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shallow mark of the front one。 It was undoubtedly heading away from
the school。 It may or may not be connected with our inquiry； but we
will follow it backwards before we go any farther。〃
We did so； and at the end of a few hundred yards lost the tracks
as we emerged from the boggy portion of the moor。 Following the path
backwards； we picked out another spot； where a spring trickled
across it。 Here； once again； was the mark of the bicycle； though
nearly obliterated by the hoofs of cows。 After that there was no sign；
but the path ran right on into Ragged Shaw； the wood which backed on
to the school。 From this wood the cycle must have emerged。 Holmes
sat down on a boulder and rested his chin in his hands。 I had smoked
two cigarettes before he moved。
〃Well； well；〃 said he； at last。 〃It is； of course； possible that a
cunning man might change the tyres of his bicycle in order to leave
unfamiliar tracks。 A criminal who was capable of such a thought is a
man whom I should be proud to do business with。 We will leave this
question undecided and hark back to our morass again； for we have left
a good deal unexplored。〃
We continued our systematic survey of the edge of the sodden portion
of the moor； and soon our perseverance was gloriously rewarded。
Right across the lower part of the bog lay a miry path。 Holmes gave
a cry of delight as he approached it。 An impression like a fine bundle
of telegraph wires ran down the centre of it。 It was the Palmer tyres。
〃Here is Herr Heidegger； sure enough！〃 cried Holmes； exultantly。 〃My
reasoning seems to have been pretty sound； Watson。〃
〃I congratulate you。〃
〃But we have a long way still to go。 Kindly walk clear of the
path。 Now let us follow the trail。 I fear that it will not lead very
far。〃
We found； however； as we advanced that this portion of the moor is
intersected with soft patches； and； though we frequently lost sight of
the track； we always succeeded in picking it up once more。
〃Do you observe；〃 said Holmes； 〃that the rider is now undoubtedly
forcing the pace？ There can be no doubt of it。 Look at this
impression； where you get both tires clear。 The one is as deep as
the other。 That can only mean that the rider is throwing his weight on
to the handle…bar； as a man does when he is sprinting。 By Jove！ he has
had a fall。〃
There was a broad； irregular smudge covering some yards of the
track。 Then there were a few footmarks； and the tyres reappeared
once more。
〃A side…slip；〃 I suggested。
Holmes held up a crumpled branch of flowering gorse。 To my horror
I perceived that the yellow blossoms were all dabbled with crimson。 On
the path； too； and among the heather were dark stains of clotted
blood。
〃Bad！〃 said Holmes。 〃Bad！ Stand clear； Watson！ Not an unnecessary
footstep！ What do I read here？ He fell wounded… he stood up… he
remounted… he proceeded。 But there is no other track。 Cattle on this
side path。 He was surely not gored by a bull？ Impossible！ But I see no
traces of anyone else。 We must push on； Watson。 Surely； with stains as
well as the track to guide us； he cannot escape us now。〃
Our search was not a very long one。 The tracks of the tyre began
to curve fantastically upon the wet and shining path。 Suddenly； as I
looked ahead； the gleam of caught my eye from amid the thick
gorse…bushes。 Out of them we dragged a bicycle； Palmer…tyred； one
pedal bent； and the whole front of it horribly smeared and slobbered
with blood。 On the other side of the bushes a shoe was projecting。
We ran round； and there lay the unfortunate rider。 He was a tall
man； full…bearded； with spectacles； one glass of which had been
knocked out。 The cause of his death was a frightful blow upon the
head； which had crushed in part of his skull。 That he could have
gone on after receiving such an injury said much for the vitality
and courage of the man。 He wore shoes； but no socks； and his open coat
disclosed a nightshirt beneath it。 It was undoubtedly the German
master。
Holmes turned the body over reverently； and examined it with great
attention。 He then sat in deep thought for a time； and I could see
by his ruffied brow that this grim discovery had not； in his
opinion； advanced us much in our inquiry。
〃It is a little difficult to know what to do； Watson；〃 said he； at
last。 〃My own inclinations are to push this inquiry on； for we have
already lost so much time that we cannot afford to waste another hour。
On the other hand； we are bound to inform the police of the discovery；
and to see that this poor fellow's body is looked after。〃
〃I could take a note back。〃
〃But I need your company and assistance。 Wait a bit！ There is a
fellow cutting peat up yonder。 Bring him over here； and he will
guide the police。〃
I brought the peasant across； and Holmes dispatched the frightened
man with a note to Dr。 Huxtable。
〃Now； Watson；〃 said he； 〃we have picked up two clues this morning。
One is the bicycle with the Palmer tyre； and we see what that has
led to。 The other is the bicycle with the patched Dunlop。 Before we
start to investigate that； let us try to realize what we do know； so
as to make the most of it； and to separate the essential from the
accidental。〃
〃First of all； I wish to impress upon you that the boy certainly
left of his own free…will。 He got down from his window and he went
off； either alone or with someone。 That is sure。〃
I assented。
〃Well； now； let us turn to this unfortunate German master。 The boy
was fully dressed when he fled。 Therefore； he foresaw what he would
do。 But the German went without his socks。 He certainly acted on
very short notice。〃
〃Undoubtedly。〃
〃Why did he go？ Because； from his bedroom window； he saw the
flight of the boy； because he wished 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 to the critical part of my argument。 The natural
action of a man in pursuing a little boy would be to run after him。 He
would know that he could overtake him。 But the German does not do
so。 He turns to his bicycle。 I am told that he was an excellent
cyclist。 He would not do this； if he did not see that the boy had some
swift means of escape。〃
〃The other bicycle。〃
〃Let us continue our reconstruction。 He meets his death five miles
from the school… not by a bullet； mark you； which even a lad might
conceivably discharge； but by a savage blow dealt by a vigorous arm。
The lad； then； had a companion his flight。 And the flight was a
swift one； since it took five miles before an expert cyclist could
overtake them。 Yet we survey the ground round the scene of the
tragedy。 What do we find？ A few cattle…tracks； nothing more。 I took
a wide sweep round； and there is no path within fifty yards。 Another
cyclist could have had nothing to do with the actual murder； nor
were there any human footmarks。〃
〃Holmes；〃 I cried； 〃this is impossible。〃
〃Admirable！〃 he said。 〃A most illuminating remark。 It is
impossible as I state it； and therefore I must in some respect have
sta