Dr. Mortimer took a folded paper from his pocket. 'This is an old family document,' he said. 'It was given to me by Sir Charles Baskerville.' 'He died suddenly three months ago.' 'I was both his doctor and his friend.' Holmes took the paper and examined it closely. 'This appears to be from the early seventeen hundreds,' he said. 'Yes, from 1742, to be exact,' said Dr. Mortimer. 'Please read it aloud to us,' requested Holmes. Dr. Mortimer began to read in a serious voice. 'This is the legend of the Baskerville curse.' 'Long ago, Hugo Baskerville was the lord of the manor.' 'He was a wild and cruel man who feared nothing.' 'One day, he kidnapped a young farmer's daughter.' 'He locked her in a room at Baskerville Hall.' 'But the brave girl escaped through the window.' 'She climbed down the ivy and ran across the moor.' 'When Hugo discovered she was gone, he was furious.' 'He released his hunting dogs to chase her.' 'Then he jumped on his horse and followed them into the night.' 'His drinking friends rode after him.' 'They found the dogs first, whimpering with fear.' 'The brave animals would not go any further.' 'Then they saw something that made their blood run cold.' 'The girl lay dead on the ground, killed by fear and exhaustion.' 'Hugo's body lay nearby, with his throat torn out.' 'Standing over him was a huge black beast.' 'It was shaped like a hound, but larger than any dog.' 'Fire blazed from its eyes and mouth.' 'The beast turned and disappeared into the darkness.' 'Since that night, the Baskerville family has been cursed.' 'Many have died sudden and mysterious deaths.' Dr. Mortimer finished reading and looked at us. 'Do you find this interesting, Mr. Holmes?' he asked. 'It is interesting to a collector of fairy tales,' said Holmes. 'But now tell me about Sir Charles Baskerville's death.' Dr. Mortimer took out a newspaper article. 'Sir Charles was found dead outside Baskerville Hall,' he read. 'He had gone for his nightly walk down the Yew Alley.' 'His body was found at the gate that opens to the moor.' 'There was no sign of violence on the body.' 'The doctor said he died of heart failure.' 'Is there anything the newspaper did not report?' asked Holmes. Dr. Mortimer hesitated before answering. 'There are some facts I did not tell the newspapers.' 'Sir Charles was clearly terrified before he died.' 'His face showed extreme horror.' 'And there is one more thing,' Dr. Mortimer added quietly. 'Near the body, I found footprints.' 'A man's footprints?' asked Holmes quickly. 'No, Mr. Holmes,' said Dr. Mortimer, his voice shaking. 'They were the footprints of a gigantic hound.' A chill ran through me as he spoke those words. Holmes leaned forward, his eyes bright with interest. 'You saw these footprints yourself?' he asked. 'Yes, as clearly as I see you now,' replied Dr. Mortimer. 'Why did you not tell anyone about this?' 'Who would believe such a story?' said the doctor sadly. 'I am a man of science, and yet I cannot explain what I saw.' 'That is why I have come to you, Mr. Holmes.'
B1Chapter 2 / 15529 words60 sentences
The Curse of the Baskervilles
Chapter 2 · 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
Dr. Mortimer reads an ancient manuscript about the Baskerville curse and the death of Sir Charles.
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Comprehension Questions
4 questions
1
What kind of man was Hugo Baskerville according to the legend?
2
How did the farmer's daughter escape from Hugo?
3
What did Hugo's companions find when they reached him on the moor?
4