第9章

Nowalltheturnofallmylifehunguponthatmoment。

ButasIsattheremunchingacrustofBettyMuxworthy’ssweetbrownbread，andabitofcoldbaconalongwithit，andkickingmylittleredheelsagainstthedryloamtokeepthemwarm，Iknewnomorethanfishundertheforkwhatwasgoingonoverme。ItseemedasadbusinesstogobacknowandtellAnnietherewerenoloaches；andyetitwasafrightfulthing，knowingwhatIdidofit，toventure，wherenogrownmandurst，uptheBagworthywater。AndpleasetorecollectthatIwasonlyaboyinthosedays，fondenoughofanythingnew，butnotlikeamantomeetit。

However，asIatemoreandmore，myspiritarosewithinme，andIthoughtofwhatmyfatherhadbeen，andhowhehadtoldmeahundredtimesnevertobeacoward。

AndthenIgrewwarm，andmylittleheartwasashamedofitspit-a-patting，andIsaidtomyself，’nowiffatherlooks，heshallseethatIobeyhim。’SoIputthebagroundmybackagain，andbuckledmybreechesfarupfromtheknee，expectingdeeperwater，andcrossingtheLynn，wentstoutlyupunderthebrancheswhichhangsodarkontheBagworthyriver。

Ifounditstronglyover-woven，turned，andtornwiththicket-wood，butnotsorockyastheLynn，andmoreinclinedtogoevenly。Therewerebarsofchafedstakesstretchedfromthesideshalf-wayacrossthecurrent，andlightoutridersofpithyweed，andbladesoflastyear’swater-grasstremblinginthequietplaces，likeaspider’sthreads，onthetransparentstillness，withatintofolivemovingit。Andhereandtherethesuncamein，asifhislightwassifted，makingdanceuponthewaves，andshadowingthepebbles。

Here，althoughaffrightedoftenbythedeep，darkplaces，andfeelingthateverystepItookmightneverbetakenbackward，onthewholeIhadverycomelysportofloaches，trout，andminnows，forkingsome，andticklingsome，anddrivingotherstoshallownooks，whenceIcouldbailthemashore。Now，ifyouhaveeverbeenfishing，youwillnotwonderthatIwasledon，forgettingallaboutdanger，andtakingnoheedofthetime，butshoutinginachildishwaywheneverIcaughta’whacker’(aswecalledabigfishatTiverton)；andinsooththerewereveryfineloacheshere，havingmorelieandharbouragethanintheroughLynnstream，thoughnotquitesolargeasintheLowman，whereI

haveeventakenthemtotheweightofhalfapound。

Butinanswertoallmyshoutsthereneverwasanysoundatall，exceptofarockyecho，orascaredbirdhustlingaway，orthesuddendiveofawater-vole；andtheplacegrewthickerandthicker，andthecovertgrewdarkeraboveme，untilIthoughtthatthefishesmighthavegoodchanceofeatingme，insteadofmyeatingthefishes。

Fornowthedaywasfallingfastbehindthebrownofthehill-tops，andthetrees，beingvoidofleafandhard，seemedgiantsreadytobeatme。Andeverymomentastheskywasclearingupforawhitefrost，thecoldofthewatergotworseandworse，untilIwasfittocrywithit。Andso，inasorryplight，Icametoanopeninginthebushes，whereagreatblackpoollayinfrontofme，whitenedwithsnow(asIthought)atthesides，tillIsawitwasonlyfoam-froth。

Now，thoughIcouldswimwithgreateaseandcomfort，andfearednodepthofwater，whenIcouldfairlycometoit，yetIhadnodesiretogooverheadandearsintothisgreatpool，beingsocrampedandweary，andcoldenoughinallconscience，thoughwetonlyuptothemiddle，notcountingmyarmsandshoulders。Andthelookofthisblackpitwasenoughtostoponefromdivingintoit，evenonahotsummer’sdaywithsunshineonthewater；Imean，ifthesunevershonethere。Asitwas，Ishudderedanddrewback；notaloneatthepoolitselfandtheblackairtherewasaboutit，butalsoatthewhirlingmanner，andwispingofwhitethreadsuponitinstripycirclesroundandround；andthecentrestillasjet。

ButsoonIsawthereasonofthestiranddepthofthatgreatpit，aswellasoftheroaringsoundwhichlonghadmademewonder。Forskirtingroundoneside，withverylittlecomfort，becausetherockswerehighandsteep，andtheledgeatthefootsonarrow，Icametoasuddensightandmarvel，suchasIneverdreamedof。

For，lo!Istoodatthefootofalongpaleslideofwater，comingsmoothlytome，withoutanybreakorhindrance，forahundredyardsormore，andfencedoneithersidewithcliff，sheer，andstraight，andshining。Thewaterneitherrannorfell，norleapedwithanyspouting，butmadeoneevenslopeofit，asifithadbeencombedorplaned，andlookinglikeaplankofdeallaiddownadeepblackstaircase。However，therewasnoside-rail，noranyplacetowalkupon，onlythechannelafathomwide，andtheperpendicularwallsofcragshuttingouttheevening。

Thelookofthisplacehadasadeffect，scaringmeverygreatly，andmakingmefeelthatIwouldgivesomethingonlytobeathomeagain，withAnniecookingmysupper，andourdogWatchsniffingupward。Butnothingwouldcomeofwishing；thatIhadlongfoundout；anditonlymadeonethelessinclinedtoworkwithoutwhitefeather。SoIlaidthecasebeforemeinalittlecouncil；notforlossoftime，butonlythatI

wantedrest，andtoseethingstruly。

ThensaysItomyself——’JohnRidd，thesetrees，andpools，andlonesomerocks，andsettingofthesunlightaremakingagruesomecowardofthee。ShallIgobacktomymotherso，andbecalledherfearlessboy？’

Nevertheless，Iamfreetoownthatitwasnotanyfinesenseofshamewhichsettledmydecision；forindeedtherewasnearlyasmuchofdangeringoingbackasingoingon，andperhapsevenmoreoflabour，thejourneybeingsoroundabout。Butthatwhichsavedmefromturningbackwasastrangeinquisitivedesire，veryunbecominginaboyoflittleyears；inaword，Iwouldriskagreatdealtoknowwhatmadethewatercomedownlikethat，andwhattherewasatthetopofit。

Therefore，seeinghardstrifebeforeme，Igirtupmybreechesanew，witheachbuckleoneholetighter，forthesoddenstrapswerestretchingandgiving，andmayhapmylegsweregrownsmallerfromthecoldnessofit。ThenIbestowedmyfisharoundmyneckmoretightly，andnotstoppingtolookmuch，forfearoffear，crawledalongovertheforkofrocks，wherethewaterhadscoopedthestoneout，andshunningthustheledgefromwhenceitroselikethemaneofawhitehorseintothebroadblackpool，softlyIletmyfeetintothedipandrushofthetorrent。

AndhereIhadreckonedwithoutmyhost，although(asI

thought)soclever；anditwasmuchbutthatIwentdownintothegreatblackpool，andhadneverbeenheardofmore；andthismusthavebeentheendofme，exceptformytrustyloach-fork。Forthegreenwavecamedownlikegreatbottlesuponme，andmylegsweregoneoffinamoment，andIhadnottimetocryoutwithwonder，onlytothinkofmymotherandAnnie，andknockmyheadverysadly，whichmadeitgoroundsothatbrainswerenogood，evenifIhadany。Butallinamoment，beforeIknewaught，exceptthatImustdieoutoftheway，witharoarofwateruponme，myfork，praiseGodstuckfastintherock，andIwasborneupuponit。Ifeltnothingexceptthatherewasanothermattertobeginupon；anditmightbeworthwhile，oragainitmightnot，tohaveanotherfightforit。Butpresentlythedashofthewateruponmyfacerevivedme，andmymindgrewusedtotheroarofit，andmeseemedIhadbeenworseoffthanthis，whenfirstflungintotheLowman。

ThereforeIgatheredmylegsbackslowly，asiftheywerefishtobelanded，stoppingwheneverthewaterflewtoostronglyoffmyshin-bones，andcomingalongwithoutstickingouttoletthewavegetholdofme。

AndinthismannerIwonafooting，leaningwellforwardlikeadraught-horse，andbalancingonmystrengthasitwere，withtheashenstakesetbehindme。ThenIsaidtomyself，’JohnRidd，thesooneryougetyourselfoutbythewayyoucame，thebetteritwillbeforyou。’Buttomygreatdismayandaffright，Isawthatnochoicewasleftmenow，exceptthatI

mustclimbsomehowupthathillofwater，orelsebewasheddownintothepoolandwhirlaroundittillitdrownedme。FortherewasnochanceoffetchingbackbythewayIhadgonedownintoit，andfurtherupwasahedgeofrockoneithersideofthewaterway，risingahundredyardsinheight，andforallIcouldtellfivehundred，andnoplacetosetafootin。

HavingsaidtheLord’sPrayer(whichwasallIknew)，andmadeaverybadjobofit，Igraspedthegoodloach-stickunderaknot，andsteadiedmewithmylefthand，andsowithasighofdespairbeganmycourseupthefearfultorrent-way。Tomeitseemedhalfamileatleastofslidingwateraboveme，butintruthitwaslittlemorethanafurlong，asIcametoknowafterwards。Itwouldhavebeenahardascentevenwithouttheslipperyslimeandtheforceoftheriveroverit，andIhadscantyhopeindeedofeverwinningthesummit。Nevertheless，myterrorleftme，nowIwasfacetofacewithit，andhadtomeettheworst；andI

setmyselftodomybestwithavigourandsortofhardnesswhichdidnotthensurpriseme，buthavedonesoeversince。

Thewaterwasonlysixinchesdeep，orfromthattonineattheutmost，andallthewayupIcouldseemyfeetlookingwhiteinthegloomofthehollow，andhereandthereIfoundresting-place，toholdonbythecliffandpantawhile。AndgraduallyasIwenton，awarmthofcouragebreathedinme，tothinkthatperhapsnootherhaddaredtotrythatpassbeforeme，andtowonderwhatmotherwouldsaytoit。Andthencamethoughtofmyfatheralso，andthepainofmyfeetabated。

HowIwentcarefully，stepbystep，keepingmyarmsinfrontofme，andneverdaringtostraightenmykneesismorethanIcantellclearly，orevenlikenowtothinkof，becauseitmakesmedreamofit。OnlyImustacknowledgethatthegreatestdangerofallwasjustwhereIsawnojeopardy，butranupapatchofblackooze-weedinaveryboastfulmanner，beingnownotfarfromthesummit。

HereIfellverypiteously，andwasliketohavebrokenmyknee-cap，andthetorrentgotholdofmyotherlegwhileIwasindulgingthebruisedone。Andthenavileknottingofcrampdisabledme，andforawhileIcouldonlyroar，tillmymouthwasfullofwater，andallofmybodywassliding。Butthefrightofthatbroughtmetoagain，andmyelbowcaughtinarock-hole；andsoI

managedtostartagain，withthehelpofmorehumility。

Nowbeinginthemostdreadfulfright，becauseIwassonearthetop，andhopewasbeatingwithinme，I

labouredhardwithbothlegsandarms，goinglikeamillandgrunting。Atlasttherushofforkedwater，wherefirstitcameoverthelipsofthefall，drovemeintothemiddle，andIstuckawhilewithmytoe-ballsontheslipperylinksofthepop-weed，andtheworldwasgreenandgliddery，andIdurstnotlookbehindme。

ThenImadeupmymindtodieatlast；forsomylegswouldachenomore，andmybreathnotpainmyheartso；

onlyitdidseemsuchapityafterfightingsolongtogivein，andthelightwascominguponme，andagainI

foughttowardsit；thensuddenlyIfeltfreshair，andfellintoitheadlong。

WhenIcametomyselfagain，myhandswerefullofyounggrassandmould，andalittlegirlkneelingatmysidewasrubbingmyforeheadtenderlywithadock-leafandahandkerchief。

’Oh，Iamsoglad，’shewhisperedsoftly，asIopenedmyeyesandlookedather；’nowyouwilltrytobebetter，won’tyou？’

Ihadneverheardsosweetasoundascamefrombetweenherbrightredlips，whilethereshekneltandgazedatme；neitherhadIeverseenanythingsobeautifulasthelargedarkeyesintentuponme，fullofpityandwonder。Andthen，mynaturebeingslow，andperhaps，forthatmatter，heavy，Iwanderedwithmyhazyeyesdowntheblackshowerofherhair，astomyjadedgazeitseemed；andwhereitfellontheturf，amongit(likeanearlystar)wasthefirstprimroseoftheseason。AndsincethatdayIthinkofher，throughalltheroughstormsofmylife，whenIseeanearlyprimrose。Perhapsshelikedmycountenance，andindeedIknowshedid，becauseshesaidsoafterwards；

althoughatthetimeshewastooyoungtoknowwhatmadehertaketome。NotthatIhadanybeauty，oreverpretendedtohaveany，onlyasolidhealthyface，whichmanygirlshavelaughedat。

ThereuponIsateupright，withmylittletridentstillinonehand，andwasmuchafraidtospeaktoher，beingconsciousofmycountry-brogue，lestsheshouldceasetolikeme。Butsheclappedherhands，andmadeatriflingdancearoundmyback，andcametomeontheotherside，asifIwereagreatplaything。

’Whatisyourname？’shesaid，asifshehadeveryrighttoaskme；’andhowdidyoucomehere，andwhatarethesewetthingsinthisgreatbag？’

’Youhadbetterletthemalone，’Isaid；’theyareloachesformymother。ButIwillgiveyousome，ifyoulike。’

’Dearme，howmuchyouthinkofthem!Why，theyareonlyfish。Buthowyourfeetarebleeding!oh，Imusttiethemupforyou。Andnoshoesnorstockings!Isyourmotherverypoor，poorboy？’

’No，’Isaid，beingvexedatthis；’wearerichenoughtobuyallthisgreatmeadow，ifwechose；andheremyshoesandstockingsbe。’

’Why，theyarequiteaswetasyourfeet；andIcannotbeartoseeyourfeet。Oh，pleasetoletmemanagethem；Iwilldoitverysoftly。’

’Oh，Idon’tthinkmuchofthat，’Ireplied；’Ishallputsomegoose-greasetothem。Buthowyouarelookingatme!Ineversawanyonelikeyoubefore。MynameisJohnRidd。Whatisyourname？’