Barrymore at the inquest. He said that there were no traces upon the ground round the body. He did not observe any. But I did - some little distance off, but fresh and clear.'

`Footprints?'

`Footprints.'

`A man's or a woman's?'

Dr. Mortimer looked strangely at us for an instant, and his voice sank almost to a whisper as he answered:

`Mr. Holmes, they were the footprints of a gigantic hound!'