At Doone Glen, Tom leads some men to “attack” the Doone gate, while John and his 20 men attack from behind using his “water slide” that had first enabled him to meet Lorna. John burns down Carver’s house and learns that he has 10 to 12 “wives.” John spares the women and children from all violence, and he is kind to Carver’s legitimate son, Ensie. John is hesitant to fire on the small group of Doones, but then they attack viciously, so he finds himself able to respond in kind. There is a violent battle, but by morning, the only living Doones are the Counsellor and Carver, and John’s forces have burned all their houses to ash.

John describes the attacks in more detail. Simon Carfax meets with the Doones where they had once murdered a kindly old squire. He uses the water into which the murdered man had been thrown to douse the Doones’s gunpowder. The men surround them, and only Carver Doone escapes the attack. Upon seeing his house burning, he swears vengeance and escapes.

In the battle, John sees the Counsellor coming out of Gwenny’s door. He begs for John’s protection. John agrees under the condition that he tell who truly killed his father and give him back Lorna’s necklace.