Shall we say that she walked through the water from this point till she got to that ledge of rocks behind us, and came back the same way, and then took to the beach again where those two heel marks are still left?
Yes, we'll say that.

It seems to fit in with my notion that she had something under her cloak, when she left the cottage.

No! not something to destroy--for, in that case, where would have been the need of all these precautions to prevent my tracing the place at which her walk ended?
Something to hide is, I think, the better guess of the two.

Perhaps, if we go on to the cottage, we may find out what that something is ?" At this proposal, my detective-fever suddenly cooled.

"You don't want me," I said.