There
was the sound of voices, a call, and then the little craft was held
firmly against the barricade and a gruff voice called:
"Stop your noise, and we'll have you safe in a jiffy."
But it seemed a long time to the frightened children before a tall
soldier swung over into the boat and lifted Sylvia and then Estralla up
to the outstretched hands which grasped them so firmly.
"What on earth were you out in that boat for?" questioned an elderly
gruff-voiced officer, when Sylvia and Estralla, thoroughly drenched and
wondering what new misfortune was in store for them, followed him into a
bare little cell-like room where the lamplight made them blink and
shield their eyes for a moment.
Sylvia told of their adventures as quickly as possible, and the officer
listened in amazement.
"Upon my word!" he said as she finished. "It's a wonder you are alive to
tell the story. And so you are a little Yankee girl? Well! Come along to
my quarters and my wife will put you both to bed, or you'll be too ill
to go home to-morrow."
"Can't we go to Fort Moultrie right away?" pleaded Sylvia. "My father
must be worried about me."
"No one from this fort can go to Fort Moultrie," he responded gravely.
"Those flash-lights are from a guard-boat which the South Carolina
people have sent down the harbor so that Major Anderson won't send us
reinforcements without their knowledge. I wish Anderson would send some
message to the President," he added, as if thinking aloud.
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