A deep shuddering sigh ran through the crowd, and then came moments of
intense, painful silence. The little blue figures lining the walls of
Sumter were motionless. The sea moved slowly and sleepily, its waters
drenched in wintry sunshine.

On came the Star of the West, straight toward the harbor mouth.

"They will not fire! They dare not!" cried Shepard in a tense, strained
whisper.

As the last word left his lips there was a heavy crash. A tongue of
fire leaped from one of the batteries, followed by a gush of smoke,
and a round shot whistled over the Star of the West. A tremendous shout
came from the crowd, then it was silent, while that tongue of flame
leaped a second time from the mouth of a cannon. Harry saw the water
spring up, a spire of white foam, near the steamer, and a moment later
a third shot clipped the water close by. He did not know whether the
gunners were firing directly at the vessel or merely meant to warn her
that she came nearer at her peril, but in any event, the effect was
the same. South Carolina with her cannon was warning a foreign ship,
the ship of an enemy, to keep away.

The Star of the West slowed down and stopped. Then another shout,
more tremendous than ever, a shout of triumph, came from the crowd,
but Harry felt a chill strike to his heart. Young St. Clair, too,
was silent and Harry saw a shadow on his face. He looked for Shepard,
but he was gone and the boy had not heard him go.

"It is all over," said St. Clair, with the certainty of prophecy.
"The cannon have spoken and it is war. Why, where is Shepard?"