making for the open sea. There was
another tremendous shout from the crowd, and then silence. Smoke from
the cannon drifted lazily over the town, and, caught by a contrary
breeze, was blown out over the sea in the track of the retreating
steamer, where it met the black trail left by that vessel's own funnel.
The crowd, not cheering much now, but talking in rather subdued tones,
dispersed.

Harry felt the chill down his spine again. These were great matters.
He had looked upon no light event in the harbor of Charleston that day.
He and Arthur lingered on the wall, watching that trailing black dot on
the horizon, until it died away and was gone forever. The blue figures
on the walls of Sumter had disappeared within, and the fortress stood up,
grim and silent. Beyond lay the blue sea, shimmering and peaceful in
the wintry sunshine.

"I suppose there is nothing to do but go back to Madame Delaunay's,"
said Harry.

"Nothing now," replied St. Clair, "but I fancy that later on we'll have
all we can do."

"If not more."

"Yes, if not more."

Both boys were very grave and thoughtful as they walked to Madame
Delaunay's most excellent inn. They realized that as yet South Carolina
stood alone, but in the evening their spirits took a leap. News came
that Mississippi also had gone out. Then other planting states followed
fast. Florida was but a day behind Mississippi, Alabama went out the
next day after Florida, Georgia eight days later, and Louisiana a
week after Georgia. Exultation rose high in Charleston. All the Gulf
and South Atlantic States were now sure, but the great border states
still hung fire. There was a clamor for Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland
and Missouri, and, though the promises from them came thick and fast,
they did not go out. But the fiery energy of Charleston and the lower
South was moving forward over all obstacles. Already arrangements had
been made for a great convention at Montgomery in Alabama, and a new
government would be formed differing but little from that of the old
Union.

Now Harry began to hear much of a man, of whom he had heard his father
speak, but who had slipped entirely from his mind. It was Jefferson
Davis, a native of Kentucky like Abraham Lincoln. He had been a brave
and gallant soldier at Buena Vista. It was said that he had saved the
day against the overwhelming odds of Santa Anna. He had been Secretary
of War in the old Union, now dissolved forever, according