"Well, when I came to examine the box I found there was no money in it, and nothing but papers that I would not dare to sell.
I had lost my hold on Black Peter, and was stranded in London without a shilling.There was only my trade left.I saw these advertisements about harpooners and high wages, so I went to the shipping agents, and they sent me here.That's all I know, and I say again that if I killed Black Peter the law should give me thanks, for I saved them the price of a hempen rope.""A very clear statement," said Holmes, rising and lighting his pipe."I think, Hopkins, that you should lose no time in conveying your prisoner to a place of safety.This room is not well adapted for a cell, and Mr.Patrick Cairns occupies too large a proportion of our carpet.""Mr.Holmes," said Hopkins, "I do not know how to express my gratitude.Even now I do not understand how you attained this result.""Simply by having the good fortune to get the right clue from the beginning.It is very possible if I had known about this note-book it might have led away my thoughts, as it did yours.
But all I heard pointed in the one direction.The amazing strength, the skill in the use of the harpoon, the rum and water, the seal-skin tobacco-pouch, with the coarse tobacco --all these pointed to a seaman, and one who had been a whaler.
I was convinced that the initials `P.C.' upon the pouch were a coincidence, and not those of Peter Carey, since he seldom smoked, and no pipe was found in his cabin.You remember that I asked whether whisky and brandy were in the cabin.You said they were.How many landsmen are there who would drink rum when they could get these other spirits? Yes, I was certain it was a seaman.""And how did you find him?"