Events moved rapidly during the next few days. The reproduction, in the Chronicle, of the article from the Afro-American Banner, with Carteret's inflammatory comment, took immediate¹ effect. It touched the Southern white man in his most sensitive spot. To him such an article was an insult to white womanhood, and must be resented by some active steps,—mere² words would be no answer at all. To meet words with words upon such a subject would be to acknowledge the equality of the negro and his right to discuss or criticise³ the conduct of the white people.  
The colored people became alarmed at the murmurings of the whites, which seemed to presage⁴ a coming storm. A number of them sought to arm themselves, but ascertained⁵, upon inquiring at the stores, that no white merchant would sell a negro firearms. Since all the dealers⁶ in this sort of merchandise were white men, the negroes had to be satisfied with oiling up the old army muskets⁷ which some of them possessed⁸, and the few revolvers with which a small rowdy element generally managed to keep themselves supplied. Upon an effort being made to purchase firearms from a Northern city, the express company, controlled by local men, refused to accept the consignment⁹. The white people, on the other hand, procured¹⁰ both arms and ammunition¹¹ in large quantities, and the Wellington Grays drilled with great assiduity at their armory¹².
 
All this went on without any public disturbance¹³ of the town's tranquillity¹⁴. A stranger would have seen nothing to excite his curiosity. The white people did their talking among themselves, and merely grew more distant in their manner toward the colored folks, who instinctively¹⁵ closed their ranks as the whites drew away. With each day that passed the feeling grew more tense. The editor of the Afro-American Banner, whose office had been quietly garrisoned¹⁶ for several nights by armed negroes, became frightened, and disappeared from the town between two suns.
 
The conspirators¹⁷ were jubilant at the complete success of their plans. It only remained for them to so direct this aroused public feeling that it might completely accomplish the desired end,—to change the political complexion¹⁸ of the city government and assure the ascendency of the whites until the amendment¹⁹ should go into effect. A revolution, and not a riot, was contemplated²⁰.
 
With this end in view, another meeting was called at Carteret's office.
 
"We are now ready," announced General Belmont, "for the final act of this drama. We must decide promptly²¹, or events may run away from us."
 
"What do you suggest?" asked Carteret.
 
"Down in the American tropics," continued the general, "they have a way of doing things. I was in Nicaragua, ten years ago, when Paterno's revolution drove out Igorroto's government. It was as easy as falling off a log. Paterno had the arms and the best men. Igorroto was not looking for trouble, and the guns were at his breast before he knew it. We have the guns. The negroes are not expecting trouble, and are easy to manage compared with the fiery²² mixture that flourishes in the tropics."
 
"I should not advocate murder," returned Carteret. "We are animated²³ by high and holy principles. We wish to right a wrong, to remedy an abuse, to save our state from anarchy²⁴ and our race from humiliation²⁵. I don't object to frightening the negroes, but I am opposed to unnecessary bloodshed."
 
"I'm not quite so particular," struck in McBane. "They need to be taught a lesson, and a nigger more or less wouldn't be missed. There's too many of 'em now."
 
"Of course," continued Carteret, "if we should decide upon a certain mode of procedure, and the negroes should resist, a different reasoning might apply; but I will have no premeditated murder."
 
"In Central and South America," observed the general reflectively, "none are hurt except those who get in the way."
 
"There'll be no niggers hurt," said McBane contemptuously, "unless they strain themselves running. One white man can chase a hundred of 'em. I've managed five hundred at a time. I'll pay for burying all the niggers that are killed."
 
The conference resulted in a well-defined plan, to be put into operation the following day, by which the city government was to be wrested²⁶ from the Republicans and their negro allies.
 
"And now," said General Belmont, "while we are cleansing²⁷ the Augean stables, we may as well remove the cause as the effect. There are several negroes too many in this town, which will be much the better without them. There's that yellow lawyer, Watson. He's altogether too mouthy, and has too much business. Every nigger that gets into trouble sends for Watson, and white lawyers, with families to support and social positions to keep up, are deprived of their <............