their deserts."

"It would seem cowardly to run away and leave our wounded friend and
helpless dependents at their mercy," Elsie exclaimed, her eye kindling
and her cheek flushing, while she drew up her slender figure to its full
height; "our beautiful land, too, given up to anarchy and ruin; this
dear sunny South that I love so well."

Her voice trembled with the last words, and tears gathered in her eyes.

"Yes, that is it," said her husband; "we must stay and battle for her
liberties, and the rights guaranteed by her laws to all her citizens."

Horses were ordered, Elsie returned to her apartments to don a riding
habit, and in a few minutes the three were on their way to the Oaks.

The vote there also was unanimous in favor of the policy of resistance.
Mr. Dinsmore and Horace, Jr. at once offered their services, and Arthur
Conly, who happened to be spending a few days at his uncle's just at
that time, did the same.

"I was brought up a secessionist and my sympathies are still with the
Democratic party," he said, "but these Ku Klux outrages I cannot
tolerate; especially," he added, looking at Elsie with an affectionate
smile, "when they are directed against the home and husband if not the
person of my sweet cousin."

"You are to me 'a kinsman born, a clansman true,' Art," she said,
thanking him with one of her sweetest smiles.

"That's right, old fellow!" cried Horace, clapping his cousin on the
shoulder. "We shall muster pretty strong;--papa, Brother Edward, Mr.
Lilburn, you and I--six able-bodied men within the fortress, with plenty
of the best small arms and ammunition; all of us fair shots, too, some
excellent marksmen--we ought to do considerable execution among our
assailants."

"And God being on our side," said Mr. Lilburn, reverently, "we may have
strong hope of being able to beat them back."

"Yes, 'the race is not always to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong,'" remarked Mr. Dinsmore. "'Some trust in chariots, and some in
horses: but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.'"

"And if we do so truly, fully, he will take hold of shield and buckler
and stand up for our help," added Mr. Travilla.

The plan of defense was next discussed, but not fully decided upon; it
was agreed that that could be done most readily upon the spot, and that
accordingly Mr. Dinsmore and the two young men should ride over to Ion
shortly after breakfast, to view the ground and consult again with the
other two