Собака Баскервіллів
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Hefledwhenheknewthegamewasup,stillclutchingit. Andhehurleditawayatthispointofhisflight. Weknowatleastthathecamesofarinsafety."
Butmorethanthatwewereneverdestinedtoknow,thoughtherewasmuchwhichwemightsurmise. Therewasnochanceoffindingfootstepsinthemire,fortherisingmudoozedswiftlyinuponthem, butasweatlastreachedfirmergroundbeyondthemorasswealllookedeagerlyforthem.Butnoslightestsignofthemevermetoureyes. Iftheearthtoldatruestory,thenStapletonneverreachedthatislandofrefugetowardswhichhestruggledthroughthefoguponthatlastnight. SomewhereintheheartofthegreatGrimpenMire,downinthefoulslimeofthehugemorasswhichhadsuckedhimin,thiscoldandcruel-heartedmanisforeverburied.
Manytraceswefoundofhiminthebog-girtislandwherehehadhidhissavageally. Ahugedriving-wheelandashafthalf-filledwithrubbishshowedthepositionofanabandonedmine. Besideitwerethecrumblingremainsofthecottagesoftheminers,drivenawaynodoubtbythefoulreekofthesurroundingswamp. Inoneoftheseastapleandchainwithaquantityofgnawedbonesshowedwheretheanimalhadbeenconfined. Askeletonwithatangleofbrownhairadheringtoitlayamongthedebris.
"Adog! "saidHolmes. "ByJove,acurly-hairedspaniel. PoorMortimerwillneverseehispetagain. Well,Idonotknowthatthisplacecontainsanysecretwhichwehavenotalreadyfathomed. Hecouldhidehishound,buthecouldnothushitsvoice,andhencecamethosecrieswhichevenindaylightwerenotpleasanttohear. Onanemergencyhecouldkeepthehoundintheout-houseatMerripit,butitwasalwaysarisk,anditwasonlyonthesupremeday,whichheregardedastheendofallhisefforts,thathedareddoit.
