5 The Ambush

Chapter 5 The Ambush We hid ourselves and I placed my revolver on a crate within easy reach. Then Holmes slid the lantern cover down and the cellar was plunged into pitch darkness. The gloom and the smell of hot metal from the lantern only added to the tension within me at the thought of what was to come. "They have but one escape route," whispered Holmes. "That is back through the house into Coburg Square. I hope you have done what I asked, Jones." "I have an inspector and two officers waiting at the front door." "Then we have blocked all the holes. Now we must be silent and wait." What a wait it was! I worked out later it was only an hour and a quarter, but at the time it seemed to last the whole night. My limbs grew stiff from remaining so still, yet my nerves were

tight with tension. My hearing was so sharp that I could hear the quiet breathing of my companions. Suddenly, I saw a glint of light appear on the floor before us. At first it was just a point, but it soon lengthened to become a thin yellow line. The crack widened and a small, pale hand appeared. The hand, with its long, thin fingers, pushed the stone slab above the surface of the floor. It

remained like that for a minute at least, during which I scarcely breathed. Then it sank away and all was dark again except for a single spark of light from a chink between the stones. But the darkness lasted no more than a few seconds. With a grinding, tearing sound, the entire slab was raised and shoved to one side, leaving a square hole through which streamed the light of a lantern. A clean-shaven face appeared there, the same one I had seen that afternoon when we knocked on Mr. Wilson's door. He looked keenly around for a moment before placing his hands on the edge of the hole and pulling himself up. In another instant, he was standing beside the hole and helping his companion after him. The other man was also small and agile with a shock of very red hair.

"It's all clear," the first man whispered to his companion. "Have you got the chisel and the bags?" At that moment, Sherlock Holmes sprang out from his hiding place and seized the first man by the collar. "Great Scott!" the man yelled. "Run, Archie, run!"

The other man immediately dove back into the hole. I heard the sound of tearing fabric as Jones clutched at the tail of his coat. The first man reached into his belt for something. Light flashed on the barrel of a revolver, but Holmes's hunting crop came down hard on the man's wrist and the pistol clinked to the stone floor. "It's no use, John Clay," said Holmes. "The game's up."

"So I see," Clay answered coolly as he eyed the revolver in my hand. "At least my mate will be okay. You only got his coat tails." "There are three men waiting for him at the front door," said Holmes. Clay nodded. "Is that so? You seem to have set your trap very skilfully. I must compliment you." "And I you," said Holmes. "Your red-headed idea was amusing and highly original." Jones now approached with a set of handcuffs. "Hold out your hands, Clay."