SofarIhavebeenabletoquotefromthereportswhichIhaveforwardedduringtheseearlydaystoSherlockHolmes.Now,however,IhavearrivedatapointinmynarrativewhereIamcompelledtoabandonthismethodandtotrustoncemoretomyrecollections,aidedbythediarywhichIkeptatthetime.Afewextractsfromthelatterwillcarrymeontothosesceneswhichareindeliblyfixedineverydetailuponmymemory.Iproceed,then,fromthemorningwhichfollowedourabortivechaseoftheconvictandourotherstrangeexperiencesuponthemoor.
October16th.—Adullandfoggydaywithadrizzleofrain.Thehouseisbankedinwithrollingclouds,whichrisenowandthentoshowthedrearycurvesofthemoor,withthin,silverveinsuponthesidesofthehills,andthedistantbouldersgleamingwherethelightstrikesupontheirwetfaces.Itismelancholyoutsideandin.Thebaronetisinablackreactionaftertheexcitementsofthenight.Iamconsciousmyselfofaweightatmyheartandafeelingofimpendingdanger—everpresentdanger,whichisthemoreterriblebecauseIamunabletodefineit.
AndhaveInotcauseforsuchafeeling?Considerthelongsequenceofincidentswhichhaveallpointedtosomesinisterinfluencewhichisatworkaroundus.ThereisthedeathofthelastoccupantoftheHall,fulfillingsoexactlytheconditionsofthefamilylegend,andtherearetherepeatedreportsfrompeasantsoftheappearanceofastrangecreatureuponthemoor.TwiceIhavewithmyownearsheardthesoundwhichresembledthedistantbayingofahound.Itisincredible,impossible,thatitshouldreallybeoutsidetheordinarylawsofnature.Aspectralhoundwhichleavesmaterialfootmarksandfillstheairwithitshowlingissurelynottobethoughtof.Stapletonmayfallinwithsuchasuperstition,andMortimeralso,butifIhaveonequalityuponearthitiscommonsense,andnothingwillpersuademetobelieveinsuchathing.Todosowouldbetodescendtothelevelofthesepoorpeasants,whoarenotcontentwithamerefienddogbutmustneedsdescribehimwithhell-fireshootingfromhismouthandeyes.Holmeswouldnotlistentosuchfancies,andIamhisagent.Butfactsarefacts,andIhavetwiceheardthiscryinguponthemoor.Supposethattherewerereallysomehugehoundlooseuponitthatwou