This latter sign was nothing like so clear, but the boy, used to reading tracks in the far-off West, showed the man how the blades of grass were turned from the weight that had trodden on them; and as they walked forward the traces became even plainer, leading past the pool, and on towards the common; and Ralph gave a cry as he studied the ground.
"Here are two people walking now," he said; "and one wears pointed boots!"
"The man who brought the hat to us," suggested Mr. St. Clive.
"No, sir. He wore big boots, with nails in them. You can see the marks of those quite plainly, and he came here last of all."
"How do you know that?" demanded Mr. St. Clive, very interested.
"Because the marks that he has made are over all the others," was the explanation. "Let us go on."
They followed the traces, faint though they seemed, until they reached the common; and here, though Ralph studied the ground for nearly an hour, he could discover nothing. Several roads crossed the common, and the men must have traversed one of these, but which one there was nothing to show.
Back to the pool they went, and here Ralph paused; and Mr. St. Clive, looking at him inquiringly, said—
"Well, what now, my boy? Have you learnt anything?"