The Sand-Walker | A Ghost Story by Fergus Hume | A Bitesized Audio Production

Whatever you do, don’t go on to the beaches at dusk, or the Sand-walker will come to your window at night. Such is the sinister warning given to the new lodger at the Beach Farm, a lonely house on the North Sea coast of England. But who, or what, is the Sand-walker?
A new, original recording of a classic public domain text, read and performed by Simon Stanhope for Bitesized Audio.
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Fergus Hume (1859-1932) was born in England but grew up in New Zealand and worked in Australia before returning to his home country in 1888. A hugely prolific novelist, he never quite managed to repeat his very first popular success, 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' (1886), which became the best-selling mystery novel of the Victorian era and inspired many other writers in the genre - including Arthur Conan Doyle, who wrote his first Sherlock Holmes story, 'A Study in Scarlet', the following year. Unfortunately Hume sold the rights to 'The Mystery of a Hansom Cab' for £50 and so never received any significant financial reward from the story which made his name.
On returning to England he produced well over a hundred novels and short stories, mostly with a theme of mystery and suspense, and occasionally the supernatural. 'The Sand-Walker', unjustly neglected and almost forgotten today, must rate as an outstanding example of the classic Victorian ghost story. Its initial publication date is uncertain but it probably appeared in a periodical around 1900; it was subsequently published in book form, along with several other stories, as part of the collection 'The Dancer in Red' in 1906.
Recording © Bitesized Audio 2019.

[@SholaT39]

Thank you for having only adverts that allow the video to start without needing to ‘skip ads’; I can listen to you through work, rain and shine via Bluetooth for hours in end without needing to reach for phone or tablet🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@nonatie8514]

Nothing can make you appreciate the quality of these stories nor the superb and faultless narrations of the gentlemen that narrate them, until you listen to some other ghost channel with their “readers”, and trust me when I say I am being very kind when I call them readers and ghost channels. Its scary to realize how possible it could have been to not have the awesome channel we do have. Thank you so much for our selfish listening pleasure where we are largely ignorant of how spoiled rotten we really are or rather would have been had we not been subjected to other ones , however briefly. Your wonderful channel is pure gold as you narrators are of the finest caliber of gentlemen ever I have listened to.

[@BitesizedAudio]

What a lovely comment, thank you so much! Although there's only one of me, I've done all the readings for the channel so far (although my voice may sound a little different in some of the older readings, like this one... they've been recorded on various different microphones and in different studio setups over the years). Funnily enough I recently re-recorded 'The Sand Walker' - should be out on Audible soon! Thank you for your generous feedback, and thanks for listening

[@babybooandherhumandeb3188]

second time around Thank you 😷

[@babybooandherhumandeb3188]

Thank you 😷

[@mrs.robinson1828]

Another absorbing story read so engagingly. A star audio channel.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you for your very kind comment, it's most appreciated

[@Kojoanna]

A great story😊

[@tomsdottir]

How wonderful! Terrific traditional story, perfectly read!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Very kind, thank you!

[@HerrCrankzy]

Yet another barely remembered short story re-encountered and so superbly rendered. Thank You.

[@colemarie9262]

So happy with this channel. Great selection, the majority of which I haven't heard or even come across on youtube. Thank you!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Good to hear that cole Marie, thanks for listening

[@rideronthestorm4173]

Pure quality and narrated how I feel it should be.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Rider on the storm, appreciate your feedback

[@jaceek2030]

What a gem of a channel I've stumbled upon. Thank you for finding, recording, and sharing these terrific stories!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks for listening!

[@coleharvey2678]

I realize Im kinda randomly asking but does anybody know of a good site to watch new tv shows online ?

[@kylespencer5395]

@Cole Harvey Flixportal

[@coleharvey2678]

@Kyle Spencer thank you, signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there =) Appreciate it !!

[@kylespencer5395]

@Cole Harvey You are welcome xD

[@debbieritter1248]

I stumbled on this channel while looking for audiobooks, I'm so happy I did. Wonderful stories and narrator. Thank you

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm very glad you stumbled here too. Thanks Debbie, appreciate your kind feedback

[@rosiemcnaughton9933]

I was on the edge of my chair! Great job! Good story.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Wonderful! Thanks Rosie

[@rachweatherilll69]

An excellent tale and superbly narrated.

[@andypammenter8528]

Have just discovered your stories and I'm binge listening, they are really very good. :-)

[@BitesizedAudio]

Excellent, that's great to hear. Thanks for taking the time to comment

[@rachweatherilll69]

I thought I was running out of good old ghost stories and then I stumbled across your narrations and I am in seventh heaven. A veritable smorgasbord so far 😁

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm very glad you stumbled here too! Thanks so much for your very kind comments and feedback.

[@rachweatherilll69]

You"re welcome, they are well deserved.

[@dodieheisey]

I’m with Rach W! Thrilled to discover your wonderful channel! Enjoying every minute. Wondered what stories were in”The Strand” and so happy with the narrators. Thank you very much.

[@rachweatherilll69]

@@dodieheisey he is brill isn't he 😊

[@rachweatherilll69]

Brill is short for brilliant Dodi if you're not sure what I'm on about lol

[@angelachouinard4581]

Know Fergus Hume from Mystery of a Hansom Cab. Didn't know about this great ghost story. Thank you.

[@GeorgeBletchly]

I love these no-nonsense gentlemanly heroes who don't suffer fools, knaves or the working class gladly. Very glad to have found this channel. Keep up the excellent work.

[@willmccormick947]

Enjoyed it. Great reading. Thanks.

[@QuirkyShiny]

LOVE these! Thank you so much for making them available on here - these are wonderful :)

[@ElaineOddsoxxx1]

Great narration and fab story, not heard of this writer before. Thanx!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks for the feedback Elaine - very glad to hear you enjoyed it!

[@alfredinglethorp1662]

Then felt I like a watcher of the skies, as a new planet swims into his ken... wrote Keats on reading Homer's epics. I feel similarly on hearing your readings. Classic.

[@GradKat]

Great reading of a very spooky story!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@spacehound3355]

That was a good.👻👻👻

[@raymondgerman6671]

A great enjoyable story. I haven’t heard the name “villain” in ages, not since I was a kid and watched Dudley Do-Right and Snidely Whiplash on THE ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE SHOW.

[@feralbluee]

you’re right! me, too :) and Natasha & Boris - great villains.

[@pesnevim1626]

Fantastic narration, good story. Thanks.

[@FIONA21ful]

Your channel is a delight , thank you so much for your quality uploads , beautiful reading , and especially for your wonderfully discerning taste in literature. My favourites as a collector are the ghost stories . Great stuff!

[@mariedixon3875]

Love this channel only discovered it and discovered is the right word because it's like old treasure. I've subscribed to make sure I'd dont miss any. Thankyou so much ! Xx

[@barbarawhittall2311]

Have but two more to listen to have enjoyed very much thank you 😊

[@BitesizedAudio]

Excellent, so glad you enjoyed! More stories coming soon...

[@digitalconcepts1439]

Another winner thanks!!

[@sands7779]

These unsettling ghost stories are a tonic when everything seems to be going to pot! Thank you for your excellent narration.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad it helps a bit! Best wishes to you

[@paristaylor7945]

Classy tale.great...thx

[@LPleighton]

You are unbelievably gifted!! If only more people were introduced to your work!! I’ve also managed to cut 5 minutes off of my cycle ride home from work, only because I’m certain I kept seeing the sandwalker hiding in bushes, behind the odd car etc…! Also, I am very sorry to hear about your recent troubles with this platform and a certain viewer. They must be mad.

[@ourmanf1int]

Great story and really well told.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Many thanks for your kind feedback, much appreciated

[@ourmanf1int]

@@BitesizedAudio Could you read 'The Clock' by W F Harvey? It's only about four pages in length but it is without doubt one of the creepiest supernatural tales I've ever read.W F Harvey is better known for 'August Heat' and 'The Beast With Five Fingers'.

[@BitesizedAudio]

@ourmanf1int I'd be delighted to read it, if I can verify it's in the public domain. Several of his stories are but I can't find the text for this one on any of my usual sources for public domain literature, which suggests it might not be (yet). Looks like it was published in 1928 which may cause some issues with US copyright (stories published prior to 1923 are OK), but I'll look further into it. Thanks for the suggestion! Harvey is one of the authors on my "to do" list...

[@pattymullin8515]

This is an excellent site. These are the types of horror stories I just love and have been searching for - well-written, eerie, ghosty/horror stories.This story was excellent as was the narrator. I'm hooked!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Patty, glad to know you enjoyed it!

[@whousay4672]

Excellent, thouraghly enjoyed this story.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Glad to know that, thank you!

[@laquerisma]

I've added your stories to my treadmill listening. Now I'm not only getting entertained but I am getting fit. Thank you!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Good practice for running away from ghosts?

[@laquerisma]

@@BitesizedAudio A Bitesized hat trick!

[@williamhagen2792]

The Sand-Walker holds the reader's attention, start to finish.

[@mijiyoon5575]

THX for the mini bio w/this story & the others you have up here on YT as well

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're most welcome, thank you for your comments and glad to know the biographical notes are interesting!

[@lillykay1037]

I am loving these ghost stories. Fantastic narration! Thank you very much ❤️

[@BitesizedAudio]

You're welcome, thanks Lilly

[@mrs.cracker4622]

What a wonderful KZbin channel and perfect narration. Some of these authors I'm unfamiliar with but have enjoyed very much. Thank you!

[@joannashaw4668]

Wonderful gripping tale, beautifully narrated. Thankyou.

[@meese9140]

I love this story so much. It's creepy and yet, surprisingly funny. It reminds me of the early chapters of Moby Dick where the inkeeper keeps pranking Ishmael.

[@maewest345]

Very glad I found these stories.

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm glad too! Thanks for listening Lola

[@annetteeggett2802]

Wish all of these could be filmed !

[@BitesizedAudio]

Yes indeed, this story in particular would adapt well, I think. The BBC do, or used to do, a "Ghost story for Christmas"... this would be a good choice for a future episode!

[@annetteeggett2802]

Bitesized Audio Classics they did!! Loved them. Highlight of Xmas eve 👻

[@geoffreyraleigh1674]

A good un! Cracking yarn. Thanks again.

[@Paxtonparsnip]

I enjoy revisiting these stories! I always find them a pleasure and thank you for curating them! If you hadn’t sought them out and shared them I would have missed out on a lot!

[@lizpride9960]

What a terrific tale, animated by the very liveliest of telling! I thoroughly enjoyed it, and saw and "felt" every moment-such evocative descriptions. A terrifyingly eerie tale, and yet I still found myself chuckling in the first half at the protagonist's dislike of the one-eyed teacher and his irritated exasperation at his deliberate mystification. Such a reversal for the reader, when later the reality of the situation sets in.....Wonderful acting..... Varied accents adding to the atmosphere and how actors actually change the *timbre* of their voices beats me, but that skill is exemplified throughout this tale (from an author I have never heard of before). Absolutely cracking, Mr Stanhope! Thank you very much. A proper treat!

[@lyndaa7560]

Very good story, loved the narration xx

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks Lynda! I'm fond of this particular story too

[@feralbluee]

you are such a great reader - as with Art, one interprets your own understanding and affects and i can do that with the way you read. Grazie 🌷🌱🌼

[@BitesizedAudio]

A very kind comment, thank you so much! It seems you've been binge-listening today, thanks so much for your comments and your generous feedback, glad you're enjoying the stories. Best wishes to you

[@feralbluee]

Bitesized Audio Classics :) 🌷✨

[@queenashantee8432]

THAT WAS A GOOD STORY. TY

[@ghostlightwhisper6802]

I have been enjoying your channel very much. I love the variety of stories, and your voice is just right. You are my favorite reader to listen to while I knit, and when I just want to relax. Have you considered recording “The Open Door” by Margaret Oliphant? I think it would sound very well in your style!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you, glad to know you enjoy the stories. I do have Margaret Oliphant on my to-do list, I've not got round to her yet as her stories tend to be quite long (well, comparatively so for short stories) so I'd need to set aside more time for prep, recording and editing than I have in a typical week... I'll have a think about scheduling something from her in the coming months. Funnily enough I was recently preparing 'The Open Door' by Charlotte Riddell, but that's on the back-burner at the moment for various reasons. Thanks for listening, and taking the time to comment!

[@paulas27]

Great stories and peerless narration. More please

[@juliaogara8794]

I definitely enjoyed it. Thank you for this😀

[@70schild420]

Your best story.I listens 4 times now

[@sonjawells4265]

Excellent. Thank you.❤

[@cathydoyle8804]

I feel your the best storyteller on youtube at this moment, you certainly have a actor's and storytellers voice. Thank for your videos.

[@BitesizedAudio]

That's very kind of you Cathy, thank you!

[@badnervesbrown]

Utterly superb reading of a very well-written and well-paced story, thank you!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Appreciated, thank you!

[@leonheartmusic5753]

Great narration & Yorkshire accent!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you!

[@synesthete23]

Wow. What beautiful narration. Even the characters and accents were masterfully done. Thank you Simon! 🎩

[@charlesoliver4161]

There's an excellent collection of stories, including this one, by Fergus Hume called The Dancer in Red and Other Stories.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Yes indeed, that's the collection in which I first discovered this story. I hope to do more stories from the volume at some point...

[@gregjones8412]

I must have listened to this at least fifteen times. It’s such a great yarn to nod off to. And beautifully narrated, I must add. Any more Thomas Hardy on the way?

[@leonaheraty3760]

Very spooky. 😊

[@boxfox2945]

Interesting stories' 👍💀🕯

[@oldfan1963]

Thanks! That was exceptionally well read.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you!

[@mjrussell414]

Whoa - super freaky!

[@billybatchelor2863]

Mr Sand man.... Yes? Bring me a dream

[@BitesizedAudio]

I'm not sure this particular sand man would bring the pleasantest dreams....!

[@billybatchelor2863]

Quite right sir quite right

[@christineheminger7762]

I do like the story

[@donnahiga3367]

Tragic!

[@faye9896]

Have you done a different reading of this one also? I have a selection of ghost stories narrated by yourself on Audible and this one sounds a little different to the one I have. Absolutely love your narration either way, I listen to them every night!

[@BitesizedAudio]

Well spotted! Yes, this was one of my earliest recordings for the channel, and I wanted to include it in my first Audible collection but I had to re-record it because I foolishly failed to keep a back up of the original audio, and this version wasn't processed suitably to meet Audible standards. A good learning experience though, I now back up everything! Thanks so much for your support on Audible, it's much appreciated

[@mrs.cracker4622]

PS, Have you any stories by Lord Dunsany or Algernon Blackwood?

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thanks for your kind feedback Mrs. Cracker! I'm certainly trying to cover a range of different authors, both well known and forgotten, but there are potential UK copyright issues with those two.... in the US, text goes into the public domain 95 years after publication (i.e. 1925 or earlier), whereas in the UK it's 70 years after the death of the author - and Blackwood and Dunsany both died in the 1950s. Having said that, some of Blackwood's earlier works may already be in the public domain, I need to investigate further. I've got them both on my list anyway and hope to record them at some point!

[@evelanpatton]

He goes yonder...

[@CAL-jj4om]

Maybe it doesn't exactly fit with by your collection, but I think you would do a fantastic rendition of Great Expectations.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Thank you Jane. I do like Charles Dickens and that's such a wonderful novel/story.... It's quite a big undertaking though! I have got a few longer stories in mind for recording when I have more time (but not quite Dickens length!), I'll give it some thought. Thanks for the suggestion

[@CAL-jj4om]

@@BitesizedAudio Somewhere around ten years ago, my daughter read me aloud the entire Harry Potter collection using various voices etc. She is now an English/Reading teacher. I have no doubt reading a long story like that is a significant undertaking. Hope you are well. Best regards!

[@CAL-jj4om]

@@BitesizedAudio You could do a book in groups of chapters 1-2/wk. I think your regular listeners would be fine with that.

[@BitesizedAudio]

@Jane Doe Yes, I'm thinking about something along those lines. Actually I've been thinking I'd like to do something for channel members - read a longer story chapter by chapter as I'm able to record them, while fitting it round other short stories for public release (and of course other work too... can't let that slide!) I've something in mind for the run up to Christmas ... if I can get on top of my current workload. I'll post more information on the Community tab when I can! I'm very impressed by your daughter reading ALL the Harry Potter stories... she's obviously well suited to her profession!

[@WadeWeigle]

Thou shall not kill. Very odd story but I did like how the ghost was a decent fellow and just had business with one person. Thank you for sharing.

[@waningmooncancer9628]

When seeking revenge, be prepared to dig two graves. It can backfire.

[@BitesizedAudio]

Wise words. Thanks Nancy

[@waningmooncancer9628]

@@BitesizedAudio Notice how you don't have to do a thing to someone who's wronged you? They have to reap what they sow. And, by the way, I remembered that from The Spy Who Loved Me.¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jdsteppenzyde]

Some days I feel like a bulky, monumental lump of indolence.

[@macummings7818]

Ok that one made me peevish… 😏🤷‍♀️

[@christineheminger7762]

A devoutly religious woman doesn’t know Leviticus? Thou shalt not avenge nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself: I àm the LORD. -Leviticus 19:18 I realize it’s a fictional story, but the fact that there are plenty of RL examples is more depressing than if the author had made up something unreasonable