The Black Dog

Abstract

The Black Dog walks in Lincolnshire still; and there are a number of living people who have seen him, heard him, and even felt him. The people who can supply these details are of the hard-working, normal, strong-minded type, who can tell you quite truly and simply what they have seen, because there is no doubt about it in their minds. They know that what they have seen is not a real dog--they will tell you as much; but should you cast the slightest doubt on the story, you will find your source of information suddenly dried up. Perhaps it is because I have seen the Black Dog, and can therefore believe that the narrator has also seen him, that I have been able to get such good first-hand stories, also I was born at the right time, i.e. in the neighbourhood of midnight, so should be able to see things. The Lincolnshire native is a shrewd man, but he fears being laughed at or disbelieved; in his own mind there is no doubt whatever that the Dog does appear to people sometimes, and there is nothing abnormal in it to his way of thinking. I would like to emphasise this point: I have never yet had a Black Dog story from anyone who was weak either in body or mind.