The Woodwose of Cannock Chase — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE WOODWOSE OF CANNOCK CHASE 15 nn ee the brilliance momentarily blinded him. A shadow fell across the brightness and at his feet crashed the heavy body of the hound, the force driving all life from the mangled animal. Deane was taken aback but ran out of the cave’s shadow and looked up the slope. “Dorkins ! Dorkins returned there no answer. Deane looked back at the dog. It was stone dead, lying almost on top of the body of Westonby. Resisting a shiver, Deane ran forward and began to scramble up the slope, the melting snow impeding his progress. When he got to the top he found only that the snow had been much disturbed. There was no sign of Dorkins. Deane then ran in the direction of the copse. “Dorkins ! Lord Hunstone !” he called ag he ran but no answer came. Except for a single dead horse lying on its side with its back broken, the copse was abandoned. The many tracks were too confused to follow. Deane knew the best course of action was to go back to the field where at least Jessop, Rose and Parker would be rejoining Lowe the butler and he could consider their next action. If Dorking and Lord Hunstone had been obliged to make a hasty escape then surely they too would head back to the field. But something troubled Deane. Who — or what — had thrown the hound down the slope? Surely it could not have been Dorkins. But if not he, then the possibility began to unfold that somebody — something else — had done the deed. Still, Deane resisted the conclusion that a Woodwose could in any way be responsible. “They cannot and do not exist!” thought Deane. He continued on his way back to the field; wet, cold and with a feeling he was trapped in an endless mystery. 1” Deane shouted but CHAPTER 138. “NAUGHT BUT DEATH” Lowe had worked for the Hunstone family for forty years and had grown fond of the two sisters so that his faith in God was sorely tested as he now stood on the desolate field, cold bodies about him, his master in peril and nothing to do but wait. He pulled out the flask again and let the liquid warm his throat. He stamped his boots a little against the cold and could not help but think of sitting in Mrs. Butterworth’s warm kitchen, perhaps enjoying a little pipe while the hot smells of baking wafted around him. The strangled cry of a carrion crow caused the vision to vanish and misery descended around him as he looked from corpse to corpse. He heard Sir Richard Dalton stir and having nobody else to tend to, walked and knelt at his side. Lowe adjusted the blindfold which was now damp with blood. “T knew you as a boy, Sir Richard? said Lowe. Dalton stopped his moaning and listened. “You weren’t always bad? said Lowe, “and I knows you remember your God and yours learning. As the Good Samaritan taught, let me give you something to warm yourself, because make no mistake Sir Richard, you’s be ‘avin’ an appointment at the prison ‘ouse at Rugeley an’ after that, only God will save you.” Lowe took out the flask and unscrewed the lid. He lifted Dalton’s head and put the flask to his lips. Dalton slurped thirstily at the liquid for a few moments. Lowe placed Dalton’s head back onto the horse blanket put there as a cold comfort. “T thank you, Lowe.” said Dalton. “If I should perish on this field, I want you to know the truth of this day’s events, for somebody should and there is none else.” “T will ‘ear you? said Lowe, “though if confession you be wantin} I lack the qualifications.” “No confession? said Dalton. “Only God’s truth.” And so saying, Sir Richard Dalton told the story from the start, and this time missed nor twisted any part of the tale. He told how he and Lord Hugh had accidentally shot at Lady Hannah; how Bellamy had attempted to cajole them into surrender and also been killed for his efforts; how Dick had shown remarkable courage in attacking he himself with just a penny knife and had also lost his life. And he also told of the Woodwose. Of the attack in the morning, of the terrible smell and how the thing bore a striking similarity to an old tapestry in Shugborough Hall. “The whole of it is true, Lowe. Mark it.” said Dalton finally. “T will, Sir Richard? said Lowe and he stood up, having heard horses approaching. “Who is it that comes now?” asked Dalton. “Is Deane and Hunstone returned, or that blasted farmer Jessop who did for me?” Lowe stood up, still grasping the flask. “Incredible!” said Lowe in a near whisper. “You was right, Sir Richard, you was right!” Dalton became agitated and longed to see what Lowe’s comment meant, but blindfold and strapped as he was, he could only listen keenly to the noises around. Across the field came Lord Hunstone and Dorkins on horseback accompanied by a terrified hound that now ran free of any leash. Dorkins was shouting at the top of his voice: “Lowe - for the love of God get you a shotgun ready !” But Lowe seemed frozen to the spot because he had seen what was pursuing the group. Close behind them something tumbled and gambolled through the snow-filled furrows, something brown and furry and huge. In one hand it carried a branch as large as a small tree, dragging and waving it as though it were the weight of a taper. “The ‘wose? said Lowe under his breath, “your ‘wose is come, Sir Richard!” And then all Sir Richard Dalton could hear - for what seemed like an eternity - was the sound of men shouting, a dog yelping and horses whinnying as they galloped around. “Free me!” shouted Dalton, struggling against his bonds. “Heaven help me!” But no assistance came, only more awful noise and the men’s shouts turned to screams and Dalton heard one horse gallop away and another horse fell so close to him that he felt the hot breath of the animal and heard it struggling to get back up on its legs. He heard a single strangled cry from Lord Hunstone: “Dorkins!” cut short by a huge crash and then the panting of someone near to collapse and the heavy footfalls of something crunching through the frozen snow, accom- panied by a low growl he was only too familiar with. IGaoOo CO) nny