“I myself will head it,” he was adding, when she interposed.

“No, no, no, my husband, surely you will not think of it; he may kill you yet.  Or he might return from another direction, and what could I do with only the women to help me?  Oh, Edward, don’t go! don’t leave me!” And she clung to him trembling and with tears in the soft, entreating eyes.

“No, dearest, you are right.  I will stay here to protect you, and Spriggs may lead the boys,” he answered, throwing an arm about her.  “I think I wounded the fellow,” he added to Mr. Mason.  “Here, Aunt Chloe, bring the light nearer.”

Yes, there lay a heavy revolver, and beside it a pool of blood on the carpet where the villain had stood; and there was a bloody trail all along the veranda where he had run, and on the railing and pillar by which he had swung himself to the ground; indeed, they could track him by it for some distance over the lawn, where the trees kept the ground partially dry; but beyond that the rain coming down in sheets, had helped the fugitive by washing away the telltale stains.

Elsie shuddering and turning pale and faint at the horrible sight, ordered an immediate and thorough cleansing of both carpet and veranda.

“Dere’s hot water in de kitchen,” said Aunt Phillis.  “You, Sal an’ Bet, hurry up yah wid a big basin full, an’ soap an’ sand an’ house-cloths.  Glad ’nuff dat massa shot dat ole debbil, but Miss Elsie’s house not to be defiled wid his dirty blood.”

“Cold watah fust, Aunt Phillis,” interposed Chloe, “cold watah fust to take out blood-stain, den de hot after dat.”

“Mammy knows; do as she directs,” said Elsie, hastily retreating into her dressing-room.

“My darling, this has been too much for you,” her husband said tenderly, helping her to lie down on a sofa.

Chloe came hurrying in with a tumbler of cold water in one hand, a bottle of smelling salts in the other, her dusky face full of concern.

Mr. Travilla took the articles from her.  “That is right, but I will attend to your mistress,” he said in a kindly tone; “and do you go and prepare a bed for her in one of the rooms on the other side of the hall.”

“It is hardly worth while, dear,” said Elsie; “I don’t think I can sleep again to-night.”

“Yet perhaps you may; it is only two o’clock,” he said, as the timepiece on the mantle struck the hour, “and at least you may rest a little better than you could here.”

“And perhaps you may sleep.  Yes, mammy, get the bed ready as soon as you can.”

“My darling, how pale you are!” Mr. Travilla said with concern, as he knelt by her side, applying the restoratives.  “Do not be alarmed; I am quite sure the man’s right arm is disabled, and therefore the danger is past, for the present at least.”

She put her arm about his neck and relieved her full heart with a burst of tears.  “Pray, praise,” she whispered; “oh, thank the Lord for your narrow escape; the ball must have passed very near your head; I heard it whiz over mine and strike the opposite wall.”