“Yes, sir. That young gent couldn’t have got into that state all by himself, and we want to find out who did it.”
The man glanced sharply at Distin again as he spoke, and the young Creole avoided his eye with the result that the constable made a note in his book with a pencil which seemed to require wetting before it would mark.
“I think,” said the rector, “it is my duty to stay here, as this matter is assuming a serious aspect.”
“Thank ye, sir; I should be glad if you would,” said the constable. “It do begin to look serious.”
“Joseph, run on after Dr Lee, and tell him why I am staying. Say that he is to use the carriage at once if he wishes to send for help or nurse. I shall not be very long.”
Joseph ran off at a sharp trot after the departing group, and the constable went slowly forward after carefully examining the ground where Vane had been found.
“Keep back, everybody, please. Plenty of footprints here,” he said, “but all over, I’m afraid. Hah! Look here, sir,” he continued, pointing down at the loose sand and pebbles; “he crawled along here on his hands and knees.”
Distin looked sallow and troubled now, and kept on darting furtive looks at those about, several of the men having stopped back to see what the constable might find.
“Don’t see no steps but his,” said the constable, who seemed to be keenly observant for so rustic-looking a man. “Hah, that’s where he come down, regularly slipped, you see.”
He pointed to the shelving bank of chalk, on the top of which the beeches began, and over which their long, lithe branches drooped.