James Baquet

Sir Charles Baskerville has been found dead on his estate, with a look of horror on his face and the footprints of a gigantic hound nearby.

This is a case for Sherlock Holmes! Since British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced his most famous character in 1887, Holmes and his sidekick Dr. John Watson have become the most familiar detectives in the world.

A Baskerville family friend, Mortimer, tells Holmes of an ancient curse on the Baskervilles: a huge demonic dog that has stalked the family’s heirs. Holmes, of course, is skeptical. Nevertheless, he sends Watson out to the estate to protect young Henry Baskerville (the next heir) and Mortimer.

The manor house sits on a bleak moor, said to be the home of the hound, and dotted with areas of quicksand. A convict named Selden has recently escaped from prison and is hiding out in the area. Living in the house are the butler, Barrymore (Watson suspects him, as he seems to be signaling to someone at night); an attractive young brother and sister, Jack and Beryl Stapleton; and a few others. A grumpy old neighbor has a daughter, Laura.

Sir Henry is attracted to Beryl, who seems to be warning him of something. Unbeknownst to all, even Watson, Holmes has been living out on the moor in disguise, and at last comes in and explains the solution to the mystery.

There really is a hound. It has been placed there by Jack Stapleton, who has seduced young Laura to be his accomplice. This is all the more heinous, as Beryl is actually his wife! Jack is a distant relative of the Baskervilles, and if he can get rid of all the direct heirs he will inherit the estate. Beryl was supposed to lure Henry out on the moor, where the “hound” would get him, clearing the way for Jack.

He might have succeeded, but the butler had been signaling Selden, the escaped convict — his brother-in-law — and had given him some of Henry’s old clothes. Fooled by the scent, the hound killed Selden by mistake.

Holmes sets a trap, using Henry as bait, to catch Jack in the act. Jack, however, escapes — only to drown in the quicksand on the moor.

Vocabulary:

Which words above mean:

1. hellish; of the devil;

2. open wasteland with poor drainage;

3. close friend or associate;

4. attract or entice, especially for evil purposes;

5. assistant in a criminal activity;

6. something used to attract a victim;

7. most terrible; hateful;

8. smell of something;

9. evil result wished on someone;

10. disbelieving; doubtful