Three gentlemen of adventurous spirit are invited to dinner at the Engineering Hall by WilliamSmith, a renown fossil hunter and engineer of their mutual aquaintance.
WilliamSmith commissions the party to survey investigate a location he discovered while producing his masterwork – the complete geological survey of the British isles many years before. The site is in the gorge near Lydford in Devon.
He explains that while surveying the gorge he talked to a number of locals in the Castle Inn and heard rumours of a cave system at the top of the gorge where many bones and fossils were to be found, but also surrounded by rumours of strange beasts & danger so no one would take him there, unfortunately his stay in Devon was nearly over and he had to leave the following day. It has always been a source of frustration to the geologist that he was not able to explore further – this most interesting rumour of his twin passions fossils and bones.
He wishes the party to investigate and survey the cave system and discover if there are any fossils or bones worth seeing in the cave or surrounding area, and will cover any expenses incurred.
The party agree to meet in Paddington the following week, as GladstoneArchiboldThynne has some business to see to, and make their way by train to the convient station of Lydford Junction in Lydford, Devon
. So named as it is the junction between London and South Western railway. Here ArnoldTodgersHamelton 's man has arranged for them to stay in the Castle Inn.
They stay in this basic but homely Inn, and the following day take a guided walk over the snowy and frosted hills to the old castle ruin.
That evening ArnoldTodgersHamelton makes the further aquatinance of the maid, WallaceTiffinSmythe explores to the head of the LydfordGorge and the Devils Cauldron, and hears a mysterious whistling/ wailing sound. GladstoneArchiboldThynne is approached by the local police constable who is having difficulty with some ChartistRebels.
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