ble, and the attitude of many of the members continued to
be that of expecting great developments. Each had his own speculations
as to what was to be the character of the serious work which the Klan
had to do. But they were satisfied that there was such work. It was an
unhealthy and dangerous state of mind for men to be in; bad results in
some cases very naturally followed from it.

The impression made by the Klan on the public was the second cause
which contributed to its transformation into a band of Regulators.
When the meetings first began to be held in the dilapidated house on
the hill, passers-by were frequent. Most of them passed the grim and
ghostly sentinel on the roadside in silence, but always with a
quickened step. Occasionally one would stop and ask: "Who are you?" In
awfully sepulchral tones the invariable answer was: "A spirit from the
other world. I was killed at Chickamauga."

Such an answer, especially when given to a superstitious negro, was
extremely terrifying, and if, in addition, he heard the uproarous
noises issuing from the "den" at the moment of a candidate's
investiture with the "regal crown," he had the foundation for a most
awe-inspiring story. There came from the country similar stories. The
belated laborer, passing after nightfall, some lonely and secluded
spot, heard horrible noises and saw fearful sights. These stories were
repeated with such embellishments as the imagination of the narrator
suggested, till the feeling of the negroes and of many of the white
people, at mention of the Ku Klux, was one of awe and terror.

In a short time the Lictor of the Pulaski "den" reported that travel
along the road on which he had his post had almost entirely stopped.
In the country it was noticed that the nocturnal perambulation of the
colored population diminished, or entirely ceased, wherever the Ku
Klux appeared. In many ways there was a noticeable improvement in the
habits of a large class who had hitherto been causing great annoyance.
In this way the Klan gradually realized that the most powerful devices
ever constructed for controlling the ignorant and superstitious were
in their hands. Even the most highly cultured were not able wholly to
resist the weird and peculiar feeling which pervaded every community
where the Ku Klux appeared. Each week some new incident occurred to
illustrate the amazing power of the unknown over the minds of men of
all classes.

Circumstances made it evident that