fire the first shot."

"I think you're right again."

Others also saw the growing black plume of smoke rising from the
steamer's funnel, and a deep thrilling murmur ran through the crowd
gathered on the sea walls. To many the vessel, steaming toward the
harbor, was foreign, carrying a foreign flag, but to many others it
was not and could never be so.

Shepard passed the glasses to the boy again, and he looked a second time
at the ship, which was now taking shape and rising fast upon the water.
Then he examined the walls of Sumter and saw men in blue moving there.
They, too, were watching the coming steamer with the deepest anxiety.

Arthur took his second look also, and Shepard watched through the
glasses a little longer. Then he put them in the case which he hung
over his shoulder. Glasses were no longer needed. They could now see
with the naked eye what was about to happen--if anything happened at all.

"It will soon be decided," said Shepard, and Harry noticed that his
voice trembled. "If the Star of the West comes without interference up
to the walls of Sumter there will be no war. The minds of men on both
sides will cool. But if she is stopped, then--"

He broke off. Something seemed to choke in his throat. Harry and
Arthur remained silent.

The ship rose higher and higher. Behind her hung the long black trail
of her smoke. Soon, she would be in the range of the batteries.