‘Pretty lonely, too, isn’t it?’
‘It is that,’ replied Riley.
‘The coroner’s report says Ridge had received a blow of some kind on the chin. Know anything about it, Carroll?’ inquired Fordney.
‘No, I don’t. Might have hit a rock or the side of the boat when he went over.’
‘Were you up or down river, from Ridge?’
‘Up river, about three hundred yards, on the west side.’
‘Did you and your brother have on bathing-suits at the time?’
‘I did, but my brother didn’t.’
‘Are there any blood-stains in Ridge’s boat, Riley?’
‘Well, there are stains all right, and they look like blood to me.’