"Of course they are soldiers; but on which side do they belong?"
"Dressed in blue, Mars'r Warren. Mus' be Union."
"The force must be one, or both, of your companies, Lieutenant," added Warren. "I heard something said about sending them on a reconnoissance when Captain Woodbine dismissed the riflemen. Where is the company now, Cuffy?"
"Dey done halt behind dat hill, and send two men to de top ob it," replied the ferryman, who was quite cool by this time.
"Here comes the governor; and he will be glad to hear Cuffy's news," added the chief of artillery. "We shall be able to drive the brigands off now."
"Drive them off!" exclaimed Deck. "I hope we shall be able to do something better than that."
"What better than that can we do?" asked Warren.
"Do you want to put them in condition to raid the next plantation, and hang the owner if he won't give up his money by to-morrow?"
Colonel Hickman came into the fort, and his son promptly gave him the welcome news. He added that Lieutenant Lyon had some views of his own in regard to the situation, and did not believe in simply driving the enemy away.
"I should be glad to hear your views, Lieutenant," said the planter, turning to the young officer.