Page:Tales for the farmers' ingle-neuk (2).pdf/3

 and, from its shape, gave reason to suspect that its wearer was what is called. It had also been lately pieced at the heel and toe, and armed with broad-headed tacks, the prints of which were distinctly marked. This was an important discovery, and Mr, who was accustomed to use his pencil, set himself, with the assistance of the surgeon, to take a correct measurement and drawing of it on paper. In the meantime, Mr and I continued the search, and having traced the footsteps to the garden wall, the good minister, who happened to be before me, uttered an exclamation of horror, and directed my attention to a stone on the top of the wall which was stained with blood. On looking more minutely, we saw the marks of bloody fingers on the stone, and concluded that the murderer had made his retreat out of the garden at this place. A plowed field on the other side of the wall favoured our further search, and we tracked the villain to a small piece of water where he had probably washed his hands, and through which he appeared to have waded, as the prints of feet were seen on the opposite bank, I threw off my shoes and stockings, and followed the course we supposed the murderer had taken as accurately as I could; but as the ground on the other side was covered with wood, I could trace him no farther. On my return, I observed something bright at the bottom of the water, which I took up, and found to be a large clasp knife, with the letters R. S. scratched rudely