tlastuponthehounds.These,thoughknownfortheirvalourandtheirbreed,werewhimperinginaclusterattheheadofadeepdiporgoyal,aswecallit,uponthemoor,someslinkingawayandsome,withstartinghacklesandstaringeyes,gazingdownthenarrowvalleybeforethem.
“Thecompanyhadcometoahalt,moresobermen,asyoumayguess,thanwhentheystarted.Themostofthemwouldbynomeansadvance,butthreeofthem,theboldest,oritmaybethemostdrunken,rodeforwarddownthegoyal.Now,itopenedintoabroadspaceinwhichstoodtwoofthosegreatstones,stilltobeseenthere,whichweresetbycertainforgottenpeoplesinthedaysofold.Themoonwasshiningbrightupontheclearing,andthereinthecentrelaytheunhappymaidwhereshehadfallen,deadoffearandoffatigue.Butitwasnotthesightofherbody,noryetwasitthatofthebodyofHugoBaskervillelyingnearher,whichraisedthehairupontheheadsofthesethreedare-devilroysterers,butitwasthat,standingoverHugo,andpluckingathisthroat,therestoodafoulthing,agreat,blackbeast,shapedlikeahound,yetlargerthananyhoundthatevermortaleyehasrestedupon.AndevenastheylookedthethingtorethethroatoutofHugoBaskerville,onwhich,asitturneditsblazingeyesanddrippingjawsuponthem,thethreeshriekedwithfearandrodefordearlife,stillscreaming,acrossthemoor.One,itissaid,diedthatverynightofwhathehadseen,andtheothertwainwerebutbrokenmenfortherestoftheirdays.
“Suchisthetale,mysons,ofthecomingofthehoundwhichissaidtohaveplaguedthefamilysosorelyeversince.IfIhavesetitdownitisbecausethatwhichisclearlyknownhathlessterrorthanthatwhichisbuthintedatandguessed.Norcanitbedeniedthatmanyofthefamilyhavebeenunhappyintheirdeaths,whichhavebeensudden,bloody,andmysterious.YetmayweshelterourselvesintheinfinitegoodnessofProvidence,whichwouldnotforeverpunishtheinnocentbeyondthatthirdorfourthgenerationwhichisthreatenedinHolyWrit.TothatProvidence,mysons,Iherebycommendyou,andIcounselyoubywayofcautiontoforbearfromcrossingthemoorinthosedarkhourswhenthepowersofevilareexalted.
“[ThisfromHugoBaskervilletohissonsRodgerandJohn,withinstructionsthattheysaynoth