"I see what you mean now." "What kind of ground is it over on the left of this road, Tom?" "It is one of our best fields." "Can horses travel on it?" "Just as well as on this road." "Then your suggestion to the commander-in-chief of the forces is that he send a detachment of six men, mounted and armed with repeating rifles, through the field on the left, with orders to fire on the ruffians when the fight opens," continued Deck earnestly. "It is a brilliant idea, and I will do it at once," replied Tom. "Hold on a minute, and suggest that the detachment be under the command of Captain Tom Belthorpe," added Deck. "I shall amend that by substituting the name of Captain Deck Lyon," replied Tom, as he started ahead to overtake the commander. "Don't do that!" shouted Deck. Everything seemed to be at a standstill; but the blazing fire revealed a flag of truce flying in front of the enemy. Tom delivered his suggestion to Major Lyon without mentioning the fact that it came from his son; and the commander promptly approved it. He believed that there must surely be fighting this time, and that if the defenders, as he called them, were defeated, Colonel Belthorpe's mansion would soon be in flames, and perhaps his lovely daughters would fall into the hands of the vicious wretches composing the mob. "How many men do you need?" "The four mounted men from your place, Deck, and myself," replied the bearer of the suggestion. "Very well, I give you the order to that effect; but don't you think some older person than Dexter had better be in command?" "Decidedly not, Major!" answered Tom with emphasis. "I believe Deck is the smartest fellow in the crowd, except yourself." "All right; have your own way, then," replied the commander. "But can you tell me the nature of the land on the right hand side of the road?" "The creek runs from above the mansion in that direction to the river, and it is swampy on both sides of it," replied Tom, as he hurried away to rejoin Deck. During the absence of Tom Belthorpe, the young hero had been carefully studying the position of the enemy and the surroundings. He could see the brook, or creek as such streams are called in that region, by the light of the fire on the hill, hardly deserving that appellation, for it was only a very slight elevation. The bushes were like those he had seen near the spring road, and several pools or ponds reflected the light of the fire. He was satisfied that the ruffians could not retreat in that direction. Before Tom joined him the flag of truce with four men began to advance towards Major Lynn's force. The commander's "infantry," consisting of four Riverlawn negroes, were drawn up in front. The twenty Lyndhall hands, miscellaneously armed with clubs and such implements as they had been able to obtain, had also been formed across the road; and they were as eager to "pitch into" the marauders as their fellows on the new road had been; but the commander restrained them.