ce them beyond the high-water line.

Meanwhile Hendrick had been examining the features of the dead woman,
and was startled to recognise one with whom he had conversed only the
day before. This was the only important point brought out at the
inquest, which took place in a couple of days. Hendrick deposed to
having met a woman dressed like the deceased, as far as he could judge,
walking on the cliffs past Fair Head. She had asked him about a short
cut to Tor Bay by a rocky path which led abruptly down to the shore,
and which, she said, she half-remembered. He had warned her that the
way was a dangerous one, especially in bad weather. She had laughed,
and said she had once been down the Grey Man's Path, and had known the
coast well in childhood. She had not told him her business in Tor Bay,
but had said they might, perhaps, meet there. Had anything else
passed? Yes, he had given her a little tract, as she seemed anxious
and troubled. Anything else? No, except that when parting she had
asked him the correct time in order to set her watch. Did Hendrick see
the watch? No, but he thought she wore a chain, and was certain she
had spoken of setting her watch, which she said had gone down. This
matter excited some interest, because, though the tract given by
Hendrick was found in the pocket of the dress, no watch or chain could
be discovered. Had the unfortunate woman been robbed, and then thrown
into the sea? Or had the watch and chain been stolen by Mike or the
children, who first found the body? Or might they not easily have been
lost from the body that had been so long tossed by the waves? Elsie's
examination did not tend to clear her of suspicion. Her answers to the
preliminary questions as to "the nature of an oath" were somewhat
flippant and unsatisfactory. As to the chain, she first spoke
positively of having seen it, then hesitatingly, ending by saying she
was frightened and knew nothing about it.

McAravey swore positively that he had seen no gold chain, and therefore
had not taken one. Though an ugly suspicion was thus created, no
further steps could be taken, Hendrick declining to vouch for more than
an "impression" that the deceased wore a chain. Evidence of identity
there was none. The linen was marked "E. D," and the mourning ring,
which guarded a plain gold one, had merely the words, "In memory, H.
D., 186--." The only further evidence was that of a public car-driver
between Cushendall and