ptyandthebirdescaped.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.Ridingslowlyinthisfashiontheycamea