"No, we were not," returned the doughty colonel. "Didn't you hear us say we would protect him to the last drop of our blood?"
"We will soon find him and his cubs!" growled the present leader, as he fell back into the grove, followed by the rest of the mob.
The Magnolia reached the boat-pier, and Levi Bedford was there to welcome the party.
CHAPTER XIX
THE CONFERENCE IN FORT BEDFORD
The two windows in the rear of the schoolhouse had been wide open all the evening, and the negroes of the boat's crew could not help hearing the excited speeches, and the thunders of applause in the meeting of the Unionists; but not one of them spoke a word about them to the planter and the boys. They pulled with all their might, and made a quick run to the boat-pier.
The first thing that attracted the attention of Major Lyon—we may as well call him so, as most of the people of Barcreek did—was the lights in Fort Bedford. Through the embrasures which had been made in the front and ends of the building it could be seen that the interior of the building was brilliantly illuminated.
"You have come back safe and sound, Major," said Levi, as he took the painter of the Magnolia.
"By the skin of our teeth we have," replied the planter.