第64章

’Well，mybowerhasserveditstime’，saidLorna，blushingassherememberedallthathadhappenedthere；

’andmybowernowishere，John。ButIamsosorrytothinkofallthepoorwomenfloodedoutoftheirhousesandshelteringinthesnowdrifts。However，thereisonegoodofit：theycannotsendmanymenagainstus，withallthistroubleuponthem。’

’Youareright，’Ireplied；’howcleveryouare!andthatiswhytherewereonlythreetocutoffMasterStickles。Andnowweshallbeatthem，Imakenodoubt，eveniftheycomeatall。AndIdefythemtofirethehouse：thethatchistoowetforburning。’

Wesentallthewomentobedquiteearly，exceptGwennyCarfaxandouroldBetty。Thesetwoweallowedtostayup，becausetheymightbeusefultous，iftheycouldkeepfromquarreling。Formypart，Ihadlittlefear，afterwhatLornahadtoldme，astotheresultofthecombat。ItwasnotlikelythattheDoonescouldbringmorethaneightortenmenagainstus，whiletheirhomeswereinsuchdanger：andtomeetthesewehadeightgoodmen，includingJeremy，andmyself，allwellarmedandresolute，besidesourthreefarm-servants，andtheparish-clerk，andtheshoemaker。Thesefivecouldnotbetrustedmuchforanyvaliantconduct，althoughtheyspokeveryconfidentlyovertheircansofcider。Neitherweretheirweaponsfittedformuchexecution，unlessitwereatclosequarters，whichtheywouldbelikelytoavoid。BillDaddshadasickle，JemSlocombeaflail，thecobblerhadborrowedtheconstable’sstaff(fortheconstablewouldnotattend，becausetherewasnowarrant)，andtheparishclerkhadbroughthispitch-pipe，whichwasenoughtobreakanyman’shead。ButJohnFry，ofcourse，hadhisblunderbuss，loadedwithtin-tacksandmarbles，andmorelikelytokillthemanwhodischargeditthananyotherperson：butweknewthatJohnhaditonlyforshow，andtodescribeitsqualities。

Nowitwasmygreatdesire，andmychiefesthope，tocomeacrossCarverDoonethatnight，andsettlethescorebetweenus；notbyanyshotinthedark，butbyaconflictmantoman。Asyet，sinceIcametofull-grownpower，IhadnevermetanyonewhomIcouldnotplayteetotumwith：butnowatlastIhadfoundamanwhosestrengthwasnottobelaughedat。Icouldguessitinhisface，Icouldtellitinhisarms，I

couldseeitinhisstrideandgait，whichmorethanalltherestbetraythesubstanceofaman。Andbeingsowellusedtowrestling，andtojudgeantagonists，I

feltthathere(ifanywhere)Ihadfoundmymatch。

ThereforeIwasnotcontenttoabidewithinthehouse，orgotheroundswiththetroopers；butbetookmyselftotherickyard，knowingthattheDooneswerelikelytobegintheironsetthere。Fortheyhadapleasantcustom，whentheyvisitedfarm-houses，oflightingthemselvestowardspickingupanythingtheywanted，orstabbingtheinhabitants，byfirstcreatingablazeintherickyard。Andthoughourrickswereallnowofmerestraw(exceptindeedtwoofprimeclover-hay)，andalthoughonthetoptheyweresowetthatnofirebrandsmighthurtthem；Iwasbothunwillingtohavethemburned，andfearfulthattheymightkindle，ifwellrousedupwithfireuponthewindwardside。

Bythebye，theseDooneshadgottheworstofthispleasanttrickonetime。ForhappeningtofirethericksofalonelyfarmcalledYeanworthy，notfaraboveGlenthorne，theyapproachedthehousetogetpeople’sgoods，andtoenjoytheirterror。Themasterofthefarmwaslatelydead，andhadleft，insidetheclock-case，loaded，thegreatlonggun，wherewithhehadusedtosportattheducksandthegeeseontheshore。NowWidowFishertookoutthisgun，andnotcaringmuchwhatbecameofher(forshehadlovedherhusbanddearly)，shelaidituponthewindow-sill，whichlookedupontherick-yard；andshebackedupthebuttwithachestofoakdrawers，andsheopenedthewindowalittleback，andletthemuzzleoutontheslope。PresentlyfiveorsixfineyoungDoonescamedancingareel(astheirmannerwas)betwixtherandtheflamingrick。Uponwhichshepulledthetriggerwithalltheforceofherthumb，andaquarterofapoundofduck-shotwentoutwithablazeonthedancers。Youmaysupposewhattheirdancingwas，andtheirreelinghowchangedtostaggering，andtheirmusicnoneofthesweetest。Oneofthemfellintotherick，andwasburned，andburiedinaditchnextday；

buttheothersweresetupontheirhorses，andcarriedhomeonapathofblood。Andstrangetosay，theyneveravengedthisverydreadfulinjury；buthavingheardthatawomanhadfiredthisdesperateshotamongthem，theysaidthatsheoughttobeaDoone，andinquiredhowoldshewas。

NowIhadnotbeensoverylongwaitinginourmow-yard，withmybestgunready，andabigclubbyme，beforeaheavinessofsleepbegantocreepuponme。

Theflowofwaterwasinmyears，andinmyeyesahazyspreading，anduponmybrainaclosure，asacobblersewsavampup。SoIleanedba