A group of scouts ignore the dire warnings surrounding a desolate and sinister landmark. Their exploration leads them to an ancient well steeped in local folklore and ancient dread. The warnings, however, prove terrifyingly real. As they spend longer in the unsettling atmosphere, they discover that some places belong to the past, and the dead do not rest when disturbed. The consequence of their intrusion is a chilling and inescapable encounter. From the mind of M. R. James, the acknowledged master who redefined the ghost story for the 20th century and founded the 'antiquarian ghost story' genre, comes a chilling tale of fatal curiosity. This story is a quintessential example of James' genius for building palpable creeping dread from local legends, making it essential reading for fans of classic ghost stories and supernatural fiction, proving that disrespecting the past always carries a terrifying price.