The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-09-14
DR.. JCSEFH BELL.

dows stretched across the orchard and tho
moor. One OF them was suddenly shut
Gu. The servants had left the kitchen.
There only remained the lamp in the din-
ing room where the two men, the MUIR
derous host and the unconscious guest
guest still chatted over their cigars.
Every minute that white wooiiy plain
which covered one-half of the moor was
drifting closer and closer TO the house.
Already the first thin wsps of it were
curling across the golden square of the
lighted window The farther wall OF tho
orchard was already invisible. and the
trees were standing out of a swirl OF
white Vapour. AS we watched it the fog.
Ersaths came crawling round both corners
81 the house and rolled slowly into ono
I'o11se bank, on which the upper floor and
the roof fioated like q strange ship upon
& sb2dowy sea. Holmes struck his hand
pasSienately upon the rock in front OF us,
and stamped his feet in his inpatience>
If he isn't out in a quarter of an hour
the Path Will be covered. In half an hour
we won't he able to see our hands In
front of US
Snail we move farther back upon high.
er ground?
Yes. l think it would be as we'll"
So as the fog-bank flowed UPWARDS wa
isl back before it until we were half a
mile from the house. and still that dense
Ns1ite sea. with the moon silvering its
Il,
on.
We are going too far" said Holmes.
We dare not take the chance of his be-
ing overtaken before he can reach US At
ali costs we must hold our ground whero
we are. He dropped on his Knees and
clNpped his ear to the ground. Thank
God / think that I hear him coming
\ sound of quick steps broke the silence
OF the moor. Crouchiug among the stones
we stared intently at the siiver-tipped
bank N t:o-,t Of us. TIC stems grew
louder and through the fog, as through
a curtain. there stepped the man whom
we were awaiting. He looked round him
III surprise as he emerged. into the clear
star-lit night Then he came swiftly along
the patch. passed close to where we lay,
and went on up the long slope Behind us.
As he walked he glanced continually over
either shoulder, like man who is i'll at
case.
Hist cried Holmes. and heard tho
si.arp click of q cooking pistol .sLookt
out: It's coming,''
There was q thin, Grip. continuous patter
from somewhere in the heart of that
crawling bank. The cloud was within if
tv yards of where we lay. and we glarei
at 1t. all three, uncertain what horror was
about to break from the heart OF it,
was at Holmes elbow, and | glanced for
an instant at his face. II was pale and
exultant. his eyes shining brightly in the
moonlight. But suddenly they started
forward ia rigid fixed stare. and his
lips parted in arnazemeut At the same
instant Lestrade gave a yell of terror and
threw himself face downwards upon the
ground. I Sprang to my feet my inert
hand srasping my pistol. my mind para
iYzcd by the dreadful shape which had
sprung out upon us from the shadows of
the fog. A hound it was, an enormous
coai-btack hound, but not such n hound
as mortal eyes have ever seen. Fire burst
from its open mouth it's eyes glowed with
a Smoudering glare, It's muzzie and
haclses and dewlap We're outlined in flick
ering flame Never in the delirious dream
of q tlisordered brain could anything mors
savage. more appalling more heIish be
conceived than that dark form and saw
age face which broke upon us out of tho
wall of fog
With long bounds the huge black crea.
tire was leaping down the track, follow
iue, hard upon the footsteps of our friend.
SO paralyZed were we by the appnrieion
that we allowed him to pass before we
had recovered our nerve. Then Holmes
and | both fired together, and the crea..
tttre gave o hideous howl. which showed
that one at least had hit him Tfe did
not pause. however. but bounded UPWARDS.
Far away on the patch we saw Sir Henry
looking back. his face white in the noon
light. his hands raised in horror. glaring
helplessy at the frightful thing which was
hunting him down.
Eut that cry OF pain from the hound
had blown all our fears to the winds,
Ii he was Vulnerable he was mortal, and
il we could wound him we could kill
him. Never have I seen Il man run as
Holmes ran that night T am reckoned
fleet of foot, but he outpaced me as much
as [ outpaced the little professional In
front of US as we flew up the track we
heard scream after scream from Sir Hen
~ and the deep roar of the hound. Z was
in time to see the beast spring upon it's
Victim hurl him to the ground and worry
at his threat. But the next instant Holmes
had emptied five barrels Of his revolver
Into the creatures flank With a lass
howl of agony and a vicious snap in the
air. it rolled upon it's back. four feet paw
ing furiously. painting. and then fell limp
upon lis side. / stopped. painting, and
pressed my pistol to the dreadful. shin-
mering head, but it was useless TO press
tie trigger The giant hound was dead
CTo be Continued)