The Sandwalker by Fergus Hume

This is a classic late-Victorian English horror story set in the fens of the East of England. Hume was a prolific and successful author and this is one of his scariest stories.

[@tomatoangel1]

I've heard this story before, but your voice is so much more evocative. I appreciate your endnotes, too.

[@anneinnes5691]

Tony, you are a gifted narrator … your rendition of many stories lifts them out of the mundane , giving them a more spine-chilling edge than they are perhaps able to claim as their due. I also very much enjoy all the background information you provide on the authors …. people’s life stories are always so interesting. I do believe that not one person is “ ordinary”. This is also why I particularly enjoy the little insights you so kindly share into your own day-to-day life. Your channel is a treat on so many levels… thank you.

[@ClassicGhost]

Oh, thank you, Anne. that's lovely of you to say such nice things!

[@bittybitty8233]

I love me a classic ghost story , too ...in this voice !!! 👌

[@blixten2928]

An inspiring addition to your repertoire. The silent owls in the ruined cathedral... the eyes at the tips of the tree-tops... the sands at night... nature is godly, full of portent and meaning...

[@martiwilliams4592]

How did i miss this? Better late than ever! Spellbinding--makes the most vicious dishwashing disappearSove your accents and your interesting and amusing commentary. Thank you, Tony! You are the best!!!!

[@Firecracker66]

I love me a Classic Ghost Story 👻

[@rattyrachel4316]

Oh, yes indeedy I do! 💕

[@corbinnickolas5802]

Pro trick: you can watch movies on Flixzone. Me and my gf have been using them for watching a lot of movies during the lockdown.

[@jeremiahcayden9125]

@Corbin Nickolas Yup, I've been using flixzone for years myself =)

[@thurayya8905]

I couldn't help but imagine this as a Hammer film in the late sixties/early seventies. I was thinking that the only thing that might have held them back was the difficulty of the special effects of the creature, but, then again, that never stopped them.

[@rattyrachel4316]

Yes, I remember having quicksand panic as a child after watching a particular episode of Tarzan. I was convinced I would be swallowed alive in my own backyard! 😂

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes they were always falling in them.! At least I felt I would know how to rescue myself. Don’t move! Crawl out on a coat . Not that I had one.

[@paperthyme]

I was the same, I always thought there would be a lucky branch for me to grab onto!

[@rattyrachel4316]

Paper Thyme 🤣

[@BigDog366]

Hah, I'm listening to this in Dunedin, New Zealand, having emigrated twelve years ago from England! My daughter is studying at Otago Uni. Ashburn Clinic still exists. (Otago is pronounced Oh-tar-go). Superb reading again. Thank you so much for posting. You're not helping the home sickness one bit!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you for the update on pronunciation. Nice that you are there.

[@AnneAndersonFoxiepaws]

I love these old ghost stories like The Turn of The Screw and you narrate them so well!

[@scottmiller2591]

I liked the biography, history, analysis of the story, the justification of your presentation (something very little discussed); I think putting it at the end is a good choice. Those who are just interested in the story will opt out; those who are interested will stick. I was struck by the description of the ghost being, like M.R. James, strikingly different from classic ghost descriptions. Both of these authors seem to show the struggle to describe something that just doesn't make sense, that might only be a mental state. In the end, I still was wondering who Mrs. Jarvis really was.

[@lizbmusic11]

Great story. And beautifully narrated. Love your info at the end of your stories too. I remember Tarzan and the quicksand. In NZ we have deep mud which can truly suck you in at low tide. But not actual quicksand. The descriptions of each character are truly wonderful.

[@margielamark6162]

I’m fairly new to your podcast but I’m enjoying them immensely! I enjoy the stories as well as the background you give on the authors and the stories themselves.

[@susanmercurio1060]

Isn't Tony Walker great? I listen to him when I want to get to sleep.

[@margielamark6162]

@@susanmercurio1060 yes he is! I also like to listen to his stories as I fall asleep.

[@angel22893]

I love your analysis

[@susanmercurio1060]

1:10 "a bit of undigested potato, a blob of mustard..." Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

[@ClassicGhost]

I think he was a Dickens fan.

[@stevenshipman650]

Excellent story!

[@bethpemberton7980]

Enjoyable! I finished it this morning as I got ready for work. I'd never heard this one.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thanks for listening. Glad you enjoyed

[@jennyhaswell2620]

Once again thank you. Didn't see the twist at the end. Jen

[@eddiemunster2196]

Hello once again, Many nights I will wake up not being able to sleep. So As I'm laying here deciding if I'll be counting sheep or chickens to get back to sleep I turn on KZbin I like come across this play. So as I'm listening to this gentleman speak the dramatic words of this sandwalker I'm currently in a pitch-black bedroom with only the light of my cell phone. My favorite midnight snack is something that's been my favorite since I've been a young teenager, or maybe even younger. So that is cold cereal to crunch down on without any milk. So as I'm listening to him speak about the SandWalker and his first encounter. - It's only me, - the narrator, Which is the lodger being followed by the sand Walker and me, - ultimate Darkness in my pitch black environment, And the suspense of where and who the Sandwalker will take claim on next ? So, In between each couple of my mouth crunches the suspense keeps me hanging off of each syllable that he says That's when I would take those couple quick mouth mouthful of cereal, then, I would bite down then abruptly stop!! 7 that would be until he would complete sentence. But you see, when he would say oh, I don't know ? a three-sentence phrase that's when I would wash down that mouthful crunched up cereal,,,, With my wonderful Ice-T That I have any huge glass with lemons !!! SO THEN,,, when the News Scene would happen when he's talking to the lady in the kitchen I stuff my mouth once again with that wonderful crunchy Dry Cereal chew a few times, Then freeze my jaw then wash it down once again with my wonderful iced tea ! So repetitiously that's how my chopping away Jaw exercise as I went through complete durations listening to this entire play..So on and on I went another mouthful of cereal to the end of this of this play !! But everyone just who will be the next victim of the saint Walker I heard someone say in town if you still have sand between your toes he will be knocking on your door too tonight Good night everyone I hope you sleep well ?

[@ClassicGhost]

This is very poetic.

[@deborahmcgee7970]

Very good 😌

[@deniseroper9030]

Brilliant story. Really enjoyed this. More please 👏😀

[@carlapomeroy3808]

I find your voice dramatic yet soothing. Fantastic narration and entertainment. Thank you for these readings. It helps me relax in these unsettling times. Cheers

[@ClassicGhost]

I enjoyed reading this one

[@bunnysleeps]

I appreciate your critiques and background analysis. I find you have a voice that is soothing and easy to listen to. I enjoy your narratives and narrations.

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you!

[@donaldmccleary9015]

Great story and narration! Thanks!

[@cass1409]

I would love the back story

[@jcristi321]

About the good guy being nice to a cat, I learned in one of my writing classes to show your readers how bad the bad guy is, have him kill a dog. If you saw the Clint Eastwood movie, “Pale Rider” that happened in the opening sequence. Poor puppy!

[@ClassicGhost]

Seven Psychopaths:)

[@rattyrachel4316]

Even better the second time around! Thanks....again!

[@andreac5724]

Great telling

[@mijiyoon5575]

I like this story much👍👍👍👍👍

[@ClassicGhost]

Keep off the beach at night.

[@hipolita101]

New fan. Love your voice.

[@CarlotaZimmerman]

Loved everything about this, your excellent reading of the story, your rendition of Hume’s life story and the bits about your family, so charmingly done, bravo!

[@ClassicGhost]

Thank you so much!

[@brandyjean7015]

Good girl, that Tilly.

[@karearoto4294]

Thank you

[@sarahsamaria8283]

Very well read. The atmosphere is palpable. I could feel myself there on the beach with the mist.

[@rattyrachel4316]

Absorbing and chilling! Fergus Hume and your narration wove a web I could not escape. Also enjoyed our visit afterward.(Kettle’s always on! See you next time!)

[@ClassicGhost]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@eddiemunster2196]

Att. To : David. Sweeny Bear I really enjoyed -- the whole play -- and -- ( at the very end ) -- of -- how you spoke about the writer and how you elaborated on how he wrote the play. So, Yea,,,,, Hope to see, you soon in Future plays Cheers..... .Mate........

[@mariamason1919]

Thanks so much Tony for ALL the wonderful stories you share with us not to mention the gorgeous narration. Your voice does relax me so much I fall asleep before most stories are finished. No problem as I go back as many times as I have to to finish the story. I also wanted to mention I LOVE to hear what your up to, the end notes of each story and have learned so much from your wealth of information. I am what I call an "ALICE" - always curiouser and curiouser! For those who told you they just want the story and that is all... I would say they are far out numbered by those of us who ARE interested in all things "Tony Walker." :) There are so many "new" authors you have introduced into my life and I now look for many in used book stores etc. PLEASE ignore those who have no need to grow and learn. There are a plethora of other channels they can find ghost stories to listen too...not one as good as yours. Thanks for everything and stay well. Let us know how your doing. I feel as if you have created a wonderful space for those of us who love great narration, and ultimately have found a community of lovely people from all over the world who enjoy a great classic ghost story. In my humble opinion, that is a beautiful thing. Stay Well everyone!

[@ClassicGhost]

This is very very kind of you. I too have been delighted by people coming back and creating, as you say, a kind of community. I would at some point, work allowing, like to even create some kind of 'book club' community where we could discuss the stories because I'm always pleased, but not surprised, that each listener adds their own knowledge and viewpoint to the stories and enlightens me!

[@sarahnunns8263]

I liked the story very much, thank you for reading. You do it so well, your calm voice helps the tales sort of roll over the ears very easily. I think maybe in that era the characters had to appear larger than life as they didn't have the luxury of tv and film to add to the forming of the characters as we do. Just a thought.

[@ClassicGhost]

+Sarah Nunns thank you

[@JessiDeerSims]

This is the voice. You win. Out of all the voices that exist, this is the perfect one. Will you be my dad? 😂💕

[@ClassicGhost]

Yes I will. My voice was honed reading bedtime stories to my girls when they were little and they insisted on me doing all the voices, particularly Rat in the Box of Delights.

[@BertieShaul-mn4qc]

I love this story! You provide an excellent rendition. Do you think the Sand Walker continues to walk after his revenge or is he liberated from his endless wandering?

[@possumaintdead]

I find myself wondering what happened to her daughter! I always think about what happens after. I hope she still had her London job to go back to. I fret that she ends up married to the one-eyed school master! Excellent reading. I have heard this one before, but your voice is perfect for such a gloomy tale.😉

[@ClassicGhost]

Lottie seems A sensible girl. I hope that she sold beach farm and used it to buy a boarding house in London where she had paying guests. But no school teachers called Abrahams. She’s too good for him.

[@mijiyoon5575]

Shades of *Nut Bush Farm* by *Charlotte Riddell* here on YT

[@meese9140]

Master Abram reminds me of a cross between a scooby doo villain and the innkeeper from the beginning of Moby Dick 👏🏻😂 I suppose he got bored of rural life and took to tormenting people with his yarns and antics for fun?? Making obscurely menacing statements and then ducking into the bushes. I don’t think he was in love with Lottie. Or at least, I don’t think that’s why he told Mrs. Jarsil(?) that she had eloped with Mr. Amber. I think he did it to start shit and cause problems.

[@garybernstein3527]

If a man lived from 1865 to 1932, he reached the age of 65 not 75.

[@ClassicGhost]

Gary, you must have realised by now that though I have many God-given gifts for which I am grateful, attention to detail isn't one of them. You on the other hand, appear to have such attention.

[@susanmercurio1060]

In Florida, USA, we don't call them "sand hills," we call them "sand dunes." At least the disappearing Thing led him the safe way, back to the sand hills. I'm old enough to remember the old black-and-white Tarzan movies, but I wasn't allowed to go to the movies, so I didn't see anyone falling into the quicksand.

[@ClassicGhost]

to be fair I'd call them sand dunes too.

[@hawthornetree646]

The overblown characters of Dickens... that’s why Dickens irritates me! Really appreciate the discussion afterwards.

[@lachailillmclennan7149]

Just because someone never marries doesn't mean they're homosexual. I'm asexual/ celibate because a) I was molested in early childhood and can't stand sexual intercourse and b) having a 170 IQ I've never found anyone that I can connect with intellectually. This is born out in the psychological research that has found that as a person's intelligence increases the likelihood of remaining single increases. For my part, I find myself surrounded by an ocean of humans who fall into one or more categories that makes it impossible for me to connect with them: a) lacking ability or understanding in logical/ rational cognitive skills in fact people often have a violent reaction to even the concept of rationality; b) poorly developed ethical reasoning skills if any ethical reasoning skills at all; c) an incomprehensible and often aggressive defence of indefencible or just plain ridiculous beliefs, ideas and attitudes. Beliefs that have been resoundingly and scientifically debunked. For example, religion, psuedosciences, spiritualism, reiki, homeopathy, eugenics, psychic powers, chiropractory, astrology, Freudian psychoanalysis, ghosts, conspiracy theories such as the "fake" moon landing, (which pales in comparrison to todays conspiracy theories). All of which brings me to the last obstactle that makes it next to impossible for intelligent human beings to find companionship in this idiotic world, d) an absence of knowledge. In some cases, again, an aggressive and willfull absence of knowledge. I've had people tell me with pride how they've never read a book and certainly don't waste time with reading books as an adult. I had one woman rage at me for attempting to poison her mind by trying to explain scientific method to her. The state of mind of the majority of the human race can be summed up by the phrase, Dunning-Kruger effect. Humanity is ignorant and stupid and in its ignorance and stupidity it comes out with moronic stereotypes, (heuristic, top down thinking), that label men or women who live their lives without marrying or partnering in any way as homosexuals or repressed homosexuals. The more I have come to listen to your videos the less and less respect I have come to have for your intellect. This is the last of your narrations I will listen to. Unsubscribed.

[@cynthiawolf2467]

How do you fit that MASSIVE IQ into such a narrow little mind?