The Woodwose of Cannock Chase — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

rr e— aro TT THE WOODWOSE OF CANNOCK CHASE 12 said Westonby with a severe expression. Dalton waited in anticipation. “But you will observe that I do not pull this trigger” said Westonby, “and this should be all the proof you require that I am innocent of Hunstone’s suspicions and that I am ready to play my part in ridding the world of this vile Woodwose.” Westonby lowered the shotgun even more and Dalton tensed his muscles ready to launch an attack, but a sudden change of expression on Westonby’s face gave him pause. A look of pain and surprise overcame Westonby and as if possessed by demons he rose from the snowy earth into the air. Dalton’s mouth fell open as he followed the impossible levitation and he found himself saying: “Westonby?” And then all became starkly clear. Behind Westonby and until now unobserved by the two men, involved as they were in their black conference, the Woodwose had crept up from the darkness of the cave, reached out its long hairy arm and taken hold of the back of Westonby’s neck. It was then that it had raised him up off the ground with astonishing ease and begun to crush the neck-bone of the unfortunate man. As life left Westonby he found only that he was staring with disbelief at Dalton and as his muscles tensed he pulled the trigger on the shotgun that was pointed down at the ground. The report immediately spurred Dalton into motion and he turned and ran back up the slope as might quicksilver, slipping in the thawing snow and scrabbling with his hands for a hold. Behind him, the Woodwose dropped Westonby as a child does a rag-doll and let forth a low growl. When Dalton got to the copse he saw that the two horses were in a panic. Westonby’s horse had somewise got his lead wrapped around his leg and old Storm was whinnying violently. In vain Dalton tried to calm Storm and in an instant the horse broke loose and galloped away into the bushes. The other horse was still bound, its eyeballs on stalks and Dalton looked back the way he had come to see the Woodwose’s head appear from the slope, its fierce eyes glowing red. Dalton ran as fast as he could, hearing the horrible screaming of the horse being torn apart by a malevolent force greater than anything he had encountered. “How long? thought Dalton as he pushed through more thicket, “how long before it finishes with the horse and comes after me?” CHAPTER 10. A GATHERING AT THE FIELD Lord Hunstone had felt the weight of his advanced years in the last few hours. His face was haggard now and he stood forlornly watching over Lady Hannah’s body, the cold wind chilling his marrow, having sacrificed his own warm cloak to shroud his child. Carrion crows had gathered in nearby trees, drawn by the scent of death, and now watching from branches without leaves. Lord Hunstone cursed them. “Be gone, foul birds!” He scooped Some snow from the ground and cast it at the crows but they were too distant to be frighted. As Lord Hunstone looked around for something heavier, he noticed a figure making its way down the edge of the field. The figure walked steadily and had a fowling piece slung on his back. Lord Hunstone watched the man for some moments before recognising him as a local farmer of the parish. “Jessop!” called out Lord Hunstone in relieved tones, for he was glad of seeing a friendly face amid the horror of the events of the morning. Jessop made his unhurried way over to Lord Hunstone, stepping through the snow covered furrows, until he stopped dead when he saw the three bodies lying about. “« —_ !® swore Jessop, and then recovered himself to greet his neighbour. “Lord Hunstone, what dreadful mischief ‘as ‘appened ‘ere?” “My beloved Hannah lies murdered at my feet.” said Lord Hunstone, “shot by this youth who also killed my friend Bellamy over there before being shot himself by Sir Richard Dalton. I wait for men and carts from Brockton Hall. Will you bide with me Jessop, and keep a bereaved father company in his desperate hour of need?” “At your service, Lord Hunstone? said Jessop, touching his cap, “our hearts always did sing when’s watchin’? Lady Hannah and ‘er sister ride o’er the meadow down by the well. Always waved a cheery greeting they did.” Hunstone looked at the old man before speaking: “I am afraid that Lady Martha has also met her Maker this morning, Jessop.” The old man’s eyes grew large and filled with tears. “What disaster befell that wonderful child, Lord Hunstone?” Jessop’s voice was quiet. “She was — % Lord Hunstone hesitated, “that’s to say — we believe she was attacked by a Woodwose near caves at Brockton.” « _ Woodwose ?” cursed Jessop and he spat on the frozen ground. “Devil-bears T’s call ‘em. The tunnels and caves ‘ereabouts are full of ‘em, but they keep to their selves most o’ the time. Perchance this unnatural cold month ‘as brought ‘em out to forage?” Lord Hunstone and Jessop looked along the margins of the field, at the stark tree line and woods beyond — a world in which all gaiety and colour had been drained leaving only silhouettes and shadows. <A carrion crow cawed. Jessop picked up a clog of frozen sod and with a perfect aim hurled the missile at the crows where it broke on their branches and caused them to flutter into the sky. “If you daren’t mind, Lord Hunstone,’ said Jessop, “IIs ‘elps meself to this gentlemen’s fallen shotgun in the event of a return of that ‘wose.” So saying, Jessop walked over to the mortal remains of Bellamy, lifted the discarded weapon and carefully inspected it while dusting off the snow. “IT ‘ag me own fowling piece ‘ere on me back? continued Jessop, “but an ‘ungry ‘wose can be a devillish fiend, I’ve ‘eard folk tell. Better we ‘ave more powder ‘as we need than too little.” He pulled a rag from his coat and began wiping the barrel and fittings before breeching the shotgun and fixing a cartridge. “Jessop” began Lord Hunstone, “I had always placed stories of the Woodwose in the same pocket as that of Stag Men and Goblins. Have your own eyes seen these creatures hereabouts?” “Tye smelt ‘em, that I can promise you. And once that sweet stench has entered your nostrils, so it ESE LSI ER AS, TE ( & : OMMIGIOOKSEHEOM