? ? ? ? We crossed the marshy bottom and passed over a quarter of a mile of dry, hard turf. Again the ground sloped, and again we came on the tracks. Then we lost them for half a mile, but only to pick them up once more quite close to Mapleton. It was Holmes who saw them first, and he stood pointing with a look of triumph upon his face. A man's track was visible beside the horse's.
? ? ? ? "The horse was alone before," I cried.
? ? ? ? "Quite so. It was alone before. Hullo, what is this?"
? ? ? ? The double track turned sharp off and took the direction of King's Pyland. Holmes whistled, and we both followed along after it. His eyes were on the trail, but I happened to look a little to one side and saw to my surprise the same tracks coming back again in the opposite direction.
? ? ? ? "One for you, Watson," said Holmes when I pointed it out. "You have saved us a long walk, which would have brought us back on our own traces. Let us follow the return track."
? ? ? ? We had not to go far. It ended at the paving of asphalt which led up to the gates of the Mapleton stables.
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