The Hound of the Baskervilles · Chapter
Death on the Moor explained
Watson discovers that Holmes has been secretly living in a hut on the moor, and the two reunite.
What happens
Watson discovers that Holmes has been secretly living in a hut on the moor, and the two reunite. They hear a terrible scream and find a body, which they initially believe to be Sir Henry Baskerville, but it turns out to be the convict Selden, wearing Sir Henry's clothes. Stapleton arrives on the scene and, after a tense exchange, Holmes and Watson decide not to arrest him yet due to lack of proof.
Themes in this chapter
Deception and Disguise
Holmes has been secretly living on the moor, deceiving even Watson, while Stapleton's plot relies on disguise and misdirection.
Good vs. Evil
The confrontation between Holmes and Stapleton intensifies, with the death of Selden highlighting the stakes of the struggle.
Characters to notice
- Sherlock Holmes
Reveals himself to Watson on the moor, having been secretly investigating the case.
- Dr. Watson
Discovers Holmes in the hut and experiences relief and frustration at being kept in the dark.
- Sir Henry Baskerville
Mistakenly believed dead; his tweed suit is found on the body of Selden.
- Selden
The escaped convict who is killed by the hound, mistaken for Sir Henry.
- Mr. Stapleton
Arrives at the scene of Selden's death and reacts with shock, but quickly composes himself.
Key passages
“That cold, incisive, ironical voice could belong to but one man in all the world. "Holmes!" I cried—"Holmes!"”
Watson immediately recognizes Holmes's distinctive voice and calls out to him in surprise.
Watson's relief at finding Holmes on the moor.
“The gleam of the match which he struck shone upon his clotted fingers and upon the ghastly pool which widened slowly from the crushed skull of the victim. And it shone upon something else which turned our hearts sick and faint within us—the body of Sir Henry Baskerville!”
Holmes and Watson initially believe the dead man is Sir Henry, causing them great distress.
The mistaken identity that drives the chapter's tension.
“It is Selden, the man who escaped from Princetown.”
Holmes reveals that the victim is actually the escaped convict, not Sir Henry.
The crucial revelation that changes the course of the investigation.