47381 Let me, therefore, return to the facts concerning Sir Henry Baskerville.
47382 If you have not had any report within the last few days it is because up till to-day there was nothing of importance to relate.
47383 Then a very surprising circumstance occurred, which I shall tell you in due course.
47384 But, first of all, I must keep you in touch with some of the other factors in the situation.
47385 One of these, concerning which I have said little, is the escaped convict upon the moor.
47386 There is strong reason now to believe that he has got right away, which is a considerable relief to the lonely householders of this district.
47387 A fortnight has passed since his flight, during which he has not been seen and nothing has been heard of him.
47388 It is surely inconceivable that he could have held out upon the moor during all that time.
47389 Of course, so far as his concealment goes there is no difficulty at all.
47390 Any one of these stone huts would give him a hiding-place.
47391 But there is nothing to eat unless he were to catch and slaughter one of the moor sheep.
47392 We think, therefore, that he has gone, and the outlying farmers sleep the better in consequence.
47393 We are four able-bodied men in this household, so that we could take good care of ourselves, but I confess that I have had uneasy moments when I have thought of the Stapletons.
47394 They live miles from any help.
47395 There are one maid, an old manservant, the sister, and the brother, the latter not a very strong man.