Fulton and Mrs, Carleton returned they
found a very rosy-faced smiling little girl on the porch all ready to
tell them of her trip to Fort Sumter, and to give Mrs. Carleton the
longed-for news from her husband.
CHAPTER XXI
FORT SUMTER IS FIRED UPON
When Sylvia's father heard of her sailing the Butterfly to Fort Sumter
he was greatly troubled.
"If it should be discovered that my daughter had carried a message to
Fort Sumter we would all be in danger; even the Waites would give us
up," he declared. "What made you undertake such a thing, Sylvia?"
The little girl explained as well as she could her wish to get news of
Captain Carleton for his wife, and said that she was sure no one knew
that she was a white girl. But Mr. Fulton was anxious and uneasy, and
Sylvia began to realize that her secret adventure might bring serious
results to those she loved best.
"I told Captain Carleton what Uncle Peter said about ships coming to
help Fort Sumter," she said, feeling almost sure that her father would
think this the worst of all, but determined to make a full confession.
She resolved that never again would she make plans without telling her
mother and father, for she was most unhappy at her father's troubled
look, and at his disapproval.
"What?" exclaimed Mr. Fulton. "Did you tell Captain Carleton that
reinforcements were coming to the aid of Fort Sumter?"
"Oh, yes, I did, Father," sobbed Sylvia, who was now sure that she had
told the very worst of her acts.
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