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they have covered all tracks for six or eight feet round the body。 But
here are three separate tracks of the same feet。〃 He drew out a lens
and lay down upon his waterproof to have a better view； talking all
the time to himself rather than to us。 〃These are young McCarthy's
feet。 Twice he was walking； and once he ran swiftly； so that the soles
are deeply marked and the heels hardly visible。 That bears out his
story。 He ran when he saw his father on the ground。 Then here are
the father's feet as he paced up and down。 What is this； then？ It is
the butt…end of the gun as the son stood listening。 And this？ Ha；
ha！ What have we here？ Tiptoes！ tiptoes！ Square； too； quite unusual
boots！ They come； they go； they come again of course that was for
the cloak。 Now where did they come from？〃 He ran up and down；
sometimes losing； sometimes finding the track until we were well
within the edge of the wood and under the shadow of a great beech； the
largest tree in the neighbourhood。 Holmes traced his way to the
farther side of this and lay down once more upon his face with a
little cry of satisfaction。 For a long time he remained there； turning
over the leaves and dried sticks； gathering up what seemed to me to be
dust into an envelope and examining with his lens not only the
ground but even the bark of the tree as far as he could reach。 A
jagged stone was lying among the moss； and this also he carefully
examined and retained。 Then he followed a pathway through the wood
until he came to the highroad； where all traces were lost。
〃It has been a case of considerable interest；〃 he remarked；
returning to his natural manner。 〃I fancy that this gray house on
the right must be the lodge。 I think that I will go in and have a word
with Moran； and perhaps write a little note。 Having done that； we
may drive back to our luncheon。 You may walk to the cab； and I shall
be with you presently。〃
It was about ten minutes before we regained our cab and drove back
into Ross； Holmes still carving with him the stone which he had picked
up in the wood。
〃This may interest you； Lestrade；〃 he remarked； holding it out。 〃The
murder was done with it。〃
〃I see no marks。〃
〃There are none。〃
〃How do you know； then？〃
〃The grass was growing under it。 It had only lain there a few
days。 There was no sign of a place whence it had been taken。 It
corresponds with the injuries。 There is no sign of any other weapon。〃
〃And the murderer？〃
〃Is a tall man； left…handed； limps with the right leg； wears
thick…soled shooting boots and a gray cloak； smokes Indian cigars；
uses a cigar…holder； and carries a blunt pen…knife in his pocket。
There are several other indications； but these may be enough to aid us
in our search。〃
Lestrade laughed。 〃I am afraid that I am still a sceptic；〃 he
said。 〃Theories are all very well； but we have to deal with a
hard…headed British jury。〃
〃Nous verrons；〃 answered Holmes calmly。 〃You work your own method；
and I shall work mine。 I shall be busy this afternoon； and shall
probably return to London by the evening train。〃
〃And leave your case unfinished？〃
〃No； finished。〃
〃But the mystery？〃
〃It is solved。〃
〃Who was the criminal； then？〃
〃The gentleman I describe。〃
〃But who is he？〃
〃Surely it would not be difficult to find out。 This is not such a
populous neighbourhood。〃
Lestrade shrugged his shoulders。 〃I am a practical man；〃 he said；
〃and I really cannot undertake to go about the country looking for a
left…handed gentleman with a game…leg。 I should become the
laughing…stock of Scotland Yard。〃
〃All right；〃 said Holmes quietly。 〃I have given you the chance。 Here
are your lodgings。 Good…bye。 I shall drop you a line before I leave。〃
Having left Lestrade at his rooms； we drove to our hotel； where we
found lunch upon the table。 Holmes was silent and buried in thought
with a pained expression upon his face； as one who finds himself in
a perplexing position。
〃Look here； Watson；〃 he said when the cloth was cleared； 〃just sit
down in this chair and let me preach to you for a little。 I don't know
quite what to do； and I should value your advice。 Light a cigar and
let me expound。〃
〃Pray do so。〃
〃Well； now； in considering this case there are two points about
young McCarthy's narrative which struck us both instantly； although
they impressed me in his favour and you against him。 One was the
fact that his father should； according to his account； cry 'Cooee！'
before seeing him。 The other was his singular dying reference to a
rat。 He mumbled several words； you understand； but that was all that
caught the son's ear。 Now from this double point our research must
commence； and we will begin it by presuming that what the lad says
is absolutely true。〃
〃What of this 'Cooee！' then？〃
〃Well； obviously it could not have been meant for the son。 The
son； as far as he knew； was in Bristol。 It was mere chance that he was
within earshot。 The 'Cooee！' was meant to attract the attention of
whoever it was that he had the appointment with。 But 'Cooee' is a
distinctly Australian cry； and one which is used between
Australians。 There is a strong presumption that the person whom
McCarthy expected to meet him at Boscombe Pool was someone who had
been in Australia。〃
〃What of the rat； then？〃
Sherlock Holmes took a folded paper from his pocket and flattened it
out on the table。 〃This is a map of the Colony of Victoria；〃 he
said。 〃I wired to Bristol for it last night。〃 He put his hand over
part of the map。 〃What do you read？〃
〃ARAT；〃 I read。
〃And now？〃 He raised his hand。
〃BALLARAT。〃
〃Quite so。 That was the word the man uttered； and of which his son
only caught the last two syllables。 He was trying to utter the name of
his murderer。 So and so； of Ballarat。〃
〃It is wonderful！〃 I exclaimed。
〃It is obvious。 And now； you see； I had narrowed the field down
considerably。 The possession of a gray garment was a third point
which； granting the son's statement to be correct； was a certainty。 We
have come now out of mere vagueness to the definite conception of an
Australian from Ballarat with a gray cloak。〃
〃Certainly。〃
〃And one who was at home in the district； for the pool can only be
approached by the farm or by the estate； where strangers could
hardly wander。〃
〃Quite so。〃
〃Then comes our expedition of to…day。 By an examination of the
ground I gained the trifling details which I gave to that imbecile
Lestrade； as to the personality of the criminal。〃
〃But how did you gain them？〃
〃You know my method。 It is founded upon the observation of trifles。〃
〃His height I know that you might roughly judge from the length of
his stride。 His boots； too； might be told from their traces。〃
〃Yes； they were peculiar boots。〃
〃But his lameness？〃
〃The impression of his right foot was always less distinct than
his left。 He put less weight upon it。 Why？ Because he limped…he was
lame。〃
〃But his left…handedness。〃
〃You were yourself struck by the nature of the injury as recorded by
the surgeon at the inquest。 Th