Neitherwasthistheworstofit；forJeremymadenodoubtbutwhatifhecouldonlygetthemilitiatoturnoutinforcehemightmanage，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；
andhethoughtitwiserthatIshouldgolateasitwastoLynmouth，ifahorsecouldpassthevalley，andfetcheveryoneofhismountedtroopers，whomightnowbequarteredthere。Alsoifanymenofcourage，thoughcapableonlyofhandlingapitchfork，couldbefoundintheneighbourhood，Iwastotrytosummonthem。Butourdistrictissothinlypeopled，thatIhadlittlefaithinthis；howevermyerrandwasgivenme，andI
setforthuponit；forJohnFrywasafraidofthewaters。
Knowinghowfiercelythefloodswereout，Iresolvedtotravelthehigherroad，byCosgateandthroughCountisbury；thereforeIswammyhorsethroughtheLynn，atthefordbelowourhousewheresometimesyoumaystepacross，andthencegallopedupandalongthehills。Icouldseealltheinlandvalleysribbon’dwithbroadwaters；andineverywindingcrook，thebanksofsnowthatfedthem；whileonmyrighttheturbidseawasflakedwithAprilshowers。ButwhenI