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armory？〃
〃To defend yourselves TOGETHER under orders if attacked； not to
singly threaten with them in a street row。 Together； you would
stand some chance against those men； separately they could eat you
up； Cato。〃
〃I wouldn't trust too much to some of dem niggers standing
together； sah；〃 said Gate darkly。 〃Dey'd run before de old
mastersif they didn't run to 'em。 Shuah！〃
A fear of this kind had crossed Courtland's mind before； but he
made no present comment。 〃I found two of the armory rifles in the
men's cabins yesterday；〃 he resumed quietly。 〃See that it does not
occur again！ They must not be taken from the armory except to
defend it。〃
〃Yes； sah。〃
There was a moment of silence。 Then it was broken by a sudden gust
that swept through the columns of the portico； stirring the vines。
The broad leaves of the ailantus began to rustle； an ominous
pattering followed； the rain had recommenced。 And as Courtland
rose and walked towards the open window its blank panes and the
interior of the office were suddenly illuminated by a gleam of
returning lightning。
He entered the office； bidding Cato follow； and lit the lamp above
his desk。 The negro remained standing gloomily but respectfully by
the window。
〃Cato； do you know anything of Mr。 DumontMiss Dows' cousin？〃
The negro's white teeth suddenly flashed in the lamplight。 〃Ya！
ha！ I reckon； sah。〃
〃Then he's a great friend of your people？〃
〃I don't know about dat； sah。 But he's a pow'ful enemy of de Reeds
and de Higbees！〃
〃On account of his views； of course？〃
〃'Deed no！〃 said Cato with an astounded air。 〃Jess on account of
de vendetta！〃
〃The vendetta？〃
〃Yes； sah。 De old blood quo'll of de families。 It's been goin' on
over fifty years； sah。 De granfader； fader； and brudder of de
Higbees was killed by de granfader； fader； and brudder of de
Doomonts。 De Reeds chipped in when all de Higbees was played out；
fo' dey was relations； but dey was chawed up by some of de Dowses；
first cousins to de Doomonts。〃
〃What？ Are the Dows in this vendetta？〃
〃No； sah。 No mo'。 Dey's bin no man in de family since Miss
Sally's fader dieddat's let de Dows out fo' ever。 De las'
shootin' was done by Marse Jack Doomont； who crippled Marse Tom
Higbee's brudder Jo； and den skipped to Europe。 Dey say he's come
back； and is lying low over at Atlanty。 Dar'll be lively times of
he comes here to see Miss Sally。〃
〃But he may have changed his ideas while living abroad； where this
sort of thing is simple murder。〃
The negro shook his head grimly。 〃Den he wouldn't come； sah。 No；
sah。 He knows dat Tom Higbee's bound to go fo' him or leave de
place； and Marse Jack wouldn't mind settlin' HIM too as well as his
brudder； for de scores is agin' de Doomonts yet。 And Marse Jack
ain't no slouch wid a scatter gun。〃
At any other time the imminence of this survival of a lawless
barbarism of which he had heard so much would have impressed
Courtland； now he was only interested in it on account of the
inconceivable position in which it left Miss Sally。 Had she
anything to do with this baleful cousin's return； or was she only
to be a helpless victim of it？
A white； dazzling； and bewildering flash of lightning suddenly lit
up the room； the porch； the dripping ailantus； and the flooded
street beyond。 It was followed presently by a crash of thunder；
with what seemed to be a second fainter flash of lightning； or
rather as if the first flash had suddenly ignited some inflammable
substance。 With the long reverberation of the thunder still
shaking the house； Courtland slipped quickly out of the window and
passed down to the gate。
〃Did it strike anything； sah？〃 said the startled negro； as
Courtland returned。
〃Not that I can see；〃 said his employer shortly。 〃Go inside； and
call Zoe and her daughter from the cabin and bring them in the
hall。 Stay till I come。 Go！I'll shut the windows myself。〃
〃It must have struck somewhere； sah； shuah！ Deh's a pow'ful smell
of sulphur right here；〃 said the negro as he left the room。
Courtland thought so too； but it was a kind of sulphur that he had
smelled beforeon the battlefield！ For when the door was closed
behind his overseer he took the lamp to the opposite wall and
examined it carefully。 There was the distinct hole made by a
bullet which had missed Cato's head at the open window by an inch。
CHAPTER VI。
In an instant Courtland had regained complete possession of
himself。 His distracting passionhow distracting he had never
before realizedwas gone！ His clear sightno longer distorted by
sentimenthad come back； he saw everything in its just proportion
his duty； the plantation； the helpless freedman threatened by
lawless fury； the two womenno longer his one tantalizing vision；
but now only a passing detail of the work before him。 He saw them
through no aberrating mist of tenderness or expediencybut with
the single directness of the man of action。
The shot had clearly been intended for Cato。 Even if it were an
act of mere personal revenge； it showed a confidence and security
in the would…be assassin that betokened cooperation and an
organized plan。 He had availed himself of the thunderstorm； the
flash and long reverberating roll of soundan artifice not unknown
to border ambushto confuse discovery at the instant。 Yet the
attack might be only an isolated one； or it might be the beginning
of a general raid upon the Syndicate's freedmen。 If the former he
could protect Cato from its repetition by guarding him in the
office until he could be conveyed to a place of safety； if the
latter； he must at once collect the negroes at their quarters； and
take Cato with him。 He resolved upon the latter course。 The
quarters were half a mile from the Dows' dwellingwhich was two
miles away。
He sat down and wrote a few lines to Miss Dows stating that； in
view of some threatened disturbances in the town； he thought it
advisable to keep the negroes in their quarters； whither he was
himself going。 He sent her his housekeeper and the child； as they
had both better remain in a place of security until he returned to
town。 He gave the note to Zoe； bidding her hasten by the back
garden across the fields。 Then he turned to Cato。
〃I am going with you to the quarters tonight；〃 he said quietly；
〃and you can carry your pistol back to the armory yourself。〃 He
handed him the weapon。 The negro received it gratefully； but
suddenly cast a searching glance at his employer。 Courtland's
face； however； betrayed no change。 When Zoe had gone； he continued
tranquilly； 〃We will go by the back way through the woods。〃 As the
negro started slightly； Courtland continued in the same even tone：
〃The sulphur you smelled just now； Cato； was the smoke of a gun
fired at YOU from the street。 I don't propose that the shot shall
be repeated under the same advantages。〃
The negro became violently agitated。 〃It was dat sneakin' hound；
Tom Higbee；〃 he said huskily。
Courtland looked at him sharply。 〃Then there was something more
than WORDS passed between him and you； Cato。 What happened？ Come；
speak out！〃
〃He lashed me with his whip； and I gib him one right under the
yeah； and drupped him；〃 said Cato； recovering his courage with his
anger at the recollection。 〃I had a right to defend myse'f； sah。〃
〃Yes； and I hope you'll be able to do it； now；〃 said Courtland
calmly； his face giving no sign of his conviction that Cato's fate
was doomed by that single retaliating blow； 〃but you'll be safer at
the quarters。〃 He passed into his bedroom； took a revolver from
his bedhead and a derringer from the drawer； both of which he
quickly slipped beneath his buttoned coat； and returned。
〃When we are in the fields； clear of the house； keep close by my
side； and even try to keep step with me。 What you have to say； say
NOW； there must be no talking to betray our positionwe must go
silently； and you'll have enough to do to exercise your eyes and
ears。 I shall stand between you and any attack； but I expect you
to obey orders without hesitation。〃 He opened the back door；
motioned to Cato to pass out； followed him； locked the door behind
them； and taking the negro's arm walked beside the low palings to
the end of the garden； where they climbed the fence and stood upon
the open field beyond。
Unfortunately； it had grown lighter with the breaking of the heavy
clouds； and gusty gleams of moonlight chased each other over the
field； or struck a glitter from standing rain…pools between the
little hillocks。 To cross the open field and gain the fringe of
woods on the other side was the nearest way to the quarters； but
for the moment was the most exposed course； to follow the hedge to
the bottom of the field and the boundary fence and then cross at
right angles； in its shadow； would be safer； but they would lose
valuable time。 Believing that Cato's vengeful assailant was still
hovering near with his comrades； Courtland cast a quick glance down
the shadowy line of Osage hedge beside them。 Suddenly Cato grasped
his arm and pointed in the same direction； where the boundary fence
he had noticeda barrier of rough palingscrossed the field。
With t