Chapter 2: The Curse of the Baskervilles

Dr. Mortimer begins recounting Holmes and Watson the story of the Baskerville curse. According to legend, Sir Hugo Baskerville, a wicked and horrible man from the 17th century, fell in love with a local girl. When the girl refused his advances, he imprisoned her at his home and sent his hounds after her.

The girl ran, but Sir Hugo pursued her across the moor. The following morning, his body was discovered on the moor, beside the girl’s body and the hound’s footprints leading up to it. Since then, the Baskervilles have been haunted by a legend about a hound that will hunt down and kill any family member who wanders out onto the moor at night.

Dr. Mortimer then shows Holmes and Watson a manuscript he unearthed in Sir Charles’ room, written by Sir Charles’ ancestor. The paper cites another Baskerville who was killed by the dog and suggests a curse on the family. Dr. Mortimer leaves, and Holmes and Watson argue the matter. Holmes is skeptical of the supernatural components of the case, but he is fascinated to the mystery of Sir Charles’ death.

The next day, Holmes and Watson head to Dartmoor to investigate the situation. On the train, they meet Miss Stapleton, the naturalist’s daughter who resides near Baskerville Hall. She tells them about the moor and warns them of the dangers it poses.

When they arrive at Baskerville Hall, they meet Sir Henry Baskerville, the Baskerville family’s lone surviving member. Sir Henry is skeptical about the curse and is more concerned with the strange incidents that have been happening around him recently. He tells Holmes and Watson about the strange man who has been following him about London, as well as the odd figure he saw on the moor the night before.

That night, Holmes and Watson hear a strange noise outside their door. They investigate and find a blazing candle in the hallway. They quickly extinguished the candle and returned to their rooms. The next morning, they find a note asking them to leave Dartmoor and return to London.

Holmes and Watson continue to investigate the case, learning that the escaped convict seen on the moor was named Selden. They also discover that Barrymore, the butler at Baskerville Hall, has been surreptitiously signaling to someone on the moor at night.

As they continue their investigation, Holmes and Watson assume that the mystery is not supernatural, but rather the work of a cunning and dangerous criminal.