Theboyheldthetiller，whileagainsttheredglareofthefurnaceIcouldseeoldSmith，strippedtothewaistandshovellingcoalsfordearlife。Theymayhavehadsomedoubtatfirstastowhetherwewerereallypursuingthem，butnowaswefollowedeverywindingandturningwhichtheytooktherecouldnolongerbeanyquestionaboutit。AtGreenwichwewereaboutthreehundredpacesbehindthem。AtBlackwallwecouldnothavebeenmorethantwohundredandfifty。I
havecoursedmanycreaturesinmanycountriesduringmycheckeredcareer，butneverdidsportgivemesuchawildthrillasthismad，flyingman-huntdowntheThames。Steadilywedrewinuponthem，yardbyyard。Inthesilenceofthenightwecouldhearthepantingandclankingoftheirmachinery。Themaninthesternstillcroucheduponthedeck，andhisarmsweremovingasthoughhewerebusy，whileeverynowandthenhewouldlookupandmeasurewithaglancethedistancewhichstillseparatedus。Nearerwecameandnearer。
Jonesyelledtothemtostop。Wewerenotmorethanfourboats-lengthsbehindthem，bothboatsflyingatatremendouspace。Itwasaclearreachoftheriver，withBarkingLevelupononesideandthemelancholyPlumsteadMarshesupontheother。Atourhailthemaninthesternsprangupfromthedeckandshookhistwoclenchedfistsatus，cursingthewhileinahigh，crackedvoice。Hewasagood-sized，powerfulman，andashestoodpoisinghimselfwithlegsastrideIcouldseethatfromthethighdownwardtherewasbutawoodenstumpupontherightside。Atthesoundofhisstrident，angrycries，therewasmovementinthehuddledbundleuponthedeck。
Itstraighteneditselfintoalittleblackman-thesmallestIhaveeverseen-withagreat，misshapenheadandashockoftangled，dishevelledhair。Holmeshadalreadydrawnhisrevolver，andIwhippedoutmineatthesightofthissavage，distortedcreature。Hewaswrappedinsomesortofdarkulsterorblanket，whichleftonlyhisfaceexposed，butthatfacewasenoughtogiveamanasleeplessnight。NeverhaveIseenfeaturessodeeplymarkedwithallbestialityandcruelty。Hissmalleyesglowedandburnedwithasombrelight，andhisthicklipswerewrithedbackfromhisteeth，whichgrinnedandchatteredatuswithhalfanimalfury。
\"Fireifheraiseshishand，\"saidHolmesquietly。