tween himself and his fellow-
yeomen, and now, clapping spurs to his horse, rattled like thunder and
lightning up the road homeward. His ready flight added hotness to their
pursuit, and as he rode and looked fearfully over his shoulder he could
see them following with enraged faces and drawn swords, a position which
they kept up for a distance of more than a mile. Then he had the
satisfaction of seeing them drop off one by one, and soon he and his
panting charger remained alone on the highway.

XXVII. DANGER TO ANNE

He stopped and reflected how to turn this rebuff to advantage. Baulked
in his project of entering the watering-place and enjoying
congratulations upon his patriotic bearing during the advance, he sulkily
considered that he might be able to make some use of his enforced
retirement by riding to Overcombe and glorifying himself in the eyes of
Miss Garland before the truth should have reached that hamlet. Having
thus decided he spurred on in a better mood.

By this time the volunteers were on the march, and as Derriman ascended
the road he met the Overcombe company, in which trudged Miller Loveday
shoulder to shoulder with the other substantial householders of the place
and its neighbourhood, duly equipped with pouches, cross-belts,
firelocks, flint-boxes, pickers, worms, magazines, priming-horns, heel-
ball, and pomatum. There was nothing to be gained by further suppression
of the truth, and briefly informing them that the danger was not so
immediate as had been supposed, Festus galloped on. At the end of
another mile he met a large number of pikemen, including Bob Loveday,
whom the yeoman resolved to sound upon the whereabouts of Anne. The
circumstances were such as to lead Bob to speak more frankly than he
might have done on reflection, and he told Festus the direction in which
the women had been sent. Then Festus informed the group that the report
of invasion was false, upon which they all turned to go homeward with
greatly relieved spirits.

Bob walked beside Derriman's horse for some distance. Loveday had
instantly made up his mind to go and look for the women, and ease their
anxiety by letting them know the good news as soon as possible. But he
said nothing of this to Festus during their return together; nor did
Festus tell Bob that he also had resolved to seek them out, and by
anticipating every one else in that enterprise, make of it a glorious
opportunity for bringing Miss Garla