But another sound startled her.  Surely she heard some stealthy step on the veranda upon which the windows of the room opened (long windows reaching from the floor almost to the ceiling), and then a hand at work with the fastenings of the shutters of the one farthest from the bed.

Her husband lay sleeping by her side.  She half raised herself in the bed, put her lips to his ear, and shaking him slightly, whispered, “Edward, some one is trying to get in at the window!”

He was wide-awake in an instant, raised himself and while listening intently took a loaded revolver from under his pillow and cocked it ready for use.

“Lie down, darling,” he whispered; “it will be safer, and should the villain get in, this will soon settle him, I think.”

“Don’t kill him, if you can save yourself without,” she answered, in the same low tone and with a shudder.

“No; if I could see, I should aim for his right arm.”

A moment of silent waiting, the slight sound of the burglar’s tool faintly heard amid the noise of the storm, then the shutter flew open, a man stepped in; at that instant a vivid flash of lightning showed the three to each other, and the men fired simultaneously.

A heavy, rolling crash of thunder followed close upon the sharp crack of the revolvers; the robber’s pistol fell with a loud thump upon the floor and he turned and fled along the veranda, this time moving with more haste than caution.  They distinctly heard the flying footsteps.

“I must have hit him,” said Mr. Travilla, “Dearest, you are not hurt?”

“No, no; but you?”

“Have escaped also, thank God,” he added, with earnest solemnity.

Elsie, springing to the bell-rope, sent peal after peal resounding through the house.  “He must be pursued, if possible!” she cried; “for oh, Edward, your life is in danger as long as he is at large.  You recognized him?”

“Yes, Tom Jackson; I thought him safe in prison at the North; but probably he has been bailed out; perhaps by one of his own gang; for so are the ends of justice often defeated.”

He was hurrying on his clothes as he spoke.  Elsie had hastily donned dressing-gown and slippers, and now struck a light.

Steps and voices were heard in the hall without, while Aunt Chloe coming in from the other side, asked in tones tremulous with affright, “What’s de matter? what’s de matter, darlin’? is you hurted?”

“No, mammy; but there was a burglar here a moment since,” said Elsie.  “He and Mr. Travilla fired at each other, and he must be pursued instantly.  Send Uncle Joe to rouse Mr. Spriggs and the boys, and go after him with all speed.”

Meantime Mr. Mason was knocking at the door opening into the hall, asking what was wrong and offering his services; a number of negro men’s voices adding, “Massa and missus, we’s all heyah and ready to fight for ye.”

Mr. Travilla opened the door, briefly explained what had happened, and repeated Elsie’s order for an immediate and hot pursuit.