"Fort Bedford!" exclaimed the Kentuckian; and he told his coachman to drive on.
"This is Fort Bedford you see ahead of you; it is named after Levi, for he originated the idea. To what am I indebted for this unexpected visit to Riverlawn?" answered the planter.
"To the fact that we consider you in great danger, Major, and we thought you would be in pressing need of assistance from your friends even this very night."
"We are here to stand by you, Major," said one on the back seat of the wagon, who proved to be Colonel Belthorpe.
"And to show that we can fight as well as talk," added Squire Truman, who was seated at his side.
"I am very grateful to you for coming to my assistance, for you have all proved this evening that talking is not your only strength," said the planter, as he walked along at the side of the wagon.
"I see you are all armed and ready for business," continued Colonel Cosgrove.
"When I heard the sound of your vehicle on the bridge, I suspected that it might be my deluded brother and his supporters coming over here to execute the threat he made at the meeting."
"No; after we got away from the ruffians, we talked the matter over," replied Colonel Cosgrove. "Buck Lagger demanded that the major and his cubs should be given up to them when they did not find you and the boys in the column. Then they swore that they would have you. I talked over the situation with our friends here, and we concluded that the ruffians would be over here before morning to capture their victims, and burn your mansion. We decided to come here for this reason,—to warn you of your danger, and help you beat them off if they came."
"I am very much obliged to you; but you will find everything in readiness for their reception," replied Major Lyon, as they reached the fort.