’What，didn’tyouknowofthemistaketillnow？’askedoneoftheseofthenew-comers。’Why，whenIwasdroppingoverthehillbythecross-roadsIlookedbackandsawthatmantalkingtothemessenger，andhemusthavetoldhimthetruth。’ThespeakerpointedtoFestus。Theyturnedtheirindignanteyesfulluponhim。Thathehadsportedwiththeirdeepestfeelings，whileknowingtherumourtobebaseless，wassoonapparenttoall。
’Beathimblackandbluewiththeflatofourblades！’shoutedtwoorthree，turningtheirhorses’headstodropbackuponDerriman，inwhichmovetheywerefollowedbymostoftheparty。
ButFestus，foreseeingdangerfromtheunexpectedrevelation，hadalreadyjudiciouslyplacedafewinterveningyardsbetweenhimselfandhisfellow-yeomen，andnow，clappingspurstohishorse，rattledlikethunderandlightninguptheroadhomeward。Hisreadyflightaddedhotnesstotheirpursuit，andasherodeandlookedfearfullyoverhisshoulderhecouldseethemfollowingwithenragedfacesanddrawnswords，apositionwhichtheykeptupforadistanceofmorethanamile。Thenhehadthesatisfactionofseeingthemdropoffonebyone，andsoonheandhispantingchargerremainedaloneonthehighway。
Hestoppedandreflectedhowtoturnthisrebufftoadvantage。
Baulkedinhisprojectofenteringthewatering-placeandenjoyingcongratulationsuponhispatrioticbearingduringtheadvance，hesulkilyconsideredthathemightbeabletomakesomeuseofhisenforcedretirementbyridingtoOvercombeandglorifyinghimselfintheeyesofMissGarlandbeforethetruthshouldhavereachedthathamlet。Havingthusdecidedhespurredoninabettermood。