"Dunno, Mars'r Deck, what they are for; but Mars'r Lyon sent us for them." Frank knew nothing about the use to which the horses were to be put, and Deck continued on his way over the bridge. The fire from the blazing boards in front of Fort Bedford sent some of the light across the creek; but it did not reveal the presence of the defenders of the plantation, and the messenger could not see anything of the force. It could not be far away, and he continued to advance. Just beyond the bridge he met a wagon coming towards him. When it came near enough for him to see it in the gloom, he found that it belonged to the plantation. Three men sat on the front seat, and were chattering at a lively rate as they drew near. "Who is driving that team?" demanded Deck. "Me, Mars'r Deck," replied the man who held the reins. "Who's me?" "Clinker, sar, wid Bitts and Filly," replied the driver, who was the blacksmith of the estate. "What are you doing with the wagon over here?" "Cart'n' off de wounded, mars'r." "How many have you?" "On'y two, sar." These were the ruffians, doubtless, who had fallen when the volley was fired at the beginning of the affair. "You haven't got them all, then," added Deck. "There is another opposite the fort, near a big tree, who was hit by Levi, firing from the other side of the creek." "We go for him when we done unload dese we got," said Clinker. "Can you tell me where my father and the rest of them are?" inquired Deck, who could see nothing of the main body. "In de grove, Mars'r Deck. Wen de ruff'ns done runned off dat way Mars'r Belt'orpe lead de sodjers arter 'em." Deck was afraid he might not find his father before morning if they pursued the retreating ruffians in that direction; for they would have to follow the river, when they reached it, about ten miles before they could come to a bridge by which they could cross. But he had a mission, and he bravely fought against the fatigue and sleepiness that beset him, and struck into the grove by a road some distance below the bridge over the creek. He had not gone twenty rods in the gloom of the wood before he heard the sound of voices and the tramp of footsteps ahead of him, and he was confident the force was returning to the plantation. He soon confronted the little column, and placed himself by the side of the commander, who was leading the way. "Levi sent me over to report what we have been doing," said he. "I heard the report of one of your guns, and I concluded that you had work on your hands," replied Colonel Belthorpe, without slacking his speed or halting to listen to the report. "Not much work, Colonel. The ruffians were building a raft at the pile of logs, and we fired over their heads, as ordered. The big branch of a tree came down, and all the men on the raft and near them ran into the woods. The road is all clear of them, and they are not going home by the Rapids Bridge."