A smart gallop of a few minutes brought the messengers in sight of the mansion-house of the plantation. The first company was not where they had left it in the early morning; but they soon discovered a couple of the men, who seemed to be patrolling the south road.
"Where is the company, Yowell?" asked Deck, when they came within speaking distance.
"Behind the mansion. We were sent down to look for you," replied the soldier. "Major Lyon was afraid something had happened to you."
"We are all right. Have you seen any of the enemy up this way?"
"Not a man of them. If you take this path it will bring you to the house, and you will find the major there."
The boys took the path indicated, and put their horses to their best speed. When they came to the house, they were greeted in the yard by the planter and his family, and the ladies poured forth their gratitude to Deck for the service he had rendered the evening before. But the young cavalryman could not stop to listen long to them.
"Where is Major Lyon?" he asked, looking about him.
"He is on the top of the house," replied Mr. Barkland.
"Come up here, both of you!" shouted the major from his elevated position.
Giving the reins of their bridles to the orderly, who was there with the commander's horse, Mr. Barkland showed them the way to a platform on the roof of the mansion, from which a full view of the surrounding country was obtained; only the railroad bridge was shut out by a hill.