THE EPISODE OF THE BARREL.
119
into the creosote. That will do. Now come up into the garret with me for a moment.'
We clambered up through the hole. Holmes turned his light once more upon the footsteps in the dust.
'I wish you particularly to notice these footmarks,' he said. 'Do you observe anything noteworthy about them?'
'They belong,' I said, 'to a child or a small woman.'
'Apart from their size, though. Is there nothing else?'
'They appear to be much as other footmarks.'
'Not at all. Look here! This is the print of a right foot in the dust. Now I make one with my naked foot beside it. What is the chief difference?'
'Your toes are all cramped together. The other print has each toe distinctly divided.'
'Quite so. That is the point. Bear that
