“Our man was here, Hooker,” he said.
“Was here?” muttered Roy. “Then you think he’s gone?”
“I think his injury was bound up right here in this stable while he sat there upon that box. I don’t believe he did the work of bandaging the wound himself.”
“He must be in the house.”
“Don’t jump at conclusions. That’s the trouble with most people. That’s how they lead themselves astray. The fellow came here. He must have been pretty badly used up, too. Somebody tied up his injuries. Isn’t it likely they realized the man would be traced by the blood-drippings? And is it likely, in that case, that they would think of trying to hide him here?”
“Why, I don’t know——”
“I don’t know, but I’m using logic, reasoning, horse sense. I saw something as we entered by that open back door which makes me confident that the fellow continued his flight in that direction. Beyond the orchard, out there, lie the woods to the north of Turkey Hill.”
“You think he hit out for those woods, do you?”
“I think so, but unless I can find evidence to confirm my belief we’ll not try to follow him haphazard.”
They left the stable by the door through which they had entered, and when they were outside Sleuth once more fell to searching the ground with his eyes.