There was no military force near the bridge. After Knox had sent back a messenger with the information obtained from Cato, that "a whole regiment" was encamped at the right of the road, Major Lyon had sent a couple of trusty men to examine the locality. These soldiers had crept cautiously into the woods, and found the force indicated; but it consisted of only a single company, as they could see by the light of the camp-fires. They had no tents, and most of the men were lying about on the ground. It was now evident that this was Captain Titus's company. They were encamped near the railroad; but there were no bridges of any consequence near them, and they had doubtless postponed the work of the expedition till the next morning. Though the major had never even heard the name of Mr. Barkland, the planter, his brother must have had some information in regard to him, or he would hardly have visited his mansion and attempted to extort money from him. Major Lyon did not care to meet his brother, for his conduct had been explained to him, and he was in a bad frame of mind even for him; but he ordered Knox to bring another of the party engaged in the outrage to his tent. He had selected one who appeared to be a reasonable man, and his manner was quite different from that of the captain. The major had seen him before, but he knew nothing about him. "Do you belong to the company encamped in the woods farther down the road?" asked the major. "How do you know there is any company there?" demanded the fellow, who seemed to be somewhat surprised at the question. "I ask questions, but I don't answer them," replied Major Lyon with a smile. "That's jest my case," replied the Home Guardsman with a capacious grin. "I don't tell all I know every day 'n the week." "You don't know so much that you couldn't tell it as often as that," added Captain Gordon, who was present at the interview, and thought the major was more pleasant than the occasion required. "But I know sunthin' you want to know," chuckled the man. "Not at all; I know all about your company," said the major. "Then what did you ask me if I belonged to it for?" "Knox, this man thinks he knows too much, and you may take him away," called the major to the sergeant, who stood at the door of the tent. "Oh, I'm willin' t' answer you," grinned the fellow. "I belong to that company." "What were you doing up here, then?" "Cap'n Titus thought the man that lives on this plantation had more money 'n he could manage, and he was willin' to help him take care on't." "In other words, you intended to rob him." "I didn't intend nothin' o' the sort. I obey the orders of the cap'n. If you want to know anything more about it, you'll have to ask him." "Is your company the only body of troops about here?" asked the major, to whom Knox had reported what Captain Titus said about "Texan cavalry." "You'll have to ask the cap'n about that; for he didn't tell me all he know'd."