He felt that he should disgrace himself once more before these rugged but brave shepherds, who betrayed not the slightest symptom of agitation.
For one hour of Oliver's calm courage and utter absence of nervousness he would have given years of his life.

His friends in the circle observed his agitation, and renewed their entreaties to him to come inside it.

This only was needed to complete his discomfiture.

He lost his head altogether; he saw nothing but a confused mass of yellow and red rushing towards him, for each of the gipsies wore a yellow or red scarf, some about the body, some over the shoulder, others round the head.

They were now within three hundred yards.
A murmur from the shepherd spearmen.