In the Best Families

For the first two hundred yards or so after entering the woods it was a steady climb, not steep, and then a levelling off for another couple of hundred yards to the start of the easy long descent to the edge of the Birchvale manicured grounds. It was at about the middle of the level stretch that Hebe suddenly weni crazy. She dashed abruptly to one side, off the trail, jerking Leeds so that he had to dance to keep his feet, then whirled and came back into him, with a high thin quavering noise not at all like what she had said before.

Leeds spoke to her sharply, but I don't know what he said. By then my eyes had got pretty well accommodated to the circumstances. However, I am not saying that there in the dark among the trees, at a distance of twenty feet, I recognised the blob on the ground. I do assert that at the instant I pressed the button of the flashlight, before the light came, I knew already that it was the body of

Mrs Barry Rackham.

This time I got no reprimand. Leeds was with me as I stepped off the trail and covered the twenty feet. She was lying on her side, as Nobby had been, but her neck was twisted so that her face was nearly upturned to the sky, and I thought for a second it was a broken neck until I saw the blood on the front of her white sweater. I stooped and got my fingers on her wrist. Leeds picked up a dead leaf, laid it on her mouth and nostrils, and asked me to kneel to help him keep the breeze away.

When we had gazed at the motionless leaf for twenty seconds he said, “She's dead.

“Yeah. I stood up. “Even if she weren't, she would be by the time we got her to the house. I'll go-

“She is dead, isn't she?

“Certainly. I'll-

“By God. He got erect, coming up straight in one movement. “Nobby and now her.

You stay here-. He took a quick step, but I caught his arm. He jerked loose, violently.

I said fast, “Take it easy. I got his arm again, and he was trembling. “You bust in there and there's no telling what you'll do. Stay here and I'll go-

He pulled free and started off.

“Wait! I commanded, and he halted. “But first get a doctor and call the police.

Do that first. I'm going to your place. We left that knife in the dog, and someone might want it. Can't you put Hebe on guard here?