The Boscombe Pool, which is a little reed-girt sheet of water some fifty yards across, is situated at the boundary between the Hatherley Farm and the private park of the wealthy Mr Turner. Above the woods which lined it upon the farther side we could see the red, jutting pinnacles which marked the site of the rich landowner's dwelling.On the Hatherley side of the pool the woods grew very thick, and there was a narrow belt of sodden grass twenty paces across between the edge of the trees and the reeds which lined the lake.Lestrade showed us the exact spot at which the body had been found, and, indeed, so moist was the ground, that I could plainly see the traces which had been left by the fall of the stricken man.To Holmes, as I could see by his eager face and peering eyes, very many other things were to be read upon the trampled grass.He ran round, like a dog who is picking up a scent, and then turned upon my companion.
"What did you go into the pool for?"he asked.
"I fished about with a rake. I thought there might be some weapon or other trace.But how on earth..."
"Oh, tut, tut!I have no time!That left foot of yours with its inward twist is all over the place. A mole could trace it, and there it vanishes among the reeds.Oh, how simple it would all have been had I been here before they came like a herd of buffalo and wallowed all over it.Here is where the party with the lodge-keeper came, and they have covered all tracks for six or eight feet round the body.But here are three separate tracks of the same feet."He drew out a lens and lay down upon his waterproof to have a better view, talking all the time rather to himself than to us."These are young McCarthy's feet.Twice he was walking, and once he ran swiftly, so that the soles are deeply marked and the heels hardly visible.That bears out his story.He ran when he saw his father on the ground.Then here are the father's feet as he paced up and down.What is this, then?It is the butt-end of the gun as the son stood listening.And this?Ha, ha!What have we here?Tiptoes!tiptoes!Square, too, quite unusual boots!They come, they go, they come again...of course that was for the cloak.Now where did they come from?"