over me and pulled me with her left hand, while she held a candle in her right. It was the same good friend who'd told me to run away.

"'Come! come!' she cried breathlessly. 'They'll be here in a moment. They'll see that you aren't there. Oh, don’t waste time, but come!'

"This time, at least, I listened to her advice. I ran with her along the passage and down some stairs. They led to another wide passage and, just as we reached it, we heard the sound of running feet and the shouting of two voices, one answering the other from the same floor as we were on and the one beneath. My guide stopped and looked about her. Then she opened a door which led into a bedroom, where the moon was shining.

"'It’s your only chance,' she said. 'It’s high but maybe you can jump from it.'

"As she spoke, I saw a light and the thin figure of Colonel Stark rushing forward with a lamp in one hand and an axe in the other. I hurried across the bedroom, threw open the window and looked out. How quiet the garden looked in the moonlight, and it was only ten metres down, but I hesitated to jump until I heard what passed between the woman and the criminal who followed me. If she was in trouble, then I should go back to help her. The Colonel was at the door, pushing his way past her; but she threw her arms round him and tried to hold him back.

"'Fritz, Fritz!' she cried in English, 'remember your promise after the last time. You said it wouldn't happen again. He'll be silent! He won’t talk!'

"'You're mad, Elise!' he shouted, struggling to break away from her. 'You'll ruin everything. He's seen too much. Let me pass!' He threw her to one side and, rushing to the window, tried to hit me with his heavy weapon. I had let myself go, and was hanging by the hands, when I felt the pain. I fell into the garden below.

"I was shaken but not hurt by the fall; so I got up and rushed off among the bushes as fast as I could run, as I was still in danger. Suddenly, however, as I ran, a deadly sickness came over me. I glanced down at my hand, which was throbbing painfully, and then, for the first time, saw that my thumb had been cut off and blood was everywhere. I tried to tie my handkerchief round it, but the next moment I fell in the rose-bushes.

"I don't know how long I was unconscious. It must have been a very long time, because the moon had gone down and a bright morning was dawning when I woke up. My clothes were wet and my coat was soaked with blood from my wounded thumb. The pain reminded me at once of my night's adventure and I jumped to my feet with the feeling that I was still not safe. But to my surprise, when I came to look round me, I couldn't see a house or garden. I noticed then the station I'd arrived at the night before.

"Half asleep, I went into the station and asked about the morning train. There was one in an hour. The same official was on duty as when I arrived. I asked him if he'd ever heard of Colonel Lysander Stark. The name was strange to him. Was there a police station anywhere near? There was one about three miles away.

"It was too far for me to go, as I was so weak and ill. I decided to wait until I got back to town before telling my story to the police. It was a little past six when I arrived, so I went first to see the doctor and he was kind enough to bring me here. I put the case into your hands and will do exactly what you advise."

We both sat in silence for a little after listening to this extraordinary story. Then Holmes pulled down from the shelf one of the heavy books where he kept interesting articles in newspapers.

"Here is an advertisement which will interest you," he said. "It appeared in all the papers about a year ago. Listen to this:

'Lost, on the 9th, Mr. Jeremiah Hayling, aged twenty-six, a hydraulic engineer. Left his rooms at ten o'clock at night and has not been heard of since. Was dressed in,' etc., etc. Ha! That's the last time the Colonel needed to have his machine repaired, I think. It's quite clear the Colonel is a desperate man, who was determined that nothing should stop him. Well, every moment now is precious, so if you feel well enough, we'll go to the police at once before starting for Eyford."

Three hours or so afterwards we were all on the train together, heading to Eyford. There were Holmes, the hydraulic engineer, Police Inspector Bradstreet, a plain-clothes police officer and myself. Bradstreet put a map on the seat and was busy.

"There you are," said he. "The place we want must be somewhere in a radius of about ten miles of Eyford. You said ten miles, I think, sir."

"It was an hour's drive."

"And you think they brought you back all that way when you were unconscious?"

"They must have."

"What I can't understand," I said, "is why they let you live when they found you lying in the garden."

"Oh, we'll soon see," said Bradstreet. "Well, I wish I knew where in that ten-mile radius they are."

"I think I know," said Holmes quietly.

"Really!" cried the inspector, "you've made up your mind! Come, we'll see who agrees with you. I say it's south, as the country is emptier there."

"And I say east," said my patient.

"I am for west," remarked the plain-clothes man. "There are several quiet little villages up there."

"And I am for north," I said, "because there are no hills there, and our friend says he didn't notice the cab go up any."

"You're all wrong."

"But we can't all be."

"Oh, yes, you can. This is my point." He put his finger in the centre of the circle. "This is where we'll find them."

"But the twelve-mile drive?" asked Hatherley.

"Six out and six back. Nothing simpler. You say yourself that the horse was fresh when you got in. How could it be if it had gone twelve miles over heavy roads?"

"It's a trick," said Bradstreet thoughtfully. "Of course there's no doubt about this gang."

"None at all," said Holmes. "They are forgers and have used the machine to make coins."

"We've known for some time that a clever gang was at work," said the inspector. "They've made thousands of coins. But now, thanks to this lucky chance, I think we've got them."

But the inspector was mistaken, because the criminals were not caught. As we arrived at Eyford Station we saw a lot of smoke from behind a group of trees in the neighbourhood.

"A house on fire? When did it start?" asked Bradstreet as the train continued on its way.

"During the night but it has got worse."

"Whose house is it?"

"Dr. Becher's."

"Tell me," broke in the engineer, "is Dr. Becher German, very thin, with a long nose?"

The station-master laughed loudly. "No, sir, Dr. Becher is an Englishman. But there's a gentleman staying with him, a patient, who is foreign and very thin."

The station-master had not finished speaking before we were all hurrying towards the fire. There was a wide white building in front of us, with fire visible at every window, while in the garden three fire-engines were controlling the flames.

"That's it!" cried Hatherley, in excitement. "There are the rose-bushes. That second window is the one I jumped from."

"Well, at least," said Holmes, "you've had your revenge. There can be no question that it was your oil-lamp which, when it smashed, set fire to the wooden walls. Now keep your eyes open in this crowd for your friends of last night, though I think they are a hundred miles away by now."

And Holmes' fears were true. From that day, no word has ever been heard of the beautiful woman, the suspicious German or the Englishman. Early that morning a farmer had met a cart with some big boxes driving away, but even Holmes couldn't discover them.