Chapter 2. The Curse of the Baskervilles

hestressofherfearshedidthatwhichmighthavedauntedthebravestormostactiveman,forbytheaidofthegrowthofivywhichcovered(andstillcovers)thesouthwallshecamedownfromundertheeaves,andsohomewardacrossthemoor,therebeingthreeleaguesbetwixttheHallandherfather’sfarm. “ItchancedthatsomelittletimelaterHugolefthisgueststocarryfoodanddrink—withotherworsethings,perchance—tohiscaptive,andsofoundthecageemptyandthebirdescaped.Then,asitwouldseem,hebecameasonethathathadevil,for,rushingdownthestairsintothedining-hall,hespranguponthegreattable,flagonsandtrenchersflyingbeforehim,andhecriedaloudbeforeallthecompanythathewouldthatverynightrenderhisbodyandsoultothePowersofEvilifhemightbutovertakethewench.Andwhiletherevellersstoodaghastatthefuryoftheman,onemorewickedor,itmaybe,moredrunkenthantherest,criedoutthattheyshouldputthehoundsuponher.WhereatHugoranfromthehouse,cryingtohisgroomsthattheyshouldsaddlehismareandunkennelthepack,andgivingthehoundsakerchiefofthemaid’s,heswungthemtotheline,andsoofffullcryinthemoonlightoverthemoor. “Now,forsomespacetherevellersstoodagape,unabletounderstandallthathadbeendoneinsuchhaste.Butanontheirbemusedwitsawoketothenatureofthedeedwhichwasliketobedoneuponthemoorlands.Everythingwasnowinanuproar,somecallingfortheirpistols,somefortheirhorses,andsomeforanotherflaskofwine.Butatlengthsomesensecamebacktotheircrazedminds,andthewholeofthem,thirteeninnumber,tookhorseandstartedinpursuit.Themoonshoneclearabovethem,andtheyrodeswiftlyabreast,takingthatcoursewhichthemaidmustneedshavetakenifsheweretoreachherownhome. “Theyhadgoneamileortwowhentheypassedoneofthenightshepherdsuponthemoorlands,andtheycriedtohimtoknowifhehadseenthehunt.Andtheman,asthestorygoes,wassocrazedwithfearthathecouldscarcespeak,butatlasthesaidthathehadindeedseentheunhappymaiden,withthehoundsuponhertrack.‘ButIhaveseenmorethanthat,’saidhe,‘forHugoBaskervillepassedmeuponhisblackmare,andthereranmutebehindhimsuchahoundofhellasGodforbidshouldeverbeatmyheels.’Sothedrunkensquirescursedtheshepherdandrodeonward.Butsoontheirskinsturnedcold,fortherecameagallopingacrossthemoor,andtheblackmare,dabbledwithwhitefroth,wentpastwithtrailingbridleandemptysaddle.Thentherevellersrodeclosetogether,foragreatfearwasonthem,buttheystillfollowedoverthemoor,thougheach,hadhebeenalone,wouldhavebeenrightgladtohaveturnedhishorse’shead.Ridingslowlyinthisfashiontheycameatlastuponthehounds.These,thoughknownfortheirvalourandtheirbreed,werewhimperinginaclusterattheheadofadeepdiporgoyal,aswecallit,uponthemoor,someslinkingawayandsome,withstartinghacklesandstaringeyes,gazingdownthenarrowvalleybeforethem. “Thecompanyhadcometoahalt,moresobermen,asyoumayguess,thanwhentheystarted.Themostofthemwouldbynomeansadvance,butthreeofthem,theboldest,oritmaybethemostdrunken,rodeforwarddownthegoyal.Now,itopenedintoabroadspaceinwhichstoodtwoofthosegreatstones,stilltobeseenthere,whichweresetbycertainforgottenpeoplesinthedaysofold.Themoonwasshiningbrightupontheclearing,andthereinthecentrelaytheunhappymaidwhereshehadfallen,deadoffearandoffatigue.Butitwasnotthesightofherbody,noryetwasitthatofthebodyofHugoBaskervillelyingnearher,whichraisedthehairupontheheadsofthesethreedare-devilroysterers,butitwasthat,standingoverHugo,andpluckingathisthroat,therestoodafoulthing,agreat,blackbeast,shapedlikeahound,yetlargerthananyhoundthatevermortaleyehasrestedupon.AndevenastheylookedthethingtorethethroatoutofHugoBaskerville,onwhich,asitturneditsblazingeyesanddrippingjawsuponthem,thethreeshriekedwithfearandrodefordearlife,stillscreaming,acrossthemoor.One,itiss