“Don’t trust your eyes,” my brother warned. “Trust your nose.”

I shrug, wondering what in hell could that mean.

“You lazy boy.” He smacked the back of my head. “If you smell rotten eggs, run. Even if it barks, that thing is not a dog.”

Barguest,

This supernatural presence—its actual nature is still in doubt, spirit, demon, or something in between, tales don’t seem to agree—is believed to foretell death and misfortune, by appearing near a house, usually in the form of an enormous black dog. And although it’s most often described as dog-like and large as a calf, with long sharp fangs and claws, fiery eyes like glowing coals, and a shaggy black coat, the Barguest could also appear in the...

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