Presently four men were seen marching up the road towards the bridge, the two at the flanks carrying flaming torches, as if to illuminate a white flag borne on a pole, which had possibly cost some member of the troop his white shirt. The two in the middle were evidently the officers, or ambassadors, of the ruffians. They came up to their end of the bridge, and halted there. CHAPTER XXI THE BEGINNING OF HOSTILITIES The representatives of the ruffians had halted about fifty feet from the line of the defenders of Riverlawn, and they could be distinctly seen. It was Buck Lagger who flaunted the flag of truce, and by his side stood Titus Lyon. The other two were simply torch-bearers. There the party stood, and there they seemed to be inclined to stand for an indefinite period of time. They could see the line of the defenders extended across the bridge, and the torches lent enough of their light to the scene to enable Captain Titus to discover that the men were all provided with muskets, though they probably could not make out the character of the weapons. "This is all nonsense!" exclaimed Colonel Belthorpe, apparently disgusted with this peaceable display on the part of the enemy. "Captain Titus wishes only to repeat the demand for the return of the arms," added Colonel Cosgrove. "But we can't spare them just yet." "That is their ostensible purpose, but the real one is to see whether or not we are in condition to receive them," suggested Major Lyon. "But I am not inclined to wait all night merely to be looked at," continued the commander of the forces impatiently. "I think you had better speak to them, for they can hear you well enough at this distance," said Major Lyon. "I am more inclined to march over the bridge and drive them away than to parley all night with them about nothing," replied Colonel Belthorpe. "In military matters I believe in vigorous action." "According to the customs of civilized warfare we should respect a flag of truce, though we believe it is only an expedient to gain time," added Colonel Cosgrove. "What do you want?" demanded the commander, adopting the suggestion of the planter of Riverlawn. "We want to settle this business, and I want to see Major Lyon," replied Captain Titus. "Come to the middle of the bridge, and he will meet you," shouted the officer in command. Titus advanced with his three supporters, marching very slowly. "I suppose I must see him," said Major Lyon, who would evidently have been glad to be spared the interview. "Three of us will go with you, and make an even thing of it," added Colonel Belthorpe, as Noah Lyon stopped forward to discharge his disagreeable duty. The commander placed Colonel Cosgrove on one side of him and Squire Truman on the other, taking position in front of them himself. He saw the planter of the estate did not like to meet his brother.