Extract from the Diary of Dr. Watson

           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; butifIhaveonequalityuponearthitiscommon-sense,andnothingwillpersuademetobelieveinsuchathing.