45899 The moon was shining bright upon the clearing, and there in the centre lay the unhappy maid where she had fallen, dead of fear and of fatigue.
45900 But it was not the sight of her body, nor yet was it that of the body of Hugo Baskerville lying near her, which raised the hair upon the heads of these three dare-devil roisterers, but it was that, standing over Hugo, and plucking at his throat, there stood a foul thing, a great, black beast, shaped like a hound, yet larger than any hound that ever mortal eye has rested upon.
45901 And even as they looked the thing tore the throat out of Hugo Baskerville, on which, as it turned its blazing eyes and dripping jaws upon them, the three shrieked with fear and rode for dear life, still screaming, across the moor.
45902 One, it is said, died that very night of what he had seen, and the other twain were but broken men for the rest of their days.
45903 'Such is the tale, my sons, of the coming of the hound which is said to have plagued the family so sorely ever since.
45904 If I have set it down it is because that which is clearly known hath less terror than that which is but hinted at and guessed.
45905 Nor can it be denied that many of the family have been unhappy in their deaths, which have been sudden, bloody, and mysterious.
45906 Yet may we shelter ourselves in the infinite goodness of Providence, which would not for ever punish the innocent beyond that third or fourth generation which is threatened in Holy Writ.
45907 To that Providence, my sons, I hereby commend you, and I counsel you by way of caution to forbear from crossing the moor in those dark hours when the powers of evil are exalted.
45908 'This from Hugo Baskerville to his sons Rodger and John, with instructions that they say nothing thereof to their sister Elizabeth.'
45909 When Dr Mortimer had finished reading this singular narrative he pushed his spectacles up on his forehead and stared across at Mr Sherlock Holmes.
45910 The latter yawned and tossed the end of his cigarette into the fire.