and Harry knew that they were approaching Charleston. In another hour
they were in the city which was, as yet, the heart and soul of the
Confederacy.

Charleston, with its steepled churches, its quaint houses, and its
masses of foliage, much of it in full flower, seemed more attractive
than ever to Harry. The city preserved its gay and light tone. It was
crowded with people. All the rich planters were there. Society had
never been more brilliant than during those tense weeks on the eve
of men knew not what. But the Charlestonians were sure of one fact,
the most important of all, that everything was going well. Texas had
joined the great group of the South, and while the border states still
hung back, they would surely join.

Harry found that the batteries and earthworks had increased in size and
number, forming a formidable circle about the black mass of Sumter,
above which the defiant flag still swung in the wind. The guards were
distributed among the batteries, but St. Clair, Langdon, and Harry
remained together. Toutant Beauregard, after having resigned the
command at West Point, as the Southern leaders had expected, came
to Charleston and took supreme command there. Harry saw him as he
inspected the batteries, a small, dark man, French in look, as he was
French in descent, full of nervous energy and vitality. He spoke
approving words of all that had been done, and Harry, St. Clair and Tom,
glowed with enthusiasm.

"Didn't I tell you that everything would come just right!" exclaimed
Happy Tom. "We're the boys to do things. I heard today that they were
preparing a big fleet in the North to relieve Sumter, but no matter how
big it is, it won't be able to get into Charleston harbor. Will it,