Chapter 12. Death on the Moor

wlightwasshining.ItcouldonlycomefromthelonelyabodeoftheStapletons.WithabittercurseIshookmyfistatitasIgazed. “Whyshouldwenotseizehimatonce?” “Ourcaseisnotcomplete.Thefellowiswaryandcunningtothelastdegree.Itisnotwhatweknow,butwhatwecanprove.Ifwemakeonefalsemovethevillainmayescapeusyet.” “Whatcanwedo?” “Therewillbeplentyforustodotomorrow.Tonightwecanonlyperformthelastofficestoourpoorfriend.” Togetherwemadeourwaydowntheprecipitousslopeandapproachedthebody,blackandclearagainstthesilveredstones.Theagonyofthosecontortedlimbsstruckmewithaspasmofpainandblurredmyeyeswithtears. “Wemustsendforhelp,Holmes!WecannotcarryhimallthewaytotheHall.Goodheavens,areyoumad?” Hehadutteredacryandbentoverthebody.Nowhewasdancingandlaughingandwringingmyhand.Couldthisbemystern,self-containedfriend?Thesewerehiddenfires,indeed! “Abeard!Abeard!Themanhasabeard!” “Abeard?” “Itisnotthebaronet—itis—why,itismyneighbour,theconvict!” Withfeverishhastewehadturnedthebodyover,andthatdrippingbeardwaspointinguptothecold,clearmoon.Therecouldbenodoubtaboutthebeetlingforehead,thesunkenanimaleyes.Itwasindeedthesamefacewhichhadglareduponmeinthelightofthecandlefromovertherock—thefaceofSelden,thecriminal. Theninaninstantitwasallcleartome.IrememberedhowthebaronethadtoldmethathehadhandedhisoldwardrobetoBarrymore.BarrymorehadpasseditoninordertohelpSeldeninhisescape.Boots,shirt,cap—itwasallSirHenry’s.Thetragedywasstillblackenough,butthismanhadatleastdeserveddeathbythelawsofhiscountry.ItoldHolmeshowthematterstood,myheartbubblingoverwiththankfulnessandjoy. “Thentheclotheshavebeenthepoordevil’sdeath,”saidhe.“ItisclearenoughthatthehoundhasbeenlaidonfromsomearticleofSirHenry’s—thebootwhichwasabstractedinthehotel,inallprobability—andsoranthismandown.Thereisoneverysingularthing,however:HowcameSelden,inthedarkness,toknowthatthehoundwasonhistrail?” “Heheardhim.” “Tohearahounduponthemoorwouldnotworkahardmanlikethisconvictintosuchaparoxysmofterrorthathewouldriskrecapturebyscreamingwildlyforhelp.Byhiscrieshemusthaverunalongwayafterheknewtheanimalwasonhistrack.Howdidheknow?” “Agreatermysterytomeiswhythishound,presumingthatallourconjecturesarecorrect—” “Ipresumenothing.” “Well,then,whythishoundshouldbeloosetonight.Isupposethatitdoesnotalwaysrunlooseuponthemoor.StapletonwouldnotletitgounlesshehadreasontothinkthatSirHenrywouldbethere.” “Mydifficultyisthemoreformidableofthetwo,forIthinkthatweshallveryshortlygetanexplanationofyours,whileminemayremainforeveramystery.Thequestionnowis,whatshallwedowiththispoorwretch’sbody?Wecannotleaveitheretothefoxesandtheravens.” “Isuggestthatweputitinoneofthehutsuntilwecancommunicatewiththepolice.” “Exactly.IhavenodoubtthatyouandIcouldcarryitsofar.Halloa,Watson,what’sthis?It’sthemanhimself,byallthat’swonderfulandaudacious!Notawordtoshowyoursuspicions—notaword,ormyplanscrumbletotheground.” Afigurewasapproachingusoverthemoor,andIsawthedullredglowofacigar.Themoonshoneuponhim,andIcoulddistinguishthedappershapeandjauntywalkofthenaturalist.Hestoppedwhenhesawus,andthencameonagain. “Why,Dr.Watson,that’snotyou,isit?YouarethelastmanthatIshouldhaveexpectedtoseeoutonthemooratthistimeofnight.But,dearme,what’sthis?Somebodyhurt?Not—don’ttellmethatitisourfriendSirHenry!”Hehurriedpastmeandstoopedoverthedeadman.Iheardasharpintakeofhisbreathandthecigarfellfromhisfingers. “Who—who’sthis?”hestammered. “ItisSelden,themanwhoescapedfromPrincetown.” Stapletonturnedaghastlyfaceuponus,butbyasupremeefforthehadovercomehisamazementandhisdisappointment.HelookedsharplyfromHolmestome.“Dearme!Whataveryshockingaffair!Howdidhedie?” “Heappearstohavebrokenhisneckbyfallingovertheserocks.MyfriendandIwerestrollingonthemoorwhenweheardacry.” “Iheardacryalso.Thatwaswhatbroughtmeout.IwasuneasyaboutSirHenry.” “WhyaboutSirHenryinparticular?”Icouldnothelpasking. “BecauseIhadsuggestedthatheshouldcomeover.WhenhedidnotcomeIwassurprised,andInaturallybecamealarmedforhissafetywhenIheardcriesuponthemoor.Bytheway”—hiseyesdartedagainfrommyfacetoHolmes’s—“didyouhearanythingelsebesidesacry?” “No,”saidHolmes“didyou?” “No.” “Whatdoyoumean,then?” “Oh,youknowthestoriesthatthepeasantstellaboutaphantomhound,andsoon.Itissaidtobeheardatnightuponthemoor.Iwaswonderingiftherewereanyevidenceofsuchasoundtonight.”