Thattheenterprisenowresolveduponwasfarmoredangerousthananyhithertoattemptedbyme，needsnofurtherproofthanthis：——IwentandmademywillatPorlock，withamiddlinghonestlawyerthere；notthatIhadmuchtoleave，butthatnonecouldsayhowfarthefarm，andallthefarmingstock，mightdependonmydisposition。ItmakesmesmilewhenIrememberhowparticularIwas，andhowforthelifeofmeIwaspuzzledtobequeathmostpartofmyclothes，andhats，andthingsaltogethermyown，toLorna，withouttheshrewdoldlawyerknowingwhoshewasandwhereshelived。Atlast，indeed，IflatteredmyselfthatIhadbaffledoldTape’scuriosity；buthiswrinkledsmileandhisspeechatpartingmademeagainuneasy。
’Averyexcellentwill，youngsir。Anadmirablyjustandvirtuouswill；allyoureffectstoyournearestofkin；filialandfraternaldutythoroughlyexemplified；
nothingdivertedtoalienchannels，exceptasmalltokenofesteemandreverencetoanelderlylady，I
presume：andwhichmayormaynotbevalid，orinvalid，onthegroundofuncertainty，ortheabsenceofanylegalstatusonthepartofthelegatee。Ha，ha!Yes，yes!Fewyoungmenaresofreefromexceptionableentanglements。Twoguineasismycharge，sir：andararegoodwillforthemoney。Veryprudentofyou，sir。Doesyoucreditineveryway。Well，well；weallmustdie；andoftentheyoungbeforetheold。’
NotonlydidIthinktwoguineasagreatdealtoomuchmoneyforaquarterofanhour’semployment，butalsoI
dislikedparticularlythewordswithwhichheconcluded；theysounded，fromhisgratingvoice，liketheevilomenofacroakingraven。NeverthelessI
stillabodeinmyfixedresolvetogo，andfindout，ifIdiedforit，whatwasbecomeofLorna。AndhereinI
laynoclaimtocourage；thematterbeingsimplyachoicebetweentwoevils，ofwhichbyfarthegreateronewas，ofcourse，tolosemydarling。
ThejourneywasagreatdeallongertofetcharoundtheSouthernhills，andenterbytheDoone-gate，thantocrossthelowerlandandstealinbythewater-slide。
However，IdurstnottakeahorseforfearoftheDooneswhomightbeabroadupontheirusualbusiness，butstartedbetimesintheevening，soasnottohurry，orwasteanystrengthupontheway。AndthusIcametotherobbers’highway，walkingcircumspectly，scanningthesky-lineofeveryhill，andsearchingthefoldsofeveryvalley，foranymovingfigure。
Althoughitwasnowwellontowardsdark，andthesunwasdownanhourorso，Icouldseetherobbers’roadbeforeme，inatroughofthewindinghills，wherethebrookplougheddownfromthehigherbarrows，andthecovingbankswereroofedwithfurze。Atpresent，therewasnoonepassing，neitherpostnorsentinel，sofarasIcoulddescry；butIthoughtitsafertowaitalittle，astwilightmeltedintonight；andthenIcreptdownaseamofthehighland，andstoodupontheDoone-track。
Astheroadapproachedtheentrance，itbecamemorestraightandstrong，likeachannelcutfromrock，withthewaterbrawlingdarklyalongthenakedsideofit。
Notatreeorbushwasleft，toshelteramanfrombullets：allwasstern，andstiff，andrugged，asI
couldnothelpperceiving，eventhroughthedarkness，andasmellasofchurchyardmould，asenseofbeingboxedinandcooped，mademelongtobeoutagain。
AndhereIwas，orseemedtobe，particularlyunlucky；
forasIdrewneartheveryentrance，lightlyoffootandwarily，themoonwhichhadoftenbeenmyfriend
likeanenemybrokeuponme，toppingtheeastwardridgeofrock，andfillingalltheopenspaceswiththeplayofwaveringlight。Ishrankbackintotheshadowyquarterontherightsideoftheroad；andgloomilyemployedmyselftowatchthetripleentrance，onwhichthemoonlightfellaskew。
Allacrossandbeforethethreerudeandbeetlingarchwayshungafelledoakoverhead，black，andthick，andthreatening。This，asIheardbefore，couldbeletfallinamoment，soastocrushascoreofmen，andbartheapproachofhorses。Behindthistree，therockymouthwasspanned，asbyagallerywithbrushwoodandpiledtimber，alluponaledgeofstone，wherethirtymenmightlurkunseen，andfireatanyinvader。
Fromthatrampartitwouldbeimpossibletodislodgethem，becausetherockfellsheerbelowthemtwentyfeet，oritmaybemore；whileoverheadittoweredthreehundred，andsojuttedoverthatnothingcouldbecastuponthem；evenifamancouldclimbtheheight。
Andtheaccesstothisportcullisplace——ifImaysocallit，beingnoportcullisthere——wasthroughcertainrockychambersknowntothetenantsonly。
Butthecleverestoftheirdevices，andthemostpuzzlingtoanenemy，wasthat，insteadofonemouthonly，therewerethreetochoosefrom，withnothingtobetokenwhichwastheproperaccess；allbeingprettymuchalike，andallunfencedandyawning。Andthecommonrumourwasthatintimesofanydanger，whenanyforcewasknowntobeonmusterintheirneighbourhood，theychangedtheirentranceeveryday，anddivertedtheothertwo，bymeansofslidingdoorstothechasmsanddarkabysses。
NowIcouldseethosethreerougharches，jagged，black，andterrible；andIknewthatonlyoneofthemcouldleadmetothevalley；neithergavetherivernowanyfurtherguidance；butdivedundergroundwithasullenroar，whereitmetthecross-barofthemountain。Havingnomeansatallofjudgingwhichwastherightwayofthethree，andknowingthattheothertwowouldleadtoalmostcertaindeath，intheruggednessanddarkness，——forhowcouldaman，amongprecipicesandbottomlessdepthsofwater，withoutarayoflight，haveanychancetosavehislife？——IdodeclarethatIwashalfinclinedtogoaway，andhavedonewithit。
However，Iknewonethingforcertain，towit，thatthelongerIstayeddebatingthemorewouldtheenterprisepalluponme，andthelessmyrelishbe。Anditstruckmethat，intimesofpeace，themiddlewaywasthelikeliest；andtheothersdivergingrightandleftintheirfartherpartsmightbemadetoslideintoitnotfarfromtheentrance，atthepleasureofthewarders。
AlsoItookitforgoodomenthatIrememberedasrarelyhappenedaveryfinelineintheLatingrammar，whoseemphasisandmeaningis’middleroadissafest。’
Therefore，withoutmorehesitation，Iplungedintothemiddleway，holdingalongashstaffbeforeme，shoddenattheendwithiron。PresentlyIwasinblackdarknessgropingalongthewall，andfeelingadealmorefearthanIwishedtofeel；especiallywhenuponlookingbackIcouldnolongerseethelight，whichI
hadforsaken。ThenIstumbledoversomethinghard，andsharp，andverycold，moreoversogrievoustomylegsthatitneededmyverybestdoctrineandhumourtoforbearfromswearing，inthemannertheyuseinLondon。ButwhenIaroseandfeltit，andknewittobeaculverin，Iwassomewhatreassuredthereby，inasmuchasitwasnotlikelythattheywouldplantthisengineexceptintherealandtrueentrance。
ThereforeIwentonagain，morepainfullyandwearily，andpresentlyfoundittobegoodthatIhadreceivedthatknock，andborneitwithsuchpatience；forotherwiseImighthaveblunderedfulluponthesentries，andbeenshotwithoutmoreado。Asitwas，I
hadbarelytimetodrawback，asIturnedacorneruponthem；andiftheirlanthornhadbeeninitsplace，theycouldscarcehavefailedtodescryme，unlessindeedI
hadseenthegleambeforeIturnedthecorner。
Thereseemedtobeonlytwoofthem，ofsizeindeedandstatureasalltheDoonesmustbe，butIneednothavefearedtoencounterthemboth，hadtheybeenunarmed，asIwas。Itwasplain，however，thateachhadalongandheavycarbine，notinhishandsasitshouldhavebeen，butstandingclosebesidehim。Thereforeitbehovedmenowtobeexceedinglycareful，andeventhatmightscarceavail，withoutluckinproportion。SoI
keptwellbackatthecorner，andlaidonecheektotherockface，andkeptmyoutereyeroundthejut，inthewariestmodeIcouldcompass，watchingmyopportunity：
andthisiswhatIsaw。
Thetwovillainslookedveryhappy——whichvillainshavenorighttobe，butoftenare，meseemeth——theyweresittinginanicheofrock，withthelanthorninthecorner，quaffingsomethingfromglassmeasures，andplayingatpush-pin，orshepherd’schess，orbasset；orsometrivialgameofthatsort。Eachwassmokingalongclaypipe，quiteofnewLondonshape，Icouldsee，fortheshadowwasthrownoutclearly；andeachwouldlaughfromtimetotime，ashefanciedhegotthebetterofit。Onewassittingwithhiskneesup，andlefthandonhisthigh；andthisonehadhisbacktome，andseemedtobethestouter。Theotherleanedmoreagainsttherock，halfsittingandhalfastraddle，andwearingleathernoveralls，asifnewlycomefromriding。Icouldseehisfacequiteclearlybythelightoftheopenlanthorn，andahandsomerorabolderfaceIhadseldom，ifever，seteyesupon；insomuchthatitmademeveryunhappytothinkofhisbeingsonearmyLorna。
’HowlongamItostandcrouchinghere？’Iaskedofmyself，atlast，beingtiredofhearingthemcry，’scoreone，’’scoretwo，’’No，by——，Charlie，’’By——，Isayitis，Phelps。’Andyetmyonlychanceofslippingbythemunperceivedwastowaittilltheyquarrelledmore，andcametoblowsaboutit。
Presently，asImadeupmymindtostealalongtowardsthemforthecavernwasprettywide，justthere，Charlie，orCharleworthDoone，theyoungerandtallerman，reachedforthhishandtoseizethemoney，whichhesworehehadwonthattime。Uponthis，theotherjerkedhisarm，vowingthathehadnorighttoit；
whereuponCharlieflungathisfacethecontentsoftheglasshewassipping，butmissedhimandhitthecandle，whichsputteredwithaflareofblueflamefromthestrengthperhapsofthespiritandthenwentoutcompletely。Atthis，oneswore，andtheotherlaughed；andbeforetheyhadsettledwhattodo，Iwaspastthemandroundthecorner。
Andthen，likeagiddyfoolasIwas，Ineedsmustgivethemastartler——thewhoopofanowl，donesoexactly，asJohnFryhadtaughtme，andechoedbytheroofsofearfully，thatoneofthemdroppedthetinderbox；andtheothercaughtuphisgunandcockedit，atleastasIjudgedbythesoundstheymade。Andthen，toolate，Iknewmymadness，forifeitherofthemhadfired，nodoubtbutwhatallthevillagewouldhaverisenandrusheduponme。However，astheluckofthematterwent，itprovedformyadvantage；forIheardonesaytotheother，——
’Curseit，Charlie，whatwasthat？Itscaredmeso，I
havedroppedmybox；myflintisgone，andeverything。
Willthebrimstonecatchfromyourpipe，mylad？’
’Mypipeisout，Phelps，eversolong。Damnit，Iamnotafraidofanowl，man。Givemethelanthorn，andstayhere。I’mnothalfdonewithyouyet，myfriend。’
’Wellsaid，myboy，wellsaid!GostraighttoCarver’s，mindyou。Theothersleepyheadsbesnoring，asthereisnothingupto-night。NodallyingnowunderCaptain’swindow。Queenwillhavenoughttosaytoyou；andCarverwillpunchyourheadintoanewwickforyourlanthorn。’
’Willhethough？Twocanplayatthat。’Andsoaftersomerudejests，andlaughter，andafewmoreoaths，I
heardCharlieoratanyratesomebodycomingtowardme，withalooseandnottoosoberfootfall。Ashereeledalittleinhisgait，andIwouldnotmovefromhiswayoneinch，afterhistalkofLorna，butonlylongedtograsphimifcommonsensepermittedit，hisbraidedcoatcameagainstmythumb，andhisleatherngaitersbrushedmyknee。Ifhehadturnedornoticedit，hewouldhavebeenadeadmaninamoment；buthisdrunkennesssavedhim。
SoIlethimreelonunharmed；andthereuponitoccurredtomethatIcouldhavenobetterguide，passingashewouldexactlywhereIwishedtobe；thatistosayunderLorna’swindow。ThereforeIfollowedhimwithoutanyespecialcaution；andsoonIhadthepleasureofseeinghisformagainstthemoonlitsky。
Downasteepandwindingpath，withahandrailatthecornerssuchastheyhaveatIlfracombe，MasterCharlietrippedalong——andindeedtherewasmuchtripping，andhemusthavebeenanactivefellowtorecoverashedid——andafterhimwalkedI，muchhopingforhisownpoorsakethatbemightnotturnandespyme。
ButBacchusofwhomIreadatschool，withgreatwonderabouthismeaning——andthesameImaysayofVenusthatgreatdeitypreservedCharlie，hispiousworshipper，fromregardingconsequences。Soheledmeverykindlytothetopofthemeadowland，wherethestreamfromundergroundbrokeforth，seethingquietlywithalittlehissofbubbles。HenceIhadfairviewandoutlineoftherobbers’township，spreadwithbusheshereandthere，butnotheavilyovershadowed。
Themoon，approachingnowthefull，broughttheformsinmannerforth，clothingeachwithcharacter，asthemoonmorethanthesundoes，toaneyeaccustomed。
IknewthattheCaptain’shousewasfirst，bothfromwhatLornahadsaidofit，andfrommymother’sdescription，andnowagainfromseeingCharliehaltthereforacertaintime，andwhistleonhisfingers，andhurryon，fearingconsequence。Thetunethathewhistledwasstrangetome，andlingeredinmyears，ashavingsomethingverynewandstriking，andfantasticinit。AndIrepeateditsoftlytomyself，whileI