ice. And then I stole below Carver's house in the
shadow from the eastern cliff; and, knowing enough of the village now to
satisfy all necessity, betook myself to my well-known track in returning
from the valley.

III.

[It was not long after this that John Ridd saw the signal that
Lorna was in danger. With the aid of friends he planned and
successfully executed a raid upon the Doone village, and carried
away Lorna to his mother's house. Subsequently the Doones
attacked the house where Lorna was staying, but John Ridd and
his friends were prepared to meet them, as is related in the
following scene:]

It was not likely that the outlaws would attack our premises until some
time after the moon was risen, because it would be too dangerous to
cross the flooded valleys in the darkness of the night. And, but for
this consideration, I must have striven harder against the stealthy
approach of slumber. But even so, it was very foolish to abandon watch,
especially in such as I, who sleep like any dormouse. Moreover, I had
chosen the very worst place in the world for such employment, with a
goodly chance of awaking in a bed of solid fire.

And so it might have been--nay, it must have been--but for Lorna's
vigilance. Her light hand upon my arm awoke me, not too readily, and,
leaping up, I seized my club, and prepared to knock down somebody.

"Who's that?" I cried. "Stand back, I say, and let me have a fair chance
at you."

"Are you going to knock me down, dear John?" replied the voice I love
so well. "I am sure I should never get up again, after one blow from you,
John."

"My darling, is it you?" I cried; "and breaking all your orders? Come
back into the house at once; and nothing on your head, dear."

"How could I sleep, while at any moment you might be killed beneath my
window? And now is the time of real danger, for men can see to travel."

I saw at once the truth of this. The moon was high and clearly lighting
all the watered valleys. To sleep any longer might be death, not only to
myself, but all.

"The man on guard at the back of the house is fast asleep," she
continued; "Gwenny, who let me out, and came with me, has heard him
snoring for two hours. I think the women ought to be the watch, because
they have had no traveling. Where do you suppose little Gwenny is?"

"Surely not gone to Glen Doone?" I was not sure, however, for I could
believe almost anything of the Cornish maiden's ha