expected to gain by this. My companions informed me that by making a détour of half-a-mile the summit could be reached. I set 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."
"We discovered the body of Mr. Carboyne."
"What did you discover?"
"We discovered the body of Mr. Carboyne." (Renewed sensation.)
"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 deceased had originally lain in a position nearly twenty feet further in—that is, further from the edge—and had crawled from thence towards the verge. There was no indication of any other person having been upon the plateau—none whatever."
"The snow was absolutely undisturbed?"
"Absolutely."
"Was the deceased quite dead when found?"
"Yes, quite. He must have died about half-an-hour before."
"You examined him for injuries?"
"I did. I 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."
"Did you form any opinion as to how the rent was made?"
"No; but it was done by a somewhat blunt instrument; the edges of the rent were ripped—not cut."
"Was anything missing from the body?"
"Yes; the knapsack which deceased wore by a strap across his shoulder had disappeared."
"Anything else?"
"I believe 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 information to the police?"
"Yes."
"What space of time elapsed 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 deceased could possibly have got there?"
"Absolutely none."
"You can form no theory or conjecture on the subject?"
"None whatever. I am completely bewildered, 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?"
"That is the only explanation that occurs to me. It is almost certain that he was alive at the time they fell; probably he found himself too weak to reach the edge, and therefore threw down the glasses as the first
