Chapter three
The Problem
Holmes and I were surprised. This was a very strange story. I did not believe that Sir Charles Baskerville had been killed by a gigantic black dog. But I wanted to know the truth.
'Who else saw these footprints?' asked Sherlock Holmes. His bright eyes shone and he leant forward in his chair.
'No one else saw the footprints,' answered Dr Mortimer. 'There was a lot of rain in the night. By morning, the footprints had been washed away.'
'How large were the footprints? Were they larger than the footprints of a sheepdog?'
'Yes, Mr Holmes, much larger. They were not the prints of an ordinary dog.'
'Also, you say that Sir Charles ran away from this dog? How do you know?' asked Holmes.
'The ground was soft,' answered Dr Mortimer. 'I saw Sir Charles' footprints outside Baskerville Hall. His footprints were close together as he walked along a path at the edge of the moor. Then he stopped and waited by a wooden gate. After that his footprints changed - they became wide apart and deep. I am sure he began to run. He ran towards the house. I believe that something came from the moor. I believe he saw the Hound of the Baskervilles.'
'Yes, yes,' said Holmes, 'but how do you know that Sir Charles waited by this wooden gate?'
'Because he smoked a cigar,' said Dr Mortimer. 'I saw the white cigar ash on the ground.'
'Good,' said Holmes, 'good - you are a detective.'
'Thank you,' said Dr Mortimer, with a smile.
'But you believe that Sir Charles was killed by a gigantic hound?'
'I know he ran away from something,' said Dr Mortimer. 'I know I saw those strange footprints of a huge dog. But...' He looked at his watch. '... I am meeting Sir Henry Baskerville at Waterloo Station in an hour. Sir Henry is Sir Charles' nephew. He has come from Canada. Sir Charles had no children, so Sir Henry is now the owner of Baskerville Hall. And now I have a problem.'
'What is your problem?' asked Holmes.
'I believe that Sir Henry is in danger,' said Dr Mortimer. 'Is it safe to take him to Baskerville Hall?'
'I must think,' said Sherlock Holmes. 'Stay in London tonight. Come and see me again tomorrow morning. Please bring Sir Henry with you.'
'I shall do so,' said Dr Mortimer. He stood up. 'Now I must go to meet Sir Henry at Waterloo Station. Good day.'
When Dr Mortimer had left, Holmes said to me, 'We have a problem here, Watson. There are three questions. What is the crime? Who did it? How was it done?'
Chapter four
Sir Henry Baskerville
The next morning, Dr Mortimer brought Sir Henry Baskerville to Baker Street. Sir Henry was about thirty years old. He was not tall, but he was broad and strong. He looked like a boxer.
'How do you do, Mr Holmes,' said Sir Henry. 'I arrived in London yesterday and two strange things have happened already.'
'Please sit down, Sir Henry,' said Holmes. 'Tell me what has happened.'
'No one knows that I am staying at the Northumberland Hotel,' said Sir Henry. 'But I have received a letter. Here is the letter. You see, the words are cut from a newspaper except for the word "moor".'
YOUR LIFE IS IN DANGER KEEP AWAY FROM THE MOOR
'The words are cut from The Times newspaper,' said Holmes.
'But how did this person know where I am staying?' asked Sir Henry.
'I do not know,' said Holmes. 'But you said that two strange things have happened. What is the other strange thing?'
'I have lost a boot,' said Sir Henry. 'Someone has stolen one of my boots at the hotel.'
'One of your boots?' asked Holmes. 'Someone took only one?'
'Yes,' answered Sir Henry. 'The boots are new. I bought them yesterday and I have never worn them. But why take only one?'
'That is a very good question,' said Holmes. 'I would like to visit your hotel. Perhaps I shall find the answer.'
'Then, please join us for lunch,' said Sir Henry. 'Now, if you will excuse me, I have some other business. Shall we meet at two o'clock for lunch at the Northumberland Hotel?'
'We shall come at two,' said Holmes.
Sir Henry Baskerville and Dr Mortimer left the house and walked along Baker Street. Sherlock Holmes watched them through the window of his study.
'Quick, Watson, we must follow them,' said Holmes.
I put on my hat and followed Holmes into the street. 'Why are we following them?' I asked in surprise.
'Because, my dear Watson, someone else is also following them,' said Holmes. 'Look! There is the man. There in that cab!'
I looked where Holmes was pointing. A horse-drawn cab was moving slowly along the street. A man with a black beard was sitting in the cab. He was watching Sir Henry and Dr Mortimer as they walked towards Oxford Street.
The man with the black beard turned round as Holmes pointed at him. He saw us and shouted to the cab driver, 'Drive! Drive quickly!' The cab driver whipped the horse and the cab disappeared round a corner.
'I think we have the answer to one of our questions,' said Holmes. 'That man with the black beard followed Sir Henry to the Northumberland Hotel. He is the man who sent the letter.'