Собака Баскервіллів
Second Report of Dr. Watson
Infiveminuteswewereoutsidethedoor,startinguponourexpedition. Wehurriedthroughthedarkshrubbery,amidthedullmoaningoftheautumnwindandtherustleofthefallingleaves. Thenightairwasheavywiththesmellofdampanddecay. Nowandagainthemoonpeepedoutforaninstant,butcloudsweredrivingoverthefaceofthesky,andjustaswecameoutonthemoorathinrainbegantofall. Thelightstillburnedsteadilyinfront.
"Areyouarmed? "Iasked.
"Ihaveahunting-crop."
"Wemustcloseinonhimrapidly,forheissaidtobeadesperatefellow.Weshalltakehimbysurpriseandhavehimatourmercybeforehecanresist."
"Isay,Watson,"saidthebaronet,"whatwouldHolmessaytothis? Howaboutthathourofdarknessinwhichthepowerofevilisexalted?"
AsifinanswertohiswordsthererosesuddenlyoutofthevastgloomofthemoorthatstrangecrywhichIhadalreadyhearduponthebordersofthegreatGrimpenMire. Itcamewiththewindthroughthesilenceofthenight,along,deepmutter,thenarisinghowl,andthenthesadmoaninwhichitdiedaway. Againandagainitsounded,thewholeairthrobbingwithit,strident,wild,andmenacing. Thebaronetcaughtmysleeveandhisfaceglimmeredwhitethroughthedarkness.
"MyGod,what’sthat,Watson?"
"Idon’tknow. It’sasoundtheyhaveonthemoor. Ihearditoncebefore."
Itdiedaway,andanabsolutesilenceclosedinuponus. Westoodstrainingourears,butnothingcame.
