The Devil’s Woodchopper

Introduction

“The Devil’s Woodchopper” is an unfinished tale by Robert E. Howard, later completed by his friend Tevis Clyde Smith (See: Grim Land and Others). The story delves into themes of horror and madness, set against the bleak and desolate moors of Galloway. It provides a vivid portrayal of a man’s descent into fear and paranoia, driven by a seemingly ordinary yet profoundly disturbing encounter. The narrative encapsulates Howard’s mastery of creating an atmosphere of dread and psychological tension.

The story, though incomplete, effectively sets up a chilling atmosphere and presents a scenario rife with psychological horror, leaving the reader to ponder the thin line between reality and madness.

Summary

The story opens with the narrator expressing his profound terror, haunted by horrific visions that have shattered his peace and sanity. He recounts how a trivial event led to his current state of fear. This event occurred on the wild Galloway fens, a desolate and primeval landscape that transforms into a menacing and prehistoric scene as twilight falls.

As the narrator stands in this eerie setting, he observes two men approaching each other on a narrow footpath. One is a young, tall, blond man, seemingly preoccupied and hurrying along. The other is an elderly, stocky moor-man carrying a bundle of fagots. Their meeting is peculiar and alarming. The blond man, upon noticing the moor-man, reacts with sudden terror, screaming and fleeing across the moor, leaving the moor-man bewildered but indifferent.

The blond man then encounters the narrator, reacting with suspicion and aggression, but is eventually calmed. He insists that they leave the moors, leading the narrator to a nearby village with an almost frantic urgency. Once in the village, they reach an inn, where the blond man secures a room and begins to explain his fears.

Inside the inn, the blond man, still displaying signs of intense fear, reveals that his terror is linked to the moor-man, whom he believes to be more than just a simple wood-chopper. He refers to him as cutting wood for the fires of Hell and expresses distrust in his own perceptions. The blond man is convinced that there are supernatural forces at play and that the moors are haunted by devils.

The story is left unfinished, leaving readers with an intense sense of dread and a multitude of unanswered questions about the nature of the blond man’s fear and the true identity of the moor-man.

Characters

  • Narrator: The primary voice of the story, experiencing profound fear and recounting the events that led to his current state.
  • Blond Young Man: A tall, strongly built individual whose encounter with the moor-man triggers a deep-seated terror. He believes the moor-man to be associated with Hell.
  • Moor-Man/Wood-Chopper: A stocky, elderly man carrying a bundle of fagots. He embodies the primeval quality of the moors and is perceived by the blond man as a sinister figure.

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