Chapter 10. Extract from the Diary of Dr. Watson

SofarIhavebeenabletoquotefromthereportswhichIhaveforwardedduringtheseearlydaystoSherlockHolmes.Now,however,IhavearrivedatapointinmynarrativewhereIamcompelledtoabandonthismethodandtotrustoncemoretomyrecollections,aidedbythediarywhichIkeptatthetime.Afewextractsfromthelatterwillcarrymeontothosesceneswhichareindeliblyfixedineverydetailuponmymemory.Iproceed,then,fromthemorningwhichfollowedourabortivechaseoftheconvictandourotherstrangeexperiencesuponthemoor. October16th.—Adullandfoggydaywithadrizzleofrain.Thehouseisbankedinwithrollingclouds,whichrisenowandthentoshowthedrearycurvesofthemoor,withthin,silverveinsuponthesidesofthehills,andthedistantbouldersgleamingwherethelightstrikesupontheirwetfaces.Itismelancholyoutsideandin.Thebaronetisinablackreactionaftertheexcitementsofthenight.Iamconsciousmyselfofaweightatmyheartandafeelingofimpendingdanger—everpresentdanger,whichisthemoreterriblebecauseIamunabletodefineit. AndhaveInotcauseforsuchafeeling?Considerthelongsequenceofincidentswhichhaveallpointedtosomesinisterinfluencewhichisatworkaroundus.ThereisthedeathofthelastoccupantoftheHall,fulfillingsoexactlytheconditionsofthefamilylegend,andtherearetherepeatedreportsfrompeasantsoftheappearanceofastrangecreatureuponthemoor.TwiceIhavewithmyownearsheardthesoundwhichresembledthedistantbayingofahound.Itisincredible,impossible,thatitshouldreallybeoutsidetheordinarylawsofnature.Aspectralhoundwhichleavesmaterialfootmarksandfillstheairwithitshowlingissurelynottobethoughtof.Stapletonmayfallinwithsuchasuperstition,andMortimeralso,butifIhaveonequalityuponearthitiscommonsense,andnothingwillpersuademetobelieveinsuchathing.Todosowouldbetodescendtothelevelofthesepoorpeasants,whoarenotcontentwithamerefienddogbutmustneedsdescribehimwithhell-fireshootingfromhismouthandeyes.Holmeswouldnotlistentosuchfancies,andIamhisagent.Butfactsarefacts,andIhavetwiceheardthiscryinguponthemoor.Supposethattherewerereallysomehugehoundlooseuponitthatwouldgofartoexplaineverything.Butwherecouldsuchahoundlieconcealed,wherediditgetitsfood,wherediditcomefrom,howwasitthatnoonesawitbyday?Itmustbeconfessedthatthenaturalexplanationoffersalmostasmanydifficultiesastheother.Andalways,apartfromthehound,thereisthefactofthehumanagencyinLondon,themaninthecab,andtheletterwhichwarnedSirHenryagainstthemoor.Thisatleastwasreal,butitmighthavebeentheworkofaprotectingfriendaseasilyasofanenemy.Whereisthatfriendorenemynow?HasheremainedinLondon,orhashefollowedusdownhere?Couldhe—couldhebethestrangerwhomIsawuponthetor? ItistruethatIhavehadonlytheoneglanceathim,andyettherearesomethingstowhichIamreadytoswear.HeisnoonewhomIhaveseendownhere,andIhavenowmetalltheneighbours.ThefigurewasfartallerthanthatofStapleton,farthinnerthanthatofFrankland.Barrymoreitmightpossiblyhavebeen,butwehadlefthimbehindus,andIamcertainthathecouldnothavefollowedus.Astrangerthenisstilldoggingus,justasastrangerdoggedusinLondon.Wehavenevershakenhimoff.IfIcouldlaymyhandsuponthatman,thenatlastwemightfindourselvesattheendofallourdifficulties.TothisonepurposeImustnowdevoteallmyenergies. MyfirstimpulsewastotellSirHenryallmyplans.Mysecondandwisestoneistoplaymyown