Thus the dorsal surface of the arm and the palmar surface of the hand respectively were uppermost, which is an anatomical impossibility so long as the hand is attached to the arm." "But might not the hand have become detached after lying in the pond some time ?" "No.

It could not have been detached until the ligaments had decayed, and if it had been separated after the decay of the soft parts, the bones would have been thrown into disorder.

But the egg-patches are all on the palmar surface, showing that the bones were still in their normal relative positions.

No, Berkeley, that hand was thrown into the pond separately from the arm." "But why should it have been ?" I asked.
"Ah, there is a very pretty little problem for you to consider.

And, meantime, let me tell you that your expedition has been a brilliant success.