第63章

Neitherwasthistheworstofit；forJeremymadenodoubtbutwhat(ifhecouldonlygetthemilitiatoturnoutinforce)hemightmanage，withthehelpofhisownmen，toforcethestrongholdoftheenemy；butthetruthwasthattheofficers，knowinghowharditwouldbetocollecttheirmenatthattimeoftheyear，andinthatstateoftheweather，beganwithoneaccordtomakeeverypossibleexcuse。Andespeciallytheypressedthispoint，thatBagworthywasnotintheircounty；theDevonshirepeopleaffirmingvehementlythatitlayintheshireofSomerset，andtheSomersetshirefolkaverring，evenwithimprecations，thatitlayinDevonshire。NowIbelievethetruthtobethattheboundaryofthetwocounties，aswellasofOareandBrendonparishes，isdefinedbytheBagworthyriver；sothatthedisputantsonbothsideswerebothrightandwrong。

Uponthis，MasterSticklessuggested，andasIthoughtverysensibly，thatthetwocountiesshouldunite，andequallycontributetotheextirpationofthispest，whichshamedandinjuredthembothalike。Buthencearoseanotherdifficulty；forthemenofDevonsaidtheywouldmarchwhenSomersethadtakenthefield；andthesonsofSomersetrepliedthatindeedtheywerequiteready，butwhatweretheircousinsofDevonshiredoing？AndsoitcametopassthattheKing’sCommissionerreturnedwithoutanyarmywhatever；butwithpromiseoftwohundredmenwhentheroadsshouldbemorepassable。Andmeanwhile，whatwerewetodo，abandonedasweweretothemerciesoftheDoones，withonlyourownhandstohelpus？AndhereinIgrievedatmyownfolly，inhavingletTomFaggusgo，whosewitandcouragewouldhavebeenworthatleasthalfadozenmentous。UponthismatterIheldlongcouncilwithmygoodfriendStickles；tellinghimallaboutLorna’spresence，andwhatIknewofherhistory。Heagreedwithmethatwecouldnothopetoescapeanattackfromtheoutlaws，andthemoreespeciallynowthattheyknewhimselftobereturnedtous。Alsohepraisedmeformyforethoughtinhavingthreshedoutallourcorn，andhiddentheproduceinsuchamannerthattheywerenotlikelytofindit。Furthermore，herecommendedthatalltheentrancestothehouseshouldatoncebestrengthened，andawatchmustbemaintainedatnight；

andhethoughtitwiserthatIshouldgo(lateasitwas)toLynmouth，ifahorsecouldpassthevalley，andfetcheveryoneofhismountedtroopers，whomightnowbequarteredthere。Alsoifanymenofcourage，thoughcapableonlyofhandlingapitchfork，couldbefoundintheneighbourhood，Iwastotrytosummonthem。Butourdistrictissothinlypeopled，thatIhadlittlefaithinthis；howevermyerrandwasgivenme，andI

setforthuponit；forJohnFrywasafraidofthewaters。

Knowinghowfiercelythefloodswereout，Iresolvedtotravelthehigherroad，byCosgateandthroughCountisbury；thereforeIswammyhorsethroughtheLynn，atthefordbelowourhouse(wheresometimesyoumaystepacross)，andthencegallopedupandalongthehills。Icouldseealltheinlandvalleysribbon’dwithbroadwaters；andineverywindingcrook，thebanksofsnowthatfedthem；whileonmyrighttheturbidseawasflakedwithAprilshowers。ButwhenI

descendedthehilltowardsLynmouth，Ifearedthatmyjourneywasallinvain。

FortheEastLynn(whichisourriver)wasrampingandroaringfrightfully，lashingwholetrunksoftreesontherocks，andrendingthem，andgrindingthem。Andintoitrushed，fromtheoppositeside，atorrentevenmadder；upsettingwhatitcametoaid；shatteringwavewithboilingbillow，andscatteringwrathwithfury。

Itwascertaindeathtoattemptthepassage：andthelittlewoodenfootbridgehadbeencarriedawaylongago。AndthemenIwasseekingmustbe，ofcourse，ontheothersideofthisdeluge，foronmysidetherewasnotasinglehouse。

Ifollowedthebankofthefloodtothebeach，sometwoorthreehundredyardsbelow；andtherehadthelucktoseeWillWatcombeontheoppositeside，caulkinganoldboat。ThoughIcouldnotmakehimhearaword，fromthedeafeningroarofthetorrent，IgothimtounderstandatlastthatIwantedtocrossover。Uponthishefetchedanotherman，andthetwoofthemlaunchedaboat；andpaddlingwellouttosea，fetchedroundthemouthofthefranticriver。TheothermanprovedtobeStickles’schiefmate；andsohewentbackandfetchedhiscomrades，bringingtheirweapons，butleavingtheirhorsesbehind。Asithappenedtherewerebutfourofthem；however，tohaveeventhesewasahelp；andIstartedagainatfullspeedformyhome；

forthemenmustfollowafoot，andcrossourriverhighuponthemoorland。

Thistookthemalongwayround，andthetrackwasratherbadtofind，andtheskyalreadydarkening；sothatIarrivedatPlover’sBarrowsmorethantwohoursbeforethem。Buttheyhaddoneasagaciousthing，whichwaswellworththedelay；forbyhoistingtheirflaguponthehill，theyfetchedthe