s. He was not a man to be
intimidated, as many loyal citizens had been; and he had made his
preparations to give the brigands a warm reception when they paid him a
visit, as he had no doubt they would.

After the return of the colonel with his re-enforcements from the
ferry, Deck Lyon had not had the opportunity to examine minutely the
premises, especially outside of the immediate scene of operations. He
had followed Captain Grundy from the mansion when he escaped from the
parlor in company with Davis. The latter had fired at him; but the
density of the grove interfered with his aim, and the ruffian had
suddenly disappeared.

Outside of the grove there were no trees, and the lieutenant saw on a
hill the mounted gang riding at full speed towards the elevation on
which stood the mansion. The road was a private one, and very narrow.
Deck counted twenty-four riders in the distance, for they rode two
abreast. As he and his companion came out of the grove to the front of
the mansion, the officer discovered something that looked like a mound
of earth on one side of the road to the mansion.

"What is that, Davis?" asked Deck, pointing at the work.

"That is the governor's fortification," replied the rifleman.

"The governor's?"

"Not the governor of the State, but my father's."

"What is it?" asked the lieutenant curiously; for he had not been able
to make out the use of the mound.

"Come in a little nearer to the mansion, and you will see," replied
Davis; and he led the way across a corner of the grove.

"It looks like a fort," added Deck as he obtained a view of the inside
of the earthwork.

"That is just what it is," said his companion. "The governor has kept a
squad of the servants over on the hill you see at the farther end of
the valley through which the road passes, as sentinels. They all have
horses; and when they discover the approach of an enemy, they gallop to
the mansion, and notify the colonel. We are as careful of our lives
here as you have been since you came."

"What's coming now?" inquired Deck, as he heard the tramp of footsteps
behind him.

"The governor's coming, and I think we will go and meet him," replied
the planter's son; and he led the way through the grove towards the
great house.

It was quite a procession that advanced at a rapid pace from beyond the
building. At the head of it rode Colonel Hickman, mounted on the horse
he generally used. Next behind him came his sons Warren and Har