Of course this sudden movement on the part of Nettleton had thrown Walker violently upon his head, and, although he kicked, and squirmed and cursed, he was dragged along as if he had been a child.
When Nettleton reached the commander, he held the foot of Walker within a few inches of that officer’s face, and yelled:
Notwithstanding the intense anxiety felt for the result of Nettleton’s search, the ridiculous figure he presented in his eagerness, and that of Walker who was twisting and struggling to escape, a general laugh ran through the division, which was joined in by the commander. Even Wells could not suppress a smile.
“And what about those boots?” asked the commander, after silence had been restored.
“Why, I’ve blacked them!” yelled Nettleton.
“No doubt you have blacked them. But what of this?”
“Why, General, don’t you see them _two hearts_ made with nails, on the sole of that boot?”
Walker was now permitted to resume his upright position, and he stood trembling with fear and rage, as Nettleton went on to relate his first suspicions of Walker, his search for the body of Captain Hayward, his finding the impression of the footprints standing side by side in the mud, at the edge of the stream, with the marks of _two hearts_ in the sole of each boot; and then the finding of the handkerchief in the water, which Nettleton then produced.
The officer took the white linen witness, examining it closely, and then said:
“Here is the name of ‘Walker,’ in the corner. William, did you find this _near_ the place where the murder was committed?”
“Right by the spot where them two boots stood!” replied Nettleton, pointing to Walker’s feet.
“I can explain this,” exclaimed Walker. “I went to the river that day to wash, and I stood upon the bank to do so. I presume I left the impression of my boots there at that time. If I did not, was I not also present in the morning to examine the spot where the murder had been committed? And is it a wonder that the impression of my boots should be left behind?”
“That is certainly true,” replied the General. “But of the handkerchief?”
“It fell from my hands as I was washing, and I did not take the trouble to recover it.”
“It is very probable!” replied the General.