Nowthesefinenativescamealong，singing，fortheirverylives，asongthelikeofwhichsetdownherewouldoustmybookfrommodestpeople，andmakeeverybodysay，’thismannevercanhavelovedLorna。’
　　Therefore，thelessofthatthebetter；onlyIthought，’whatadifferencefromthegoodlypsalmsofthealehouse!’
　　Havingfinishedtheircanticle，whichcontainedmoremirththanmelody，theydrewthemselvesup，inasortofwaysupposedbythemtobemilitary，eachmanwithheelandelbowstruckintothoseofhisneighbour，andsalutedtheKing’sCommissioner。’Why，whereareyourofficers？’askedMasterStickles；’howisitthatyouhavenoofficers？’Uponthistherearoseageneralgrin，andaknowinglookpassedalongtheirfaces，evenuptothemanbythegatepost。’Areyougoingtotellme，ornot，’saidJeremy，’whatisbecomeofyourofficers？’
　　’Plaisezur，’saidonelittlefellowatlast，beingnoddedatbytheresttospeak，inrightofhisknowneloquence；’hustouldHarfizers，asawornonadeofun，nowKing’smanhiszellworcoom，apupposevortocommanduslaike。’
　　’Anddoyoumeantosay，youvillains，’criedJeremy，scarceknowingwhethertolaugh，ortoswear，orwhattodo；’thatyourofficerstooktheirdismissalthus，andletyoucomeonwithoutthem？’
　　’Whatcould’emdo？’askedthelittleman，withreasoncertainlyonhisside：’huszent’emabouttheirbusiness，andtheywasgladenoughtogoo。’
　　’Well!’saidpoorJeremy，turningtome；’aprettystateofthings，John!Threescorecobblers，andfarmingmen，plasterers，tailors，andkettles-to-mend；andnotamantokeeporderamongthem，exceptmyblessedself，John!AndItrowthereisnotoneamongthemcouldhitallin-doorflying。TheDooneswillmakeriddlesofallofus。’
　　However，hehadbetterhopeswhenthesonsofDevonappeared，astheydidinaboutanhour’stime；finefellows，andeagertoprovethemselves。Thesehadnotdiscardedtheirofficers，butmarchedingoodobediencetothem，andwerequitepreparedtofightthemenofSomersetifneedbeinadditiontotheDoones。Andtherewasscarcelyamanamongthembutcouldhavetrouncedthreeoftheyellowmen，andwouldhavedoneitgladlytoo，inhonouroftheredfacings。
　　’Doyoumeantosuppose，MasterJeremyStickles，’saidI，lookingonwithamazement，beholdingalsoallourmaidensattheupstairwindowswondering；’thatwe，mymotherawidowwoman，andIayoungmanofsmallestate，cankeepandsupportallthesepreciousfellows，bothyellowones，andredones，untiltheyhavetakentheDooneGlen？’
　　’Godforbidit，myson!’hereplied，layingafingeruponhislip：’Nay，nay，Iamnotoftheshabbyorder，whenIhavethestringsofgovernment。Killyoursheepatfamineprices，andkneadyourbreadatafigureexpressingtherigoursoflastwinter。LetAnniemakeoutthebilleveryday，andIatnightwilldoubleit。
　　Youmaytakemywordforit，MasterJohn，thisspring-harvestshallbringyouinthreetimesasmuchaslastautumn’sdid。Iftheycheatedyouintown，mylad，youshallhaveyourchangeinthecountry。Takethybill，andwritedownquickly。’
　　Howeverthisdidnotmeetmyviewsofwhatanhonestmanshoulddo；andIwenttoconsultmymotheraboutit，asalltheaccountswouldbemadeinhername。
　　DearmotherthoughtthatiftheKingpaidonlyhalfagainasmuchasotherpeoplewouldhavetopay，itwouldbeperhapstheproperthing；thehalfbeingdueforloyalty：andhereshequotedanancientsaying，——
　　TheKingandhisstaff。
　　Beamanandahalf：
　　which，accordingtoherjudgment，ruledbeyonddisputethelawofthepresentquestion。Toarguewithherafterthatwhichshebroughtupwithsuchtriumph
　　wouldhavebeenworsethanuseless。ThereforeIjusttoldAnnietomakethebillsatathirdbelowthecurrentmarketprices；sothattheupshotwouldbefair。Shepromisedmehonestlythatshewould；butwithatwinkleinherbrightblueeyes，whichshemusthavecaughtfromTomFaggus。Italwayshasappearedtomethatsternanddownrighthonestyuponmoneymattersisathingnotunderstoodofwomen；betheyasgoodasgoodcanbe。
　　Theyellowsandtheredstogethernumberedahundredandtwentymen，mostofwhomsleptinourbarnsandstacks；andbesidesthesewehadfifteentroopersoftheregulararmy。Youmaysupposethatallthecountrywasturnedupsidedownaboutit；andthefolkwhocametoseethemdrill——bynomeansaneedlessexercise——wereagreaterplaguethanthesoldiers。TheofficerstoooftheDevonshirehandweresuchatormenttous，thatwealmostwishedtheirmenhaddismissedthem，astheSomersettroophaddonewiththeirs。Forwecouldnotkeepthemoutofourhouse，beingallyoungmenofgoodfamily，andthereforenottobemetwithbars。AndhavingnowthreelovelymaidensforevenLizziemighthecalledso，whenshecaredtoplease，motherandIwereatwit’sends，onaccountofthoseblessedofficers。Inevergotawinkofsleep；
　　theycamewhistlingunderthewindowso；anddirectlyI
　　wentouttochasethem，therewasnothingbutacattosee。
　　ThereforeallofuswererightgladexceptperhapsFarmerSnowe，fromwhomwehadboughtsomevictualsatrareprice，whenJeremySticklesgaveorderstomarch，andwebegantotrytodoit。Agooddealofboastingwentoverhead，asourmendefiledalongthelane；andthethickbroadpatinsofpennywortjuttedoutbetweenthestones，readytohealtheirbruises。Theparishchoircamepartoftheway，andthesinging-loftfromCountisbury；andtheykeptoursoldiers’spiritsupwithsomeofthemostpugnaciousPsalms。ParsonBowdenmarchedahead，leadingallourvanandfile，asagainstthePapists；andpromisingtogowithus，tillwecametobulletdistance。Thereforewemarchedbravelyon，andchildrencametolookatus。AndIwonderedwhereUncleReubenwas，whooughttohaveledtheculverinswhereofwehadnolessthanthree，ifSticklescouldonlyhavefoundhim；andthenIthoughtoflittleRuth；
　　andwithoutanyfaultonmypart，myheartwentdownwithinme。
　　Theculverinswerelaidonbark；andallourhorsespullingthem，andlookingroundeverynowandthen，withtheirearscurveduplikeasquirrel’dnut，andtheirnosestossinganxiously，toknowwhatsortofploughitwasmanhadbeenpleasedtoputbehindthem——man，whoseendlesswhimsandwildnesstheycouldneverunderstand，anymorethantheycouldsatisfy。
　　However，theypulledtheirverybest——asallourhorsesalwaysdo——andtheculverinswentupthehill，withoutsmackofwhip，orswearing。Ithadbeenarranged，veryjustly，nodoubt，andquiteinkeepingwiththespiritoftheConstitution，butasitprovednottoowisely，thateitherbodyofmenshouldactinitsowncountyonly。Sowhenwereachedthetopofthehill，thesonsofDevonmarchedon，andacrossthetrackleadingintoDoone-gate，soastofetchroundthewesternside，andattackwiththeirculverinfromthecliffs，whencethesentryhadchallengedmeonthenightofmypassingtheentrance。Meanwhiletheyellowladsweretostayupontheeasternhighland，whenceUncleReubenandmyselfhadreconnoitredsolongago；
　　andwhenceIhadleapedintothevalleyatthetimeofthegreatsnow-drifts。Andheretheywerenottoshowthemselves；butkeeptheirculverininthewoods，untiltheircousinsofDevonappearedontheoppositeparapetoftheglen。
　　Thethirdculverinwasentrustedtothefifteentroopers；who，withtenpickedsoldiersfromeithertrainedhand，makinginallfive-and-thirtymen，weretoassaulttheDoone-gateitself，whiletheoutlawswereplacedbetweentwofiresfromtheeasterncliffandthewestern。AndwiththisforcewentJeremyStickles，andwithitwentmyself，asknowingmoreaboutthepassagethananyotherstrangerdid。
　　Therefore，ifIhaveputitclearly，asIstrivetodo，youwillseethattheDoonesmustrepulseatoncethreesimultaneousattacks，fromanarmynumberinginthewholeonehundredandthirty-fivemen，notincludingtheDevonshireofficers；fiftymenoneachside，I
　　mean，andthirty-fiveattheheadofthevalley。
　　Thetacticsofthisgrandcampaignappearedtomesoclever，andbeautifullyordered，thatIcommendedColonelStickles，aseverybodynowcalledhim，forhisgreatabilityandmasteryoftheartofwar。Headmittedthathedeservedhighpraise；butsaidthathewasnotbyanymeansequallycertainofsuccess，solargeaproportionofhisforcesbeingonlyarawmilitia，braveenoughnodoubtforanything，whentheysawtheirwaytoit；butknowinglittleofgunnery，andwhollyunusedtobeshotat。WhereasalltheDooneswerepractisedmarksmen，beingcompelledwhenladsliketheBalearicslingerstostrikedowntheirmealsbeforetastingthem。AndthenColonelSticklesaskedme，whetherImyselfcouldstandfire；heknewthatI
　　wasnotacoward，butthiswasadifferentquestion。I
　　toldhimthatIhadbeenshotat，onceortwicebefore；
　　butneverthelessdislikedit，asmuchasalmostanything。UponthathesaidthatIwoulddo；forthatwhenamangotoverthefirstblushofdiffidence，hesoonbegantolookuponitasapuffofdestiny。
　　IwishIcouldonlytellwhathappened，inthebattleofthatday，especiallyasnearlyallthepeopleroundtheseparts，whoneversawgun-fireinit，havegottenthetalesomuchamiss；andsomeofthemwillevenstandinfrontofmyownhearth，andcontradictmetotheteeth；althoughatthetimetheywerenotborn，northeirfathersputintobreeches。Butintruth，I
　　cannottell，exactly，eventhepartinwhichIhelped，howthencanIbeexpected，timebytime，tolaybeforeyou，allthelittleinsandoutsofplaces，whereI
　　myselfwasnot？OnlyIcancontradictthings，whichI
　　knowcouldnothavebeen；andwhatIplainlysawshouldnotbecontrovertedinmyownhouse。
　　Nowwefive-and-thirtymenlaybackalittlewayroundthecorner，inthehollowofthetrackwhichleadstothestrongDoone-gate。Ourculverinwasinamongstus，loadednowtothemuzzle，anditwasnotcomfortabletoknowthatitmightgooffatanytime。
　　Althoughtheyeomanrywerenotcomeaccordingtoarrangement，someofushadhorsesthere；besidesthehorseswhodraggedthecannon，andnowweresniffingatit。Andtherewereplentyofspectatorstomindthesehorsesforus，assoonasweshouldcharge；inasmuchasallourfriendsandneighbours，whohadsokeenlypreparedforthebattle，nowresolvedtotakenopart，butlookon，andpraisethewinners。
　　Atlastweheardtheloudbang-bang，whichprovedthatDevonandSomersetwerepouringtheirindignationhotintothedenofmalefactors，oratleastsowesupposed；thereforeatdoublequickmarchweadvancedroundthebendofthecliffwhichhadhiddenus，hopingtofindthegateundefended，andtoblowdownallbarrierswiththefireofourcannon。Andindeeditseemedlikelyatfirsttobeso，forthewildandmountainousgorgeofrockappearedtobeallinpureloneliness，exceptwherethecolouredcoatsofoursoldiers，andtheirmetaltrappings，shonewiththesunbehindthem。Thereforeweshoutedaloudhurrah，asforaneasyvictory。
　　Butwhilethesoundofourcheerrangbackamongthecragsaboveus，ashrillclearwhistleclefttheairforasinglemoment，andthenadozencarbinesbellowed，andallamongusflewmurderouslead。
　　Severalofourmenrolledover，buttherestrushedonlikeBritons，Jeremyandmyselfinfront，whileweheardthehorsesplungingattheloadedgunbehindus。
　　’Now，mylads，’criedJeremy，’onedash，andwearebeyondthem!’Forhesawthatthefoewasoverheadinthegalleryofbrushwood。
　　Ourmenwithabraveshoutansweredhim，forhiscouragewasfineexample；andweleapedinunderthefeetofthefoe，beforetheycouldloadtheirgunsagain。Buthere，whentheforemostamonguswerepast，anawfulcrashrangbehindus，withtheshrieksofmen，andthedinofmetal，andthehorriblescreamingofhorses。Thetrunkofthetreehadbeenlaunchedoverhead，andcrashedintotheverymidstofus。Ourcannonwasunderit，soweretwomen，andahorsewithhispoorbackbroken。Anotherhorsevainlystruggledtorise，withhisthigh-bonesmashedandprotruding。
　　NowIlostallpresenceofmindatthis，forIlovedboththosegoodhorses，andshoutingforanytofollowme，dashedheadlongintothecavern。Somefiveorsixmencameafterme，theforemostofwhomwasJeremy，whenastormofshotwhistledandpattedaroundme，withablazeoflightandathunderousroar。OnI
　　leaped，likeamadman，andpouncedononegunner，andhurledhimacrosshisculverin；buttheothershadfled，andaheavyoakdoorfelltowithabang，behindthem。Soutterlyweremysensesgone，andnaughtbutstrengthremaining，thatIcaughtupthecannonwithbothhands，anddashedit，breech-first，atthedoorway。Thesolidoakburstwiththeblow，andthegunstuckfast，likeabuilder’sputlog。
　　ButhereIlookedroundinvainforanyonetocomeandfollowupmysuccess。Thescantylightshowedmenofiguremovingthroughthelengthofthetunnelbehindme；onlyaheavygroanortwowenttomyheart，andchilledit。SoIhurriedbacktoseekJeremy，fearingthathemustbesmittendown。
　　AndsoindeedIfoundhim，aswellasthreeotherpoorfellows，struckbythechargeoftheculverin，whichhadpassedsoclosebesideme。Twoofthefourwereasdeadasstones，andgrowingcoldalready，butJeremyandtheothercouldmanagetogroan，justnowandthen。