The sun rose from the sea, a ball of dull red fire glowing ominously through the haze of smoke that hung in the sky.
Hour after hour the guns pealed, the windows rattled and the earth trembled.
Couriers were dashing into the city with reports from the batteries. Soldiers were marching through the streets. It was reported that the men from the fleet would attempt a landing.
The women rushed to the little iron balcony and watched the troops marching to repel them.
In the first line Jennie saw the tall figure of Dick Welford. He glanced upward, lifted his cap and held it steadily in his hand for four blocks until they turned and swept out of sight.
Jennie was leaning on the rail with tear-dimmed eyes.
"I wonder why that soldier took his hat off?" her aunt asked.
By three o'clock it was known that not a man had been killed at either of the shore batteries and women began to smile and breathe once more.
Jennie hurried into the street and bought one.
RICHMOND AND WASHINGTON ABLAZE WITH EXCITEMENT!
VIRGINIA AND NORTH CAROLINA ARMING TO COME TO OUR RESCUE!
She walked rapidly to the water's edge to get the latest news from the front. A tiny rowboat was deliberately pulling through the harbor squarely under the guns of Sumter. She watched it with amazement, looking each moment to see it disappear beneath the waves. It was probably her foolish father.
With steady, even stroke the boatman pulled for the shore as unconcerned as if he were listening to the rattle of firecrackers on the fourth of July.
To her surprise it proved to be a negro. He tied his boat and deliberately unloaded his supply of vegetables. His stolid, sphinx-like face showed neither fear nor interest.
"Weren't you afraid of Anderson's cannon, uncle?" Jennie asked.
"He knows my marster don't 'low nuttin like dat--I'se too val'eble er nigger. Nobum, dey ain't none ob 'em gwine ter pester me, an' I ain't gwine ter meddle wid dem--dey kin des fight hit out twixt 'em--"
Through the long night the steady boom of cannon, and the scream of shells from the shore.
At one o'clock next day the flagstaff was cut down by a solid shot, and Sumter was silent.
At three o'clock a mob surged up the street following Senator Barton, who had just come from the harbor. He was on his way to Beauregard's headquarters.