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！’