Estralla shook her head dolefully.
"Yas, Missy. But I'se gwine to git you safe home. You do jes' as I tell
you an' you'll be safe back with your mammy by ter-morrow!" she
declared.
"You lay down and keep your eyes tight shut till I comes back," she
added, and Sylvia, tired and frightened, obeyed.
The schooner was now coming to her landing at Fort Sumter. Estralla
managed to get on deck without being noticed. She did not know where
they were, but wherever it was she resolved to get Sylvia out of the
vessel, and ran back to the cabin.
"Now, don' you speak to nobuddy. Jes' keep right close to me," she
whispered. And Sylvia obeyed. The two little girls crept up the cabin
stairs, and crouching close to the side of the cabin made their way
toward the stern of the vessel.
The crew and the soldiers and Captain Carleton were now all toward the
bow. A small boat swung at the stern of the schooner.
"Now, Missy, we's got to git ourselves into that boat and row back
home," whispered Estralla, grasping the rope.
At that moment Sylvia turned to look back. She could see a tall officer
on the forward deck, and without an instant's hesitation she ran toward
him calling:
"Captain Carleton! Captain Carleton!" He turned smilingly toward her,
and Sylvia clasped his hand.
"I didn't know where I was," she said.
"You are at Fort Sumter. And it's all my fault," he answered. "I forgot
all about you until we were nearly here. But one of my men is going to
sail you safely home.
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