He started to draw Colonel Talbot away, but it was too late. Shepard
turned at that moment, and the colonel caught sight of his face.

"That man here among our batteries!" he exclaimed in a menacing tone.

"Come away, colonel!" said Harry hastily. "We don't know anything
against him!"

But Shepard himself acted first. He came forward quickly, his hand
extended, and his eyes expressing pleasure.

"I missed you this morning, Mr. Kenton," he said. "You were too early
for me, but we meet, nevertheless, in a place of the greatest interest.
And here is Colonel Talbot, too!"

Harry took the outstretched hand--he could not keep from liking
Shepard--but Colonel Talbot, by turning slightly, avoided it without
giving the appearance of brusqueness. His courtesy, concerning which
the South Carolinians of his type were so particular, would not fail him,
and, while he avoided the hand, he promptly introduced Shepard and
St. Clair.

"I did not expect to find events so far advanced in Charleston," said
Shepard. "With the Federal garrison concentrated in Sumter and the
batteries going up everywhere, matters begin to look dangerous."

"I suppose that you have made a careful examination of all the
batteries," said Colonel Talbot dryly.

"Casual, not careful," returned Shepard, in his usual cheerful tones.