"Why, it's as plain as the nose on your face," exclaimed Deever, utterly losing patience.
He seized a spade from the ground and applied it to the wounds.
"The first blow, the one which killed him," said Deever, "was struck with the side of the spade on the top of the poor boy's head. It was a terrible blow."
Nick examined the wound. It was plain that no person could live a minute after receiving such a fearful injury.
"The other blows," Deever continued, "were some of them made with the side, and some with the tip of the spade.
"I can see just how it happened. Pat angered Jarvis with the words that Klein heard. Jarvis rushed upon him, knocked him down with the spade, and then beat him like a maniac in his rage."
"And then buried him, eh?" said Nick, in a doubtful voice.
Chick looked inquiringly at his chief. He had never seen Nick conduct a case in that way before.
Instead of taking the lead in the investigation, the great detective seemed to wait for suggestions. After his first glance at the body, he had stood irresolute, as if he could not make up his mind about the value of the evidence.
This conduct of his chief interested Chick deeply.