It may be that it was frightened and made its way on to the moors, where it is still hiding in terror. There are some who look with dread on such a possibility, lest later on it should in itself become a danger, for it is evidently a fierce brute. Early this morning a large dog, a half-bred mastiff belonging to a coal merchant close to Tate Hill Pier, was found dead in the roadway opposite to its master's yard. It had been fighting, and manifestly had a savage opponent, for its throat was torn away, and its belly was slit open as if with a savage claw.

Later By the kindness of the Board of Trade inspector, I have been permitted to look over the log-book of the Demeter, which was in order up to within three days, but contained nothing of special interest except as to facts of missing men.

The greatest interest, however, is with regard to the paper found in the bottle, which was today produced at the inquest; and a more strange narrative than the two unfold between them it has not been my lot to come across.

Vocabulary:

Moors: Open, treeless uplands
Dread: Great fear
Mastiff: A type of dog
Merchant: Someone who buys and sells things
Manifestly: Clearly, obviously
With regard to: About, to do with
Inquest: When a court investigates why someone died
Lot: A person's fate in life