Carstairs, was not once
mentioned. We kept silence, indeed, until we were in the place to which
they had carried Crone's dead body. Mr. Murray and Sergeant Chisholm had
got there before us, and with them was a doctor--the same that had been
fetched to Phillips--and they were all talking together quietly when we
went in. The superintendent came up to Mr. Lindsey.

"According to what the doctor here says," he whispered, jerking his head
at the body, which lay on a table with a sheet thrown over it, "there's a
question as to whether the man met his death by drowning. Look here!"

He led us up to the table, drew back the sheet from the head and face,
and motioning the doctor to come up, pointed to a mark that was just
between the left temple and the top of the ear, where the hair was
wearing thin.

"D'ye see that, now?" he murmured. "You'll notice there's some sort of a
weapon penetrated there--penetrated! But the doctor can say more than I
can on that point."

"The man was struck--felled--by some sort of a weapon," said the doctor.
"It's penetrated, I should say from mere superficial examination, to the
brain. You'll observe there's a bruise outwardly--aye, but this has been
a sharp weapon as well, something with a point, and there's the
puncture--how far it may extend I can't tell yet. But on the surface of
things, Mr. Lindsey, I should incline to the opinion that the poor
fellow was dead, or dying, when he was thrown into yon pool. Anyway,
after a blow like that, he'd be unconscious. But I'm thinking he was dead
before the water closed on him."

Mr. Lindsey looked closer at the mark, and at the hole in the
centre of it.

"Has it struck any of you how that could be caused?" he asked suddenly.
"It hasn't? Then I'll suggest something to you. There's an implement in
pretty constant use hereabouts that would do just that--a salmon gaff!"

The two police officials started--the doctor nodded his head.

"Aye, and that's a sensible remark," said he. "A salmon gaff would just
do it." He turned to Chisholm with a sharp look. "You were saying this
man was suspected of poaching?" he asked. "Likely it'll have been some
poaching affair he was after last night--him and others. And they may
have quarrelled and come to blows--and there you are!"

"Were there any signs of an affray close by--or near, on the bank?" asked
Mr. Lindsey.

"We're going down there now ourselves to have a look round," answered Mr.
Murray. "But accordin