"Just the place for a Nark!" the Detective cried,
As he eagerly surveyed the scene;
With the stout-hearted Doctor alert at his side,
And the Dog standing guard in between.
~0~
"Just the place for a Nark!" Holmes repeated once more;
"I expect any second our man.
Fred Porlock has so rarely failed us before
In betraying our enemy's plan.
~0~
"His form is ungainly—his intellect small—"
(The Detective would often remark)
"But his courage is perfect! And that, after all,
Is a capital trait for a Nark.
~0~
"But oh, trusty colleague, I dread most the day
That our Nark be discovered, for then
He will softly and suddenly vanish away,
And never be met with again!"
~0~
They waited with patience, they waited with hope;
They waited till day had quite gone;
The sky overhead became heliotrope,
And the watchers increasingly wan.
~0~
Then the Doctor did yawn, "Must we wait until dawn?
I would rather not sit in the dark."
The Detective looked grave, and said "Courage, mon brave,
We shall wait one hour more for our Nark."
~0~
But as darkness came on and the stars faintly shone,
The Detective, too, started to scowl;
"I fear you are right, we'll not see him tonight–"
When the Dog cut him off with a growl.
~0~
"Why, Toby, what is it? Our Nark come to visit,
With tale of nefarious scheme?"
The Dog merely frowned, then all jumped at the sound
Of a terrible, blood-curdling scream.
~0~
"'Tis the voice of Fred Porlock! Quick, Watson, your gun!
We'll not leave our Nark to cruel fate!"
Detective and Doctor took off at a run,
Though they feared they would be far too late.
~0~
The Dog led them true to the spot, but they found
Not a wheel track, or footprint, or mark,
By which they could tell that they stood on the ground
Where once had lurked Porlock the Nark.
~0~
"Alas, all in vain!" groaned the Doctor. "'Tis plain
Our Nark's met with some murderous lout."
"Then our mission is clear," declared Holmes, "for I fear
Moriarty has found Porlock out."
~0~
They sought him with Yarders, they sought him with clues,
They pursued him with resolute tread;
They brought him to justice with gambit and ruse,
Till at last the Professor fell dead.