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expected to gain by this. My companions informed me that by making a détour of half- a-mile the summit could be reached. T sct off with one instantly, while his comrade stayed below to indicate the spot. After “nearly half-an-hour’s hard climbing we reached the plateau.”

“What did you discover ?”

“We discovered the body of Mr. Car- boyne.” (Renewed scnsation.)

““What was its position ?”

“It was lying face downwards in the snow, about three feet from the edge of the cliff. It was clear from the marks in the snow that the deccased had originally lain in a position nearly twenty feet further in— that 1s, further from the edge—and had

%1

crawled from thence towards the verge. There was no indication of any other person having been upon the platcau—none what- ever.”

“The snow was absolutely undisturbed?”

‘““ Absolutely.”

“Was the deceased quite found ?”

“Yes, quite. He must have died about half-an-hour before.”

“You examined him for injuries 2 ”

“I did. T found bruises and abrasions, but no wound sufficient to account for death. The fatal result, as has since been proved, was due, primarily, to shock acting on a weak heart.”

“Did you observe any damage to the clothing ?”

“Yes. The coat was ripped half-way up the back—that is to say, there was a wide and roughly-torn rent from the middle of the back to just below the collar.”

dead when

STRAND MAGAZINI.

“Did you form any opinion as to how the rent was made ? 7 “No; but 1t was donec by a somewhat

blunt instrument; the cdges of the rent

were ripped—not cut.”

““Was anything missing {rom the body?”

“Yes; the knapsack which deceased wore by a strap across his shou'der had disap- peared.”

“ Anything clse ?”

“l beliecve nothing else. His money, which he carried in his breast-pocket, was untouched. His watch and chain were also left, as well as a valuable ring which he always wore, and which was, as I have heard him say, a keepsake.”

“You remained with the body while the workman, John Rhys, went to give informa- tion to the police ?”

“Yes.”

WE DISCOVERED THE BODY OF MR, CARBOYNE.”

“What space of time clapsed before they came ?”

“I do not know—I should guess about two hours.”

“During that time did you observe any circumstance which would help to explain how the deccased could possibly have got there 27

“ Absolutely none.”

“You can form no thcory or conjecture on the subject?”

“None whatever. T am completely be- wildered, and can only speak to what I saw, without being able to offer any shadow of explanation.”

A Juryman: “ Do you suggest that the deceased threw the glasses over the cliff in order to attract attention ? 7

“T'hat 15 the only explanation that occurs to me. It s almost certain that he was alive at the time they fell; probably he found himsell too weak to reach the edge, and rerelore threw down ihe glasses as the first