第4章

Threetimesitcameandwentagain，astheshakingofathreadmightpassawayintothedistance；andthenI

touchedJohnFrytoknowthattherewassomethingnearme。

’Doon’t’ebeavule，Jan!VainemoozickasiverI

’eer。Godblessthemanasmadeundooit。’

’HavetheyhangedoneoftheDoonesthen，John？’

’Hush，lad；nivertalklaikeo’thiccy。HangaDoone!

Godknoweth，theKingwouldhangprettyquickifherdid。’

’Thenwhoisitinthechains，John？’

IfeltmyspiritriseasIasked；fornowIhadcrossedExmoorsooftenastohopethatthepeoplesometimesdeservedit，andthinkthatitmightbealessontotherogueswhounjustlylovedthemuttontheywereneverbornto。But，ofcourse，theywereborntohanging，whentheysetthemselvessohigh。

’Itbenawbody，’saidJohn，’vorustomakeafushabout。Belongtot’otherzideo’themoor，andcomestalingshapetoourzide。RedJemHannafordhisname。ThankGodforhimtobehanged，lad；andgoodcesstohissoulforcraikin’zo。’

Sothesoundofthequietswingingledusverymodestly，asitcameandwentonthewind，loudandlowprettyregularly，evenasfarasthefootofthegibbetwherethefourcross-waysare。

’Vamousjobthishere，’criedJohn，lookinguptobesureofit，becausethereweresomany；’herebemyownnickonthepost。RedJem，too，andnodoubtofhim；

hedohangsohandsomelike，andhisribsuplaikeahorsea’most。Godblessthemasdiscooveredthewaytomakearoguesouseful。Good-naighttothee，Jem，mylad；andnotbreakthydrameswiththecraikin’。’

JohnFryshookhisbridle-arm，andsmoteuponSmilermerrily，ashejoggedintothehomewardtrackfromtheguidingofthebody。ButIwassorryforRedJem，andwantedtoknowmoreabouthim，andwhetherhemightnothaveavoidedthismiserableend，andwhathiswifeandchildrenthoughtofit，if，indeed，hehadany。

ButJohnwouldtalknomoreaboutit；andperhapshewasmovedwithalonesomefeeling，asthecreakingsoundcameafterus。

’Houldtheetongue，lad，’hesaidsharply；’usbenaightheDoone-tracknow，twomailefromDunkeryBeaconhill，thehaighestplaceofHexmoor。Sohappentheybeabroadto-naight，usmustcrawlonourbelly-places，boy。’

Iknewatoncewhathemeant——thosebloodyDoonesofBagworthy，theaweofallDevonandSomerset，outlaws，traitors，murderers。MylittlelegsbegantotrembletoandfrouponPeggy’ssides，asIheardthedeadrobberinchainsbehindus，andthoughtoftheliveonesstillinfront。

’But，John，’Iwhisperedwarily，sidlingclosetohissaddle-bow；’dearJohn，youdon’tthinktheywillseeusinsuchafogasthis？’

’NeverGodmadevogascouldstoptheireyesen，’hewhisperedinanswer，fearfully；’hereusbebythehollowground。Zober，lad，goozobernow，iftheewishtoseethymoother。’

ForIwasinclined，inthemannerofboys，tomakearunofthedanger，andcrosstheDoone-trackatfullspeed；torushforit，andbedonewithit。ButeventhenIwonderedwhyhetalkedofmymotherso，andsaidnotawordoffather。

Wewerecometoalongdeep’goyal，’astheycallitonExmoor，awordwhosefountainandoriginIhavenothingtodowith。OnlyIknowthatwhenlittleboyslaughedatmeatTiverton，fortalkingabouta’goyal，’abigboycloutedthemonthehead，andsaidthatitwasinHomer，andmeantthehollowofthehand。AndanothertimeaWelshmantoldmethatitmustbesomethinglikethethingtheycalla’pant’inthoseparts。StillI

knowwhatitmeanswellenough——towit，alongtroughamongwildhills，fallingtowardstheplaincountry，roundedatthebottom，perhaps，andstiff，morethansteep，atthesidesofit。Whetheritbestraightorcrooked，makesnodifferencetoit。

Werodeverycarefullydownourside，andthroughthesoftgrassatthebottom，andallthewhilewelistenedasiftheairwasaspeaking-trumpet。Thengladlywebreastedournagstotherise，andwerecomingtothecombofit，whenIheardsomething，andcaughtJohn’sarm，andhebenthishandtotheshapeofhisear。Itwasthesoundofhorses’feetknockingupthroughsplashyground，asifthebottomsuckedthem。Thenagruntingofwearymen，andtheliftingnoiseofstirrups，andsometimestheclankofironmixedwiththewheezycroningofleatherandtheblowingofhairynostrils。

’God’ssake，Jack，sliproundherbelly，andlethergowhereshewull。’

AsJohnFrywhispered，soIdid，forhewasoffSmilerbythistime；butourtwopadsweretoofaggedtogofar，andbegantonoseaboutandcrop，sniffingmorethantheyneedhavedone。IcrepttoJohn’ssideverysoftly，withthebridleonmyarm。

’Letgoobraidle；letgoo，lad。PlaiseGodtheytakethemforforest-ponies，orthey’llzendabulletthroughus。’

Isawwhathemeant，andletgothebridle；fornowthemistwasrollingoff，andwewereagainstthesky-linetothedarkcavalcadebelowus。Johnlayonthegroundbyabarrowofheather，wherealittlegulletwas，andIcrepttohim，afraidofthenoiseImadeindraggingmylegsalong，andthecreakofmycordbreeches。Johnbleatedlikeasheeptocoverit——asheepverycoldandtrembling。

Thenjustastheforemosthorsemanpassed，scarcetwentyyardsbelowus，apuffofwindcameuptheglen，andthefogrolledoffbeforeit。Andsuddenlyastrongredlight，castbythecloud-weightdownwards，spreadlikefingersoverthemoorland，openedthealleysofdarkness，andhungonthesteeloftheriders。

’DunkeryBeacon，’whisperedJohn，socloseintomyear，thatIfelthislipsandteethashake；’dursn’tfireitnowexcepttoshowtheDooneswayhomeagain，sincethenaightastheywentupandthrowedthewatchmenatopofit。Why，wuttbe’bout，lad？God’ssake——’

ForIcouldkeepstillnolonger，butwriggledawayfromhisarm，andalongthelittlegullet，stillgoingflatonmybreastandthighs，untilIwasunderagreypatchofstone，withafringeofdryfernroundit；

thereIlay，scarcetwentyfeetabovetheheadsoftheriders，andIfearedtodrawmybreath，thoughpronetodoitwithwonder。

Fornowthebeaconwasrushingup，inafierystormtoheaven，andtheformofitsflamecameandwentinthefolds，andtheheavyskywashovering。Allarounditwashungwithred，deepintwistedcolumns，andthenagiantbeardoffirestreamedthroughoutthedarkness。

Thesullenhillswereflankedwithlight，andthevalleyschinedwithshadow，andallthesombrousmoorsbetweenawokeinfurrowedanger。

Butmostofalltheflingingfireleapedintotherockymouthoftheglenbelowme，wherethehorsemenpassedinsilence，scarcelydeigningtolookround。Heavymenandlargeofstature，recklesshowtheyboretheirguns，orhowtheysatetheirhorses，withleathernjerkins，andlongboots，andironplatesonbreastandhead，plunderheapedbehindtheirsaddles，andflagonsslunginfrontofthem；Icountedmorethanthirtypass，likecloudsuponredsunset。Somehadcarcassesofsheepswingingwiththeirskinson，othershaddeer，andonehadachildflungacrosshissaddle-bow。

Whetherthechildweredead，oralive，wasmorethanI

couldtell，onlyithungheaddownwardsthere，andmusttakethechanceofit。Theyhadgotthechild，averyyoungone，forthesakeofthedress，nodoubt，whichtheycouldnotstoptopullofffromit；forthedressshonebright，wherethefirestruckit，asifwithgoldandjewels。Ilongedinmyhearttoknowmostsadlywhattheywoulddowiththelittlething，andwhethertheywouldeatit。

Ittouchedmesotoseethatchild，apreyamongthosevultures，thatinmyfoolishrageandburningIstoodupandshoutedtothemleapingonarock，andravingoutofallpossession。Twoofthemturnedround，andonesethiscarbineatme，buttheothersaiditwasbutapixie，andbadehimkeephispowder。Littletheyknew，andlessthoughtI，thatthepixiethenbeforethemwoulddancetheircastledownoneday。

JohnFry，whointhespringoffrighthadbroughthimselfdownfromSmiler’sside，asifheweredippedinoil，nowcameuptome，allriskbeingover，cross，andstiff，andachingsorelyfromhiswetcouchofheather。

’Smallthankstothee，Jan，asmynewwaifebain’tawidder。Andwhobeyoutozupportofher，andherson，ifshehaveone？ZarvetheerightifIwastochucktheedownintotheDoone-track。Zimthee’llcometoun，zoonerorlater，ifthisbethezampleofthee。’

Andthatwasallhehadtosay，insteadofthankingGod!Forifeverbornmanwasinafright，andreadytothankGodforanything，thenameofthatmanwasJohnFrynotmorethanfiveminutesagone。

However，Ianswerednothingatall，excepttobeashamedofmyself；andsoonwefoundPeggyandSmilerincompany，wellembarkedonthehomewardroad，andvictuallingwherethegrasswasgood。Rightgladtheyweretoseeusagain——notforthepleasureofcarrying，butbecauseahorse(likeawoman)lacks，andisbetterwithout，self-reliance。

Myfathernevercametomeetus，ateithersideofthetelling-house，neitheratthecrookedpost，norevenathome-linhayalthoughthedogskeptsuchanoisethathemusthaveheardus。Home-sideofthelinhay，andundertheashenhedge-row，wherefathertaughtmetocatchblackbirds，allatoncemyheartwentdown，andallmybreastwashollow。Therewasnoteventhelanthornlightonthepegagainstthecow’shouse，andnobodysaid’Holdyournoise!’tothedogs，orshouted’HereourJackis!’

Ilookedatthepostsofthegate，inthedark，becausetheyweretall，likefather，andthenatthedooroftheharness-room，whereheusedtosmokehispipeandsing。ThenIthoughthehadguestsperhaps——peoplelostuponthemoors——whomhecouldnotleaveunkindly，evenforhisson’ssake。AndyetaboutthatIwasjealous，andreadytobevexedwithhim，whenheshouldbegintomakemuchofme。AndIfeltinmypocketforthenewpipewhichIhadbroughthimfromTiverton，andsaidtomyself，’Heshallnothaveituntilto-morrowmorning。’

Woeisme!Icannottell。HowIknewIknownotnow——onlythatIslunkaway，withoutatear，orthoughtofweeping，andhidmeinasaw-pit。Therethetimber，over-head，camelikestreaksacrossme；andallI

wantedwastolack，andnonetotellmeanything。

By-and-by，anoisecamedown，asofwoman’sweeping；

andtheremymotherandsisterwere，chokingandholdingtogether。Althoughtheyweremydearestloves，Icouldnotbeartolookatthem，untiltheyseemedtowantmyhelp，andputtheirhandsbeforetheireyes。

MydearfatherhadbeenkilledbytheDoonesofBagworthy，whileridinghomefromPorlockmarket，ontheSaturdayevening。Withhimweresixbrother-farmers，allofthemverysober；forfatherwouldhavenocompanywithanymanwhowentbeyondhalfagallonofbeer，orasinglegallonofcider。Therobbershadnogrudgeagainsthim；forhehadneverfloutedthem，neithermadeovermuchofoutcry，becausetheyrobbedotherpeople。Forhewasamanofsuchstricthonesty，anddueparishfeeling，thatheknewittobeeveryman’sownbusinesstodefendhimselfandhisgoods；unlesshebelongedtoourparish，andthenwemustlookafterhim。

Thesesevengoodfarmerswerejoggingalong，helpingoneanotherinthetroublesoftheroad，andsinginggoodlyhymnsandsongstokeeptheircouragemoving，whensuddenlyahorsemanstoppedinthestarlightfullacrossthem。

Bydressandarmstheyknewhimwell，andbyhissizeandstature，shownagainsttheglimmeroftheeveningstar；andthoughheseemedonemantoseven，itwasintruthonemantoone。OfthesixwhohadbeensingingsongsandpsalmsaboutthepowerofGod，andtheirownregeneration——suchpsalmsaswenttheround，inthosedays，ofthepublic-houses——therewasnotonebutpulledouthismoney，andsangsmallbeertoaDoone。

Butfatherhadbeenusedtothinkthatanymanwhowascomfortableinsidehisowncoatandwaistcoatdeservedtohavenootherset，unlesshewouldstrikeablowforthem。Andso，whilehisgossipsdoffedtheirhats，andshookwithwhatwasleftofthem，hesethisstaffabovehishead，androdeattheDoonerobber。Withatrickofhishorse，thewildmanescapedthesuddenonset，althoughitmusthaveamazedhimsadlythatanydurstresisthim。ThenwhenSmilerwascarriedawaywiththedashandtheweightofmyfather(notbeingbroughtuptobattle，norusedtoturn，saveinploughharness)，theoutlawwhistleduponhisthumb，andplunderedtherestoftheyeoman。Butfather，drawingatSmiler’shead，totrytocomebackandhelpthem，wasinthemidstofadozenmen，whoseemedtocomeoutofaturf-rick，someonhorse，andsomea-foot。

Nevertheless，hesmotelustily，sofarashecouldsee；

andbeingofgreatsizeandstrength，andhisbloodwellup，theyhadnoeasyjobwithhim。Withtheplayofhiswrist，hecrackedthreeorfourcrowns，beingalwaysfamousatsingle-stick；untiltherestdrewtheirhorsesaway，andhethoughtthathewasmaster，andwouldtellhiswifeaboutit。

Butamanbeyondtherangeofstaffwascrouchingbythepeat-stack，withalonggunsettohisshoulder，andhegotpoorfatheragainstthesky，andIcannottelltherestofit。OnlytheyknewthatSmilercamehome，withblooduponhiswithers，andfatherwasfoundinthemorningdeadonthemoor，withhisivy-twistedcudgellyingbrokenunderhim。Now，whetherthiswereanhonestfight，GodjudgebetwixttheDoonesandme。

Itwasmoreofwoethanwonder，beingsuchdaysofviolence，thatmotherknewherselfawidow，andherchildrenfatherless。Ofchildrentherewereonlythree，noneofusfittobeusefulyet，onlytocomfortmother，bymakinghertoworkforus。I，JohnRidd，wastheeldest，andfeltitaheavythingonme；nextcamesisterAnnie，withabouttwoyearsbetweenus；andthenthelittleEliza。

Now，beforeIgothomeandfoundmysadloss——andnoboyeverlovedhisfathermorethanIlovedmine——motherhaddoneamostwondrousthing，whichmadealltheneighbourssaythatshemustbemad，atleast。

UpontheMondaymorning，whileherhusbandlayunburied，shecastawhitehoodoverherhair，andgatheredablackcloakroundher，and，takingcounselofnoone，setoffonfootfortheDoone-gate。

Intheearlyafternoonshecametothehollowandbarrenentrance，whereintruththerewasnogate，onlydarknesstogothrough。IfIgetonwiththisstory，I

shallhavetotellofitby-and-by，asIsawitafterwards；andwillnotdwelltherenow。Enoughthatnogunwasfiredather，onlyhereyeswerecoveredover，andsomebodyledherbythehand，withoutanywishtohurther。

Averyroughandheadstrongroadwasallthatsheremembered，forshecouldnotthinkasshewishedtodo，withthecoldironpushedagainsther。Attheendofthisroadtheydeliveredhereyes，andshecouldscarcebelievethem。