第11章

Icanassureyou，andtellnolie(asJohnFryalwaysusedtosay，whentellinghisverylargest)，thatI

scrambledbacktothemouthofthatpitasiftheevilonehadbeenafterme。AndsorelyIrepentednowofallmyboyishfolly，ormadnessitmightwellbetermed，inventuring，withnonetohelp，andnothingtocompelme，intothataccursedvalley。Onceletmegetout，thinksI，andifeverIgetinagain，withoutbeingcastinbyneckandbycrop，Iwillgiveournew-borndonkeyleavetosetupformyschoolmaster。

HowIkeptthatresolutionweshallseehereafter。ItisenoughformenowtotellhowIescapedfromthedenthatnight。FirstIsatdowninthelittleopeningwhichLornahadpointedouttome，andwonderedwhethershehadmeant，asbitterlyoccurredtome，thatI

shouldrundownintothepit，andbedrowned，andgivenomoretrouble。ButinlessthanhalfaminuteIwasashamedofthatidea，andrememberedhowshewasvexedtothinkthatevenaloachshouldlosehislife。AndthenIsaidtomyself，’Nowsurelyshewouldvaluememorethanathousandloaches；andwhatshesaidmustbequitetrueaboutthewayoutofthishorribleplace。’

ThereforeIbegantosearchwiththeutmostcareanddiligence，althoughmyteethwerechattering，andallmybonesbeginningtoachewiththechillinessandthewetness。Beforeverylongthemoonappeared，overtheedgeofthemountain，andamongthetreesatthetopofit；andthenIespiedroughsteps，androcky，madeasifwithasledge-hammer，narrow，steep，andfarasunder，scoopedhereandthereinthesideoftheentrance，andthenroundabulgeofthecliff，likethemarksuponagreatbrownloaf，whereahungrychildhaspickedatit。Andhigherup，wherethelightofthemoonshonebroaderupontheprecipice，thereseemedtobearudebrokentrack，liketheshadowofacrookedstickthrownuponahouse-wall。

Hereinwassmallencouragement；andatfirstIwasmindedtoliedownanddie；butitseemedtocomeamisstome。GodhasHistimeforallofus；butHeseemstoadvertiseuswhenHedoesnotmeantodoit。Moreover，Isawamovementoflightsattheheadofthevalley，asiflanthornswerecomingafterme，andthenimblenessgiventhereontomyheelswasinfrontofallmeditation。

StraightwayIsetfootintheloweststirrup(asI

mightalmostcallit)，andclungtotherockwithmynails，andworkedtomakeajumpintothesecondstirrup。AndIcompassedthattoo，withtheaidofmystick；although，totellyouthetruth，Iwasnotatthattimeoflifesoagileasboysofsmallerframeare，formysizewasgrowingbeyondmyyears，andthemusclesnotkeepingtimewithit，andthejointsofmybonesnotcloselyhinged，withstaringatoneanother。

Butthethirdstep-holewasthehardestofall，andtherockswelledoutonmeovermybreast，andthereseemedtobenoattemptingit，untilIespiedagoodstoutropehanginginagrooveofshadow，andjustmanagedtoreachtheendofit。

HowIclombup，andacrosstheclearing，andfoundmywayhomethroughtheBagworthyforest，ismorethanI

canremembernow，forItookalltherestofitthenasadream，byreasonofperfectweariness。AndindeeditwasquitebeyondmyhopestotellsomuchasIhavetold，foratfirstbeginningtosetitdown，itwasalllikeamistbeforeme。Nevertheless，somepartsgrewclearer，asonebyoneIrememberedthem，havingtakenalittlesoftcordial，becausethememoryfrightensme。

Forthetoilofthewater，anddangeroflabouringupthelongcascadeorrapids，andthenthesurpriseofthefairyoungmaid，andterrorofthemurderers，anddesperationofgettingaway——allthesearemuchtomeevennow，whenIamastoutchurchwarden，andsitbythesideofmyfire，aftergoingthroughmanyfarworseadventures，whichIwilltell，Godwilling。Onlythelabourofwritingissuch(especiallysoastoconstrue，andchallengeareaderonpartsofspeech，andhopetobeevenwithhim)；thatbythispipewhichIholdinmyhandIeverexpecttobebeaten，asinthedayswhenoldDoctorTwiggs，ifImadeabadstrokeinmyexercise，shoutedaloudwithasourjoy，’JohnRidd，sirrah，downwithyoursmall-clothes!’

Letthatbeasitmay，Ideservedagoodbeatingthatnight，aftermakingsuchafoolofmyself，andgrindinggoodfustiantopieces。ButwhenIgothome，allthesupperwasin，andthemensittingatthewhitetable，andmotherandAnnieandLizzienearby，alleager，andofferingtobegin(except，indeed，mymother，whowaslookingoutatthedoorway)，andbythefirewasBettyMuxworthy，scolding，andcooking，andtastingherwork，allinabreath，asamanwouldsay。Ilookedthroughthedoorfromthedarkbythewood-stack，andwashalfofamindtostayoutlikeadog，forfearoftheratingandreckoning；butthewaymydearmotherwaslookingaboutandthebrowningofthesausagesgotthebetterofme。

ButnobodycouldgetoutofmewhereIhadbeenallthedayandevening；althoughtheyworriedmeneversomuch，andlongedtoshakemetopieces，especiallyBettyMuxworthy，whonevercouldlearntoletwellalone。Notthattheymademetellanylies，althoughitwouldhaveservedthemrightalmostforintrudingonotherpeople’sbusiness；butthatIjustheldmytongue，andatemysupperrarely，andletthemtrytheirtauntsandjibes，anddrovethemalmostwildaftersupper，bysmilingexceedingknowingly。AndindeedIcouldhavetoldthemthings，asIhintedonceortwice；andthenpoorBettyandourlittleLizzieweresomadwitheagerness，thatbetweenthemIwentintothefire，beingthoroughlyovercomewithlaughterandmyownimportance。

Nowwhattheworkingofmymindwas(if，indeeditworkedatall，anddidnotratherfollowsuitofbody)

itisnotinmypowertosay；onlythattheresultofmyadventureintheDooneGlenwastomakemedreamagooddealofnights，whichIhadneverdonemuchbefore，andtodriveme，withtenfoldzealandpurpose，tothepracticeofbullet-shooting。NotthatIeverexpectedtoshoottheDoonefamily，onebyone，orevendesiredtodoso，formynatureisnotrevengeful；butthatitseemedtobesomehowmybusinesstounderstandthegun，asathingImustbeathomewith。

Icouldhitthebarn-doornowcapitallywellwiththeSpanishmatch-lock，andevenwithJohnFry’sblunderbuss，attengoodland-yardsdistance，withoutanyrestformyfusil。Andwhatwasverywrongofme，thoughIdidnotseeitthen，IkeptJohnFrythere，topraisemyshots，fromdinner-timeoftenuntilthegreydusk，whileheallthetimeshouldhavebeenatworkspring-ploughinguponthefarm。AndforthatmattersoshouldIhavebeen，oratanyratedrivingthehorses；butJohnwasbynomeansloathtobethere，insteadofholdingtheplough-tail。Andindeed，oneofouroldsayingsis，——

Forpleasure’ssakeIwouldlieferwet，Thanha’tenlumpsofgoldforeachoneofmysweat。

Andagain，whichisnotabadproverb，thoughunthriftyandunlikeaScotsman’s，——

Godmakesthewheatgrowgreener，Whilefarmerbeathisdinner。

AndnoDevonshireman，orSomerseteither(andIbelongtobothofthem)，everthinksofworkingharderthanGodlikestoseehim。

Nevertheless，Iworkedhardatthegun，andbythetimethatIhadsentallthechurch-roofgutters，sofarasIhonestlycouldcutthem，throughtheredpine-door，I

begantolongforabettertoolthatwouldmakelessnoiseandthrowstraighter。Butthesheep-shearingcameandthehay-seasonnext，andthentheharvestofsmallcorn，andthediggingoftherootcalled’batata’

(anewbutgoodthinginourneighbourhood，whichourfolkhavemadeinto’taties’)，andthenthesweatingoftheapples，andtheturningofthecider-press，andthestackingofthefirewood，andnettingofthewoodcocks，andthespringlestobemindedinthegardenandbythehedgerows，whereblackbirdshoptothemolehillsinthewhiteOctobermornings，andgreybirdscometolookforsnailsatthetimewhenthesunisrising。

Itiswonderfulhowtimerunsaway，whenallthesethingsandagreatmanyotherscomeintoloadhimdownthehillandpreventhimfromstoppingtolookabout。

AndIformypartcanneverconceivehowpeoplewholiveintownsandcities，whereneitherlambsnorbirdsare(exceptinsomeshopwindows)，norgrowingcorn，normeadow-grass，norevensomuchasasticktocutorastiletoclimbandsitdownupon——howthesepoorfolkgetthroughtheirliveswithoutbeingutterlywearyofthem，anddyingfrompureindolence，isathingGodonlyknows，ifHismercyallowsHimtothinkofit。

HowtheyearwentbyIknownot，onlythatIwasabroadallday，shooting，orfishing，ormindingthefarm，orridingaftersomestraybeast，orawaybytheseasidebelowGlenthorne，wonderingatthegreatwaters，andresolvingtogoforasailor。ForinthosedaysIhadafirmbelief，asmanyotherstrongboyshave，ofbeingbornforaseaman。AndindeedIhadbeeninaboatnearlytwice；butthesecondtimemotherfounditout，andcameanddrewmebackagain；andafterthatshecriedsobadly，thatIwasforcedtogivemywordtohertogonomorewithouttellingher。

ButBettyMuxworthyspokehermindquiteinadifferentwayaboutit，thewhileshewaswringingmyhosen，andclatteringtothedrying-horse。

’Zailor，eesfai!ayandzarveunraight。Hercan’tkapeouto’thewatterhere，whura’mustgoovortovaindun，zameasagurtto-adsqualloping，andmuxuptillIbeworeout，Ibe，wi’theverysaightof’sbraiches。Howwiluneverbaideaboardzhip，wi’thewatterzingingoutunderun，andcomin’upsplashwhenthewindblow。Lattungoo，missus，lattungoo，zayI

forwan，andoldDavywashhiscloutsforun。’

AndthisdiscourseofBetty’stendedmorethanmymother’sprayers，Ifear，tokeepmefromgoing。ForI

hatedBettyinthosedays，aschildrenalwayshateacrossservant，andoftengetfondofafalseone。ButBetty，likemanyactivewomen，wasfalsebyhercrossnessonly；thinkingitjustforthemomentperhaps，andrushingawaywithabucket；readytosticktoit，likeaclenchednail，ifbeatenthewrongwaywithargument；butmeltingoverit，ifyoulefther，asstingingsoap，leftalonginabasin，spreadsallabroadwithoutbubbling。

Butallthisisbeyondthechildren，andbeyondmetooforthatmatter，evennowinripeexperience；forI

neverdidknowwhatwomenmean，andnevershallexceptwhentheytellme，ifthatbeintheirpower。Nowletthatquestionpass。ForalthoughIamnowinaplaceofsomeauthority，Ihaveobservedthatnooneeverlistenstome，whenIattempttolaydownthelaw；butallarewaitingwithopenearsuntilIdoenforceit。

Andsomethinkshewhoreadsahistorycaresnotmuchforthewisdomorfollyofthewriter(knowingwellthattheformerisfarlessthanhisown，andthelattervastlygreater)，buthurriestoknowwhatthepeopledid，andhowtheygotonaboutit。AndthisI

cantell，ifanyonecan，havingbeenmyselfinthethickofit。

ThefrightIhadtakenthatnightinGlenDoonesatisfiedmeforalongtimethereafter；andItookgoodcarenottoventureeveninthefieldsandwoodsoftheouterfarm，withoutJohnFryforcompany。JohnwasgreatlysurprisedandpleasedatthevalueInowsetuponhim；until，whatbetwixtthedesiretovauntandthelongingtotalkthingsover，Igraduallylaidbaretohimnearlyallthathadbefallenme；except，indeed，aboutLorna，whomasortofshamekeptmefrommentioning。NotthatIdidnotthinkofher，andwishveryoftentoseeheragain；butofcourseIwasonlyaboyasyet，andthereforeinclinedtodespiseyounggirls，asbeingunabletodoanything，andonlymeanttolistentoorders。AndwhenIgotalongwiththeotherboys，thatwashowwealwaysspokeofthem，ifwedeignedtospeakatall，asbeingsofalowerorder，onlygoodenoughtorunerrandsforus，andtonurseboy-babies。

AndyetmysisterAnniewasintruthagreatdealmoretomethanalltheboysoftheparish，andofBrendon，andCountisbury，puttogether；althoughatthetimeI

neverdreamedit，andwouldhavelaughediftoldso。

Anniewasofapleasingface，andverygentlemanner，almostlikealadysomepeoplesaid；butwithoutanyairswhatever，onlytryingtogivesatisfaction。Andifshefailed，shewouldgoandweep，withoutlettinganyoneknowit，believingthefaulttobeallherown，whenmostlyitwasofothers。Butifshesucceededinpleasingyou，itwasbeautifultoseehersmile，andstrokehersoftchininawayofherown，whichshealwaysusedwhentakingnotehowtodotherightthingagainforyou。Andthenhercheekshadabrightclearpink，andhereyeswereasblueastheskyinspring，andshestoodasuprightasayoungapple-tree，andnoonecouldhelpbutsmileather，andpatherbrowncurlsapprovingly；whereuponshealwayscurtseyed。Forshenevertriedtolookawaywhenhonestpeoplegazedather；andeveninthecourt-yardshewouldcomeandhelptotakeyoursaddle，andtell(withoutyouraskingher)whattherewasfordinner。

Andafterwardsshegrewuptobeaverycomelymaiden，tall，andwithawell-builtneck，andveryfairwhiteshoulders，underabrightcloudofcurlinghair。Alas!

poorAnnie，likemostofthegentlemaidens——buttush，Iamnotcometothatyet；andforthepresentsheseemedtomelittletolookat，afterthebeautyofLornaDoone。