Собака Баскервіллів
The Man on the Tor
"Justasyouwish."
"Theyhavetreatedmeshamefully—shamefully. WhenthefactscomeoutinFranklandv.ReginaIventuretothinkthatathrillofindignationwillrunthroughthecountry. Nothingwouldinducemetohelpthepoliceinanyway. Foralltheycareditmighthavebeenme,insteadofmyeffigy,whichtheserascalsburnedatthestake. Surelyyouarenotgoing! Youwillhelpmetoemptythedecanterinhonourofthisgreatoccasion!"
ButIresistedallhissolicitationsandsucceededindissuadinghimfromhisannouncedintentionofwalkinghomewithme. Ikepttheroadaslongashiseyewasonme,andthenIstruckoffacrossthemoorandmadeforthestonyhilloverwhichtheboyhaddisappeared. Everythingwasworkinginmyfavour,andIsworethatitshouldnotbethroughlackofenergyorperseverancethatIshouldmissthechancewhichfortunehadthrowninmyway.
ThesunwasalreadysinkingwhenIreachedthesummitofthehill,andthelongslopesbeneathmewereallgolden-greenononesideandgrayshadowontheother. Ahazelaylowuponthefarthestsky-line,outofwhichjuttedthefantasticshapesofBelliverandVixenTor. Overthewideexpansetherewasnosoundandnomovement. Onegreatgraybird,agullorcurlew,soaredaloftintheblueheaven. HeandIseemedtobetheonlylivingthingsbetweenthehugearchoftheskyandthedesertbeneathit. Thebarrenscene,thesenseofloneliness,andthemysteryandurgencyofmytaskallstruckachillintomyheart. Theboywasnowheretobeseen. Butdownbeneathmeinacleftofthehillstherewasacircleoftheoldstonehuts,andinthemiddleofthemtherewasonewhichretainedsufficientrooftoactasascreenagainsttheweather. MyheartleapedwithinmeasIsawit. Thismustbetheburrowwherethestrangerlurked.
