, _Twen-ty-three
and a half from N.W._ with a sort of sublime ecstasy, feeling, as Festus
had observed, that his money was safe, and that the French would not
personally molest an old man in such a ragged, mildewed coat as that he
wore, which he had taken the precaution to borrow from a scarecrow in one
of his fields for the purpose.

Festus rode on full of his intention to seek out Anne, and under cover of
protecting her retreat accompany her to King's-Bere, where he knew the
Lovedays had relatives. In the lane he met Granny Seamore, who, having
packed up all her possessions in a small basket, was placidly retreating
to the mountains till all should be over.

'Well, granny, have ye seen the French?' asked Festus.

'No,' she said, looking up at him through her brazen spectacles. 'If I
had I shouldn't ha' seed thee!'

'Faugh!' replied the yeoman, and rode on. Just as he reached the old
road, which he had intended merely to cross and avoid, his countenance
fell. Some troops of regulars, who appeared to be dragoons, were
rattling along the road. Festus hastened towards an opposite gate, so as
to get within the field before they should see him; but, as ill-luck
would have it, as soon as he got inside, a party of six or seven of his
own yeomanry troop were straggling across the same field and making for
the spot where he was. The dragoons passed without seeing him; but when
he turned out into the road again it was impossible to retreat towards
Overcombe village because of the yeomen. So he rode straight on, and
heard them coming at his heels. There was no other gate, and the highway
soon became as straight as a bowstring. Unable thus to turn without
meeting them, and caught like an eel in a water-pipe, Festus drew nearer
and nearer to the fateful shore. But he did not relinquish hope. Just
ahead there were cross-roads, and he might have a chance of slipping down
one of them without being seen. On reaching the spot he found that he
was not alone. A horseman had come up the right-hand lane and drawn
rein. It was an officer of the German legion, and seeing Festus he held
up his hand. Festus rode up to him and saluted.

'It ist false report!' said the officer.

Festus was a man again. He felt that nothing was too much for him. The
officer, after some explanation of the cause of alarm, said that he was
going across to the road which led by the moor, to stop the troops and
volunteers converging from that dir