A threatening notice was presently served upon Mr. Travilla, ordering him to desist from the attempt, as the teaching of the blacks would not be allowed by the Ku Klux.
He however paid no attention to the insolent demand, and the work went on as before.
Mr. Leland had succeeded in keeping the affair of the coffin from his wife thus saving her much anxiety and distress.
To leave just at this time would be a great pecuniary loss, and he had decided to remain; but had laid his plans carefully for either resistance or escape in case of an attack.
A couple of large, powerful, and very fine watch dogs were added to his establishment, and a brace of loaded pistols and a bowie knife were always within reach of his hand.
One night the family were aroused by the furious barking of the dogs.
Instantly Mr. Leland was out upon the floor hastily throwing on his clothes, while his wife, with the frightened cry. "The Ku Klux!" ran to the window.
"Yes it is! they are surrounding the house! O Robert, fly for your life!" she cried in the wildest terror. "O G.o.d save my poor husband from these cruel foes!" she added, dropping upon her knees and lifting hands and eyes to heaven.
"He will, Mary, never fear, wife," Mr. Leland said almost cheerfully, s.n.a.t.c.hing up his weapons as he spoke. "Pray on, it"s the best thing you can do to help me."
"You must fly!" she said, "you can"t fight twenty men and I think there are at least that many."
"I"ll slip out at the back door then, and make for the woods," he answered, rushing from the room.
Children and servants were screaming with affright, the ruffians thundering at the front door, calling loudly upon Mr. Leland to come out, and threatening to break it down if he did not immediately appear.
Summoning all her courage, the wife went again to the window and called to them, asking what was wanted.
"Leland. Tell him to come out here at once or it will be the worse for him," returned the leader, in a feigned, unnatural voice.
"He is not here," she said.
"He"d better show himself at once," returned the ruffian, "he"ll not escape by refusing to do so; we"ll search every corner till we find him."
"That will be as G.o.d pleases," she said in a calm, firm tone, her courage rising with the emergency.
She was answered with a yell of rage, and a repeated order to come down and open the door.
"I shall do no such thing," she said; "and what is more, I shall shoot down the first man that sets foot on the stairs."
It was a sudden resolution that had come to her. Encouraged by Mrs.
Travilla"s precept and example, she had been, for months past, industriously training herself in the use of firearms, and kept her loaded revolver at hand; and now she would create a diversion in her husband"s favor, keeping the raiders at bay at the front of the building while he escaped at the back; they believed him to be in the upper story: if she could prevent it, they should not learn their mistake, till he had had time to gain the woods and distance pursuit.
The door could not much longer withstand the heavy blows dealt it; already there were sounds as if it were about to give way.
"Archie," she said, turning to her son and speaking very rapidly, "those men are here to kill your father; you must help me to prevent them from coming up to hunt him. The rest of you children stop that loud crying, which won"t do any good. Kneel down and pray, pray, _pray_ to G.o.d to help your father to get away from them. Archie, throw this black cloak round you. Here are two loaded pistols. I will take one, you the other; we will station ourselves on the landing at the head of the first flight of stairs. It is darker in the house than out of doors, and they will not be able to see us, but as the door falls and they rush in we can see them in their white gowns, and against the light. Come!"
They hurried to the landing.
"Now we must not be in too great haste," she whispered in his ear; "keep cool, take sure aim, and fire low."
The words had scarcely left her lips when the door fell with a crash, and with a yell like an Indian war whoop several disguised men rushed into the hall and hastily advanced toward the stairway; but the instant the foremost set foot upon it, two shots were fired from above, evidently not without effect; for with an oath he staggered back and fell into the arms of his comrades.
He was borne away by two of them, while the others returned the fire at random, for they could not see their adversaries.
The b.a.l.l.s whistled past Mrs. Leland and her son, but they stood their ground bravely, and as two of their a.s.sailants attempted to ascend the stairs; fired again and again driving them back for a moment.
At the same time sounds of conflict came from the rear of the dwelling,--an exchange of shots, whoops and yells, the hurried tramp of many feet, and the yelping, barking and howling of the dogs--and instantly the hall was cleared, every man there hastening to join in this new struggle, apparently satisfied that their intended victim was endeavoring to make his escape in that direction.
Seeing this, Mrs. Leland and her son ran to a window overlooking the new scene of contest, their hearts beating between hope and fear.
Mr. Leland had slipped cautiously out of the back door, and, revolver in hand, stepped into the yard, but only to find himself surrounded by his foes.
They attempted to seize him, but eluding their grasp, he fired right and left, several shots in succession, the others returning his fire, and following in hot pursuit.
There was no moon that night, and the darkness and a simple suit of black, were favorable to Leland, for while the long white gowns of the Ku Klux not only trammelled their movements, but rendered each an easy target for his shot, they could take but uncertain aim at him, and on gaining the woods, he was soon lost to their view in the deepened gloom of its recesses.
But the b.a.l.l.s had been falling about him like hailstones, and as the sounds of pursuit grew fainter, he found himself bleeding profusely from a wound in the leg. He dropped behind a fallen tree, and partially stanched the wound with some leaves which he bound on with a handkerchief, fortunately left in his coat pocket on retiring that night.
This was scarcely accomplished, when sounds of approaching footsteps and voices told him the danger was not yet over.
He crouched close in his hiding place, and hardly dared breathe as they pa.s.sed and repa.s.sed, some almost stepping on him. But he remained undiscovered, and at length they abandoned the search, and returning to the vicinity of the house, gathered up their wounded and went away.
Yet Leland felt that it was not safe for him to venture back to his home, as they might return at any moment; but to remain where he was with his wound undressed was almost certain death.
He resolved to accept Mr. Travilla"s offered hospitality, if his strength would carry him so far, and was rising to make the attempt, when the cracking of a dead branch told him that some living thing was near, and he fell back again, listening intently for the coming footsteps.
"Robert! Robert!" called a low tremulous voice.
"O Mary, is it you?" he responded, in low but joyous accents, and the next moment his wife"s arms were about his neck, her tears warm upon his cheek, while Archie stood sobbing beside them.
"Thank G.o.d, thank G.o.d that you are alive!" she said, "But are you unhurt?"
"No, I am bleeding fast from a wound in my leg," Leland answered faintly.
"I"ve brought lint and bandages," she said, "let me bind it up as well as I can in the dark."
"Daren"t we strike a light?" asked Archie.
"No, my son, it might bring them on us again, and we must speak low too."
"Yes, father; but oh what will you do? you can"t come back home again?"
"No; I must go to Ion at once, while I can do so under cover of the darkness. Travilla has offered to hide me there. Archie, my brave boy, I can trust you with this secret."
"Father, they shall kill me before I"ll tell it."
"I trust you will not be tried so far," Leland said with emotion. "I would not save my life at the sacrifice of yours. I leave your mother in your care, my boy; be dutiful and affectionate to her, and kind to your little brother and sisters. Mary, dear, you and Archie will have to manage the plantation in my absence," and he went on to give some directions.
"I will do my best," she said tearfully, "and as we have been for months past frequent visitors at Ion, I can surely go to see you there occasionally without exciting suspicion."
"Yes, I think so."