" take note back "

"But your company and assistance Wait bit ! fellow cutting peat up yonder Bring him over here, and guide the police "

I brought the peasant across, and Holmes dispatched the frightened man with note to Dr Huxtable

"Now, Watson," said he, " picked up two clues One bicycle Palmer tyre, and we see what that has led to The other bicycle patched Dunlop Before we start to investigate that, try to realise what know so most of it, and to separate the essential accidental "

"First of all to impress upon you boy certainly left own free will He got down window and he went off, either alone or with someone sure "

I assented

"Well, now, turn unfortunate German master The boy was fully dressed when he fled Therefore, he foresaw what do But the German went without his socks He certainly acted on very short notice "

"Undoubtedly "

"Why did he go ? Because, bedroom window, the flight boy Because to overtake him and bring him back He seized his bicycle, pursued the lad, and in pursuing him met his death "

"So it would seem "

"Now I come critical part argument The natural action of man in pursuing little boy to run after him know that overtake him But the German He turns bicycle told that an excellent cyclist if boy had some swift means of escape "

"The other bicycle "

" continue our reconstruction He meets his death five miles school -- not by bullet, mark you, which even lad might conceivably discharge, but by savage blow dealt by vigorous arm The lad, then, HAD companion flight flight was swift one, since it took five miles before an expert cyclist could overtake them Yet we survey the ground round the scene tragedy What do ? few cattle tracks, nothing more wide sweep round, and no path within fifty yards Another cyclist had nothing actual murder Nor were there any human footmarks "

"Holmes," I cried, " impossible "

"Admirable ! " "A most illuminating remark impossible as I state it, and therefore in some respect have stated it wrong Yet you saw suggest any fallacy ? "

" have fractured his skull in fall ? "

"In morass, Watson ? "

" at my wit's end "

"Tut, tut; solved some worse problems plenty of material, only use it Come, then, and, having exhausted the Palmer, what the Dunlop patched cover offer us "

We picked up the track and followed it onwards for some distance; but soon the moor rose into long, heather-tufted curve, and we left the watercourse behind us No further help from tracks hoped for spot where we saw the last Dunlop tyre it might equally have led to Holdernesse Hall, the stately towers rose some miles to our left, or to low, grey village which lay in front of us, and marked the position Chesterfield high road

approached the forbidding and squalid inn, sign of game-cock above the door, Holmes gave sudden groan and clutched me shoulder to save himself from falling He had had one violent strains ankle which leave man helpless With difficulty he limped door, where squat, dark, elderly man was smoking black clay pipe

"How , Mr Reuben Hayes ? " said Holmes

"Who , and how get my name so pat ? " the countryman answered, with suspicious flash of pair of cunning eyes

"Well, it's printed board above your head It's easy man master own house I suppose you haven't such thing as carriage in your stables ? "

"No; "

" hardly put my foot ground "

"Don't put it ground "

"But 't walk "

"Well, then, hop "

Mr Reuben Hayes's manner was far from gracious, but Holmes took it with admirable good-humour

"Look here, my man," said he " really rather an awkward fix I don't mind how I get on "

"Neither do I," said the morose landlord

"The matter is offer you sovereign use of bicycle "

The landlord pricked up his ears

"Where ? "

"To Holdernesse Hall "

"Pals Dook, I suppose ? " said the landlord, surveying our mud-stained garments with ironical eyes

Holmes laughed good-naturedly

"He'll us, anyhow "

"Why ? "

"Because we bring him news lost son "

The landlord gave very visible start

"What, you're track ? "

"He heard of in Liverpool They expect him every hour "

Again swift change passed over the heavy, unshaven face His manner was suddenly genial

"I've less reason to wish the Dook well than most men," said he, "for his head coachman once, and cruel bad he treated me him that sacked me without character word of lying corn-chandler But I'm young lord was heard of in Liverpool, and I'll to news Hall "

" ," said Holmes "We'll have some food first Then bring round the bicycle "

"I haven't got bicycle "

Holmes held up sovereign

"I tell you, man, that I haven't got one I'll let two horses as far Hall "

"Well, well," said Holmes, "we'll talk when we've had something to eat "

When we were left alone stone-flagged kitchen astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered nearly nightfall, and we had eaten nothing since early morning, we spent over our meal Holmes was lost in thought, and he walked over window and stared earnestly out It opened on to squalid courtyard far corner was smithy, where grimy lad was at work other side were the stables Holmes had sat down again after excursions, when he suddenly sprang out chair with loud exclamation

"By Heaven, Watson, I believe that I've got it ! " he cried "Yes, yes, it so Watson, remember seeing any cow-tracks to-day ? "

"Yes, several "

"Where ? "

"Well, everywhere They were morass, and again path, and again near where poor Heidegger met his death "

"Exactly Well, now, Watson, cows did moor ? "

"I don't remember seeing any "

"Strange, Watson, that we tracks all along our line, but never cow whole moor; very strange, Watson, eh ? "

"Yes, strange "

"Now, Watson, make an effort; throw your mind back ! see those tracks path ? "

"Yes, "