About noon
So that night Alan carried down his fiery cross and set it in the bouman 's window . He was troubled when he came back ; for the dogs had barked and the folk run out from their houses ; and he thought he had heard a clatter of arms and seen a red-coat come to one of the doors . On all accounts we lay the next day in the borders of the wood and kept a close look-out , so that if it was John Breck that came we might be ready to guide him , and if it was the red-coats we should have time to get away . About noon a man was to be spied , straggling up the open side of the mountain in the sun , and looking round him as he came , from under his hand . No sooner had Alan seen him than he whistled ; the man turned and came a little towards us : then Alan would give another `` peep ! '' and the man would come still nearer ; and so , by the sound of whistling , he was guided to the spot where we lay . He was a ragged , wild , bearded man , about forty , grossly disfigured with the small-pox , and looked both dull and savage .