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〃Admirable！〃 he said。 〃A most illuminating remark。 It is
impossible as I state it； and therefore I must in some respect have
stated it wrong。 Yet you saw for yourself。 Can you suggest any
fallacy？〃
〃He could not have fractured his skull in a fall？〃
〃In a morass； Watson？〃
〃I am at my wit's end。〃
〃Tut； tut； we have solved some worse problems。 At least we have
plenty of material； if we can only use it。 Come； then； and； having
exhausted the Palmer； let us see what the Dunlop with the patched
cover has to offer us。〃
We picked up the track and followed it onward for some distance； but
soon the moor rose into a long； heather…tufted curve； and we left
the watercourse behind us。 No further help from tracks could be
boped for。 At the spot where we saw the last of the Dunlop tyre it
might equally have led to Holdernesse Hall； the stately towers of
which rose some miles to our left； or to a low； gray village which lay
in front of us and marked the position of the Chesterfield high road。
As we approached the forbidding and squalid inn； with the sign of
a game…cock above the door； Holmes gave a sudden groan； and clutched
me by the shoulder to save himself from falling。 He had had one of
those violent strains of the ankle which leave a man helpless。 With
difficulty he limped up to the door； where a squat； dark； elderly
man was smoking a black clay pipe。
〃How are you； Mr。 Reuben Hayes？〃 said Holmes。
〃Who are you； and how do you get my name so pat？〃 the countryman
answered； with a suspicious flash of a pair of cunning eyes。
〃Well； it's printed on the board above your head。 It's easy to see a
man who is master of his own house。 I suppose you haven't such a thing
as a carriage in your stables？〃
〃No； I have not。〃
〃I can hardly put my foot to the ground。〃
〃Don't put it to the ground。〃
〃But I can'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。 〃This is really rather an awkward
fix for me。 I don't mind how I get on。〃
〃Neither do I；〃 said the morose landlord。
〃The matter is very important。 I would offer you a sovereign for the
use of a bicycle。〃
The landlord pricked up his ears。
〃Where do you want to go？〃
〃To Holdernesse Hall。〃
〃Pals of the Dook； I suppose？〃 said the landlord； surveying our
mud…stained garments with ironical eyes。
Holmes laughed good…naturedly。
〃He'll be glad to see us； anyhow。〃
〃Why？〃
〃Because we bring him news of his lost son。〃
The landlord gave a very visible start。
〃What； you're on his track？〃
〃He has been heard of in Liverpool。 They expect to get him every
hour。〃
Again a 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 I was head coachman once； and cruel bad he treated me。 It was him
that sacked me without a character on the word of a lying
corn…chandler。 But I'm glad to hear that the young lord was heard of
in Liverpool； and I'll help you to take the news to the Hall。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Holmes。 〃Well have some food first。 then you can
bring round the bicycle。〃
〃I haven't got a bicycle。〃
Holmes held up a sovereign。
〃I tell you； man； that I haven't got one。 I'll let you have two
horses as far as the Hall。〃
〃Well； well；〃 said Holmes； 〃well talk about it when we've had
something to eat。〃
When we were left alone in the stone…flagged kitchen； it was
astonishing how rapidly that sprained ankle recovered。 It was nearly
nightfall； and we had eaten nothing since early morning； so that we
spent some time over our meal。 Holmes was lost in thought； and once or
twice he walked over to the window and stared earnestly out。 It opened
on to a squalid courtyard。 In the far corner was a smithy； where a
grimy lad was at work。 On the other side were the stables。 Holmes
had sat down again after one of these excursions； when he suddenly
sprang out of his chair with a loud exclamation。
〃By heaven； Watson； I believe that I've got it！〃 he cried。 〃Yes；
yes； it must be so。 Watson； do you remember seeing any cow…tracks
to…day？〃
〃Yes； several。〃
〃Were？〃
〃Well； everywhere。 They were at the morass； and again on the path；
and again near where poor Heidegger met his death。〃
〃Exactly。 Well； now； Watson； how many cows did you see on the moor？〃
〃I don't remember seeing any。〃
〃Strange； Watson； that we should see tracks all along our line；
but never a cow on the whole moor。 Very strange； Watson； eh？〃
〃Yes； it is strange。〃
〃Now； Watson； make an effort； throw your mind back。 Can you see
those tracks upon the path？〃
〃Yes； I can。〃
〃Can you recall that the tracks were sometimes like that； Watson〃…
he arranged a number of bread…crumbs in this fashion… ： ： ： ：… 〃and
sometimes like this〃… ：。：。：。：。… 〃and occasionally like this〃…
。。'。'。'。 〃Can you remember that？〃
〃No； I cannot。〃
〃But I can。 I could swear to it。 However； we will go back at our
leisure and verify it。 What a blind beetle I have been； not to draw my
conclusion。〃
〃And what is your conclusion？〃
〃Only that it is a remarkable cow which walks； canters； and gallops。
By George！ Watson； it was no brain of a country publican that
thought out such a blind as that。 The coast seems to be clear； save
for that lad in the smithy。 Let us slip out and see what we can see。〃
There were two rough…haired； unkempt horses in the tumble…down
stable。 Holmes raised the hind leg of one of them and laughed aloud。
〃Old shoes； but newly shod…old shoes； but new nails。 This case
deserves to be a classic。 Let us go across to the smithy。〃
The lad continued his work without regarding us。 I saw Holmes's
eye darting to right and left among the litter of iron and wood
which was scattered about the floor。 Suddenly； however； we heard a
step behind us； and there was the landlord； his heavy eyebrows drawn
over his savage eyes； his swarthy features convulsed with passion。
He held a short； metal…headed stick in his hand； and he advanced in so
menacing a fashion that I was right glad to feel the revolver in my
pocket。
〃You infernal spies！〃 the man cried。 〃What are you doing there？〃
〃Why； Mr。 Reuben Hayes；〃 said Holmes； coolly； 〃one might think
that you were afraid of our finding something out。〃
The man mastered himself with a violent effort； and his grim mouth
loosened into a false laugh； which was more menacing than his frown。
〃You're welcome to all you can find out in my smithy；〃 said he。 〃But
look here； mister； I don't care for folk poking about my place without
my leave； so the sooner you pay your score and get out of this the
better I shall be pleased。〃
〃All right； Mr。 Hayes； no harm meant；〃 said Holmes。 〃We have been
having a look at your horses； but I think I'll walk； after all。 It's
not far； I believe。〃
〃Not more than two miles to the Hall gates。 That's the road to the
left。〃 He watched us with sullen eyes until we had left his premises。
We did not go very far along