’Thereisabigyoungfellowuponthisfarm，’CarverDoonemutteredsulkily，’withwhomIhaveanaccounttosettle，ifeverIcomeacrosshim。Hehathacursedspitetous，becauseweshothisfather。Hewasgoingtobringthelumpersuponus，onlyhewasafeared，lastwinter。AndhehathbeeninLondonlately，forsometraitorousjob，Idoubt。’
’Oh，youmeanthatfool，JohnRidd，’answeredtheyoungsquire；’averysimpleclod-hopper。NotreacheryinhimIwarrant；hehathnottheheadforit。Allhecaresaboutiswrestling。Asstrongasabull，andwithnomorebrains。’
’Abulletforthatbull，’saidCarver；andIcouldseethegrinonhisscornfulface；’abulletforballasttohisbrain，thefirsttimeIcomeacrosshim。’
’Nonsense，captain!Iwon’thavehimshot，forheismyoldschool-fellow，andhathaveryprettysister。Buthiscousinisofadifferentmould，andtentimesasdangerous。’
’Weshallsee，lads，weshallsee，’grumbledthegreatblack-beardedman。’Illbodesforthefoolthatwouldhinderme。Butcome，letusonward。Nolingering，ortheviperwillbeinthebushfromus。Bodyandsoul，ifhegiveustheslip，bothofyoushallanswerit。’
’Nofear，captain，andnohurry，’Charlieansweredgallantly，’wouldIwereassureoflivingatwelvemonthasheisofdyingwithinthehour!Extremeunctionforhiminmybulletpatch。Remember，Iclaimtobehisconfessor，becausehehathinsultedme。’
’Thouartwelcometothejobforme，’saidMarwood，astheyturnedaway，andkeptalongthehedge-row；’Ilovetomeetamanswordtosword；nottopopathimfromafoxhole。’
WhatanswerwasmadeIcouldnothear，forbythistimethestoutashenhedgewasbetweenus，andnoothergaptobefoundinit，untilattheverybottom，wherethecornerofthecopsewas。YetIwasnotquitofdangernow；fortheymightcomethroughthatsecondgap，andthenwouldbesuretoseeme，unlessIcreptintotheuncutthicket，beforetheycouldentertheclearing。
Butinspiteofallmyfear，Iwasnotwiseenoughtodothat。AndintruththewordsofCarverDoonehadfilledmewithsuchanger，knowingwhatIdidabouthimandhispretencetoLorna；andthesightofSquireMarwood，insuchoutrageouscompany，hadsomovedmycuriosity，andtheirthreatsagainstsomeunknownpersonsoarousedmypity，thatmuchofmyprudencewasforgotten，oratleastthebetterpartofcourage，whichlovesdangeratlongdistance。
Therefore，holdingfastmybill-hook，Idroppedmyselfveryquietlyintothebedoftherunnel，beingresolvedtotakemychanceoftheirentranceatthecorner，wherethewaterdivedthroughthehedge-row。AndsoI
followedthemdownthefence，asgentlyasarabbitgoes，onlyIwasinsideit，andtheyontheoutside；
butyetsonearthatIheardthebranchesrustleastheypushedthem。
PerhapsIhadneverlovedfernssomuchaswhenIcametotheendofthatlittlegully，andstoopedbetwixttwopatchesofthem，nowmychiefestshelter，forcattlehadbeenthroughthegapjustthere，inquestoffodderandcoolness，andhadleftbutamoundoftroddenearthbetweenmeandtheoutlaws。Imeanatleastonmylefthanduponwhichsidetheywere，forinfrontwherethebrookranoutofthecopsewasagoodstiffhedgeofholly。AndnowIprayedHeaventoleadthemstraighton；foriftheyonceturnedtotheirright，throughthegap，themuzzlesoftheirgunswouldcomealmostagainstmyforehead。
Iheardthem，forIdurstnotlook；andcouldscarcekeepstillfortrembling——Iheardthemtramplingoutsidethegap，uncertainwhichtracktheyshouldfollow。Andinthatfearfulmoment，withmysoulalmostlookingoutofmybody，expectingnoticetoquitit，whatdoyouthinkIdid？Icountedthethreadsinaspider’sweb，andtheflieshehadlatelyeaten，astheirskeletonsshookinthetwilight。
’Weshallseehimbetterinthere，’saidCarver，inhishorriblegruffvoice，likethecreakingofthegallowschain；’sitthere，behindhollyhedge，lads，whilehecomethdownyonderhill；andthenourgood-eveningtohim；oneathisbody，andtwoathishead；andgoodaim，lestwebaulkthedevil。’
’Itellyou，captain，thatwillnotdo，’saidCharlie，almostwhispering：’youareveryproudofyourskill，weknow，andcanhitalarkifyouseeit：buthemaynotcomeuntilafterdark，andwecannotbetoonightohim。Thishollyhedgeistoofaraway。HecrossesdownherefromSlocomslade，notfromTibbacot，Itellyou；butalongthattracktotheleftthere，andsobytheforelandtoGlenthorne，wherehisboatisinthecove。DoyouthinkIhavetrackedhimsomanyevenings，withoutknowinghislinetoahair？Willyoufoolawayallmytrouble？’
’Comethen，lad，wewillfollowthylead。Thylifeforhis，ifwefailofit。’
’Aftermethen，rightintothehollow；thylegsaregrowingstiff，captain。’
’Soshallthybodybe，youngman，ifthouleadestmeastrayinthis。’
Iheardthemstumblingdownthehill，whichwassteepandrockyinthatpart；andpeeringthroughthehedge，Isawthementeracovert，bythesideofthetrackwhichMasterSticklesfollowed，almosteveryevening，whenheleftourhouseuponbusiness。AndthenIknewwhoitwastheywerecomeonpurposetomurder——athingwhichImighthaveguessedlongbefore，butforterrorandcoldstupidity。
’OhthatGod，’Ithoughtforamoment，waitingformybloodtoflow；’OhthatGodhadgivenmebrains，tomeetsuchcrueldastardsaccordingtotheirvillainy!
Thepowertolie，andtheloveofit；thestealthtospy，andthegloryinit；aboveall，thequietrelishforblood，andjoyinthedeathofanenemy——thesearewhatanymanmusthave，tocontendwiththeDoonesuponeventerms。Andyet，IthankGodthatIhavenotanyofthese。’
Itwasnotimetodwelluponthat，onlytotry，ifmightbe，topreventthecrimetheywereboundupon。
Tofollowthearmedmendownthehillwouldhavebeencertaindeathtome，becausetherewasnocovertthere，andthelastlighthunguponit。Itseemedtomethatmyonlychancetostopthemischiefpendingwastocompasstheroundofthehill，asfastasfeetcouldbelaidtoground；onlykeepingoutofsightfromthevalley，andthendowntherocks，andacrossthebrook，tothetrackfromSlocombslade：soastostoptheKing’smessengerfromtravellinganyfarther，ifonlyI
couldcatchhimthere。
AndthiswasexactlywhatIdid；andaterriblerunI
hadforit，fearingateverysteptoheartheechoofshotsinthevalley，anddroppingdownthescrubbyrockswithtearingandviolentscratching。ThenI
crossedBagworthystream，notfarbelowDoone-valley，andbreastedthehilltowardsSlocombslade，withmyheartveryheavilypanting。WhyJeremychosetoridethisway，insteadofthemoredirectonewhichwouldhavebeenoverOare-hill，wasmorethanIcouldaccountfor：butIhadnothingtodowiththat；allI
wantedwastosavehislife。
AndthisIdidbyaboutaminute；andwhichwasthehardestthingofallwithagreathorse-pistolatmyheadasIseizeduponhisbridle。
’Jeremy，Jerry，’wasallIcouldsay，beingsofearfullyshortofbreath；forIhadcrossedthegroundquickerthananyhorsecould。
’Spokenjustintime，JohnRidd!’criedMasterStickles，stillhoweverpointingthepistolatme：’I
mighthaveknowntheebythysize，John。Whatartdoinghere？’
’Cometosaveyourlife。ForGod’ssake，gonofarther。Threemeninthecovertthere，withlongguns，waitingforthee。’
’Ha!Ihavebeenwatchedoflate。ThatiswhyI
pointedatthee，John。Backroundthiscorner，andgetthybreath，andtellmeallaboutit。Ineversawamansohurried。Icouldbeattheenow，John。’
JeremyStickleswasamanofcourage，andpresenceofmind，andmuchresource：otherwisehewouldnothavebeenappointedforthisbusiness；neverthelesshetrembledgreatlywhenheheardwhatIhadtotellhim。
ButItookgoodcaretokeepbackthenameofyoungMarwooddeWhichehalse；neitherdidIshowmyknowledgeoftheothermen；forreasonsofmyownnotveryhardtoconjecture。
’Wewillletthemcooltheirheels，JohnRidd，’saidJeremy，afterthinkingalittle。’IcannotfetchmymusketeerseitherfromGlenthorneorLynmouth，intimetoseizethefellows。AndthreedesperateDoones，well-armed，aretoomanyforyouandme。Oneresultthisattemptwillhave，itwillmakeusattackthemsoonerthanwehadintended。Andonemoreitwillhave，goodJohn，itwillmakemethyfriendforever。
Shakehandsmylad，andforgivemefreelyforhavingbeensocoldtothee。Mayhap，inthetroublescoming，itwillhelptheenotalittletohavedonemethisgoodturn。’
Uponthisheshookmebythehand，withapressuresuchaswefeelnotoften；andhavinglearnedfrommehowtopassquitebeyondviewofhisenemies，herodeontohisduty，whateveritmightbe。FormypartIwasinclinedtostay，andwatchhowlongthethreefusilierswouldhavethepatiencetolieinwait；butseeinglessandlessuseinthat，asIgrewmoreandmorehungry，Iswungmycoataboutme，andwenthometoPlover’sBarrows。
CHAPTERXXXIX
TROUBLEDSTATEANDAFOOLISHJOKE
Sticklestookmeasidethenextday，andopenedallhisbusinesstome，whetherIwouldornot。ButIgavehimclearlytounderstandthathewasnottobevexedwithme，neithertoregardmeasinanywaydishonest，ifIshoulduseformyownpurpose，orforthebenefitofmyfriends，anypartoftheknowledgeandprivitythusenforceduponme。Tothisheagreedquitereadily；butupontheexpressprovisionthatIshoulddonothingtothwarthisschemes，neitherunfoldthemtoanyone；butotherwisebeallowedtoactaccordingtomyownconscience，andasconsistedwiththehonourofaloyalgentleman——forsohewaspleasedtotermme。
Nowwhathesaidlayinnogreatcompassandmaybesummedinsmallerstill；especiallyaspeopleknowthechiefpartofitalready。DisaffectiontotheKing，orratherdisliketohisbrotherJames，andfearofRomanascendancy，hadexistednowforseveralyears，andoflatewerespreadingrapidly；partlythroughthedownrightarroganceoftheToryfaction，thecrueltyandausterityoftheDukeofYork，thecorruptionofjustice，andconfiscationofancientrightsandcharters；partlythroughjealousyoftheFrenchking，andhispotentvoiceinouraffairs；andpartlyorperhapsonemightevensay，mainlythroughthatnaturaltideinallpoliticalchannels，whichverilymovesasifithadthemoonitselfforitsmistress。
Nosoonerisathingdoneandfixed，beingsetfarinadvanceperhapsofallthatwasdonebeforelikeanewmoleinthesea，butimmediatelythewatersretire，lesttheyshouldundoit；andeveryonesayshowfineitis，butleavesotherpeopletowalkonit。Thenafterawhile，thevagueendlessocean，havingretiredandlainstillwithoutabreezeormurmur，fretsandheavesagainwithimpulse，orwithlasheslaidonit，andinonegreatsurgeadvancesovereveryrampart。
AndsotherewasatthetimeIspeakof，agreatsurgeinEngland，notrollingyet，butseething；andonewhichathousandChiefJustices，andamillionJeremyStickles，shouldneverbeabletostoporturn，bystringingupmeninfrontofit；anymorethanaropeofonionscanrepulseavolcano。Buttheworstofitwasthatthisgreatmovementtookawrongchannelatfirst；notonlymissinglegitimateline，butroaringoutthatthebackditchwaywasthetrueandestablishedcourseofit。
AgainstthisrashandrandomcurrentnearlyalltheancientmarinersoftheStatewereset；nottoallowthebraveshiptodriftthere，thoughsomelittleboatsmighttryit。Forthepresentthereseemedtobeapause，withnoopenonset，butpeopleontheshoreexpecting，eachaccordingtohiswishes，andthefeelofhisownfinger，whencetherushofwindshouldcomewhichmightdirectthewater。
Now，——toreducehighfiguresofspeechintoourownlittlenumerals，——allthetownsofSomersetshireandhalfthetownsofDevonshirewerefullofpushingeagerpeople，readytoswallowanything，ortomakeothersswallowit。Whethertheybelievedthefollyabouttheblackbox，andallthatstuff，isnotformetosay；
onlyonethingIknow，theypretendedtodoso，andpersuadedtheignorantrustics。Taunton，Bridgwater，Minehead，andDulvertontooktheleadoftheothertownsinutteranceoftheirdiscontent，andthreatsofwhattheymeanttodoifeveraPapistdaredtoclimbtheProtestantthroneofEngland。Ontheotherhand，theToryleaderswerenotasyetunderapprehensionofanimmediateoutbreak，andfearedtodamagetheirowncausebyprematurecoercion，forthestrugglewasnotverylikelytobegininearnestduringthelifeofthepresentKing；unlessheshouldassomepeoplehoped
besofaremboldenedastomakepublicprofessionofthefaithwhichheheldifany。SotheTorypolicywastowatch，notindeedpermittingtheiropponentstogatherstrength，andmusterinarmedforceorwithorder，butbeingwellapprisedofalltheirschemesandintendedmovements，towaitforsomeboldovertact，andthentostrikeseverely。AndasaTorywatchman——orspy，astheWhigswouldcallhim——JeremyStickleswasnowamongus；andhisdutywasthreefold。