A Study in Scarlet (Serial Edition Cover) — page 141: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 STUDY IN SCARLET. 133 again, on which a second man appeared out of the obscurity. “To-morrow at midnight,” said the first, who appeared to be in authority. ‘When the whip-poor-will calls three times.” “It is well,” returned the other. “Shall I tell Brother Drebber ? ” “Pass it on to him, and from him to the others. Nine to seven!” ‘Seven to five!” repeated the other, and the two figures flitted away in different directions. Their con- cluding words had evidently been some form of sign and countersign. The instant that their footsteps had died away in the distance, Jefferson Hope sprung to his feet, and, helping his companions through the gap, led the way across the fields at full speed, supporting and half carrying the girl when her strength appeared to fail her. “Hurry on! hurry on!” he gasped from time te time. “We are through the line of sentinels. Every- thing depends on speed. Hurry on!” Once on the high-road they made rapid progress. Only once did they meet any one, and then they man- aged to slip into a field, and so avoid recognition. Be- fore reaching the town the hunter branched away into a rugged and narrow foot-path which led to the mountains. Two dark, jagged peaks loomed above them through the darkness, and the defile which led between them was the Eagle Ravine, in which the horses were awaiting them. With unerring instinct, Jefferson Hope picked his way among the great bowlders and along the bed of a dried-up water-course, until he came to the retired CONNIE OC