ThereforeheisatMapleton。Letustakethatasaworkinghypothesisandseewhatitleadsusto。Thispartofthemoor，astheInspectorremarked，isveryhardanddry。ButiffallsawaytowardsMapleton，andyoucanseefromherethatthereisalonghollowoveryonder，whichmusthavebeenverywetonMondaynight。
Ifoursuppositioniscorrect，thenthehorsemusthavecrossedthat，andthereisthepointwhereweshouldlookforhistracks。”
Wehadbeenwalkingbrisklyduringthisconversation，andafewmoreminutesbroughtustothehollowinquestion。AtHolmes’requestIwalkeddownthebanktotheright，andhetotheleft，butIhadnottakenfiftypacesbeforeIheardhimgiveashout，andsawhimwavinghishandtome。Thetrackofahorsewasplainlyoutlinedinthesoftearthinfrontofhim，andtheshoewhichhetookfromhispocketexactlyfittedtheimpression。”Seethevalueofimagination，”saidHolmes。”ItistheonequalitywhichGregorylacks。Weimaginedwhatmighthavehappened，acteduponthesupposition，andfindourselvesjustified。Letusproceed。”
Wecrossedthemarshybottomandpassedoveraquarterofamileofdry，hardturf。Againthegroundsloped，andagainwecameonthetracks。Thenwelostthemforhalfamile，butonlytopickthemuponcemorequiteclosetoMapleton。ItwasHolmeswhosawthemfirst，andhestoodpointingwithalookoftriumphuponhisface。Aman’strackwasvisiblebesidethehorse’s。”Thehorsewasalonebefore，”Icried。”Quiteso。Itwasalonebefore。Hullo，whatisthis?”
ThedoubletrackturnedsharpoffandtookthedirectionofKing’sPyland。Homeswhistled，andwebothfollowedalongafterit。Hiseyeswereonthetrail，butIhappenedtolookalittletooneside，andsawtomysurprisethesametrackscomingbackagainintheoppositedirection。”Oneforyou，Watson，”saidHolmes，whenIpointeditout。”Youhavesavedusalongwalk，whichwouldhavebroughtusbackonourowntraces。Letusfollowthereturntrack。”