In the meantime damages had been repaired in the quarters at Fairview and Ion, and the men at the latter, secretly supplied with arms; also the rebuilding of the school-house was going rapidly forward.

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 God 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, snatching 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 God 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.