Threetimesitcameandwentagain，astheshakingofathreadmightpassawayintothedistance；andthenI
touchedJohnFrytoknowthattherewassomethingnearme。
’Doon’t’ebeavule，Jan!VainemoozickasiverI
’eer。Godblessthemanasmadeundooit。’
’HavetheyhangedoneoftheDoonesthen，John？’
’Hush，lad；nivertalklaikeo’thiccy。HangaDoone!
Godknoweth，theKingwouldhangprettyquickifherdid。’
’Thenwhoisitinthechains，John？’
IfeltmyspiritriseasIasked；fornowIhadcrossedExmoorsooftenastohopethatthepeoplesometimesdeservedit，andthinkthatitmightbealessontotherogueswhounjustlylovedthemuttontheywereneverbornto。But，ofcourse，theywereborntohanging，whentheysetthemselvessohigh。
’Itbenawbody，’saidJohn，’vorustomakeafushabout。Belongtot’otherzideo’themoor，andcomestalingshapetoourzide。RedJemHannafordhisname。ThankGodforhimtobehanged，lad；andgoodcesstohissoulforcraikin’zo。’
Sothesoundofthequietswingingledusverymodestly，asitcameandwentonthewind，loudandlowprettyregularly，evenasfarasthefootofthegibbetwherethefourcross-waysare。
’Vamousjobthishere，’criedJohn，lookinguptobesureofit，becausethereweresomany；’herebemyownnickonthepost。RedJem，too，andnodoubtofhim；
hedohangsohandsomelike，andhisribsuplaikeahorsea’most。Godblessthemasdiscooveredthewaytomakearoguesouseful。Good-naighttothee，Jem，mylad；andnotbreakthydrameswiththecraikin’。’
JohnFryshookhisbridle-arm，andsmoteuponSmilermerrily，ashejoggedintothehomewardtrackfromtheguidingofthebody。ButIwassorryforRedJem，andwantedtoknowmoreabouthim，andwhetherhemightnothaveavoidedthismiserableend，andwhathiswifeandchildrenthoughtofit，if，indeed，hehadany。
ButJohnwouldtalknomoreaboutit；andperhapshewasmovedwithalonesomefeeling，asthecreakingsoundcameafterus。
’Houldtheetongue，lad，’hesaidsharply；’usbenaightheDoone-tracknow，twomailefromDunkeryBeaconhill，thehaighestplaceofHexmoor。Sohappentheybeabroadto-naight，usmustcrawlonourbelly-places，boy。’
Iknewatoncewhathemeant——thosebloodyDoonesofBagworthy，theaweofallDevonandSomerset，outlaws，traitors，murderers。MylittlelegsbegantotrembletoandfrouponPeggy’ssides，asIheardthedeadrobberinchainsbehindus，andthoughtoftheliveonesstillinfront。
’But，John，’Iwhisperedwarily，sidlingclosetohissaddle-bow；’dearJohn，youdon’tthinktheywillseeusinsuchafogasthis？’
’NeverGodmadevogascouldstoptheireyesen，’hewhisperedinanswer，fearfully；’hereusbebythehollowground。Zober，lad，goozobernow，iftheewishtoseethymoother。’
ForIwasinclined，inthemannerofboys，tomakearunofthedanger，andcrosstheDoone-trackatfullspeed；torushforit，andbedonewithit。ButeventhenIwonderedwhyhetalkedofmymotherso，andsaidnotawordoffather。
Wewerecometoalongdeep’goyal，’astheycallitonExmoor，awordwhosefountainandoriginIhavenothingtodowith。OnlyIknowthatwhenlittleboyslaughedatmeatTiverton，fortalkingabouta’goyal，’abigboycloutedthemonthehead，andsaidthatitwasinHomer，andmeantthehollowofthehand。AndanothertimeaWelshmantoldmethatitmustbesomethinglikethethingtheycalla’pant’inthoseparts。StillI
knowwhatitmeanswellenough——towit，alongtroughamongwildhills，fallingtowardstheplaincountry，roundedatthebottom，perhaps，andstiff，morethansteep，atthesidesofit。Whetheritbestraightorcrooked，makesnodifferencetoit。
Werodeverycarefullydownourside，andthroughthesoftgrassatthebottom，andallthewhilewelistenedasiftheairwasaspeaking-trumpet。Thengladlywebreastedournagstotherise，andwerecomingtothecombofit，whenIheardsomething，andcaughtJohn’sarm，andhebenthishandtotheshapeofhisear。Itwasthesoundofhorses’feetknockingupthroughsplashyground，asifthebottomsuckedthem。Thenagruntingofwearymen，andtheliftingnoiseofstirrups，andsometimestheclankofironmixedwiththewheezycroningofleatherandtheblowingofhairynostrils。
’God’ssake，Jack，sliproundherbelly，andlethergowhereshewull。’
AsJohnFrywhispered，soIdid，forhewasoffSmilerbythistime；butourtwopadsweretoofaggedtogofar，andbegantonoseaboutandcrop，sniffingmorethantheyneedhavedone。IcrepttoJohn’ssideverysoftly，withthebridleonmyarm。
’Letgoobraidle；letgoo，lad。PlaiseGodtheytakethemforforest-ponies，orthey’llzendabulletthroughus。’
Isawwhathemeant，andletgothebridle；fornowthemistwasrollingoff，andwewereagainstthesky-linetothedarkcavalcadebelowus。Johnlayonthegroundbyabarrowofheather，wherealittlegulletwas，andIcrepttohim，afraidofthenoiseImadeindraggingmylegsalong，andthecreakofmycordbreeches。Johnbleatedlikeasheeptocoverit——asheepverycoldandtrembling。
Thenjustastheforemosthorsemanpassed，scarcetwentyyardsbelowus，apuffofwindcameuptheglen，andthefogrolledoffbeforeit。Andsuddenlyastrongredlight，castbythecloud-weightdownwards，spreadlikefingersoverthemoorland，openedthealleysofdarkness，andhungonthesteeloftheriders。
’DunkeryBeacon，’whisperedJohn，socloseintomyear，thatIfelthislipsandteethashake；’dursn’tfireitnowexcepttoshowtheDooneswayhomeagain，sincethenaightastheywentupandthrowedthewatchmenatopofit。Why，wuttbe’bout，lad？God’ssake——’
ForIcouldkeepstillnolonger，butwriggledawayfromhisarm，andalongthelittlegullet，stillgoingflatonmybreastandthighs，untilIwasunderagreypatchofstone，withafringeofdryfernroundit；
thereIlay，scarcetwentyfeetabovetheheadsoftheriders，andIfearedtodrawmybreath，thoughpronetodoitwithwonder。
Fornowthebeaconwasrushingup，inafierystormtoheaven，andtheformofitsflamecameandwentinthefolds，andtheheavyskywashovering。Allarounditwashungwithred，deepintwistedcolumns，andthenagiantbeardoffirestreamedthroughoutthedarkness。
Thesullenhillswereflankedwithlight，andthevalleyschinedwithshadow，andallthesombrousmoorsbetweenawokeinfurrowedanger。
Butmostofalltheflingingfireleapedintotherockymouthoftheglenbelowme，wherethehorsemenpassedinsilence，scarcelydeigningtolookround。Heavymenandlargeofstature，recklesshowtheyboretheirguns，orhowtheysatetheirhorses，withleathernjerkins，andlongboots，andironplatesonbreastandhead，plunderheapedbehindtheirsaddles，andflagonsslunginfrontofthem；Icountedmorethanthirtypass，likecloudsuponredsunset。Somehadcarcassesofsheepswingingwiththeirskinson，othershaddeer，andonehadachildflungacrosshissaddle-bow。
Whetherthechildweredead，oralive，wasmorethanI
couldtell，onlyithungheaddownwardsthere，andmusttakethechanceofit。Theyhadgotthechild，averyyoungone，forthesakeofthedress，nodoubt，whichtheycouldnotstoptopullofffromit；forthedressshonebright，wherethefirestruckit，asifwithgoldandjewels。Ilongedinmyhearttoknowmostsadlywhattheywoulddowiththelittlething，andwhethertheywouldeatit。
Ittouchedmesotoseethatchild，apreyamongthosevultures，thatinmyfoolishrageandburningIstoodupandshoutedtothemleapingonarock，andravingoutofallpossession。Twoofthemturnedround，andonesethiscarbineatme，buttheothersaiditwasbutapixie，andbadehimkeephispowder。Littletheyknew，andlessthoughtI，thatthepixiethenbeforethemwoulddancetheircastledownoneday。
JohnFry，whointhespringoffrighthadbroughthimselfdownfromSmiler’sside，asifheweredippedinoil，nowcameuptome，allriskbeingover，cross，andstiff，andachingsorelyfromhiswetcouchofheather。
’Smallthankstothee，Jan，asmynewwaifebain’tawidder。Andwhobeyoutozupportofher，andherson，ifshehaveone？ZarvetheerightifIwastochucktheedownintotheDoone-track。Zimthee’llcometoun，zoonerorlater，ifthisbethezampleofthee。’
Andthatwasallhehadtosay，insteadofthankingGod!Forifeverbornmanwasinafright，andreadytothankGodforanything，thenameofthatmanwasJohnFrynotmorethanfiveminutesagone。
However，Ianswerednothingatall，excepttobeashamedofmyself；andsoonwefoundPeggyandSmilerincompany，wellembarkedonthehomewardroad，andvictuallingwherethegrasswasgood。Rightgladtheyweretoseeusagain——notforthepleasureofcarrying，butbecauseahorselikeawomanlacks，andisbetterwithout，self-reliance。
Myfathernevercametomeetus，ateithersideofthetelling-house，neitheratthecrookedpost，norevenathome-linhayalthoughthedogskeptsuchanoisethathemusthaveheardus。Home-sideofthelinhay，andundertheashenhedge-row，wherefathertaughtmetocatchblackbirds，allatoncemyheartwentdown，andallmybreastwashollow。Therewasnoteventhelanthornlightonthepegagainstthecow’shouse，andnobodysaid’Holdyournoise!’tothedogs，orshouted’HereourJackis!’
Ilookedatthepostsofthegate，inthedark，becausetheyweretall，likefather，andthenatthedooroftheharness-room，whereheusedtosmokehispipeandsing。ThenIthoughthehadguestsperhaps——peoplelostuponthemoors——whomhecouldnotleaveunkindly，evenforhisson’ssake。AndyetaboutthatIwasjealous，andreadytobevexedwithhim，whenheshouldbegintomakemuchofme。AndIfeltinmypocketforthenewpipewhichIhadbroughthimfromTiverton，andsaidtomyself，’Heshallnothaveituntilto-morrowmorning。’
Woeisme!Icannottell。HowIknewIknownotnow——onlythatIslunkaway，withoutatear，orthoughtofweeping，andhidmeinasaw-pit。Therethetimber，over-head，camelikestreaksacrossme；andallI
wantedwastolack，andnonetotellmeanything。
By-and-by，anoisecamedown，asofwoman’sweeping；
andtheremymotherandsisterwere，chokingandholdingtogether。Althoughtheyweremydearestloves，Icouldnotbeartolookatthem，untiltheyseemedtowantmyhelp，andputtheirhandsbeforetheireyes。
MydearfatherhadbeenkilledbytheDoonesofBagworthy，whileridinghomefromPorlockmarket，ontheSaturdayevening。Withhimweresixbrother-farmers，allofthemverysober；forfatherwouldhavenocompanywithanymanwhowentbeyondhalfagallonofbeer，orasinglegallonofcider。Therobbershadnogrudgeagainsthim；forhehadneverfloutedthem，neithermadeovermuchofoutcry，becausetheyrobbedotherpeople。Forhewasamanofsuchstricthonesty，anddueparishfeeling，thatheknewittobeeveryman’sownbusinesstodefendhimselfandhisgoods；unlesshebelongedtoourparish，andthenwemustlookafterhim。
Thesesevengoodfarmerswerejoggingalong，helpingoneanotherinthetroublesoftheroad，andsinginggoodlyhymnsandsongstokeeptheircouragemoving，whensuddenlyahorsemanstoppedinthestarlightfullacrossthem。
Bydressandarmstheyknewhimwell，andbyhissizeandstature，shownagainsttheglimmeroftheeveningstar；andthoughheseemedonemantoseven，itwasintruthonemantoone。OfthesixwhohadbeensingingsongsandpsalmsaboutthepowerofGod，andtheirownregeneration——suchpsalmsaswenttheround，inthosedays，ofthepublic-houses——therewasnotonebutpulledouthismoney，andsangsmallbeertoaDoone。
Butfatherhadbeenusedtothinkthatanymanwhowascomfortableinsidehisowncoatandwaistcoatdeservedtohavenootherset，unlesshewouldstrikeablowforthem。Andso，whilehisgossipsdoffedtheirhats，andshookwithwhatwasleftofthem，hesethisstaffabovehishead，androdeattheDoonerobber。Withatrickofhishorse，thewildmanescapedthesuddenonset，althoughitmusthaveamazedhimsadlythatanydurstresisthim。ThenwhenSmilerwascarriedawaywiththedashandtheweightofmyfathernotbeingbroughtuptobattle，norusedtoturn，saveinploughharness，theoutlawwhistleduponhisthumb，andplunderedtherestoftheyeoman。Butfather，drawingatSmiler’shead，totrytocomebackandhelpthem，wasinthemidstofadozenmen，whoseemedtocomeoutofaturf-rick，someonhorse，andsomea-foot。
Nevertheless，hesmotelustily，sofarashecouldsee；
andbeingofgreatsizeandstrength，andhisbloodwellup，theyhadnoeasyjobwithhim。Withtheplayofhiswrist，hecrackedthreeorfourcrowns，beingalwaysfamousatsingle-stick；untiltherestdrewtheirhorsesaway，andhethoughtthathewasmaster，andwouldtellhiswifeaboutit。
Butamanbeyondtherangeofstaffwascrouchingbythepeat-stack，withalonggunsettohisshoulder，andhegotpoorfatheragainstthesky，andIcannottelltherestofit。OnlytheyknewthatSmilercamehome，withblooduponhiswithers，andfatherwasfoundinthemorningdeadonthemoor，withhisivy-twistedcudgellyingbrokenunderhim。Now，whetherthiswereanhonestfight，GodjudgebetwixttheDoonesandme。
Itwasmoreofwoethanwonder，beingsuchdaysofviolence，thatmotherknewherselfawidow，andherchildrenfatherless。Ofchildrentherewereonlythree，noneofusfittobeusefulyet，onlytocomfortmother，bymakinghertoworkforus。I，JohnRidd，wastheeldest，andfeltitaheavythingonme；nextcamesisterAnnie，withabouttwoyearsbetweenus；andthenthelittleEliza。
Now，beforeIgothomeandfoundmysadloss——andnoboyeverlovedhisfathermorethanIlovedmine——motherhaddoneamostwondrousthing，whichmadealltheneighbourssaythatshemustbemad，atleast。
UpontheMondaymorning，whileherhusbandlayunburied，shecastawhitehoodoverherhair，andgatheredablackcloakroundher，and，takingcounselofnoone，setoffonfootfortheDoone-gate。
Intheearlyafternoonshecametothehollowandbarrenentrance，whereintruththerewasnogate，onlydarknesstogothrough。IfIgetonwiththisstory，I
shallhavetotellofitby-and-by，asIsawitafterwards；andwillnotdwelltherenow。Enoughthatnogunwasfiredather，onlyhereyeswerecoveredover，andsomebodyledherbythehand，withoutanywishtohurther。
Averyroughandheadstrongroadwasallthatsheremembered，forshecouldnotthinkasshewishedtodo，withthecoldironpushedagainsther。Attheendofthisroadtheydeliveredhereyes，andshecouldscarcebelievethem。