commanded the city, and the people of Charleston had thrown up great
earthworks, mounting many cannon.

Boy as he was, Harry was old enough to see that here were all the
elements of a great conflagration. It merely remained for somebody to
touch fire to the tow. He was not one to sentimentalize, but the sight
of the defiant flag, the most beautiful in all the world, stirred him in
every fiber. It was the flag under which both his father and Colonel
Talbot had fought.

"It has to be, Harry," said St. Clair, who was watching him closely.
"If it comes to a crisis we must fire upon it. If we don't, the South
will be enslaved and black ignorance and savagery will be enthroned upon
our necks."

"I suppose so," said Harry. "But look how the people gather!"

The Battery and all the harbor were now lined with the men, women and
children of Charleston. Harry saw soldiers moving about Sumter, but no
demonstration of any kind occurred there. He had not thought hitherto
about the garrison of the forts in Charleston harbor. He recognized for
the first time that they might not share the opinions of Charleston,
and this name of Anderson was full of significance for him. Major
Anderson was a Kentuckian. He had heard his father speak of him; they
had served together, but it was now evident to Harry that Anderson would
not go with South Carolina.

"You'll see a small boat coming soon from Sumter," said St. Clair.
"Some of our people have gone over there to confer with Major Anderson
and demand that he give up the fort."