We waited in the cold fog, our hearts pounding. Finally, the front door of Merripit House opened. Sir Henry stepped out into the night. 'Goodnight, Stapleton,' he called. 'Thank you for a pleasant evening.' He began walking across the moor toward Baskerville Hall. The fog swirled around him like a living thing. We could barely see him in the thick mist. 'Stay alert,' whispered Holmes. 'The hound could come from any direction.' Suddenly, we heard it. A soft pattering sound, like running feet. Then a deep, rumbling growl. 'It is coming!' cried Lestrade. And then we saw it. A huge black creature burst through the fog. It was the most terrifying thing I had ever seen. The hound was enormous, bigger than any dog. Its eyes seemed to glow with fire. Its mouth dripped with flames. Never in my worst nightmares had I imagined such a beast. The creature raced toward Sir Henry with incredible speed. Sir Henry saw it and screamed in terror. He fell to the ground, frozen with fear. 'Fire!' shouted Holmes. All three of us shot at the hound. The beast howled with pain but kept coming. It leaped over Sir Henry and charged at us. Holmes fired again, and again. The hound stumbled and fell. It tried to rise, snapping its terrible jaws. I fired one more shot directly into its head. The creature shuddered and lay still. I ran to Sir Henry. He was alive but unconscious from shock. 'He will recover,' I said with relief. Holmes was examining the dead hound. 'Look at this,' he said. The creature's mouth was coated with some kind of glowing substance. 'Phosphorus,' said Holmes. 'It glows in the dark, creating the illusion of fire.' 'A clever trick to terrify superstitious people.' 'Now we must find Stapleton,' said Lestrade. We rushed to Merripit House. The front door was open, and the house seemed empty. But we heard muffled sounds from upstairs. We found Mrs. Stapleton tied to a chair. Her face showed signs of bruises. 'He beat me when I tried to help Sir Henry,' she sobbed. 'Where is he now?' demanded Holmes. 'He ran into the Grimpen Mire,' she said. 'He has a hiding place there for the hound.' We searched for Stapleton, but the fog was too thick. The deadly bog stretched before us in the darkness. 'We cannot follow him in there,' said Holmes. 'The mire will claim him as its victim.' We returned to care for Sir Henry. He was awake now, though still shaking. 'Thank you for saving my life,' he whispered. The nightmare was finally over.
B1Chapter 14 / 15434 words60 sentences
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Chapter 14 · The Hound of the Baskervilles · B1 English. Tip: Click on any word while reading to see its translation. Take your time with each chapter and review the vocabulary before moving on.
Chapter Summary
In a terrifying climax on the foggy moor, Holmes and Watson confront the legendary hound.
1 / 60
🇬🇧English→🇬🇧English
Linked wordUnderlined wordOther words
Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What was the most terrifying aspect of the hound's appearance?
2
How was the hound finally stopped?
3
What happened to Mrs. Stapleton?
4