Bythistimetheyeomanryofthedistrictwerealsoonthemove，andamongthemFestusDerriman，whowassleepingathisuncle’s，andhadbeenawakenedbyCripplestraw。AboutthetimewhenBobandhisfatherweredescendingfromthebeaconthestalwartyeomanwasstandinginthestable-yardadjustinghisstraps，whileCripplestrawsaddledthehorse。Festusclankedupanddown，lookedgloomilyatthebeacon，heardtheretreatingcartsandcarriages，andcalledCripplestrawtohim，whocamefromthestableleadingthehorseatthesamemomentthatUncleBenjypeepedunobservedfromamullionedwindowabovetheirheads，thedistantlightofthebeaconfiretouchinguphisfeaturestothecomplexionofanoldbrassclock-face。
’IthinkthatbeforeIstart，Cripplestraw，’saidFestus，whoseluridvisagewasundergoingableachingprocesscurioustolookupon，’youshallgoontoBudmouth，andmakeaboldinquirywhetherthecowardlyenemyisonshoreasyet，oronlyloominginthebay。’
’I’dgoinamoment，sir，’saidtheother，’ifIhadn’tmybadlegagain。Ishouldhavejoinedmycompanyaforethis；buttheysaidatlastdrillthatIwastooold。SoIshallwaitupinthehay-loftfortidingsassoonasIhavepackedyouoff，poorgentleman！’
’Dosuchalarmsasthese，Cripplestraw，everhappenwithoutfoundation？Buonaparteisawretch，amiserablewretch，andthismaybeonlyafalsealarmtodisappointsuchasme？’
’Ono，sir；Ono！’
’Butsometimestherearefalsealarms？’
’Well，sir，yes。Therewasapretendedsallyo’gunboatslastyear。’
’Andwastherenothingelsepretended——somethingmorelikethis，forinstance？’
Cripplestrawshookhishead。’Inoticeyermodesty，Mr。Festus，inmakinglightofthings。Butthereneverwas，sir。Youmaydependuponithe’scome。ThankGod，mydutyasaLocaldon’trequiremetogotothefront，butonlythevaliantmenlikemymaster。Ah，ifBoneycouldonlysee’eenow，sir，he’dknowtoowellthereisnothingtobegotfromsuchadeterminedskilfulofficerbutblowsandmusket-balls！’
’Yes，yes。Cripplestraw，ifIrideofftoBudmouthandmeet’em，allmytrainingwillbelost。Noskillisrequiredasaforlornhope。’
’True；that’sapoint，sir。Youwouldoutshine’emall，andbepickedoffattheverybeginningasatoo-dangerousbraveman。’
’ButifIstayhereandurgeonthefaint-heartedones，orgetupintotheturret-stairbythatgateway，andpopattheinvadersthroughtheloophole，Ishouldn’tbesocompletelywasted，shouldI？’
’Youwouldnot，Mr。Derriman。But，asyouwasgoingtosaynext，thefireinyerveinswon’tletyedothat。Youarevaliant；verygood:youdon’twanttohusbandyervalianceathome。Thearg’mentisplain。’
’Ifmybirthhadbeenmoreobscure，’murmuredtheyeoman，’andIhadonlybeeninthemilitia，forinstance，oramongthehumblepikemen，somuchwouldn’thavebeenexpectedofme——ofmyfierynature。
Cripplestraw，isthereadropofbrandytobegotatinthehouse？
Idon’tfeelverywell。’
’Dearnephew，’saidtheoldgentlemanfromabove，whomneitheroftheothershadasyetnoticed，’Ihaven’tanyspiritsopened——sounfortunate！Butthere’sabeautifulbarrelofcrab-appleciderindraught；andthere’ssomecoldteafromlastnight。’
’What，ishelistening？’saidFestus，staringup。’NowIwarranthowgladheistoseemeforcedtogo——calledoutofbedwithoutbreakfast，andhequitesafe，andsuretoescapebecausehe’sanoldman！——Cripplestraw，Ilikebeingintheyeomanrycavalry；butIwishIhadn’tbeenintheranks；IwishIhadbeenonlythesurgeon，tostayintherearwhilethebodiesarebroughtbacktohim——Imean，I
shouldhavethrownmyheartatsuchatimeasthismoreintothelabourofrestoringwoundedmenandjoiningtheirshatteredlimbstogether——u-u-ugh！——morethanIcanintocausingthewounds——Iamtoohumane，Cripplestraw，fortheranks！’
’Yes，yes，’saidhiscompanion，depressinghisspiritstoakindredlevel。’Andyet，suchisfate，that，insteadofjoiningmen’slimbstogether，you’llhavetogetyourownjoined——pooryoungsojer！——allthroughhavingsuchawarlikesoul。’
’Yes，’murmuredFestus，andpaused。’Youcan’tthinkhowstrangeI
feelhere，Cripplestraw，’hecontinued，layinghishanduponthecentrebuttonsofhiswaistcoat。’HowIdowishIwasonlythesurgeon！’
Heslowlymounted，andUncleBenjy，inthemeantime，sangtohimselfashelookedon，’TWEN-TY-THREEANDHALFFROMN。W。SIX-TEENAND
THREE-QUAR-TERSFROMN。E。’
’What’sthatoldmummysinging？’saidFestussavagely。
’Onlyahymnforpreservationfromourenemies，dearnephew，’meeklyrepliedthefarmer，whohadheardtheremark。’TWEN-TY-THREEAND
HALFFROMN。W。’
Festusallowedhishorsetomoveonafewpaces，andthenturnedagain，asifstruckbyahappyinvention。’Cripplestraw，’hebegan，withanartificiallaugh，’Iamobligedtoconfess，afterall——I
mustseeher！’Tisn’tnaturethatmakesmedrawback——’tislove。I
mustgoandlookforher。’
’Awoman，sir？’
’Ididn’twanttoconfessit；but’tisawoman。StrangethatI
shouldbedrawnsoentirelyagainstmynaturalwishtorushat’em！’
Cripplestraw，seeingwhichwaythewindblew，founditadvisabletoblowinharmony。’Ah，nowatlastIsee，sir！Spitethatfewmenlivethatbeworthytocommandye；spitethatyoucouldrushon，marshalthetroopstovictory，asImaysay；butthen——whatofit？
there’stheunhappyfateofbeingsmitwiththeeyesofawoman，andyouareunmanned！MaisterDerriman，whoishimself，whenhe’sgotawomanroundhisnecklikeamillstone？’
’Itissomethinglikethat。’
’Ifeelthecase。Beyouvaliant？——Iknow，ofcourse，thewordsbeingamatterofform——beyouvaliant，Iask？Yes，ofcourse。
Thendon’tyouwasteitintheopenfield。Hoarditup，Isay，sir，forahigherclassofwar——thedefenceofyeradorablelady。Thinkwhatyouoweheratthisterribletime！Now，MaisterDerriman，oncemoreIaskyetocastoffthatfirsthaughtywishtorushtoBudmouth，andtogowhereyourmis’essisdefencelessandalone。’
’Iwill，Cripplestraw，nowyouputitlikethat！’
’Thankye，thankyeheartily，MaisterDerriman。Gonowandhidewithher。’
’ButcanI？Now，hangflattery！——canamanhidewithoutastain？
OfcourseIwouldnothideinanymeansense；no，notI！’
’Ifyoubeinlove，’tisplainyoumay，sinceitisnotyourownlife，butanother’s，thatyouareconcernedfor，andyouonlysaveyourownbecauseitcan’tbehelped。’
’’Tistrue，Cripplestraw，inasense。Butwillitbeunderstoodthatway？Willtheyseeitasabravehiding？’
’Now，sir，ifyouhadnotbeeninloveIowntoyethathidingwouldlookqueer，butbeingtosavethetears，groans，fits，swowndings，andperhapsdeathofacomelyyoungwoman，yerprincipleisgood；
youhonourablyretreatbecauseyoubetoogallanttoadvance。Thissoundsstrange，yemaysay，sir；butitisplainenoughtolessfieryminds。’
Festusdidforamomenttrytouncoverhisteethinanaturalsmile，butitdiedaway。’Cripplestraw，youflatterme；ordoyoumeanit？
Well，there’struthinit。Iammoregallantingoingtoherthaninmarchingtotheshore。Butwecannotbetoocarefulaboutourgoodnames，wesoldiers。Imustnotbeseen。I’moff。’
Cripplestrawopenedthehurdlewhichclosedthearchundertheporticogateway，andFestuspassedunder，UncleBenjaminsinging，TWEN-TY-THREEANDAHALFFROMN。W。withasortofsublimeecstasy，feeling，asFestushadobserved，thathismoneywassafe，andthattheFrenchwouldnotpersonallymolestanoldmaninsucharagged，mildewedcoatasthathewore，whichhehadtakentheprecautiontoborrowfromascarecrowinoneofhisfieldsforthepurpose。
FestusrodeonfullofhisintentiontoseekoutAnne，andundercoverofprotectingherretreataccompanyhertoKing’s-Bere，whereheknewtheLovedayshadrelatives。InthelanehemetGrannySeamore，who，havingpackedupallherpossessionsinasmallbasket，wasplacidlyretreatingtothemountainstillallshouldbeover。
’Well，granny，haveyeseentheFrench？’askedFestus。
’No，’shesaid，lookingupathimthroughherbrazenspectacles。
’IfIhadIshouldn’tha’seedthee！’
’Faugh！’repliedtheyeoman，androdeon。Justashereachedtheoldroad，whichhehadintendedmerelytocrossandavoid，hiscountenancefell。Sometroopsofregulars，whoappearedtobedragoons，wererattlingalongtheroad。Festushastenedtowardsanoppositegate，soastogetwithinthefieldbeforetheyshouldseehim；but，asill-luckwouldhaveit，assoonashegotinside，apartyofsixorsevenofhisownyeomanrytroopwerestragglingacrossthesamefieldandmakingforthespotwherehewas。Thedragoonspassedwithoutseeinghim；butwhenheturnedoutintotheroadagainitwasimpossibletoretreattowardsOvercombevillagebecauseoftheyeomen。Soherodestraighton，andheardthemcomingathisheels。Therewasnoothergate，andthehighwaysoonbecameasstraightasabowstring。Unablethustoturnwithoutmeetingthem，andcaughtlikeaneelinawater-pipe，Festusdrewnearerandnearertothefatefulshore。Buthedidnotrelinquishhope。Justaheadtherewerecross-roads，andhemighthaveachanceofslippingdownoneofthemwithoutbeingseen。Onreachingthespothefoundthathewasnotalone。Ahorsemanhadcomeuptheright-handlaneanddrawnrein。ItwasanofficeroftheGermanlegion，andseeingFestushehelduphishand。Festusrodeuptohimandsaluted。
’Itistfalsereport！’saidtheofficer。
Festuswasamanagain。Hefeltthatnothingwastoomuchforhim。
Theofficer，aftersomeexplanationofthecauseofalarm，saidthathewasgoingacrosstotheroadwhichledbythemoor，tostopthetroopsandvolunteersconvergingfromthatdirection，uponwhichFestusofferedtogiveinformationalongtheCasterbridgeroad。TheGermancrossedover，andwassoonoutofsightinthelane，whileFestusturnedbackuponthewaybywhichhehadcome。Thepartyofyeomanrycavalrywasrapidlydrawingnear，andhesoonrecognizedamongthemtheexcitedvoicesofStubbofDuddleHole，NoakesofMuckleford，andothercomradesofhisorgiesatthehall。Itwasamagnificentopportunity，andFestusdrewhissword。Whentheywerewithinspeakingdistancehereinedroundhischarger’sheadtoBudmouthandshouted，’On，comrades，on！Iamwaitingforyou。Youhavebeenalongtimegettingupwithme，seeingthegloriousnatureofourdeedsto-day！’
’Wellsaid，Derriman，wellsaid！’repliedtheforemostoftheriders。’Haveyouheardanythingnew？’
’Onlythathe’sherewithhistensofthousands，andthatwearetoridetomeethimswordinhandassoonaswehaveassembledinthetownaheadhere。’
’OLord！’saidNoakes，withaslightfallingofthelowerjaw。
’Themanwhoquailsnowisunworthyofthenameofyeoman，’saidFestus，stillkeepingaheadoftheothertroopersandholdinguphisswordtothesun。’ONoakes，fie，fie！Youbegintolookpale，man。’
’Faith，perhapsyou’dlookpale，’saidNoakes，withanenviousglanceuponFestus’sdaringmanner，’ifyouhadawifeandfamilydependinguponye！’
’I’lltakethreefrog-eatingFrenchmensingle-handed！’rejoinedDerriman，stillflourishinghissword。
’Theyhaveasgoodswordsasyou；asyouwillsoonfind，’saidanotheroftheyeomen。
’Iftheywerethreetimesarmed，’saidFestus——’ay，thricethreetimes——Iwouldattempt’emthreetoone。Howdoyoufeelnow，myoldfriendStubb？’(turningtoanotherofthewarriors。)’O，friendStubb！nobouncinghealthtoourlady-lovesinOxwellHallthissummeraslast。Eh，Brownjohn？’
’Iamafraidnot，’saidBrownjohngloomily。
’NorattlingdinnersatStacie’sHotel，andtheKingbelowwithhisstaff。Nowrenchingoffdoor-knockersandsending’emtothebakehouseinapiethatnobodycallsfor。Weeksofcut-and-thrustworkrather！’
’Isupposeso。’
’Fighthowwemayweshan’tgetridofthecursedtyrantbeforeautumn，andmanythousandbravemenwilllielowbeforeit’sdone，’
remarkedayoungyeomanwithacalmface，whomeanttodohisdutywithoutmuchtalking。
’NogrinningmatchesatMai-dunCastlethissummer，’Festusresumed；
’nothread-the-needleatGreenhillFair，andgoingintoshowsanddrivingtheshowmancrazywithcock-a-doodle-doo！’
’Isupposenot。’
’Doesitmakeyouseemjustatrifleuncomfortable，Noakes？Keepupyourspirits，oldcomrade。Come，forward！weareonlyamblingonlikesomanydonkey-women。WehavetogetintoBudmouth，jointherestofthetroop，andthenmarchalongthecoastwest’ard，asI
imagine。Atthisrateweshan’tbewellintothethickofbattlebeforetwelveo’clock。Spuron，comrades。Nodancingonthegreen，Lockham，thisyearinthemoonlight！Youwastenderuponthatgirl；
gad，whatwillbecomeo’herinthestruggle？’
’Come，come，Derriman，’expostulatedLockham——’thisisallverywell，butIdon’tcarefor’t。Iamasreadytofightasanyman，but——’
’Perhapswhenyougetintobattle，Derriman，andseewhatit’slike，yourcouragewillcooldownalittle，’addedNoakesonthesameside，butwithsecretadmirationofFestus’srecklessbravery。
’Ishallbebayonetedfirst，’saidFestus。’Nowlet’srally，andon！’
SinceFestuswasdeterminedtospuronwildly，therestoftheyeomendidnotliketoseembehindhand，andtheyrapidlyapproachedthetown。Hadtheybeencalmenoughtoreflect，theymighthaveobservedthatforthelasthalf-hournocartsorcarriageshadmetthemontheway，astheyhaddonefurtherback。ItwasnottillthetroopersreachedtheturnpikethattheylearntwhatFestushadknownaquarterofanhourbefore。AttheintelligenceDerrimansheathedhisswordwithasigh；andthepartysoonfellinwithcomradeswhohadarrivedtherebeforethem，whereuponthesourceanddetailsofthealarmwereboisterouslydiscussed。
