The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-08-31
THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVlLLES ~ ~

I difference were evidently my strongest
cards.
likely that it was the son of one of the
moorland shepherds taking out his faith
er'S dinner. -
The least appearance of opposition struck
fire out of the old autocrat. His eyes
! looked Indignantly at me. and his grey
whiskers bristled like those of an angry
Indeed. sir-' said he. pointing out over
the understanding moor 1o you see
that Black Tor over yonder? Well. do you
see the low hill beyond with the thorn
the whole moor. Is that PLACE where a
shepherd would be likely to take his sta
ton? Your. suggestion. sir, is most
absurd one
without knowing all the facts MY sub
mission pleased him and led him to rur-
Their condolences.
You may be sure, sir, that have very
good grounds before I come to an opin-:
ion have seen the boy again and
again with his bundle. Every day. and
but wait a moment, Dr. Watson Do
my eyes deceive me. or Is there at the
present moment something moving upon
that hill-side?"
It was several miles off; but could
the dull green and gray.
own eyes and judge for yourself. .
The telescope. formidable instrument
Hat leads Of the house Frankland clap
ped his eye to it and gave a cry of salts
faction.
passes over the hilli''
There he was. sure enough. small urch-
in with a little bundle. upon his should
er. toiing slowly up the hill When he
reached the crest I saw the ragged. ur'-
against the cold blue sky. He looked
round him. with a furtive and steaIthy
air. as one who breads pursuit. Then
he vanished over the hill.
We'll! Am I right?''
Certainly. there is a boy who seems
to have some secret Grand"
And what the errand IS even coun-
ty constable could guess. But not one
a word, You understand
Just as you wish.
shamefully. When the facts come out
in FARMLAND V. Regina I venture to
think that thrill Of indgpasion Mil
induce me to help the police in any way.
For all they cared it might have been me,
instead Of my effgy, which these rascals
going. You will help me to empty the
decanter in honor of this great occa-
But resisted all his solicitations ana
succeeded in dissuading him from his
intention of walking home with me. I
kept the road as long as his eye was on
me, and then struck off across the moor
and made for the stony hill over which
the boy had disappeared Everything
was working in my favor, and I swore
that it should not be through lack of
energy or perseverance that should miss
the chance which Fortune had thrown
in my way.
The sun was already sinking whe1 I
reached the summit of the hill and the
long slopes beneath me were all golden
green on one side and grave shadow
on the other. A haze lay low upon the
farthest skyline out of which jutted the
fantastic shapes of 6eiIiver and Vixen
Tor Over the wide expanse there was
no sound and no movement. One great
grey bird. gull or curlew. scared aloft
in the blue heaven. He and seemed to
be the only living things between the
huge arch of the sky and the desert be-
meath it. The barren scene, the sense
of loneliness and the mystery and ur-
gency OF my task all struck a chill into
my heart The boy was nowhere to be
seen. But down beneath me in a cleft
of the hills there was a circle of the old
stone huts, and in the middle of them
there was one which retained sufficient
roof to act a screen against the
weather My heart leaped within me as
saw it. This must be the burrow
where the stranger lurked. At last my
foot was on the threshold of his hiding
place-his secret was within my grasp.
AS I approached the hut. walking as