Horace was gazing intently in the direction of Fairview but at a point somewhat beyond.
"Look, Art!" he cried in an excited whisper, "do my eyes deceive me? or are there really some white objects creeping slowly along yonder road?"
"I--I think--yes, yes it is they!" returned Arthur, giving a rigorous pull to the string attached to the bell in the kitchen, while Horace did the same by the wire connected with the other; then springing to the stairway they descended with all haste.
Loudly the alarm pealed out in both places, bringing all to their feet, and paling the cheeks of the ladies.
Mr. Dinsmore"s orders were given promptly, in calm, firm tones, and each repaired to his post.
Aunt Dicey, a.s.suming command in the kitchen, delivered her orders with equal promptness and decision.
"Yo" Ben an" Jack, tote dis yer pot ob lye up stairs quick as lightnin", an" set it whar Aunt Chloe tells yo". An" yo" Venus, stan" by de pot ob soap wid a dippah in yo" hand, an" fire away at de fust Klux dat shows his debbil horns an" tongue at de do". Min" now, yo" take um in de eye, an" he neber come roun" heyah no mo" tryin" to kill Ma.r.s.e Ed"ard."
Mr. Leland had fallen asleep in the early part of the evening, but woke with the ringing of the alarm bells.
"Ah, they must be in sight, Uncle Joe," he said; "help me to my hiding place and leave me there. You will be needed below."
"Yes, Ma.s.sa Leland, dey"s coming" said the old man, instantly complying with his request, "an" dis n.i.g.g.ah"s to demand de boilin" lye compartment ob dis army ob defense."
A narrow couch had been spread in the little concealed apartment, and in a trice Mr. Leland found himself stretched upon it.
"There, I"m quite comfortable, Uncle Joe," he said; "lay my pistols here, close to my hand; then close the panel with all care, and when you leave the room, lock the door behind you and hide the key in the usual place."
"Yes, sah; an" please, sah, as yo"s got nuffin" else for to do, keep askin" de Lord ob armies to help de right."
"That I will," answered Leland heartily.
Uncle Joe, moving with almost youthful alacrity, obeyed the orders given, and hastened to join his wife and Dinah whom he found on the upper veranda in front of the nursery windows, standing ladle in hand, one by the kettle of lye, the other leaning over the railing watching for the coming of the foe.
The old man, arming himself also with a ladle of large capacity, took his station beside the latter.
"Aunt Chloe," said he, "yo" bettah go back to de chillens, fear dey might wake up an" be powerful scared."
"Yes, spect I bettah; dere ole mammy do best to be wid de darlins," she replied, resigning her ladle to Prilla, who joined them at that moment, and hurrying back to her charge.
She found her mistress bending over the crib of the sleeping babe. "I am so thankful they were not roused by the noise, mammy," she said softly, glancing at the bed where the older two lay in profound slumber, "but don"t leave them alone even for a moment."
"Deed I won"t, darlin"; de bressed little lambs! dere ole mammy"d fight de Kluxes to her last breff, fo" dey should hurt a hair ob deir heads.
But don"t ye fret, Miss Elsie, honey; dey"ll not come yere; de good Lord "ll not let dem get into de house," she added, big tears filling her old eyes, while she clasped her idolized mistress in her arms as if she were still the little girl she had so loved to caress and fondle years ago.
Elsie returned the embrace, gave a few whispered directions, and glided into the next room, there to linger a moment by the couch of her little girls, who were also sleeping sweetly, then hastened to rejoin Mrs.
Dinsmore and Rosie, in one of the rooms opening upon the lower front veranda.
They sat at a table covered with arms and ammunition. Rose was a little pale, but calm and composed, as was Elsie also; Rosie, making a great effort to be brave, could not still the loud beating of her heart as she sat listening intently for sounds from without.
Elsie placing herself beside her young sister and taking her hand, pressed it tenderly, whispering with a glad smile, ""They that trust in the Lord shall be as Mount Zion, which can not be removed, but abideth forever.""
Rosie nodded a half-tearful a.s.sent.
Horace looked in. "They are just entering the avenue. Mother and sisters, be brave and help us with your prayers," he said, low and earnestly, and was gone.
The ladies exchanged one swift glance, then bent forward in a listening att.i.tude and for the next few moments every other sense seemed lost in that of hearing.
The raiders, as was their usual custom, had dismounted at the gate, and leaving their horses in the care of two of their number, approached the house on foot. They came on three abreast, but as they neared the dwelling, one line branched off and pa.s.sed around it in the direction of the kitchen.
In an instant more the double column, headed by the leader of the troop, had reached the steps of the veranda, where it came to a sudden halt, a sort of half smothered grunt of astonishment coming from the captain as he hastily ran his eye along the barricade, which till that moment had been concealed from himself and comrades, by the semi-darkness and a profusion of flowering vines.
The darkness and silence of death seemed to reign within: yet each one of the little garrison was at his post, looking out through a loophole, and covering one or another of the foe with his revolver, while with his finger upon the trigger, he only awaited the word of command to send the bullet to its mark.
Young Horace found it hard to restrain his impatience. "What a splendid opportunity his father was letting slip! why did he hesitate to give the signal?" For, perhaps, the first time in his life, the young man thought his father unwise.
But Mr. Dinsmore knew what he was about; blood should not be shed till the absolute necessity was placed beyond question.
A moment of suspense, of apparent hesitation on the part of the raiders, then in stentorian tones the leader, stepping back a little, called; "Edward Travilla!"
No answer.
An instant of dead silence; then the call was repeated.
Elsie shuddered and hid her face, faltering out a prayer for her husband"s safety.
Still no reply, and the third time the man called, adding, with a volley of oaths and curses, "We want you, sir: come out at once or it"ll be the worse for you."
Then Mr. Dinsmore answered in calm, firm tones, "Your purpose is known; your demand is unreasonable and lawless, and will not be complied with; withdraw your men at once or it will be the worse for you."
"Boys!" cried the leader, turning to his men, "up with your axes and clubs, we"ve got to batter down this breastwork, and it must be done!"
With a yell of fury the hideous forms rushed forward to the attack.
"Fire!" rang out Mr. Dinsmore"s voice in clarion tones, and instantly the crack of half a dozen revolvers was heard, a light blaze ran along the line of loopholes, and at the same instant a sudden, scalding shower fell upon the a.s.sailants from above.
Several of them dropped upon the ground and as many more threw away their clubs, and ran screaming and swearing down the avenue.
But the others rallied and came on again yelling with redoubled fury; while simultaneously similar sounds came from the sides and rear of the dwelling.
The scalding shower was descending there, also; Uncle Joe and his command were busy, and bullets were flying and doing some execution, though sent with less certain aim than from the front.
Aunt Dicey, too, and her satellites were winning the laurels they coveted.
As she had expected, several of the a.s.sailants came thundering at her door, loudly demanding admittance, at the same time that the attack was made in front.
"Who dar? What you want?" she called.
"We want in; open the door instantly!"
"No, sah! dis chile don" do no sich ting! Dis Ma.r.s.e Ed"ard"s kitchen, an" Miss Elsie"s."
Then in an undertone, "Now Venus an" Lize, fill yo" dippahs quick! an"