The Woodwose of Cannock Chase — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

16 At the same time a sweet smell filled his nostrils, a over-powering scent that seemed to find its way into his brain. And then - silence ! Dalton lay still in the snow, listening for anything, but even the crows seemed to have flown. The last of the dead leaves fell from branches and so quiet was it that Dalton fancied he heard them touch the snow after their short flight. At last, he heard distant footsteps crunching over the furrows but these were slow, methodical steps. He heard a voice curse and then the footsteps grew louder until something stood over him. “Hven after all hell has broken loose, still you live on Richard Dalton? said a voice that Dalton had grown to despise. He found his head was being lifted, his blindfold removed and his painful eyes dabbed with a rag. Dalton strained to open his eyes, but the pain kept them almost shut. However, he caught a glimpse of John Deane’s features looking at him with curiosity. “I confess I am now mystified? said Deane. “How do you now account for the utter transformation of this dismal place into a veritable field of combat ?” Dalton took a breath: “Deane, I only heard things” - terrible things. My poor eyes are still too sorely to open properly, pray tell me what you can see.” A whistle of wind blew across the two men causing the fallen leaves to dance for a moment. “Death.” said Deane. “There is naught but death here.” How could Deane describe the scene about him? Lord Hunstone, Lowe and Dorkins - all now lay in attitudes of agony, their bodies brutally ripped, joining young Dick, Bellamy and sweet Lady Hannah in a white and crimson death-bed ! The tableau was also ornamented with two horses and a dog - all torn asunder, their entrails steaming into the frozen air. But most disturbing to Deane were the abundant giant prints made by something of a size that dwarfed the foot-prints of the men. “Unless you truly be the greatest hocus pocus since Fawks, then it is undeniable, Dalton.” whispered Deane, “your Woodwose is corporal and it now falls to me, as a dutiful Christian, to get you from this place before this beast returns.” So saying, John Deane lifted Dalton to his feet and, keeping the prisoner’s hands bound, hauled him over his shoulder, as a rustic might a sack of flour. In this wise, Deane carried the weakened Dalton across the furrows but was forced to stop when he reached the edge of the field in order to negotiate the hedgerow. As he put Dalton back on his feet to cross the boundary, he heard a bustle heading toward them. What sweet relief it was to Deane when he saw old Jessop, Rose and Parkin pulling two carts with their horses across the frozen sod. “Your carriage arrives” mocked Deane. “What will become of me?” asked Dalton, beseechingly. “We have a long way ahead of us back to Brockton Hall? said Deane. “Pray save your questions until I am gone from your presence and you are alone in your cell. Only then may you make enquiry of God himself, for it is He alone you will answer to.” THE WOODWOSE OF CANNOCK CHASE a Se a EPILOGUE Over the coming months, Sir Richard Dalton wrote many letters from the Prison House at Rugeley and never once departed from the story as told above. Following his trial at Stafford Assizes, Dalton was found guilty of causing the deaths of eight persons and hanged at Sandyford Bridge. Old Storm, Dalton’s horse, was said to have found its own way back to Shugborough Hall but refused anyone who tried to mount him. He could never again be enticed to approach any tree and was finally put out to graze in the warm meadows Shugborough where he ended his days. Lady Hunstone died a year after the above events, it was said of a broken heart. Brockton Hall was bequeathed to John Deane but the house had too much sentiment for him to bear and it was sold shortly afterward and re-named. Deane never married, writing in a letter to his mother that he could never love again after losing the only two women he considered suitable. He later joined the British Army, became an Officer and was killed in the Province of New-York during the war with America. Nothing more was heard of The Woodwose of Cannock Chase for some years, until a hermit named Dick Slee warned children that a Woodwose lived nearby, though none saw it for themselves. Perchance The Woodwose of Cannock Chase lingers there still, awaiting an opportune moment to strike down more innocent persons. around THE END P CoOMmiclo©olkksS