th of them lay motionless at the foot of the
stairs.

A moment later Deck rushed in through the open door, followed by the
three riflemen.

CHAPTER XXIX

A NEW METHOD OF OPERATIONS

The fall of the two ruffians evidently created a panic among the
robbers, for they all retreated from the head of the staircase. They
could not see the person who had fired the shots. Fronklyn had used the
heavy revolver of the trooper, reserving his carbine for more difficult
practice. There was a pause, for no more victims were in sight.

"You are in a dangerous position, Lieutenant Lyon," said the sergeant,
as soon as Deck rushed into the hall.

"Where are you, Sergeant?" asked the officer, as he retired from his
exposed situation.

"Behind the safe," replied Fronklyn. "Ask one of the planter's sons if
there are any other stairs from above."

"Another staircase at the rear of the hall," answered Warren.

"Go there quick!" said Deck, as soon as he had mastered the situation.
"If any one attempts to come down, shoot him on the instant! But let
them surrender if they will do so."

"Surrender!" exclaimed Harlan in disgust. "I don't feel exactly like
letting one of the men that want to hang my father surrender."

"Let them surrender!" replied Deck very decidedly.

"From my position I could manage the whole of them," interposed the
sergeant.

"You are in a safe place to do so," added the lieutenant.

"Some of the party ought to look out for the outside of the house, or
the ruffians will escape from the windows," suggested the sergeant.

"Colonel Hickman is out-doors, with his negroes, to keep watch of the
windows," answered Deck. "You have begun the fight here on the plan we
adopted at Mr. Halliburn's."

"I was thinking of fighting it out alone when one of the ruffians
up-stairs shouted that Colonel Hickman was coming; and the cry was to
hang him. They started to come down, and I dropped two of them; the
others ran away. I can dispose of them as fast as they show
themselves," Fronklyn explained.

"Give them a chance to surrender before you kill them, Sergeant."

At that moment a shot was heard from the rear end of the hall, and the
lieutenant hastened to ascertain the occasion of it. One of the
ruffians had attempted to come down the back stairs, and Warren had put
a rifle-ball through his head. There were only seven of the marauders
left in the house, and the two parties were equalized.

"Up-stairs!" hailed Dec