Perhaps Stapleton wants to talk to Sir Henry alone, Holmes said. But, look the mist is rising. Soon we not be able to see. I looked around Thick white mist was rising from the Great Grimpen Mire Shall we climb up the Torr I asked. Perhaps we will be able to see better from above the mist We climbed a little way up the Tor. But the mist was so thick we could only see a few yards in front of us. did not think of this," said Holmes. "Our plan may fail if we cannot see clearly. We must listen for any sounds from Merripit House.' We waited in the mist and the moon came up. The white moonlight shone through the mist, but we could not see Merripit House or the path across the moor. We listened. At last we heard a door open, then the sound of voices. Stapleton was saying goodnight to Sir Henry. Then we heard footsteps below the Tor. Someone was walking along a stony part of the path. At the same time, we heard another sound. It was the sound of a metal chain and came from Merripit House. Then we heard the deep howling sound of a huge dog. The Hound!' Holmes shouted. "Sir Henry! Sir Henry! Climb the Tor! We are here on the Tor! Hurry!' Lestrade moved forward to help Sir Henry. But we could not see clearly in the mist. Keep back!' Holmes shouted to Lestrade. Lestrade cried out and fired his revolver into the mist. We saw the yellow flash of the revolver and we heard the loud bang. "It's coming!' Lestrade cried out. He fired again. In the light of the flash, we saw a huge black shape.
Its eyes and jaws were burning bright with fire. It was horrible huge monster. It ran past Lestrade. We heard s Henry cry out. We heard the sound of falling stones. Holmes and I both fired our revolvers at the black shape We heard a howl. We fired again and again. Then we mo forward carefully and climbed down the Tor. Sir Henry was at the bottom of the Tor. He had fallen but he was not hurt. He now stood up carefully. at was it, Mr Holmes?" he asked. "What was that thing in the mist? Holmes walked along the path, reloading his revolver with bullets. "We are safe," he called back. "The dog is dead I went to look There on the path lay the largest black dog l have ever seen. Fire burned around the dog's eyes and mouth. Blood was pouring from its head. "Could it have killed Sir Henry?' I asked. It would have frightened him," said Holmes. The path across the Great Grimpen Mire is narrow. If he had run in the dark, Sir Henry would have fallen into the mire and died. "But where did it come from?' I asked "And why is its head burning with fire? I believe it was kept in Merripit House," said Holmes. The fire is easy to explain. He touched the dog's head with his fingers. "It is a special paint," he said. "Come. Let us find the murderer. We walked back to Merripit House. The door was open. Sir Henry went into the house. 'Miss Stapleton!' he shouted. "Where is she? She did not join us for dinner. A sound came from one of the rooms. Sir Henry pushed