Собака Баскервіллів
Second Report of Dr. Watson
Icaughtoneglimpseofhisshort,squat,strongly-builtfigureashesprangtohisfeetandturnedtorun. Atthesamemomentbyaluckychancethemoonbrokethroughtheclouds. Werushedoverthebrowofthehill,andtherewasourmanrunningwithgreatspeeddowntheotherside,springingoverthestonesinhiswaywiththeactivityofamountaingoat. Aluckylongshotofmyrevolvermighthavecrippledhim,butIhadbroughtitonlytodefendmyselfifattacked,andnottoshootanunarmedmanwhowasrunningaway.
Wewerebothswiftrunnersandinfairlygoodtraining,butwesoonfoundthatwehadnochanceofovertakinghim. Wesawhimforalongtimeinthemoonlightuntilhewasonlyasmallspeckmovingswiftlyamongthebouldersuponthesideofadistanthill. Weranandranuntilwewerecompletelyblown,butthespacebetweenusgreweverwider. Finallywestoppedandsatpantingontworocks,whilewewatchedhimdisappearinginthedistance.
Anditwasatthismomentthatthereoccurredamoststrangeandunexpectedthing. Wehadrisenfromourrocksandwereturningtogohome,havingabandonedthehopelesschase. Themoonwaslowupontheright,andthejaggedpinnacleofagranitetorstoodupagainstthelowercurveofitssilverdisc. There,outlinedasblackasanebonystatueonthatshiningback-ground,Isawthefigureofamanuponthetor. Donotthinkthatitwasadelusion,Holmes. IassureyouthatIhaveneverinmylifeseenanythingmoreclearly. AsfarasIcouldjudge,thefigurewasthatofatall,thinman. Hestoodwithhislegsalittleseparated,hisarmsfolded,hisheadbowed,asifhewerebroodingoverthatenormouswildernessofpeatandgranitewhichlaybeforehim. Hemighthavebeentheveryspiritofthatterribleplace. Itwasnottheconvict. Thismanwasfarfromtheplacewherethelatterhaddisappeared. Besides,hewasamuchtallerman. WithacryofsurpriseIpointedhimouttothebaronet,butintheinstantduringwhichIhadturnedtograsphisarmthemanwasgone.
