TomFaggusalsojoinedusheartily，beingnowquitehealedofhiswound，exceptattimeswhenthewindwaseasterly。Hewasmadesecondincommandtome；andI
wouldgladlyhavehadhimfirst，asmorefertileinexpedients；buthedeclinedsuchrankonthepleathatIknewmostoftheseatofwar；besidesthatImightbeheldinsomemeasuretodrawauthorityfromtheKing。
AlsoUncleBencameovertohelpuswithhisadviceandpresence，aswellaswithabandofstoutwarehousemen，whomhebroughtfromDulverton。Forhehadneverforgiventheoldoutrageputuponhim；andthoughithadbeentohisinteresttokeepquietduringthelastattack，underCommanderStickles——forthesakeofhissecretgoldmine——yetnowhewasinapositiontogivefullventtohisfeelings。Forheandhispartnerswhenfully-assuredofthevalueoftheirdiggings，hadobtainedfromtheCrownalicencetoadventureinsearchofminerals，bypaymentofaheavyfineandayearlyroyalty。Thereforetheyhadnownolongeranycauseforsecrecy，neitherfordreadoftheoutlaws；
havingsoaddedtotheirforceastobeamatchforthem。AndalthoughUncleBenwasnotthemantokeephisminersidleanhourmorethanmightbehelped，hepromisedthatwhenwehadfixedthemomentforanassaultonthevalley，ascoreofthemshouldcometoaidus，headedbySimonCarfax，andarmedwiththegunswhichtheyalwayskeptfortheprotectionoftheirgold。
NowwhetheritwereUncleBen，orwhetheritwereTomFaggusorevenmyownself——forallthreeofusclaimedthesolehonour——ismorethanIthinkfairtosettlewithoutallowingthemavoice。Butatanyrate，acleverthingwasdevisedamongus；andperhapsitwouldbethefairestthingtosaythatthisbrightstratagemworthyofthegreatDukehimselfwascontributed，littlebylittle，amongtheentirethreeofus，allhavingpipes，andschnapps-and-water，inthechimney-corner。However，theworld，whichalwaysjudgesaccordingtoreputation，vowedthatsofineastrokeofwarcouldonlycomefromahighwayman；andsoTomFaggusgotallthehonour，atlessperhapsthanathirdofthecost。
Nottoattempttorobhimofit——forrobbers，morethananyother，contendforrightsofproperty——letmetrytodescribethisgrandartifice。ItwasknownthattheDooneswerefondofmoney，aswellasstrongdrink，andotherthings；andmoreespeciallyfondofgold，whentheycouldgetitpureandfine。Thereforeitwasagreedthatinthiswayweshouldtemptthem；forweknewthattheylookedwithridiculeuponourrusticpreparations；afterrepulsingKing’stroopers，andthemilitiaoftwocounties，wasitlikelythattheyshouldyieldtheirfortresstoasetofploughboys？We，forourpart，feltofcourse，thepowerofthisreasoning，andthatwhereregulartroopshadfailed，half-armedcountrymenmustfail，exceptbysuperiorjudgmentandharmonyofaction。Thoughperhapsthemilitiawouldhavesufficed，iftheyhadonlyfoughtagainstthefoe，insteadofagainsteachother。Fromthesethingswetookwarning；havingfailedthroughover-confidence，wasitnotpossiblenowtomaketheenemyfailthroughtheselfsamecause？
Hence，whatwedevisedwasthis；todeludefromhomeapartoftherobbers，andfallbysurpriseontheotherpart。WecausedittobespreadabroadthatalargeheapofgoldwasnowcollectedatthemineoftheWizard’sSlough。Andwhenthisrumourmusthavereachedthem，throughwomenwhocametoandfro，assomeentirelyfaithfultothemwereallowedtodo，wesentCaptainSimonCarfax，thefatheroflittleGwenny，todemandaninterviewwiththeCounsellor，bynight，andasitweresecretly。Thenhewastosetforthalistofimaginarygrievancesagainsttheownersofthemine；andtoofferpartlythroughresentment，partlythroughthehopeofgain，tobetrayintotheirhands，upontheFridaynight，byfarthegreatestweightofgoldasyetsentupforrefining。Hewastohaveonequarterpart，andtheytotaketheresidue。Butinasmuchastheconvoyacrossthemoors，underhiscommand，wouldbestrong，andstronglyarmed，theDoonesmustbesuretosendnotlessthanascoreofmen，ifpossible。Hehimself，ataplaceagreedupon，andfitforanambuscade，wouldcallahalt，andcontriveinthedarknesstopouralittlewaterintotheprimingofhiscompany’sguns。
ItcostussometroubleandagreatdealofmoneytobringthesturdyCornishmanintothisdeceitfulpart；
andperhapsheneverwouldhaveconsentedbutforhisobligationtome，andthewrongsashesaidofhisdaughter。However，ashewasthemanforthetask，bothfromhiscoolnessandcourage，andbeingknowntohavechargeofthemine，Ipressedhim，untilheundertooktotellallthelieswerequired。Andrightwellhedidittoo，havingoncemadeuphismindtoit；
andperceivingthathisowninterestscalledforthetotaldestructionoftherobbers。
Havingresolvedonanight-assaultasourundisciplinedmen，three-fourthsofwhomhadneverbeenshotat，couldnotfairlybeexpectedtomarchuptovisiblemusket-mouths，wecarednotmuchaboutdrillingourforces，onlytoteachthemtoholdamusket，sofaraswecouldsupplythatweapontothosewiththecleveresteyes；andtogivethemfamiliaritywiththenoiseitmadeinexploding。AndwefixeduponFridaynightforourventure，becausethemoonwouldbeatthefull；andourpowderwascomingfromDulvertonontheFridayafternoon。
UncleReubendidnotmeantoexposehimselftoshooting，histimeoflifeforriskoflifebeingnowwelloverandtheresiduetoovaluable。Buthiscounsels，andhisinfluence，andaboveallhiswarehousemen，wellpractisedinbeatingcarpets，wereoftrueservicetous。Hisminersalsodidgreatwonders，havingagrudgeagainsttheDoones；asindeedwhohadnotforthirtymilesroundtheirvalley？
Itwassettledthattheyeomen，havinggoodhorsesunderthem，shouldgiveaccountwiththeminers’help
ofasmanyDoonesasmightbedespatchedtoplunderthepretendedgold。Andassoonasweknewthatthispartyofrobbers，beitmoreorless，wasoutofhearingfromthevalley，weweretofallto，ostensiblyattheDoone-gatewhichwasimpregnablenow，butinrealityupontheirrear，bymeansofmyoldwater-slide。ForI
hadchosentwentyyoungfellows，partlyminers，andpartlywarehousemen，andsheepfarmers，andsomeofothervocations，butalltoberelieduponforspiritandpowerofclimbing。Andwithpropertoolstoaidus，andmyselftoleadtheway，IfeltnodoubtwhateverbutthatwecouldallattainthecrestwherefirstIhadmetwithLorna。
Uponthewhole，IrejoicedthatLornawasnotpresentnow。Itmusthavebeenirksometoherfeelingstohaveallherkindredandoldassociatesmuchasshekeptalooffromthemputtodeathwithoutceremony，orelseputtingallofustodeath。Forallofuswereresolvedthistimetohavenomoreshilly-shallying；
buttogothroughwithanastybusiness，inthestyleofhonestEnglishmen，whenthequestioncomesto’Yourlifeormine。’
Therewashardlyamanamonguswhohadnotsufferedbitterlyfromthemiscreantsnowbeforeus。Onehadlosthiswifeperhaps，anotherhadlostadaughter——accordingtotheirages，anotherhadlosthisfavouritecow；inaword，therewasscarcelyanyonewhohadnottocomplainofahayrick；andwhatsurprisedmethen，notnow，wasthatthemenleastinjuredmadethegreatestpushconcerningit。Butbethewrongtoogreattospeakof，ortoosmalltoswearabout，frompoorKitBadcocktorichMasterHuckaback，therewasnotonebutwentheartandsoulforstampingoutthesefirebrands。
Themoonwasliftingwellabovetheshoulderoftheuplands，whenwe，thechosenband，setforth，havingtheshortcutalongthevalleystofootoftheBagworthywater；andthereforehavingallowedtherestanhour，tofetchroundthemoorsandhills；wewerenottobeginourclimbuntilweheardamusketfiredfromtheheightsontheleft-handside，whereJohnFryhimselfwasstationed，uponhisownandhiswife’srequest；soastokeepoutofaction。AndthatwastheplacewhereIhadbeenusedtosit，andtowatchforLorna。AndJohnFrywastofirehisgun，withaballofwoolinsideit，sosoonasheheardthehurly-burlyattheDoone-gatebeginning；whichwe，byreasonofwaterfall，couldnothear，downinthemeadowsthere。
Wewaitedaverylongtime，withthemoonmarchingupheavensteadfastly，andthewhitefogtremblinginchordsandcolumns，likeasilverharpofthemeadows。
Andthenthemoondrewupthefogs，andscarfedherselfinwhitewiththem；andsobeingproud，gleameduponthewater，likeabrideatherlooking-glass；andyettherewasnosoundofeitherJohnFry，orhisblunderbuss。
IbegantothinkthattheworthyJohn，beingoutofalldanger，andhavingbroughtacounterpaneaccordingtohiswife’sdirections，becauseoneofthechildrenhadacold，mustveritablyhavegonetosleep；leavingotherpeopletokill，orbekilled，asmightbethewillofGod；sothathewerecomfortable。ButhereinIdidwrongtoJohn，andamreadytoacknowledgeit；
forsuddenlythemostawfulnoisethatanythingshortofthundercouldmake，camedownamongtherocks，andwentandhunguponthecorners。
’Thesignal，mylads，’Icried，leapingupandrubbingmyeyes；forevennow，whilecondemningJohnunjustly，Iwasgivinghimrighttobeharduponme。’Nowholdonbytherope，andlayyourquarter-staffsacross，mylads；andkeepyourgunspointingtoheaven，lesthaplyweshootoneanother。’
’Usshan’tnevershuttoneanoother，wi’ourgoonsatthatmark，Ireckon，’saidanoldishchap，butastoughasleather，andesteemedawitforhisdryness。
’Youcomenexttome，oldIke；youbeenoughtodryupthewaters；now，remember，allleanwellforward。Ifanymanthrowshisweightback，downhegoes；andperhapshemaynevergetupagain；andmostlikelyhewillshoothimself。’
Iwasstillmoreafraidoftheirshootingme；formychiefalarminthissteepascentwasneitherofthewaternoroftherocks，butoftheloadedgunswebore。
Ifanymanslipped，offmightgohisgun，andhowevergoodhismeaning，IbeingfirstwasmostlikelytotakefarmorethanIfainwouldapprehend。
Forthiscause，IhaddebatedwithUncleBenandwithCousinTomastotheexpediencyofourclimbingwithgunsunloaded。Butthey，notbeinginthewaythemselves，assuredmethattherewasnothingtofear，exceptthroughuncommonclumsiness；andthatasforchargingourgunsatthetop，evenveterantroopscouldscarcelybetrustedtoperformitproperlyinthehurry，andthedarkness，andthenoiseoffightingbeforethem。
However，thankGod，thoughagunwentoff，noonewasanytheworseforit，neitherdidtheDoonesnoticeit，inthethickofthefiringinfrontofthem。Fortheorderstothoseoftheshamattack，conductedbyTomFaggus，weretomakethegreatestpossiblenoise，withoutexposureofthemselves；untilwe，intherear，hadfallento；whichJohnFrywasagaintogivethesignalof。
Thereforewe，ofthechosenband，stoleupthemeadowquietly，keepingintheblotsofshade，andhollowofthewatercourse。AndtheearliestnoticetheCounsellorhad，oranyoneelse，ofourpresence，wastheblazingofthelog-woodhouse，wherelivedthatvillainCarver。Itwasmyespecialprivilegetosetthishouseonfire；uponwhichIhadinsisted，exclusivelyandconclusively。Nootherhandbutmineshouldlayabrand，orstrikesteelonflintforit；I
hadmadeallpreparationscarefullyforagoodlyblaze。
AndImustconfessthatIrubbedmyhands，withastrongdelightandcomfort，whenIsawthehomeofthatman，whohadfiredsomanyhouses，havingitsturnofsmoke，andblaze，andofcracklingfury。
Wetookgoodcare，however，toburnnoinnocentwomenorchildreninthatmostrighteousdestruction。Forwebroughtthemalloutbeforehand；somewereglad，andsomeweresorry；accordingtotheirdispositions。ForCarverhadtenoradozenwives；andperhapsthathadsomethingtodowithhistakingthelossofLornasoeasily。OnechildInoticed，asIsavedhim；afairandhandsomelittlefellow，whomifCarverDoonecouldloveanythingonearthbesidehiswretchedselfhedidlove。Theboyclimbedonmybackandrode；andmuchasIhatedhisfather，itwasnotinmyhearttosayordoathingtovexhim。
Leavingthesepoorinjuredpeopletobeholdtheirburninghome，wedrewaside，bymydirections，intothecovertbeneaththecliff。Butnotbeforewehadlaidourbrandstothreeotherhouses，aftercallingthewomenforth，andbiddingthemgofortheirhusbands，andtocomeandfightahundredofus。Inthesmokeandrush，andfire，theybelievedthatwewereahundred；andawaytheyran，inconsternation，tothebattleattheDoone-gate。
’AllDoone-townisonfire，onfire!’weheardthemshriekingastheywent；’ahundredsoldiersareburningit，withadreadfulgreatmanattheheadofthem!’
Presently，justasIexpected，backcamethewarriorsoftheDoones；leavingbuttwoorthreeatthegate，andburningwithwrathtocrushunderfootthepresumptuousclownsintheirvalley。Justthenthewaxingfireleapedabovetheredcrestofthecliffs，anddancedonthepillarsoftheforest，andlappedlikeatideonthestonesoftheslope。Allthevalleyflowedwithlight，andthelimpidwatersreddened，andthefairyoungwomenshone，andthenakedchildrenglistened。
Butthefinestsightofallwastoseethosehaughtymenstridingdownthecausewaydarkly，recklessoftheirend，butresolutetohavetwolivesforeveryone。Afinerdozenofyoungmencouldnothavebeenfoundintheworldperhaps，norabraver，noravilerone。
Seeinghowfewtherewereofthem，Iwasveryloathtofire，althoughIcoveredtheleader，whoappearedtobedashingCharley；fortheywereateasydistancenow，brightlyshonebythefire-light，yetignorantwheretolookforus。Ithoughtthatwemighttakethemprisoners——thoughwhatgoodthatcouldbeGodknows，astheymusthavebeenhangedthereafter——anyhowIwasloathtoshoot，ortogivethewordtomyfollowers。
Butmyfollowerswaitedfornoword；theysawafairshotatthementheyabhorred，themenwhohadrobbedthemofhomeoroflove，andthechancewastoomuchfortheircharity。AtasignalfromoldIkey，wholevelledhisowngunfirst，adozenmusketsweredischarged，andhalfoftheDoonesdroppedlifeless，likesomanylogsoffirewood，orchopping-blocksrolledover。
AlthoughIhadseenagreatbattlebefore，andahundredtimesthecarnage，thisappearedtometobehorrible；andIwasatfirstinclinedtofalluponourmenforbehavingso。Butoneinstantshowedmethattheywereright；forwhilethevalleywasfilledwithhowling，andwithshrieksofwomen，andthebeamsoftheblazinghousesfell，andhissedinthebubblingriver；alltherestoftheDoonesleapedatus，likesomanydemons。Theyfiredwildly，notseeinguswellamongthehazelbushes；andthentheyclubbedtheirmuskets，ordrewtheirswords，asmightbe；andfuriouslydroveatus。