’Oaf，Imeannothingofthesort；theywouldonlymakealaughing-stock，asthoseDevonshirepeopledid，ofme。No，IwillgototheKinghimself，oramanwhoisbiggerthantheKing，andtowhomIhavereadyaccess。
Iwillnottelltheehisnameatpresent，onlyifthouartbroughtbeforehim，neverwiltthouforgetit。’
Thatwastrueenough，bythebye，asIdiscoveredafterwards，forthemanhemeantwasJudgeJeffreys。
’Andwhenareyoulikelytoseehim，sir？’
’Maybeinthespring，maybenotuntilsummer，forI
cannotgotoLondononpurpose，butwhenmybusinesstakesmethere。Onlyremembermywords，Jack，andwhenyouseethemanImean，lookstraightathim，andtellnolie。Hewillmakesomeofyourzanysquiresshakeintheirshoes，Ireckon。Now，IhavebeeninthislonelyholefarlongerthanIintended，byreasonofthisoutrage；yetIwillstayhereonedaymoreuponacertaincondition。’
’Uponwhatcondition，UncleBen？Igrievethatyoufinditsolonely。WewillhaveFarmerNicholasupagain，andthesingers，and——’
’Thefashionablemilkmaids。Ithankyou，letmebe。
Thewenchesaretooloudforme。YourNannyisenough。
Nannyisagoodchild，andsheshallcomeandvisitme。’UncleReubenwouldalwayscallher’Nanny’；hesaidthat’Annie’wastoofineandFrenchifiedforus。
’Butmyconditionisthis，Jack——thatyoushallguidemeto-morrow，withoutawordtoanyone，toaplacewhereImaywelldescrythedwellingofthesescoundrelDoones，andlearnthebestwaytogetatthem，whenthetimeshallcome。Canyoudothisforme？Iwillpayyouwell，boy。’
Ipromisedveryreadilytodomybesttoservehim，but，ofcourse，wouldtakenomoneyforit，notbeingsopoorasthatcameto。Accordingly，onthedayfollowing，Imanagedtosetthemenatworkontheothersideofthefarm，especiallythatinquisitiveandbusybodyJohnFry，whowouldpryoutalmostanythingforthepleasureoftellinghiswife；andthen，withUncleReubenmountedonmyancientPeggy，Imadefootforthewestward，directlyafterbreakfast。UncleBenrefusedtogounlessIwouldtakealoadedgun，andindeeditwasalwayswisetodosointhosedaysofturbulence；andnonethelessbecauseoflatemorethanusualofoursheephadlefttheirskinsbehindthem。
This，asIneedhardlysay，wasnottobechargedtotheappetiteoftheDoones，fortheyalwayssaidthattheywerenotbutchersalthoughuponthatsubjectmightwellbetwoopinions；andtheirpracticewastomaketheshepherdskillandskin，andquarterforthem，andsometimescarrytotheDoone-gatetheprimeamongthefatlings，forfearofanybruising，whichspoilsthelookattable。Buttheworstofitwasthatignorantfolk，unawareoftheirfastidiousness，scoredtothemthesheeptheylostbylower-bornmarauders，andsowereafraidtospeakofit：andtheissueofthiserrorwasthatafarmer，withfiveorsixhundredsheep，couldnevercommand，onhiswedding-day，aprimesaddleofmuttonfordinner。
ToreturnnowtomyUncleBen——andindeedhewouldnotletmegomorethanthreeland-yardsfromhim——therewasverylittlesaidbetweenusalongthelaneandacrossthehill，althoughthedaywaspleasant。I
couldseethathewashalfamisswithhismindaboutthebusiness，andnotsofullofsecurityasanelderlymanshouldkeephimself。Therefore，outIspake，andsaid，——
’UncleReuben，havenofear。Iknoweveryinchoftheground，sir；andthereisnodangernighus。’
’Fear，boy!Whoeverthoughtoffear？’Tisthelastthingwouldcomeacrossme。Prettythingsthoseprimroses。’
AtonceIthoughtofLornaDoone，thelittlemaidofsixyearsback，andhowmyfancywentwithher。CouldLornaeverthinkofme？WasInotaloutgoneby，onlyfitforloach-sticking？HadIeverseenafacefittothinkofnearher？Thesuddenflash，thequickness，thebrightdesiretoknowone’sheart，andnotwithholdherownfromit，thesoftwithdrawalofricheyes，thelongingtolovesomebody，anybody，anything，notimbruedwithwickedness——
Myuncleinterruptedme，mislikingsomuchsilencenow，withthenakedwoodsfallingoverus。ForwewerecometoBagworthyforest，theblackestandtheloneliestplaceofallthatkeepthesunout。Evennow，inwinter-time，withmostofthewoodunriddled，andtherestofitpinchedbrown，ithungarounduslikeacloakcontaininglittlecomfort。IkeptquiteclosetoPeggy’shead，andPeggykeptquiteclosetome，andprickedherearsateverything。However，wesawnothingthere，exceptafewoldowlsandhawks，andamagpiesittingallalone，untilwecametothebankofthehill，wheretheponycouldnotclimbit。UncleBenwasveryloathtogetoff，becausetheponyseemedcompany，andhethoughthecouldgallopawayonher，iftheworstcametotheworst，butIpersuadedhimthatnowhemustgototheendofit。ThereforehemadePeggyfast，inaplacewherewecouldfindher，andspeakingcheerfullyasiftherewasnothingtobeafraidof，hetookhisstaff，andImygun，toclimbthethickascent。
Therewasnownopathofanykind；whichaddedtoourcourageallitlessenedofourcomfort，becauseitprovedthattherobberswerenotinthehabitofpassingthere。Andweknewthatwecouldnotgoastray，solongaswebreastedthehillbeforeus；
inasmuchasitformedtherampart，orside-fenceofGlenDoone。ButintruthIusedtherightwordthereforthemannerofourascent，forthegroundcameforthsosteepagainstus，andwithalsowoody，thattomakeanywaywemustthrowourselvesforward，andlabourasatabreast-plough。Roughandloamyrungsofoak-rootbulgedhereandthereaboveourheads；briersneedsmustspeakwithus，usingmoreoftooththantongue；
andsometimesbulksofruggedstone，likegreatsheep，stoodacrossus。Atlast，thoughveryloathtodoit，Iwasforcedtoleavemygunbehind，becauseIrequiredonehandtodragmyselfupthedifficulty，andonetohelpUncleReuben。Andsoatlastwegainedthetop，andlookedforththeedgeoftheforest，wherethegroundwasverystonyandlikethecrestofaquarry；
andnomoretreesbetweenusandthebrinkofcliffbelow，threehundredyardsbelowitmightbe，allstrongslopeandgliddery。AndnowfarthefirsttimeIwasamazedattheappearanceoftheDoones’sstronghold，andunderstooditsnature。ForwhenIhadbeeneveninthevalley，andclimbedthecliffstoescapefromit，aboutsevenyearsagone，Iwasnomorethanastriplingboy，notinglittle，asboysdo，exceptfortheirpresentpurpose，andeventhatsoondonewith。Butnow，whatwiththefameoftheDoones，andmyownrecollections，andUncleBen’sinsistence，allmyattentionwascalledforth，andtheendwassimpleastonishment。
Thechineofhighland，whereonwestood，curvedtotherightandleftofus，keepingaboutthesameelevation，andcrownedwithtreesandbrushwood。Atabouthalfamileinfrontofus，butlookingasifwecouldthrowastonetostrikeanymanuponit，anothercrestjustlikeourownbowedaroundtomeetit；butfailedbyreasonoftwonarrowcleftsofwhichwecouldonlyseethebrink。OneofthesecleftswastheDoone-gate，withaportcullisofrockaboveit，andtheotherwasthechasmbywhichIhadoncemadeentrance。Betwixtthem，wherethehillsfellback，asinaperfectoval，traversedbythewindingwater，layabrightgreenvalley，rimmedwithsheerblackrock，andseemingtohavesunkenbodilyfromthebleakroughheightsabove。
Itlookedasifnofrostcouldenterneitherwindgoruffling；onlyspring，andhope，andcomfort，breathetooneanother。Evennowtheraysofsunshinedweltandfellbackononeanother，wheneverthecloudslifted；andthepaleblueglimpseofthegrowingdayseemedtofindyoungencouragement。
Butforallthat，UncleReubenwasnonetheworsenorbetter。HelookeddownintoGlenDoonefirst，andsniffedasifheweresmellingit，likeasampleofgoodsfromawholesalehouse；andthenhelookedatthehillsoveryonder，andthenhestaredatme。
’Seewhatapackoffoolstheybe？’
’OfcourseIdo，UncleBen。“Allroguesarefools，“
wasmyfirstcopy，beginningofthealphabet。’
’Packofstufflad。Thoughtrueenough，andverygoodforyoungpeople。ButseeyounothowthisgreatDoonevalleymaybetakeninhalfanhour？’
’Yes，tobesureIdo，uncle；iftheyliketogiveitup，Imean。’
’Threeculverinsonyonderhill，andthreeonthetopofthisone，andwehavethemunderapestle。Ah，I
haveseenthewars，mylad，fromKeintonuptoNaseby；
andImighthavebeenageneralnow，iftheyhadtakenmyadvice——’
ButIwasnotattendingtohim，beingdrawnawayonasuddenbyasightwhichneverstruckthesharpeyesofourGeneral。ForIhadlongagodescriedthatlittleopeninginthecliffthroughwhichImademyexit，asbeforerelated，ontheothersideofthevalley。Nobiggerthanarabbit-holeitseemedfromwherewestood；andyetofallthescenebeforeme，thatfrommyremembranceperhapshadthemostattraction。Nowgazingatitwithfullthoughtofallthatithadcostme，Isawalittlefigurecome，andpause，andpassintoit。Somethingverylightandwhite，nimble，smooth，andelegant，gonealmostbeforeIknewthatanyonehadbeenthere。Andyetmyheartcametomyribs，andallmybloodwasinmyface，andpridewithinmefoughtwithshame，andvanitywithself-contempt；forthoughsevenyearsweregone，andIfrommyboyhoodcometomanhood，andallmusthaveforgottenme，andI
hadhalf-forgotten；atthatmoment，onceforall，I
feltthatIwasfacetofacewithfatehoweverpooritmightbe，wealorwoe，inLornaDoone。
Havingreconnoitredthusthepositionoftheenemy，MasterHuckaback，onthehomewardroad，cross-examinedmeinamannernotatalldesirable。Forhehadnotedmyconfusionandeagergazeatsomethingunseenbyhiminthevalley，andthereuponhemadeuphismindtoknoweverythingaboutit。Inthis，however，hepartlyfailed；foralthoughIwasnohandatfence，andwouldnottellhimafalsehood，Imanagedsotoholdmypeacethatheputhimselfuponthewrongtrack，andcontinuedthereonwithmanyvauntsofhisshrewdnessandexperience，andsomechucklesatmysimplicity。Thusmuchhowever，helearnedaright，thatIhadbeenintheDoonevalleyseveralyearsbefore，andmightbebroughtuponstronginducementtoventurethereagain。Butastothemodeofmygettingin，thethingsIsaw，andmythoughtsuponthem，henotonlyfailedtolearnthetruth，butcertifiedhimselfintoanobstinacyoferror，fromwhichnoafter-knowledgewasabletodeliverhim。Andthishedid，notonlybecauseI
happenedtosayverylittle，butforasmuchashedisbelievedhalfofthetruthItoldhim，throughhisowntoogreatsagacity。
Upononepoint，however，hesucceededmoreeasilythanheexpected，viz。inmakingmepromisetovisittheplaceagain，assoonasoccasionoffered，andtoholdmyowncounselaboutit。ButIcouldnothelpsmilingatonething，thataccordingtohispointofviewmyowncounselmeantmyownandMasterReubenHuckaback’s。
Nowhebeinggone，ashewentnextday，tohisfavouritetownofDulverton，andleavingbehindhimshadowypromiseofthemountainshewoulddoforme，myspiritbegantoburnandpantforsomethingtogoonwith；andnothingshowedabraverhopeofmovementandadventurethanalonelyvisittoGlenDoone，bywayoftheperilouspassagediscoveredinmyboyhood。
ThereforeIwaitedfornothingmorethantheslowarrivalofnewsmall-clothesmadebyagoodtailoratPorlock，forIwaswishfultolookmybest；andwhentheywerecomeandapproved，Istarted，regardlessoftheexpense，andforgettinglikeafoolhowbadlytheywouldtakethewater。
Whatwithurgingofthetailor，andmyownmisgivings，thetimewasnowcomeroundagaintothehigh-dayofSt。Valentine，whenallourmaidswerefulloflovers，andalltheladslookedfoolish。AndnoneofthemmoresheepishorinnocentthanImyself，albeittwenty-oneyearsold，andnotafraidofmenmuch，butterrifiedofwomen，atleast，iftheywerecomely。Andwhatofallthingsscaredmemostwasthethoughtofmyownsize，andknowledgeofmystrength，whichcamelikeknotsuponmedaily。InhonesttruthItellthisthing，whichoftensincehathpuzzledme，whenIcametomixwithmenmore，Iwastothatdegreeashamedofmythicknessandmystature，inthepresenceofawoman，thatIwouldnotputatrunkofwoodonthefireinthekitchen，butletAnniescoldmewell，withasmiletofollow，andwithherownplumphandsliftupalittlelog，andfuelit。ManyatimeIlongedtobenobiggerthanJohnFrywas；whomnowwheninsolentItookwithmylefthandbythewaist-stuff，andsethimonmyhat，andgavehimlittlechancetotreadit；untilhespokeofhisfamily，andrequestedtocomedownagain。
Nowtakingforgoodomenthis，thatIwasaseven-yearValentine，thoughmuchtoobigforaCupidon，Ichoseaseven-footstaffofash，andfixedaloach-forkinit，tolookasIhadlookedbefore；andleavingworduponmattersofbusiness，outofthebackdoorIwent，andsothroughthelittleorchard，anddownthebrawlingLynn-brook。Notbeingnowsomuchafraid，Istruckacrossthethicketlandbetweenthemeetingwaters，andcameupontheBagworthystreamnearthegreatblackwhirlpool。Nothingamazedmesomuchastofindhowshallowthestreamnowlookedtome，althoughthepoolwasstillasblackandgreedyasitusedtobe。Andstillthegreatrockyslidewasdarkanddifficulttoclimb；thoughthewater，whichoncehadtakenmyknees，wassatisfiednowwithmyankles。Aftersomelabour，I