Chapter Nine - Watson one step closer to solving it all . . .Loyalty first. . .

As far as stalwart companions go, Watson sure is proving his mettle in this chapter. And his loyalty to Holmes. (That never was in question was it?)

He first explores the window used by Barrymore decides that it is the only window with line-of-site access to the moor. And reasons that Barrymore was searching for something or someone on the moor.

He then agrees to a plan with Sir Henry to sort out the comings and goings of Barrymore. But before that plan can come to fruition he must first confront Sir Henry about going on the moor alone, and then he must decide how to handle it when Sir Henry insists he be allowed to go it alone.

But in the end, he was more afraid of letting Holmes down by letting something untoward happen to Sir Henry, than he is concerned about damaging his new friendship with the baronet.
Loyalty wins out over propriety.

And although, perhaps erroneously,  Watson comes to what he thinks is a firm conclusion about Stapleton's behavior when  he comforted Sir Henry and his sister, we have to give him credit for staging himself as a witness and reporting it to Holmes.

He then participates in the confrontation with Barrymore and the quest to capture Seldon.

Remember, they had no high powered flashlights to help in their quest, and Sir Henry only had his hunting-crop, and he doesn't describe it as loaded either.

“… the loaded hunting crop …”

I was not surprised when Holmes suggested that I should take my revolver with me. He had himself picked up the loaded hunting-crop, which was his favourite weapon.

- Dr. John Watson, The Adventure of the Six Napoleons

Thanks to Hans Dielemans for the above image of a loaded hunting crop from a 1914 “Manufrance” catalogue. The central crop features a “steel core, fully covered with braided leather with a lead filled head (and) can also be used as an implement of self-defense.”

And although a near miss with a rock that would cause most of us to fire our gun in anger and fear, Watson chooses the honorable path and refuses  to shoot Seldon in the back. (in the Brett version, did any one count how many times Watson checked his gun?)

Honorable behavior has always resonated in Watson's (Doyle's, if you are not playing the game) writings.

 It is an expected behavior.






And when Watson sees the man upon the tor,

his first reaction is one of pursuit, but discretion takes the place of valor.





And although Watson lacks the resources that Holmes would normally have at his disposal he is none-the-less whittling away at the case, and given time may solve it completely.

This chapter describes the Watson we have come to know and expect. The one that will chose right every time, the one that will remain loyal.

From Watson's perspective the mysteries of the Barrymore' s and Stapleton's have been solved. The murderers location has been found.

P.S - And Sir Henry has informed Beryl that he is indeed not Canadian. (Which would be OK if he was.)

The mystery of the hound remains. He now has the mystery of the man on the tor.

But we can rest assured; if Watson is with Holmes, we know he has his back.