"My lan', Missy! Bar's dat light agin," called the half-frightened
darky, "an' we's right in it dis time!"
An instant later a call came from the guardboat. "Boat ahoy! Where
bound?" and before Sylvia could ship her oars or answer the call she
found herself looking straight into the blinding light, and felt the
little boat rising on the crest of the wave made by the steamer.
"We's gwine to be drownded, Missy!" shouted Estralla, and before Sylvia
could say a word the frightened little darky had sprung up and lurched
forward across Sylvia's knees.
The boat tipped and the water rushed over one side, but Sylvia,
clutching the oars steadily, and remembering her father's frequent
warnings, sat perfectly still and the little craft righted itself.
"You nearly upset us; keep still where you are. Don't move!" said Sylvia
angrily. The light had flashed in another direction now, and the guard-
boat had moved on, thinking the boat contained two young darkies bound
for Sullivan's Island after a visit to Charleston.
Sylvia could feel the water about her feet and ankles. She wished that
she had called for help, for she realized now that they might be run
into and sunk by some passing craft. Beside that the wind and tide were
now carrying them swiftly along toward the open sea. Then, suddenly,
Sylvia dropped her oars and screamed at the top of her voice. Estralla
shouted loudly. Their boat had run directly against the wall of Fort
Sumter. In an instant there were lights flashing over the parapet.
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