# A Long Account Settled explained — Lorna Doone > Chapter companion for Lorna Doone by R. D. Blackmore. ## What happens John Ridd and his band of yeomen, miners, and farmers launch a night assault on the Doone stronghold. Using the waterslide to enter from the rear, they set fire to Doone-town and ambush the returning warriors. In the ensuing slaughter, nearly all Doones are killed, including Charleworth Doone, who dies in a mutual killing with Kit Badcock. Only Counsellor Doone and Carver Doone survive. John reflects on the violence and questions divine judgment. ## Themes in this chapter ### Justice and Revenge The attack on the Doones is framed as a long-overdue reckoning, with each man seeking vengeance for personal losses, yet John questions the morality of the slaughter. ### Family and Loyalty Kit Badcock's revenge is driven by the loss of his wife and child, highlighting the theme of family honor and loyalty. ### Honor and Reputation The yeomen and farmers are motivated by the need to restore their honor and community reputation after years of Doone depredations. ## Character check-ins ### John Ridd Leads the night assault on the Doone valley, organizing the attack and climbing the waterslide; later hesitates to fire but ultimately participates in the slaughter. ### Uncle Reuben Huckaback Provides counsel, influence, and warehousemen for the attack, though he does not expose himself to danger due to his age. ### John Fry Stationed on the heights to fire a signal musket; initially thought to have fallen asleep but eventually fires, starting the assault. ### Kit Badcock Seeks revenge on Charleworth Doone for stealing his wife; kills Charley in a mutual death struggle, then dies himself. ### Charleworth Doone A Doone warrior who robbed Kit Badcock of his wife; killed by Kit in the battle. ### Carver Doone One of the only two Doones left alive after the massacre; not present in the main fight. ## Key lines > Having resolved on a night-assault (as our undisciplined men, three-fourths of whom had never been shot at, could not fairly be expected to march up to visible musket-mouths), we cared not much about drilling our forces, only to teach them to hold a musket, so far as we could supply that weapon to those with the cleverest eyes; and to give them familiarity with the noise it made in exploding. We decided on a night attack because most of our men were untrained and would panic facing enemy guns; we focused on basic musket handling and getting them used to the sound of gunfire. _John explains the tactical decision to attack at night due to the inexperience of his men._ > All Doone-town is on fire, on fire! we heard them shrieking as they went; 'a hundred soldiers are burning it, with a dreadful great man at the head of them!' The Doone women screamed that a hundred soldiers were burning their town, led by a terrifying giant. _The Doone women spread panic, exaggerating the size of the attacking force._ > I like not to tell of slaughter, though it might be of wolves and tigers; and that was a night of fire and slaughter, and of very long-harboured revenge. I dislike describing the killing, even if it were of wild beasts; that night was filled with fire, death, and revenge long held in check. _John expresses his reluctance to recount the violence, acknowledging the deep-seated revenge motive._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters/lxxi-a-long-account-settled - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/lorna_doone_se/chapters