by Thomas Dixon
CHAPTER IV
THE BANNER OF THE DRAGON
Ben Cameron rode rapidly to the rendezvous of the pickets who were to meetthe coming squadrons.
He returned home and ate a hearty meal. As he emerged from thedining-room, Phil seized him by the arm and led him under the big oak onthe lawn:
"Cameron, old boy, I'm in a lot of trouble. I've had a quarrel with myfather, and your sister has broken me all up by returning my ring. I wanta little excitement to ease my nerves. From Elsie's incoherent talk Ijudge you are in danger. If there's going to be a fight, let me in."
Ben took his hand:
"You're the kind of a man I'd like to have for a brother, and I'll helpyou in love--but as for war--it's not your fight. We don't need help."
At ten o'clock Ben met the local Den at their rendezvous under the cliff,to prepare for the events of the night.
The forty members present were drawn up before him in double rank oftwenty each.
"Brethren," he said to them solemnly, "I have called you to-night to takea step from which there can be no retreat. We are going to make a daringexperiment of the utmost importance. If there is a faint heart among you,now is the time to retire----"
"We are with you!" cried the men.
"There are laws of our race, old before this Republic was born in thesouls of white freemen. The fiat of fools has repealed on paper theselaws. Your fathers who created this Nation were first Conspirators, thenRevolutionists, now Patriots and Saints. I need to-night ten volunteers tolead the coming clansmen over this county and disarm every negro in it.The men from North Carolina cannot be recognized. Each of you must runthis risk. Your absence from home to-night will be doubly dangerous forwhat will be done here at this negro armoury under my command. I ask ofthese ten men to ride their horses until dawn, even unto death, to ridefor their God, their native land, and the womanhood of the South!
"To each man who accepts this dangerous mission I offer for your bed theearth, for your canopy the sky, for your bread stones; and when the flashof bayonets shall fling into your face from the Square the challenge ofmartial law, the protection I promise you--is exile, imprisonment, anddeath! Let the ten men who accept these terms step forward four paces."
With a single impulse the whole double line of forty white-and-scarletfigures moved quickly forward four steps!
The leader shook hands with each man, his voice throbbing with emotion ashe said:
"Stand together like this, men, and armies will march and countermarchover the South in vain! We will save the life of our people."
The ten guides selected by the Grand Dragon rode forward, and each led adivision of one hundred men through the ten townships of the county andsuccessfully disarmed every negro before day without the loss of a life.
The remaining squadron of two hundred and fifty men from Hambright,accompanied by the Grand Titan in command of the Province of Western HillCounties, were led by Ben Cameron into Piedmont as the waning moon rosebetween twelve and one o'clock.
They marched past Stoneman's place on the way to the negro armoury, whichstood on the opposite side of the street a block below.
The wild music of the beat of a thousand hoofs on the cobblestones of thestreet waked every sleeper. The old Commoner hobbled to his window andwatched them pass, his big hands fumbling nervously, and his soul stirredto its depths.
The ghostlike shadowy columns moved slowly with the deliberateconsciousness of power. The scarlet circles on their breasts could beeasily seen when one turned toward the house, as could the big red lettersK. K. K. on each horse's flank.
In the centre of the line waved from a gold-tipped spear the battle-flagof the Klan. As they passed the bright lights burning at his gate, oldStoneman could see this standard plainly. The huge black dragon withflaming eyes and tongue seemed a living thing crawling over ascarlet-tipped yellow cloud.
At the window above stood a little figure watching that banner of theDragon pass with aching heart.
Phil stood at another, smiling with admiration for their daring:
"By George, it stirs the blood to see it! You can't crush men of thatbreed!"
The watchers were not long in doubt as to what the raiders meant.
They deployed quickly around the armoury. A whistle rang its shrill cry,and a volley of two hundred and fifty carbines and revolvers smashed everyglass in the building. The sentinel had already given the alarm, and thedrum was calling the startled negroes to their arms. They returned thevolley twice, and for ten minutes were answered with the steady crack oftwo hundred and fifty guns. A white flag appeared at the door, and thefiring ceased. The negroes laid down their arms and surrendered. All savethree were allowed to go to their homes for the night and carry theirwounded with them.
The three confederates in the crime of their captain were bound and ledaway. In a few minutes the crash of a volley told their end.
The little white figure rapped at Phil's door and placed a trembling handon his arm:
"Phil," she said softly, "please go to the hotel and stay until you knowall that has happened--until you know the full list of those killed andwounded. I'll wait. You understand?"
As he stooped and kissed her, he felt a hot tear roll down her cheek.
"Yes, little Sis, I understand," he answered.
