grazedtherehaditbeenourpleasure，butthatitwasnotworthourwhile，andscarcelyworthJasperKebby’seven；allthelandbeingcroppedasonemightsaywithdesolation。Andnearlyallourknowledgeofitsprangfromtheunaccountabletricksofcowswhohaveyoungcalveswiththem；atwhichtimetheyhavewilddesiretogetawayfromthesightofman，andkeepcalfandmilkforoneanother，althoughitbeinabarrenland。Atleast，ourcowshavegottenthistrick，andIhaveheardotherpeoplecomplainofit。
　　JohnFry，asIsaid，knewtheplacewellenough，buthelikeditnonethemoreforthat，neitherdidanyofourpeople；and，indeed，alltheneighbourhoodofThomshillandLarksborough，andmostofallBlackBarrowDownlayundergraveimputationofhavingbeenenchantedwithaveryevilspell。Moreover，itwasknown，thoughfolkwereloathtospeakofit，evenonasummermorning，thatSquireThom，whohadbeenmurderedthere，acenturyagoormore，hadbeenseenbyseveralshepherds，eveninthemiddleday，walkingwithhisseveredheadcarriedinhislefthand，andhisrightarmliftedtowardsthesun。
　　ThereforeitwasveryboldinJohnasIacknowledged
　　toventureacrossthatmooralone，evenwithafastponyunderhim，andsomewhiskybyhisside。AndhewouldneverhavedonesoofthatIamquitecertain，eitherforthesakeofAnnie’ssweetface，orofthegoldenguinea，whichthethreemaidenshadsubscribedtorewardhisskillandvalour。Butthetruthwasthathecouldnotresisthisowngreatcuriosity。For，carefullyspyingacrossthemoor，frombehindthetuftofwhortles，atfirsthecoulddiscovernothinghavinglifeandmotion，exceptthreeorfourwildcattlerovinginvainsearchfornourishment，andadiseasedsheepbanishedhither，andsomecarrioncrowskeepingwatchonher。ButwhenJohnwastakinghisverylastlook，beingonlytoogladtogohomeagain，andacknowledgehimselfbaffled，hethoughthesawafiguremovinginthefarthestdistanceuponBlackBarrowDown，scarcelyathingtobesureofyet，onaccountofthewantofcolour。Butashewatched，thefigurepassedbetweenhimandanakedcliff，andappearedtobeamanonhorseback，makinghiswayverycarefully，infearofbogsandserpents。Forallaboutthereitisadders’
　　ground，andlargeblackserpentsdwellinthemarshes，andcanswimaswellascrawl。
　　JohnknewthatthemanwhowasridingtherecouldbenonebutUncleReuben，fornoneoftheDooneseverpassedthatway，andtheshepherdswereafraidofit。
　　Andnowitseemedanunkindplaceforanunarmedmantoventurethrough，especiallyafteranarmedonewhomightnotliketobespiedupon，andmusthavesomedarkobjectinvisitingsuchdrearsolitudes。
　　NeverthelessJohnFrysoachedwithunbearablecuriositytoknowwhatanoldman，andastranger，andarichman，andapeaceablecouldpossiblybeafterinthatmysteriousmanner。Moreover，Johnsothrobbedwithhopetofindsomewealthysecret，thatcomewhatwouldofitheresolvedtogototheendofthematter。
　　Thereforeheonlywaitedawhileforfearofbeingdiscovered，tillMasterHuckabackturnedtotheleftandenteredalittlegully，whencehecouldnotsurveythemoor。ThenJohnremountedandcrossedtheroughlandandthestonyplaces，andpickedhiswayamongthemorassesasfastaseverhedaredtogo；until，inabouthalfanhour，hedrewnightheentranceofthegully。Andnowitbehovedhimtobemostwary；forUncleBenmighthavestoppedinthere，eithertoresthishorseorhavingreachedtheendofhisjourney。
　　Andineithercase，Johnhadlittledoubtthathehimselfwouldbepistolled，andnothingmoreeverheardofhim。Thereforehemadehisponycometothemouthofitsideways，andleanedoverandpeeredinaroundtherockycorner，whilethelittlehorsecroppedatthebriars。
　　Buthesoonperceivedthatthegullywasempty，sofaratleastasitscoursewasstraight；andwiththathehastenedintoit，thoughhisheartwasnotworkingeasily。Whenhehadtracedthewindinghollowforhalfamileormore，hesawthatitforked，andonepartledtotheleftupasteepredbank，andtheothertotheright，beingnarrowandslightlytendingdownwards。
　　Someyellowsandlayhereandtherebetweenthestarvinggrasses，andthisheexaminednarrowlyforatraceofMasterHuckaback。
　　Atlasthesawthat，beyondalldoubt，themanhewaspursuinghadtakenthecoursewhichleddownhill；anddownthehillhemustfollowhim。AndthisJohndidwithdeepmisgivings，andaheartywishthathehadneverstarteduponsoperilousanerrand。Fornowheknewnotwherehewas，andscarcelydaredtoaskhimself，havingheardofahorriblehole，somewhereinthisneighbourhood，calledtheWizard’sSlough。
　　ThereforeJohnrodedowntheslope，withsorrow，andgreatcaution。Andthesegrewmoreashewentonward，andhisponyrearedagainsthim，beingscared，althoughanativeoftheroughestmoorland。AndJohnhadjustmadeuphismindthatGodmeantthisforawarning，asthepassageseemeddarkeranddeeper，whensuddenlyheturnedacorner，andsawascenewhichstoppedhim。
　　FortherewastheWizard’sSloughitself，asblackasdeath，andbubbling，withafewscantyellowreedsinaringaroundit。Outsidethese，brightwater-grassoftheliveliestgreenwascreeping，temptinganyunwaryfoottostep，andplunge，andfounder。Andonthemargewerebluecampanula，sundew，andforget-me-not，suchasnochildcouldresist。Oneitherside，thehillfellback，andthegroundwasbrokenwithtuftsofrush，andflag，andmares-tail，andafewroughalder-treesovercloggedwithwater。Andnotabirdwasseenorheard，neitherrailnorwater-hen，wag-tailnorreed-warbler。
　　Ofthishorriblequagmire，theworstuponallExmoor，Johnhadheardfromhisgrandfather，andevenfromhismother，whentheywantedtokeephimquiet；buthisfatherhadfearedtospeakofittohim，beingamanofpiety，anduptothetricksoftheevilone。ThismadeJohnthemoredesiroustohaveagoodlookatitnow，onlywithhisgirthswellup，toturnawayandfleeatspeed，ifanythingshouldhappen。Andnowheprovedhowwellitistobewaryandwide-awake，eveninlonesomeplaces。ForattheothersideoftheSlough，andafewland-yardsbeyondit，wherethegroundwaslessnoisome，hehadobservedafelledtreelyingoveragreatholeintheearth，withstavesofwood，andslabsofstone，andsomeyellowgravelaroundit。Buttheflagsofreedsaroundthemorasspartlyscreeneditfromhiseyes，andhecouldnotmakeoutthemeaningofit，exceptthatitmeantnogood，andprobablywaswitchcraft。YetDollyseemednottobeharmedbyit，forthereshewasaslargeaslife，tiedtoastumpnotfarbeyond，andflippingthefliesawaywithhertail。
　　WhileJohnwastremblingwithinhimself，lestDollyshouldgetscentofhispony，andneighandrevealtheirpresence，althoughshecouldnotseethem，suddenlytohisgreatamazementsomethingwhitearoseoutofthehole，underthebrowntrunkofthetree。
　　Seeingthishisbloodwentbackwithinhim，yethewasnotabletoturnandflee，butrootedhisfaceinamongtheloosestones，andkepthisquiveringshouldersback，andprayedtoGodtoprotecthim。However，thewhitethingitselfwasnotsoveryawful，beingnothingmorethanalong-conednight-capwithatasselonthetop，suchascriminalswearathanging-time。ButwhenJohnsawaman’sfaceunderit，andaman’sneckandshouldersslowlyrisingoutofthepit，hecouldnotdoubtthatthiswastheplacewherethemurdererscometolifeagain，accordingtotheExmoorstory。Heknewthatamanhadbeenhangedlastweek，andthatthiswastheninthdayafterit。
　　Thereforehecouldbearnomore，thoroughlybraveashehadbeen，neitherdidhewaittoseewhatbecameofthegallows-man；butclimbedonhishorsewithwhatspeedhemight，androdeawayatfullgallop。Neitherdidhedaregobackbythewayhecame，fearingtofaceBlackBarrowDown!thereforehestruckuptheothertrackleadingawaytowardsClovenRocks，andafterridinghardforanhouranddrinkingallhiswhisky，heluckilyfellinwithashepherd，wholedhimontoapublic-housesomewherenearExeford。Andherehewassounmanned，theexcitementbeingover，thatnothinglessthanagallonofaleandhalfagammonofbacon，broughthimtohisrightmindagain。Andhetookgoodcaretobehomebeforedark，havingfollowedawell-knownsheeptrack。
　　WhenJohnFryfinishedhisstoryatlast，aftermanyexclamationsfromAnnie，andfromLizzie，andmuchpraiseofhisgallantry，yetsomelittledisappointmentthathehadnotstayedtherealittlelonger，whilehewasaboutit，soastobeabletotellusmore，Isaidtohimverysternly，——
　　’Now，John，youhavedreamedhalfthis，myman。I
　　firmlybelievethatyoufellasleepatthetopoftheblackcombe，afterdrinkingallyourwhisky，andneverwentonthemooratall。Youknowwhataliaryouare，John。’
　　Thegirlswereexceedinglyangryatthis，andlaidtheirhandsbeforemymouth；butIwaitedforJohntoanswer，withmyeyesfixeduponhimsteadfastly。
　　’Bain’tformetodenai，’saidJohn，lookingatmeveryhonestly，’butwhatamaighttullalai，nowandawhiles，zameasothermendoth，andmostofarlthemasspaksagainit；butthisherebenolai，MaisterJan。IwushtoGoditwor，boy：amaightslapethisnaightthebetter。’
　　’Ibelieveyouspeakthetruth，John；andIaskyourpardon。Nownotawordtoanyone，aboutthisstrangeaffair。Thereismischiefbrewing，Icansee；anditismyplacetoattendtoit。Severalthingscomeacrossmenow——onlyIwillnottellyou。’
　　Theywerenotatallcontentedwiththis；butIwouldgivethemnobetter；excepttosay，whentheyplaguedmegreatly，andvowedtosleepatmydoorallnight，——
　　’Now，mydears，thisisfoolishofyou。Toomuchofthismatterisknownalready。ItisforyourowndearsakesthatIamboundtobecautious。Ihaveanopinionofmyown；butitmaybeaverywrongone；I
　　willnotaskyoutoshareitwithme；neitherwillI
　　makeyouinquisitive。’
　　Anniepouted，andLizziefrowned，andRuthlookedatmewithhereyeswideopen，butnoothermarkofregardingme。AndIsawthatifanyoneofthethreeforJohnFrywasgonehomewiththetremblescouldbetrustedtokeepasecret，thatonewasRuthHuckaback。
　　ThestorytoldbyJohnFrythatnight，andmyconvictionofitstruth，mademeveryuneasy，especiallyasfollowinguponthewarningofJudgeJeffreys，andthehintsreceivedfromJeremyStickles，andtheoutburstofthetanneratDunster，aswellassundrytalesandrumours，andsignsofsecretunderstanding，seenandheardonmarket-days，andatplacesofentertainment。WeknewforcertainthatatTaunton，Bridgwater，andevenDulverton，therewasmuchdisaffectiontowardstheKing，andregretforthedaysofthePuritans。AlbeitIhadtoldthetruth，andthepureandsimpletruth，when，uponmyexamination，I
　　hadassuredhislordship，thattothebestofmyknowledgetherewasnothingofthesortwithus。
　　ButnowIwasbeginningtodoubtwhetherImightnothavebeenmistaken；especiallywhenweheard，aswedid，ofarmsbeinglandedatLynmouth，inthedeadofthenight，andofthetrampofmenhavingreachedsomeone’sears，fromahillwhereafamousechowas。ForitmustbeplaintoanyconspiratorwithouttheexampleoftheDoonesthatforthesecretmusterofmenandthestowingofunlawfularms，andcommunicationbybeaconlights，scarcelyafitterplacecouldbefoundthanthewildsofExmoor，withdeepravinesrunningfarinlandfromanunwatchedandmostlyashelteredsea。FortheChannelfromCountisburyForelanduptoMinehead，orevenfarther，thoughrocky，andgusty，andfullofcurrents，issafefromgreatrollersandthesweepingpowerofthesouth-weststorms，whichprevailwithusmorethanalltheothers，andmakesadworkontheoppositecoast。
　　ButevensupposingitprobablethatsomethingagainstKingCharlestheSecondorratheragainsthisRomanadvisers，andespeciallyhisbrotherwerenowinpreparationamongstus，wasitlikelythatMasterHuckaback，awealthyman，andacarefulone，knownmoreovertotheLordChiefJustice，wouldhaveanythingtodowithit？TothisIcouldmakenoanswer；UncleBenwassocloseaman，soavaricious，andsorevengeful，thatitwasquiteimpossibletosaywhatcoursehemightpursue，withoutknowingallthechancesofgain，orrise，orsatisfactiontohim。ThathehatedthePapistsIknewfullwell，thoughheneverspokemuchaboutthem；alsothathehadfollowedthemarchofOliverCromwell’sarmy，butmoreasasuttlerpeoplesaidthanasarealsoldier；andthathewouldgoalongway，andriskagreatdealofmoney，tohavehisrevengeontheDoones；althoughtheirnameneverpassedhislipsduringthepresentvisit。
　　ButhowwasitlikelytobeastotheDoonesthemselves？Whichsidewouldtheyprobablytakeinthecomingmovement，ifmovementindeeditwouldbe？Sofarastheyhadanyreligionatall，bybirththeywereRomanCatholics——somuchIknewfromLorna；andindeeditwaswellknownallaround，thatapriesthadbeenfetchedmorethanoncetothevalley，tosoothesomepooroutlaw’sdeparture。Ontheotherhand，theywerenotlikelytoentertainmuchaffectionforthesonofthemanwhohadbanishedthemandconfiscatedtheirproperty。Anditwasnotatallimpossiblethatdesperatemen，suchastheywere，havingnothingtolose，butestatestorecover，andnotbeingheldbyreligionmuch，shouldcastawayallregardforthebirthfromwhichtheyhadbeencastout，andmakecommoncausewithaProtestantrising，forthechanceofrevengeandreplacement。
　　HoweverIdonotmeantosaythatallthesethingsoccurredtomeasclearlyasIhavesetthemdown；onlythatIwasingeneraldoubt，andverysadperplexity。
　　Formotherwassowarm，andinnocent，andkindsotoeveryone，thatknowingsomelittlebythistimeoftheEnglishconstitution，Ifearedverygreatlylestsheshouldbepunishedforharbouringmalcontents。AswellaspossibleIknew，thatifanypoormancametoourdoor，andcried，’Officersareafterme；forGod’ssaketakeandhideme，’motherwouldtakehiminatonce，andconceal，andfeedhim，eventhoughhehadbeenveryviolent；and，totellthetruth，sowouldbothmysisters，andsoindeedwouldIdo。Whenceitwillbeclearthatwewerenotthesortofpeopletobesafeamongdisturbances。
　　BeforeIcouldquitemakeupmymindhowtoactinthisdifficulty，andhowtogetattherightsofitforI
　　wouldnotspyafterUncleReuben，thoughIfeltnogreatfearoftheWizard’sSlough，andnoneofthemanwiththewhitenight-cap，adifferencecameagainuponit，andachangeofchances。ForUncleBenwentawayassuddenlyashefirsthadcometous，givingnoreasonforhisdeparture，neitherclaimingthepony，andindeedleavingsomethingbehindhimofgreatvaluetomymother。Forhebeggedhertoseetohisyounggrand-daughter，untilhecouldfindopportunityoffetchinghersafelytoDulverton。Motherwasoverjoyedatthis，asshecouldnothelpdisplaying；andRuthwasquiteasmuchdelighted，althoughshedurstnotshowit。ForatDulvertonshehadtowatchandkeepsuchwardonthevictuals，andtheinandoutoftheshopmen，thatitwententirelyagainstherheart，andshenevercouldenjoyherself。Trulyshewasanalteredgirlfromthedayshecametous；catchingourunsuspiciousmanners，andourfreegoodwill，andheartynoiseoflaughing。