The Hound of the Baskervilles

Sir Charles Baskerville, baronet, is found lying dead among yew trees in the grounds of his seat, Baskerville Hall. The cause of death is ascribed to a heart attack. Fearing for the safety of Sir Charles’ nephew and only known heir, Sir Henry Baskerville—who was coming to London from North America to collect his inheritance—Dr. James Mortimer travels from Devon to London, and appeals for help to Sherlock Holmes.

Mortimer explains to Holmes and Doctor Watson that the Baskerville family is said to be afflicted by a curse. He reads a description of the origin of the curse, as written down by a descendant of one Hugo Baskerville, who had lived two centuries earlier. According to this old account, Hugo Baskerville became infatuated with a yeoman's daughter, kidnapped her, and imprisoned her in his bedchamber. She escaped while he was talking with his friends. A drunken and furious Hugo cried that he would give his soul to the Powers of Evil if he could only overtake her. Hugo, aided by his friends and hunting hounds, rode after her on to the desolate moor. Sometime later, Hugo and the girl were found dead. She had died from fear and fatigue, while a giant spectral hound stood over Hugo's body. With his friends watching, the hound plucked out Hugo's throat and vanished into the night.

Apparently, prior to his death, Sir Charles had become fearful of the legendary curse and its retributive hellhound. Furthermore, Mortimer has deduced that Sir Charles had been waiting for someone at the time of his death. Sir Charles' face was contorted into a ghastly expression, while his footprints suggested that he was desperately running from something. It was known that elderly Sir Charles' heart was not strong, and that he planned to go to London the next day. Mortimer also reveals that he observed the footprints "of a gigantic hound" near Sir Charles' body, a fact that he did not reveal at the inquest.