IthadbeensettledbetweenusthatweshouldexpecthimsoonafternoononthelastdayofDecember。FortheDoonesbeinglazyandfondofbed，asthemannerisofdishonestfolk，thesurestwaytoescapethemwastotravelbeforetheywereupandabout，to-wit，intheforenoonoftheday。Buthereinwereckonedwithoutourhost：forbeinginhighfestivity，asbecamegoodPapists，therobbersweretoolazy，itseems，totakethetroubleofgoingtobed；andforththeyrodeontheOldYear-morning，notwithanyviewofbusiness，butpurelyinsearchofmischief。
　　Wehadputoffourdinnertilloneo’clockwhichtomewasasadforegoing，andtherewastobeabravesupperatsixoftheclock，uponNewYear’s-eve；andthesingerstocomewiththeirlanthorns，anddoitoutsidetheparlour-window，andthenhavehotcuptilltheirheadsshouldgoround，aftermakingawaywiththevictuals。ForalthoughtherewasnobodynowinourfamilytobechurchwardenofOare，itwaswelladmittedthatwewerethepeopleentitledalonetothatdignity；
　　andthoughNicholasSnowewasinofficebyname，hemanageditonlybymother’sadvice；andaprettymesshemadeofit，sothateveryonelongedforaRiddagain，soonaseverIshouldbeoldenough。ThisNicholasSnowewastocomeintheevening，withhisthreetallcomelydaughters，strappinggirls，andwellskilledinthedairy；andthestorywasallovertheparish，onastupidconceitofJohnFry’s，thatI
　　shouldhavebeeninlovewithallthree，iftherehadbeenbutoneofthem。TheseSnowesweretocome，andcometheydid，partlybecauseMr。Huckabacklikedtoseefineyoungmaidens，andpartlybecausenonebutNicholasSnowecouldsmokeapipenowallaroundourparts，exceptoftheveryhighpeople，whomwedurstneverinvite。AndUncleBen，asweallknewwell，wasagreathandathispipe，andwouldsitforhoursoverit，inourwarmchimney-corner，andneverwanttosayaword，unlessitwereinsidehim；onlyhelikedtohavesomebodythereoveragainsthimsmoking。
　　NowwhenIcamein，beforeoneo’clock，afterseeingtothecattle——forthedaywasthickerthanever，andwemustkeepthecattlecloseathome，ifwewishedtoseeanymoreofthem——IfullyexpectedtofindUncleBensittinginthefireplace，liftingonecoverandthenanother，ashisfavouritemannerwas，andmakingsweetmouthsoverthem；forhelovedourbaconrarely，andtheyhadnogoodleeksatDulverton；andhewasamanwhoalwayswouldseehisbusinessdonehimself。Butthereinsteadofmyfindinghimwithhisquaintdryfacepulledoutatme，andthenshutupsharpnottobecheated——whoshouldrunoutbutBettyMuxworthy，andpokemewithasaucepanlid。
　　’Getoutofthatnow，Betty，’Isaidinmypolitestmanner，forreallyBettywasnowbecomeagreatdomesticevil。Shewouldhaveherownwayso，andofallthingsthemostdistressfulwasforamantotrytoreason。
　　’Zider-press，’criedBettyagain，forshethoughtitafinejoketocallmethat，becauseofmysize，andmyhatredofit；’herebeararegetup，anyhow。’
　　’Araregooddinner，youmean，Betty。Well，andIhaveararegoodappetite。’WiththatIwantedtogoandsmellit，andnottostopforBetty。
　　’Troosttheeforthiccy，JanRidd。Buttheemustkeepitbitlanger，Ireckon。Herbaintcoom，MaisterZiderpress。Whatt’emakofthatnow？’
　　’DoyoumeantosaythatUncleBenhasnotarrivedyet，Betty？’
　　’Raived!Iknawsnoutaboutthat，whutherahathofnoo。OnlyItell’e，herbaintcoom。RackonthemDooneseshathgat’un。’
　　AndBetty，whohatedUncleBen，becausehenevergaveheragroat，andshewasnotallowedtodinewithhim，IamsorrytosaythatBettyMuxworthygrinnedallacross，andpokedmeagainwiththegreasysaucepancover。ButImislikingsotobetreated，strodethroughthekitchenindignantly，forBettybehavedtomeevennow，asifIwereonlyEliza。
　　’Oh，Johnny，Johnny，’mymothercried，runningoutofthegrandshow-parlour，wherethecaseofstuffedbirdswas，andpeacock-feathers，andthewhiteharekilledbygrandfather；’Iamsogladyouarecomeatlast。
　　Thereissomethingsadlyamiss，Johnny。’
　　Motherhaduponherwristssomethingverywonderful，ofthenatureoffal-lalaswesay，andforwhichshehadaninbornturn，beingofgooddraperfamily，andpolishedabovetheyeomanry。NeverthelessIcouldneverbearit，partlybecauseIfeltittobeoutofplaceinourgoodfarm-house，partlybecauseIhatefrippery，partlybecauseitseemedtometohavenothingtodowithfather，andpartlybecauseInevercouldtellthereasonofmyhatingit。Andyetthepoorsoulhadputthemon，nottoshowherhandsoffwhichwereaboveherstationbutsimplyforherchildren’ssake，becauseUncleBenhadgiventhem。Butanotherthing，Inevercouldbearformanorwomantocallme，’Johnny，’’Jack，’or’John，’Icarednotwhich；andthatwashonestenough，andnosmallnessofmethere，Isay。
　　’Well，mother，whatisthematter，then？’
　　’Iamsureyouneednotbeangry，Johnny。Ionlyhopeitisnothingtogrieveabout，insteadofbeingangry。
　　Youareverysweet-tempered，Iknow，JohnRidd，andperhapsalittletoosweetattimes’——hereshemeanttheSnowegirls，andIhangedmyhead——’butwhatwouldyousayifthepeoplethere’——sheneverwouldcallthem’Doones’——’hadgottenyourpoorUncleReuben，horse，andSundaycoat，andall？’
　　’Why，mother，Ishouldbesorryforthem。Hewouldsetupashopbytheriver-side，andcomeawaywithalltheirmoney。’
　　’Thatallyouhavetosay，John!Andmydinnerdonetoaveryturn，andthesupperallfittogodown，andnoworry，onlytoeatandbedonewithit!AndallthenewplatescomefromWatchett，withtheWatchettblueuponthem，attheriskofthelivesofeverybody，andthecapiasfromgoodAuntJaneforstuffingacurlewwithonionbeforehebeginstogetcold，andmakeawoodcockofhim，andthewaytoturntheflapoverintheinsideofaroastingpig——’
　　’Well，motherdear，Iamverysorry。Butletushaveourdinner。Youknowwepromisednottowaitforhimafteroneo’clock；andyouonlymakeushungry。
　　Everythingwillbespoiled，mother，andwhatapitytothinkof!AfterthatIwillgotoseekforhiminthethickofthefog，likeaneedleinahay-band。Thatistosay，unlessyouthink’——forshelookedverygraveaboutit——’unlessyoureallythink，mother，thatI
　　oughttogowithoutdinner。’
　　’Ohno，John，Ineverthoughtthat，thankGod!BlessHimformychildren’sappetites；andwhatisUncleBentothem？’
　　Sowemadeaverygooddinnerindeed，thoughwishingthathecouldhavesomeofit，andwonderinghowmuchtoleaveforhim；andthen，asnosoundofhishorsehadbeenheard，Isetoutwithmyguntolookforhim。
　　Ifollowedthetrackonthesideofthehill，fromthefarm-yard，wherethesledd-marksare——forwehavenowheelsuponExmooryet，norevershall，Isuppose；
　　thoughadunder-headedmantrieditlastwinter，andbrokehisaxlepiteously，andwasnightobreakhisneck——andafterthatIwentallalongontheridgeoftherabbit-cleve，withthebrookrunningthininthebottom；andthendowntotheLynnstreamandleapedit，andsoupthehillandthemoorbeyond。Thefoghungcloseallaroundmethen，whenIturnedthecrestofthehighland，andthegorsebothbeforeandbehindmelookedlikeamancrouchingdowninambush。Butstilltherewasagoodcloudofdaylight，beingscarcethreeoftheclockyet，andwhenaleadofreddeercameacross，Icouldtellthemfromsheepevennow。Iwashalfinclinedtoshootatthem，forthechildrendidlovevenison；buttheydroopedtheirheadsso，andlookedsofaithful，thatitseemedhardmeasuretodoit。Ifoneofthemhadboltedaway，nodoubtIhadletgoathim。
　　AfterthatIkeptonthetrack，trudgingverystoutly，fornighuponthreemiles，andmybeardnowbeginningtogrowatsomelengthwasfullofgreatdropsandprickly，whereatIwasveryproud。Ihadnotsomuchasadogwithme，andtheplacewasunkindandlonesome，andtherollingcloudsverydesolate；andnowifawildsheepranacrosshewasscaredatmeasanenemy；andIformypartcouldnottellthemeaningofthemarksonhim。WecalledallthispartGibbet-moor，notbeinginourparish；butthoughthereweregibbetsenoughuponit，mostpartofthebodieswasgoneforthevalueofthechains，theysaid，andtheteachingofyoungchirurgeons。ButofallthisIhadlittlefear，beingnomoreaschoolboynow，butayouthwell-acquaintwithExmoor，andthewiseartofthesign-posts，wherebyaman，whobarredtheroad，nowopensitupbothwayswithhisfinger-bones，sofarasroguesallowhim。Mycarbinewasloadedandfreshlyprimed，andIknewmyselftobeevennowamatchinstrengthforanytwomenofthesizearoundourneighbourhood，exceptintheGlenDoone。’GirtJanRidd，’Iwascalledalready，andfolkgrewfearedtowrestlewithme；thoughIwastiredofhearingaboutit，andoftenlongedtobesmaller。AndmostofalluponSundays，whenIhadtomakewayupourlittlechurch，andthemaidenstitteredatme。
　　Thesoftwhitemistcamethickeraroundme，astheeveningfell；andthepeatrickshereandthere，andthefurze-hucksofthesummer-time，werealloutofshapeinthetwistofit。By-and-by，IbegantodoubtwhereIwas，orhowcomethere，nothavingseenagibbetlately；andthenIheardthedraughtofthewindupahollowplacewithrockstoit；andforthefirsttimefearbrokeoutlikecoldsweatuponme。AndyetIknewwhatafoolIwas，tofearnothingbutasound!
　　ButwhenIstoppedtolisten，therewasnosound，morethanabeatingnoise，andthatwasallinsideme。
　　ThereforeIwentonagain，makingcompanyofmyself，andkeepingmygunquiteready。
　　NowwhenIcametoanunknownplace，whereastonewassetupendwise，withafaintredcrossuponit，andapolishfromsomeconflict，Igatheredmycouragetostopandthink，havingspedonthewaytoohotly。
　　AgainstthatstoneIsetmygun，tryingmyspirittoleaveitso，butkeepingwithhalfahandforit；andthenwhattodonextwasthewonder。AsforfindingUncleBenthatwashisownbusiness，oratanyratehisexecutor’s；firstIhadtofindmyself，andplentifullywouldthankGodtofindmyselfathomeagain，forthesakeofallourfamily。
　　Thevolumesofthemistcamerollingatmelikegreatlogsofwood，pillowedoutwithsleepiness，andbetweenthemtherewasnothingmorethanwaitingforthenextone。Theneverythingwentoutofsight，andgladwasIofthestonebehindme，andviewofmineownshoes。Thenadistantnoisewentbyme，asofmanyhorsesgalloping，andinmyfrightIsetmygunandsaid，’Godsendsomethingtoshootat。’Yetnothingcame，andmygunfellback，withoutmywilltolowerit。
　　Butpresently，whileIwasthinking’WhatafoolIam!’
　　aroseasiffrombelowmyfeet，sothatthegreatstonetrembled，thatlong，lamentinglonesomesound，asofanevilspiritnotknowingwhattodowithit。ForthemomentIstoodlikearoot，withouteitherhandorfoottohelpme，andthehairofmyheadbegantocrawl，liftingmyhat，asasnailliftshishouse；andmyheartlikeashuttlewenttoandfro。Butfindingnoharmtocomeofit，neithervisibleformapproaching，I
　　wipedmyforehead，andhopedforthebest，andresolvedtoruneverystepoftheway，tillIdrewourownlatchbehindme。
　　YethereagainIwasdisappointed，fornosoonerwasI
　　cometothecross-waysbytheblackpoolinthehole，butIheardthroughthepatterofmyownfeetaroughlowsoundverycloseinthefog，asofahobbledsheepa-coughing。Ilistened，andfeared，andyetlistenedagain，thoughIwantednottohearit。Forbeinginhasteofthehomewardroad，andallmyhearthavingheelstoit，loathIwastostopintheduskforthesakeofanagedwether。Yetpartlymyloveofallanimals，andpartlymyfearofthefarmer’sdisgrace，compelledmetogotothesuccour，andthenoisewascomingnearer。Adryshortwheezingsounditwas，barredwithcoughsandwantofbreath；butthusImadethemeaningofit。
　　’Lordhavemercyuponme!OLord，uponmysoulhavemercy!AnifIcheatedSamHickslastweek，Lordknowesthowwellhedeservedit，andliedineverystocking’smouth——ohLord，wherebeIa-going？’
　　Thesewords，withmanyjogsbetweenthem，cametomethroughthedarkness，andthenalonggroanandachoking。Imadetowardsthesound，asnighaseverI
　　couldguess，andpresentlywasmet，point-blank，bytheheadofamountain-pony。Uponitsbacklayamanbounddown，withhisfeetontheneckandhisheadtothetail，andhisarmsfallingdownlikestirrups。Thewildlittlenagwasscaredofitslifebytheunaccustomedburden，andhadbeentossingandrollinghard，indesiretogeteaseofit。
　　Beforethelittlehorsecouldturn，Icaughthim，jadedashewas，byhiswetandgrizzledforelock，andhesawthatitwasvaintostruggle，butstrovetobitemenonetheless，untilIsmotehimuponthenose。
　　’Goodandworthysir，’Isaidtothemanwhowasridingsoroughly；’fearnothing；noharmshallcometothee。’
　　’Help，goodfriend，whoeverthouart，’hegasped，butcouldnotlookatme，becausehisneckwasjerkedso；