ory of body-snatching.
Of course, fishers are early risers, and they went trampling about
confusedly. But they did find curious tracks. We have isolated some of
them, and even managed to carry off a couple. We dug round them, and
lifted them. A neighbouring laird, Mr. Maitland, lent his ice-house for
storing these, and I had one laid down on the north side of this house to
show you, if the frost held. No ice-house or refrigerator _here_, of
course.'

'Let me see it now.'

Logan took a lighted candle--the night was frosty, without a wind--and
led Merton out under the black, ivy-clad walls. Merton threw his
greatcoat on the snow and knelt on it, peering at the object. He saw a
large flat clod of snow and earth. On its surface was the faint impress
of a long oval, longer than the human foot; feathery marks running in
both directions from the centre could be descried. Looking closer,
Merton detected here and there a tiny feather and a flock or two of down
adhering to the frozen mass.

'May I remove some of these feathery things?' Merton asked.

'Certainly. But why?'

'We can't carry the clod indoors, it would melt; and it _may_ melt if the
weather changes; and by bad luck there may be no feathers or down
adhering to the other clods--those in the laird's ice-house.'

'You think you have a clue?'

'I think,' said Merton, 'that these are emu's feathers; but, whether they
are or not, they look like a clue. Still, I _think_ they are emu's
feathers.'

'Why? The emu is not an indigenous bird.'

As he spoke, an idea--several ideas--flashed on Merton. He wished that
he had held his peace. He put the little shreds into his pocket-book,
rose, and donned his greatcoat. 'How cold it is!' he said. 'Logan,
would you mind very much if I said no more just now about the feathers? I
really have a notion--which may be a good one, or may be a silly one--and,
absurd as it appears, you will seriously oblige me by letting me keep my
own counsel.'

'It is damned awkward,' said Logan testily.

'Ah, old boy, but remember that "damned awkward" is a damned awkward
expression.'

'You are right,' said Logan heartily; 'but I rose very early, I'm very
tired, I'm rather savage. Let's go in and dine.'

'All right,' said Merton.

'I don't think,' said Logan, as they were entering the house, 'that I
need keep these miners on sentry go any longer. The bird--the body, I
mean--has flown. Whoever the fellows were that made th