# Master Huckaback's Secret explained — Lorna Doone

> Chapter companion for Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore.

## What happens

Uncle Reuben Huckaback leads John Ridd to a hidden mine on Exmoor, revealing a secret mining operation. John helps break a large boulder containing gold, and Uncle Reuben shows him a crushing engine, hinting at the family's hidden wealth and the mysterious wizard legend of the moor.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family and Loyalty

Uncle Reuben trusts John with the family's secret mine, demonstrating loyalty and the importance of family bonds in preserving wealth.

### Nature and the Rural World

The treacherous Exmoor landscape, with its bogs and the wizard's legend, highlights the wild and mystical rural setting.

## Character check-ins

### John Ridd

John accompanies Uncle Reuben to the secret mine, breaks a large gold-bearing boulder with a heavy hammer, and learns about the mining operation.

### Uncle Reuben Huckaback

Uncle Reuben reveals the secret mine to John, leads him through the treacherous marsh, and demonstrates the crushing engine, showing his pride in Somerset.

### Simon Carfax

Simon Carfax is the miner overseeing the operation; he smiles at John's initial failure but acknowledges his strength when the boulder is broken.

### Lorna Doone

John thinks of Lorna as he descends into the mine, showing his deep affection for her.

## Key lines

> Now follow me, step for step, he said, when I had tethered his horse to a tree; the ground is not death (like the wizard's hole), but many parts are treacherous, I know it well by this time.

Uncle Reuben warns John to follow his exact steps because the ground is dangerous, though not as deadly as the wizard's bog.

_Uncle Reuben's caution reflects his familiarity with the treacherous Exmoor terrain._

> Thou hast done us a good turn, my lad, said Uncle Reuben, as the others passed out of sight at the corner; and now I will show thee the bottom of a very wondrous mystery.

Uncle Reuben thanks John for breaking the boulder and promises to reveal the secret of the mine.

_This moment underscores the trust and revelation of the family's hidden enterprise._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/lviii-master-huckaback-s-secret
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters