“Exactly. Well, now, Watson, how many cows did you see on the moor?”

“I don’t remember seeing any.”

“Strange, Watson, that we should see tracks all along our line, but never a cow on the whole moor. Very strange, Watson, eh?”

“Yes, it is strange.”

“Now, Watson, make an effort, throw your mind back. Can you see those tracks upon the path?”

“Yes, I can.”

“Can you recall that the tracks were sometimes like that, Watson,”⁠—he arranged a number of breadcrumbs in this fashion⁠—: : : : :⁠—“and sometimes like this”⁠—: . : . : . : .⁠—“and occasionally like this”⁠—. : . : . : . “Can you remember that?”

“No, I cannot.”