In order that due preparations, in the shape of accoutrements, might be made, and after dinner delay avoided, the Squire and the colonel assembled the forces.  Including the absent Richards family, the upholders and vindicators of the law numbered twenty-six.  The Captain had already signified to Richards senior his willingness to take command of the scow and its complement of five men, armed with guns, and with axes for cutting away the barrier at the narrows.  There was much romance about this side of the campaign, so that volunteers could have been got for marine service to any extent; but the means of transportation were limited, and even that able-bodied seaman Sylvanus had to be enrolled among the landsmen.  Happily Tom Rigby was not there to see him descend once more to the level of military life.  The colonel, rejoicing in Newcome’s chart of the marked road, called for cavalry volunteers.  Squire Walker, Mr. Bangs and Maguffin, having their horses with them, naturally responded.  It then came to a toss-up between Mr. Perrowne and Coristine; the parson won, and the disappointed lawyer was relegated to the flat feet.  As the doctor had been major in a volunteer regiment, the Squire ceded the command of the infantry to him.  It was proposed to have at least one man behind as a home guard, but nobody was prepared to volunteer for this service, Messrs. Errol, Wilkinson, and Lajeunesse, who were severally proposed, expressing their sense of the honour, their high regard for the ladies, and anxiety for their well-being, but emphatically declining to be absent from the common post of duty and danger.  Miss Halbert voiced the opinion of the fair sex that, being eight in number, including the maids, they were quite able to defend themselves.  Nevertheless, the Squire inwardly determined to send old Styles, the post office factotum, back with Miss Du Plessis.  The main attacking force of infantry consisted of Doctor Halbert, in command, sergeants Carruthers and Terry and their two squads, the first comprising privates Errol, Wilkinson, Coristine, Bigglethorpe, Lajeunesse, and Hill; the second, privates Hislop, Toner, Sullivan, Hill junior, and the two Pilgrims.  Then, arms were inspected, and the twenty bludgeons dealt out, five for the cavalry, and fifteen for the infantry.  Most of these had attachments of stout common string, but those of the three commanders, the Squire, the two clergymen, and the two pedestrians, were secured with red window cord, a mark of preference which rejoiced the hearts of three of them, namely, the younger men.  With doubtful hands the dominie received his gun, and the minister more boldly grasped a similar weapon.  At the request of the colonel the cavalry were served with a hasty luncheon, and thereafter set forward, with the exception of the detective, Miss Du Plessis’ escort, to patrol the road and open communication with the Richards for the purpose of intercepting the enemy’s possible scouts.  Two waggons were ordered to take the infantry to the lake settlement, so that they might be fresh for the work before them.