The Three Garridebs
In an instant he had pulled out a gun from an inside pocket and had fired two shots.I felt a sudden hot tearing pain,as if a red-hot iron had been pressed against the top of my leg.There was a crash as Holmes's gun came down on Evans's head.I saw the man lying on the floor with blood running down his face,while Holmes searched him for weapons.Then my friends's thin but strong arms were roung me and he was leading me to a chair.
"You're not hurt,Watson?Oh,please say that you're not hurt!"
I did not mind the wound---I would not have minded many wounds---for if I had not been hit I should never have known the extraordinary loyalty and love that Holmes felt for me---feelings which he always hid under his cold outward manner.For a moment I saw tears in those clear,hard eyes of his;and the firm lips were shaking.I suddenly realised that Holmes had a great heart as well as a great mind.That moment of realisation was my reward for years of humble service.