The Adventure of the Speckled Band that of Dr Roylott. Holmes and Watson arrange to spend the night in Helen's room. In darkness they wait; suddenly, a slight metallic noise and a dim light through the ventilator prompt Holmes to action. Quickly lighting a candle, he discovers on the bell cord the "speckled band"—a venomous snake. He strikes the snake with a stick, driving it back through the ventilator. Agitated, it attacks Roylott, who had been waiting for it to return after killing Helen. Holmes identifies the snake as a "swamp adder" and reveals to Watson the motive: the late wife's will had provided an annual
The Monster (short story) The Monster (short story) "The Monster" is a science fiction short story by Canadian-American writer A. E. van Vogt, originally published in "Astounding" in August 1948. It was one of van Vogt's favorite stories. It was included in several anthologies, including 1952's "", sometimes under the title "Resurrection". It involves aliens who come across a long-dead Earth and explore it in an attempt to find out what killed the obviously intelligent life forms. Their exploration leads to their mortal danger when they discover a deadly monster. Enash, an alien of the Ganae race, lands in a city that is crumbling