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，whitenedwithsnowasIthoughtatthesides，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，althoughasI
thoughtsoclever；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’sPrayerwhichwasallIknew，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，amongitlikeanearlystarwasthefirstprimroseoftheseason。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？’