He related nothing but the truth--up to a certain point; but
beyond that he described events that had not taken place.
"Having made the faked figure, I hid just before dusk fairly close
to it intending, of course, to keep watch, for I was positive that
the murderer, as he would suppose himself to be, must come back
after dark to hide his work. But now ensued an awkward contretemps
for which I had not provided. I found myself faint--so faint that I
began to be alarmed. I had not eaten since the morning and the food
and flask which I had brought with me were half a mile and more
away. They remained, of course, where I had left them when I started
to chase Redmayne. It was a choice between attempting to reach the
food while I could do so, or stopping and growing chilled and every
moment weaker.
"I am not made of iron and the day had been rather strenuous for me.
I was bruised and lame and utterly played out. I decided that I
should have time to reach my food and return to my hiding-place
before the moon rose.
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