"I heard no squeak," observed Dr. Johnson; "and, furthermore, I fail to
see how a squeak, if I had heard it, would have portended a discovery of
importance."

"It would not--to you," said Holmes; "but with me it is different. My
hearing is unusually acute. I can hear the dropping of a pin through a
stone wall ten feet thick; any sound within a mile of my eardrum vibrates
thereon with an intensity which would surprise you, and it is by the use
of cocaine that I have acquired this wonderfully acute sense. A property
which dulls the senses of most people renders mine doubly apprehensive;
therefore, gentlemen, while to you there was no auricular disturbance, to
me there was. I heard Shem sliding down the mast a minute since. The fact
that he slid down the mast instead of climbing down the rigging showed
that he was in great haste, therefore he must have something to
communicate of great importance."

"Why isn't he here already, then? It wouldn't take him two minutes to get
from the deck here," asked the ever-suspicious Le Coq.

"It is simple," returned Holmes, calmly. "If you will go yourself and
slide down that mast you will see. Shem has stopped for a little
witch-hazel to soothe his burns. It is no cool matter sliding down a mast
two hundred feet in height."

As Sherlock Holmes spoke the door burst open and Shem rushed in.

"A signal of distress, captain!" he cried.

"From what quarter--to larboard?" asked Holmes.