They found the two brass guns in position for use, and Warren in charge of them. Four of the servants, including Phil, were his assistants. The dozen rifles Deck had seen on the piazzas, and the heavy revolvers, were leaning against the trees, or hanging from the branches. The mule-wagon was in the grove, containing the ammunition; the mules harnessed to the fore-trucks of the gun-carriages were at a safe distance, and everything seemed to be ready to open fire upon the enemy. "Colonel Hickman, you are much more familiar with the situation here than I am," said Deck when he met the planter. "You are a veteran soldier, and I am glad to resign the command, and pass it over to you." "I accept it, for I know the ground, as you say; but I shall be happy to have your counsel," replied the colonel. "I have none to offer at present. I will take a rifle, and act with your sons, though they are better riflemen than I am." "All we have to do is to blaze away when the enemy begin to rise the hill, and I shall use the same weapon. Warren is the chief gunner, and he has trained some of the servants to handle the guns," said the planter, looking down the hill. "Can any of your negroes handle a rifle, Colonel?" asked Deck, recalling the time when his father's servants had been armed with muskets, and had made good use of them at the "Battle of Riverlawn." "Some of them can; but I have scruples against arming them for fighting purposes." "So had my father; but when it came to the question of defending himself and the members of his family against a mob of ruffians such as those now approaching your mansion,--for they threatened to burn his house and hang him to a tree,--he did not hesitate," added Deck, recalling the stirring events of that time. "Of course there was no place for them in the army, though the overseer has kept them in training for the defence of the family and the plantation." "We have no time to discuss that question now, and the negroes are assisting Warren at the guns," replied the colonel. "But who is that man over on the left? He seems to be running with all his might towards the column of the robbers." "That must be Captain Grundy who surrendered and then ran away," answered Deck. "But he is too far off even for the riflemen."