Sherlock Holmes.

Chapter 62 The Legendary Hound (11)
When I climbed to the top of the mountain, the sun had already set, and the hillside turned golden under the rays of the setting sun.But the back slope of the mountain was dark.On the horizon, there is a faint twilight.Standing out from the shadows were the strangely shaped Beliver and Wesen Stone Mountains, all of which seemed to be frozen.A seagull soars in the sky, and it seems that this seagull and I are the only living creatures between the vast sky and the barren land.Everything here makes me shudder.

I looked around for the boy, but where?Later, when I turned around, I found a room with a roof.When I saw it, I felt that I had what I was looking for, and I was secretly happy for it.This must be where the mysterious man lived.My foot was at last on the threshold of his hiding place—his secret was about to be revealed.

As I cautiously approached the hut, I was sure it was being used as a dwelling.There is a faintly visible path between the rocks, leading to the door of this house.Where is this mysterious figure at this time?Is he in the house or outside to spy on my activities?Excited by the spirit of adventure, I tossed the end of my cigarette aside and closed my hand on the butt of my revolver.I walked quickly to the door and poked my head inside, but there was no one there.

However, everything here shows that someone must live here.A tarpaulin wrapped with several blankets, placed on the stone slab where Neolithic people once slept, with burnt ashes in a stone frame, some simple kitchen utensils, and a pile of cans beside it , These indicate that the man has lived in this house for some time.I scanned the whole house and found a small glass and half a bottle of wine in a corner of the house.On a rock in the middle of the room there was a little cloth bag - no doubt the one on the child's shoulder which I had seen through the glass.I opened it and saw a piece of bread, a piece of ox tongue, and several cans.When I checked it and put it down again, I found that there was still a piece of paper inside.I quickly picked it up and opened it, and it was written: Dr. Watson has been to Coombe Tracy.

I held the note in my hand and wondered what it meant.Then it was not Sir Henry but me that this secret figure was following.Who the hell is following this?Why are you following me?Could it be that child?That should be what the kid wrote.It seems that since I came here, everything I do has been watched by this kid. I feel an invisible pressure, as if a net has been set up in our range of activities.Although we are allowed to be free now, when it comes to an emergency, we can be wiped out with a single net.

I thought there might be something else here, so I searched all over the house, not even a crack in the wall, but I couldn't find anything.

What is the intention of this mysterious figure here?Nothing can be proved, the only thing that can be proved is that he does not demand much from life.Looking at the living environment here, I know how strong this person's will is. Without this will, I can't stay here.I made up my mind not to leave the hut until I found out.

Outside, the sun was almost setting, but the surrounding area was still illuminated by the afterglow of the setting sun, and everywhere was a piece of gold.From here the distance could be clearly seen, the two towers of Baskerville Hall farther off, the village of Grimpen in the haze, and between them the Stapleter's house.

All of this is immersed in the golden afterglow, so beautiful and peaceful, but my mood can't get better at all.I'm in the midst of dazed and terrified meeting that mysterious figure.My heart was pounding, but it didn't take away from my will to stay.I sat in a corner of the house, quietly waiting...

Finally, the moment came, and I heard footsteps in the distance, getting closer.I retreated to the darkest corner of the room and pulled the trigger of my revolver, determined not to expose the man until I saw the man clearly.The footsteps stopped abruptly, indicating that he had discovered something suspicious, and then the footsteps came forward again, and then a black shadow projected in from the door.

"It is a lovely evening, my dear Watson," said a familiar voice; "I really think you will be much more comfortable out there than inside." Tragedy

I sat there holding my breath for a minute or two and couldn't believe my ears.When I finally came to my senses, I felt a sudden sense of relief.

Because this voice can only belong to one person--Sherlock Holmes.

I called out: "Sherlock Holmes!"

"Come out," said he, "but watch out for that revolver of yours."

I stooped out from the low door frame.He was sitting on a stone slab opposite me, his eyes kept rolling around.I haven't seen him for a few days, he is so thin, but he is still sober and alert as before.His thin face was rough and rough by the wind.He was dressed like a traveler on a swamp.But he was as clean as ever, his chin was clean-shaven and his clothes were as clean as they had been in Baker Street.

I hugged him excitedly and said, "In my life, I haven't seen anyone who is happier than seeing you."

"Or more surprising than that, huh?"

"Oh, I do admit it."

"Actually, you weren't the only one who was surprised. What I never thought was that you were so clever. You hid in just a few steps away from here, and didn't find out until I was less than twenty steps away from the door."

"Did you recognize who I am from the footprints?"

"No, Watson, I'm afraid I'm not so wonderful! If you want to fool me, you should change the brand of cigarettes. I can tell it's you by the end of this cigarette."

He picked up the cigarette butt I threw and said, "Is this what you just threw?"

"Yes."

"I know your character. I think you won't leave until you wait for your master. Do you think I'm the fugitive?"

"How do I know it's you? Don't I just have to figure it out?"

"How wonderful, Watson! How did you find me? Did I stand under the moon for you to see me on the night when you and Henry caught the fugitive?"

"Yes, I did see a mysterious person that time."

"You must have had a hard time finding me, right?"

"No, I knew you were here when I saw your little assistant."

"You must have seen Cartley through Frankland's telescope?"

He squatted in front of the food that the child gave him and said, "Cartley brought me something delicious." He picked up the note and looked at it carefully, and said to himself: "Dr. Coombe Tracy."

I say yes."

"Are you looking for that Mrs. Laura Lyons?"

"Yes."

"You've done a great job. We seem to be on the same page. Hopefully, our investigations will complement each other so that we can fully unravel the case."

"I'm really glad you're here, to be honest. I've been bewildered these days. But how did you get here? Have you been here all this time? I thought you were still busy in Baker Street. What about those cases!"

"I hope you think so."

I shouted at him angrily: "You have never trusted me, Holmes, and am I a joke in your eyes?"

"My dear Watson, how can you be the butt of a joke? You have been of considerable use to me in these cases. I beg your pardon if you think I have played any trick in your presence. In fact, I am here for you, too. Do you know how much you have risked in this case? So I have come here to investigate the case myself. If I were with you—Sir Henry and you—then Isn't it easier for the opponent to guard against? And here I am free to observe. I am unknown here, and I can go all out in a pinch."

"Then can't you let me know?"

"It would be worse if you knew. Because you might come to give me some clues, or kindly send me some food, aren't you right? And I let Cartley come with me, and all this Is it simple? I don't need anything other than a piece of bread and a clean suit of clothes. Cartley is equivalent to me having a pair of hardworking legs and an extra pair of eyes. Do I need anything else? what?"

It occurred to me that all the letters I had written to him were in vain.

I said angrily, "Where is the letter I wrote to you?"

Holmes touched his bulging pocket and said, "Here it is!"

"My dear Watson, I have read all your letters, I assure you. They arrived at me with only a day's delay on the road. I must also commend you for the service which you have shown in these cases. Passion and intelligence."

I was always unhappy in my heart, but after listening to his warm words, my anger gradually disappeared.The more I thought about it, the more I felt that what he said made sense.What he told me about him was bound to affect both of us.

Seeing that I was no longer angry, he said: "Well, tell me about the result of your visit to Mrs. Laura Lyons! She is a very important person. Seriously, if you don't go, I will go tomorrow." Might as well visit her."

The sun had completely set, and the air had grown cold, so we returned to his dwelling.I told him all about the conversation I had with the lady.

After listening, Holmes said: "This matter is extremely important. It fills the gap in this most complicated matter that I can't connect. Perhaps you have already judged that she and Staple Mr. Te's relationship is unusual."

"What's the matter? I don't know!"

"They know each other very well and are in constant contact and sometimes meet. Now, this incident gives us another powerful weapon, as long as we use this to divide his wife first."

"He has a wife?"

"Yes! Miss Staplet is her wife!"

"Good heavens, Holmes, how is this possible! He has allowed her to fall in love with Sir Henry!"

"Yes, Sir Henry is in love, and it can do no harm to anyone but Sir Henry himself. He was particularly interested in Sir Henry's proposal to her, and listen to Sir Henry about that! Sir, I repeat to you, it is absolutely true that she is his wife, not his sister."

"Then why did he take such pains to create such a lie about his wife?"

"Because he knows it would be far more useful to him to have her pose as a maiden."

My mind gradually cleared up.How cunning and ruthless this hidden biologist is.

"So our opponent is him, and he is the one following in London?"

"It can be seen from all the details that this is a mystery that is not difficult to solve."

"The letter was sent by him?"

"Yes."

In my heart that terrible and evil person also appeared vaguely.

"Holmes, are these absolutely true? Then how do you know his identity?"

"Because when he met you for the first time, he couldn't help telling you a real part of his life experience. However, I think he will regret it afterwards. He said that he was the principal of a primary school, so you say Is there anyone easier to investigate than the principal of an elementary school? Later I looked into this through the education department. The elementary school collapsed out of necessity and the principal and his family are nowhere to be found. However, his The name is different from that of our opponent. However, everything they described is in line with our opponent’s situation, and their missing principal is more fond of studying insects. Is there any doubt about it? The curtain was pulled, but the real The actor hasn't played yet."

"Miss Staplet is his real wife. What use is the figure of Mrs. Laura Lyons to us?"

"Wrong, that's exactly the point. But you've brought it out and made it clearer. I didn't know that Mrs. Laura Lyons intended to divorce her husband. If she did, and and Staplet as his future husband, she must marry him."

"But what if she knows the truth?"

"Oh, it would be better to know. Of course, we should call on her. We shall start tomorrow. Watson, you have been away from your post for too long. You should not have been away so long."

The last twilight of sunset has disappeared, night has come, and a few stars appear in the sky.

"Holmes, before I go, you must answer me a question. What is your purpose in doing this?"

Holmes replied in a low voice, "It was a premeditated murder, and a brutal one. Don't ask me anything else, you will know. Staplet's net was to make Sir Henry look like an insect." Catch him in. But my net is waiting for him here, and with your help, I don't think he can escape from it. My only worry now is whether he will catch us before we do. In a day or two, I will finish the preparations to solve the case. Until then, you should take care of Sir Henry like a nurse. What you did today is right, but I still hope you don't leave him Be around. Listen! What's the sound?"

There was a terrible scream, a heart-piercing cry for help, and my whole body was numb.Holmes stood up suddenly, and stood there in a dazed manner, with his head stretched forward feebly, looking into the distance.

He whispered, "Don't make a sound."

This happened so suddenly, and the voice gradually reached my ears from a distance, and it was so loud and urgent.

"Quick, Watson, over there," said Holmes in a low voice.

I pointed again and said, "I think it's over there."

"No, no, over there."

The terrible cries for help were mixed with a deep grunting noise, like the groans of a dying patient.

Holmes called out, "Listen, Watson, it's the voice of the Hound. Come on, we may have a hard time catching up."

We ran towards the place where the screams came from.Just when we were not far from the target, the man uttered one last desperate scream, followed by a thud.We stopped and listened, and then there was silence.

Holmes scratched his head angrily, stamped his feet and said, "We have failed, Watson."

"No, how could it be?"

"I am the greatest fool in the world, and I am a step too late. You know now, Watson! How serious the consequences of leaving the man you are supposed to protect are! My God, I have been so arbitrary that it has irreparable consequences." .”

We go on, and sometimes we stumble over a stone.We ran up the hill and down another slope toward the sound.It was very still in the swamp at this time, except for the two of us who were moving, everything else was still.

"Did you see anything?"

"No."

"listen."

A low moan reached our ears, coming from the left.At the end of the ridge is a straight cliff, below is a pile of rocks.

Among the rocks was a very irregularly shaped object.As we approached it, the blurred outline became clear.It turned out to be a person lying on the ground.His head was propped on the ground, and his body was arched, as if he was about to do a somersault. A dead body like this is extremely rare.I couldn't believe it, it was him who made that miserable sound just now.We all looked at the corpse.

Suddenly Holmes threw him over, with a cry.He struck a match, and the light showed the dead man's clenched fingers, and also the horrible, slowly expanding pool of blood that flowed from the shattered skull.The firelight also illuminated another thing which made us almost faint with grief--it was the body of Sir Henry Baskerville!He was wearing the same tweed uniform he had worn when he first came to London.We had only a brief look at the body, and the match was dying out, like hope leaving our souls.Holmes groaned bitterly.

I shouted: "Holmes, it is all my fault. I will never forgive myself. I caused his death."

"Watson, I am more guilty than you. I only cared about the clues to solve the case, but I ignored my client's life. This is the most painful lesson I have learned. But why didn't he listen to my advice and come here? "

"My God, we heard his cries for help and there was nothing we could do. Where's the big vile hound? Where's Stapler? He's got to take responsibility for it."

"Yes, he must be responsible. He must be punished by God. The two uncles and nephews died at his hands. One was frightened to death by seeing the big hound that is considered to be the legendary one, and the other One escaped for his life but was not spared. Now we must try to understand the relationship between man and beast. If we hadn't heard it with our own ears, we might not have believed the existence of the hound at all. Sir Henry seems to have fallen to his death Yes. But as cunning as that man is, he must not escape the end that will fall into my net tomorrow."

Our hearts are so heavy that long and hard work has just gone to waste.After much mourning, we plodded toward the rock.

On the highest point of the rock, we looked out, and there was something glowing in the darkness.A few miles away, in the direction of the Grimpen Mire, a little light was still burning, and there was only a lonely house in Staplet.

I was pumping my fist in this direction, almost insane.

"Why don't we go and catch him?"

"We haven't got enough evidence, and that guy is so cunning. The question is not what we have deduced, but what we have proved. As long as we are not careful, he will slip away from us."

"So, what should we do next?"

"There are plenty of things to do tomorrow, and now I can only attend to Sir Henry's funeral."

(End of this chapter)