quartering of the waves on the broad bluff bows of the boat tended
to throw it to leeward； a movement that； while it retarded her
forward progress； no doubt saved the little craft from swamping。
Again； the feebleness and shortness of her stroke； which never
impelled her through a rising wave； but rather lifted her half way
up its face； prevented the boat from taking much water； while her
steadfast gaze； fixed only on the slowly retreating shore； kept her
steering free from any fatal nervous vacillation； which the sight
of the threatening seas on her bow might have produced。 Preserved
through her very weakness； ignorance； and simplicity of purpose；
the dingey had all the security of a drifting boat； yet retained a
certain gentle but persistent guidance。 In this feminine fashion
she made enough headway to carry her abreast of the Point； where
she met the reflux current sweeping round it that carried her well
along into the channel； now sluggish with the turn of the tide。
After half an hour's pulling； she was delighted to find herself
again in a reverse current； abreast of her cottage； but steadily
increasing her distance from it。 She was； in fact； on the extreme
outer edge of a vast whirlpool formed by the force of the gale on a
curving lee shore； and was being carried to her destination in a
semicircle around that bay which she never could have crossed。 She
was moving now in a line with the shore and the Fort； whose
flagstaff； above its green； square； and white quarters； she could
see distinctly； and whose lower water battery and landing seemed to
stretch out from the rocks scarcely a mile ahead。 Protected by the
shore from the fury of the wind； and even of the sea； her progress
was also steadily accelerated by the velocity of the current；
mingling with the ebbing tide。 A sudden fear seized her。 She
turned the boat's head towards the shore； but it was swept quickly
round again； she redoubled her exertions； tugging frantically at
her helpless oars。 She only succeeded in getting the boat into the
trough of the sea； where； after a lurch that threatened to capsize
it； it providentially swung around on its short keel and began to
drift stern on。 She was almost abreast of the battery now； she
could hear the fitful notes of a bugle that seemed blown and
scattered above her head； she even thought she could see some men
in blue uniforms moving along the little pier。 She was passing it；
another fruitless effort to regain her ground； but she was swept
along steadily towards the Gate； the whitening bar； and the open
sea。
She knew now what it all meant。 This was what she had come for；
this was the end！ Beyond； only a little beyond； just a few moments
longer to wait； and then； out there among the breakers was the rest
that she had longed for but had not dared to seek。 It was not her
fault； they could not blame HER。 He would come back and never know
what had happenednor even know how she had tried to atone for her
deceit。 And he would find his house in possession ofofthose
devils！ No！ No！ she must not die yet； at least not until she had
warned the Fort。 She seized the oars again with frenzied strength；
the boat had stopped under the unwonted strain； staggered； tried to
rise in an uplifted sea； took part of it over her bow； struck down
Mrs。 Bunker under half a ton of blue water that wrested the oars
from her paralyzed hands like playthings； swept them over the
gunwale； and left her lying senseless in the bottom of the boat。
。 。 。 。 。 。
〃Hold har…rdor you'll run her down。〃
〃Now then； Riley；look alive；is it slapin' ye are！〃
〃Hold yer jaw； Flanigan； and stand ready with the boat…hook。 Now
then； hold har…rd！〃
The sudden jarring and tilting of the water…logged boat； a sound of
rasping timbers； the swarming of men in shirtsleeves and blue
trousers around her； seemed to rouse her momentarily； but she again
fainted away。
When she struggled back to consciousness once more she was wrapped
in a soldier's jacket； her head pillowed on the shirt…sleeve of an
artillery corporal in the stern sheets of that eight…oared
government barge she had remembered。 But the only officer was a
bareheaded； boyish lieutenant； and the rowers were an athletic but
unseamanlike crew of mingled artillerymen and infantry。
〃And where did ye drift from； darlint？〃
Mrs。 Bunker bridled feebly at the epithet。
〃I didn't drift。 I was going to the Fort。〃
〃The Fort； is it？〃
〃Yes。 I want to see the general。〃
〃Wadn't the liftenant do ye？ Or shure there's the adjutant； he's a
foine man。〃
〃Silence； Flanigan；〃 said the young officer sharply。 Then turning
to Mrs。 Bunker he said； 〃Don't mind HIM； but let his wife take you
to the canteen； when we get in； and get you some dry clothes。〃
But Mrs。 Bunker； spurred to convalescence at the indignity；
protested stiffly； and demanded on her arrival to be led at once to
the general's quarters。 A few officers； who had been attracted to
the pier by the rescue； acceded to her demand。
She recognized the gray…haired； handsome man who had come ashore
at her house。 With a touch of indignation at her treatment； she
briefly told her story。 But the general listened coldly and
gravely with his eyes fixed upon her face。
〃You say you recognized in the leader of the party a man you had
seen before。 Under what circumstances？〃
Mrs。 Bunker hesitated with burning cheeks。 〃He came to take
Colonel Marion from our place。〃
〃When you were hiding him；yes； we've heard the story。 Now； Mrs。
Bunker； may I ask you what you； as a Southern sympathizer； expect
to gain by telling me this story？〃
But here Mrs。 Bunker burst out。 〃I am not a Southern sympathizer！
Never！ Never！ Never！ I'm a Union woman；wife of a Northern man。
I helped that man before I knew who he was。 Any Christian；
Northerner or Southerner； would have done the same！〃
Her sincerity and passion were equally unmistakable。 The general
rose； opened the door of the adjoining room； said a few words to an
orderly on duty； and returned。 〃What you are asking of me； Mrs。
Bunker； is almost as extravagant and unprecedented as your story。
You must understand； as well as your husband； that if I land a
force on your property it will be to TAKE POSSESSION of it in the
name of the Government； for Government purposes。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 said Mrs。 Bunker eagerly； 〃I know that。 I am willing；
Zephas will be willing。〃
〃And；〃 continued the general； fixing his eyes on her face； 〃you
will also understand that I may be compelled to detain you here as
a hostage for the safety of my men。〃
〃Oh no！ no！ please！〃 said Mrs。 Bunker； springing up with an
imploring feminine gesture； 〃I am expecting my husband。 He may
be coming back at any moment； I must be there to see him FIRST！
Please let me go back； sir； with your men； put me anywhere ashore
between them and those men that are coming。 Lock me up； keep me a
prisoner in my own home； do anything else if you think I am
deceiving you； but don't keep me here to miss him when he comes！〃
〃But you can see him later；〃 said the general。
〃But I must see him FIRST；〃 said Mrs。 Bunker desperately。 〃I must
see him first； forforHE KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS。 He knows
nothing of my helping Colonel Marion； he knows nothing ofhow
foolish I have been； andhe must not know it from others！ There！〃
It was out at last。 She was sobbing now； but her pride was gone。
She felt relieved； and did not even notice the presence of two or
three other officers； who had entered the room； exchanged a few
hurried words with their superior； and were gazing at her in
astonishment。
The general's brow relaxed； and he smiled。 〃Very well； Mrs。
Bunker； it shall be as you like； then。 You shall go and meet your
husband with Captain Jennings here；〃indicating one of the
officers；〃who will take charge of you and the party。〃
〃And；〃 said Mrs。 Bunker； looking imploringly through her wet but
pretty lashes at the officer； 〃he won't say anything to Zephas；
either？〃
〃Not a syllable；〃 said Captain Jennings gravely。 〃But while the
tug is getting ready； general； hadn't Mrs。 Bunker better go to Mrs。
Flanigan？〃
〃I think not；〃 said the general； with a significant look at the
officer as he gallantly offered his arm to the astonished Mrs。
Bunker； 〃if she will allow me the pleasure of taking her to my
wife。〃
There was an equally marked respect in the manner of the men and
officers as Mrs。 Bunker finally stepped on board the steam tug that
was to convey the party across the turbulent bay。 But she heeded
it not； neither did she take any concern of the still furious gale；
the difficult landing； the preternatural activity of the band of
sappers； who seemed to work magic with their picks and shovels； the
shelter tents that arose swiftly around her； the sheds and bush
inclosures that were evoked from the very ground beneath her feet；
the wonderful skill； order； and discipline that in a few hours
converted her straggling dominion into a formal camp； even to the
sentinel； who was already calmly pacing the rocks by the landing as
if he had being doing it for years！ Only one thing thrilled her
the sudden outburst； fluttering and snapping of the national flag
from her little flagstaff。 He would see itand perhaps be
pleased！
And indeed it seemed as if the men had caught the infection of her
anxiety； for when her strained eyes could no longer pierce the
murky twilight settling over the Gate； one came running to her to
say that the lookout had just discovered through his glass a close…
reefed schooner running in before the wind。 It was her husband；
and scarcely an hour after night had shut in the schooner had
rounded to off the Point； dropped her boat； and sped away to
anchorage。 And then Mrs。 Bunker； running bareheaded down the
rocks； breaking in upon the hurried explanation of the officer of
the guard； threw herself upon her husband's breast； and sobbed and
laughed as if her heart would break！
Nor did she scarcely hear his hurried comment to the officer and
unconscious corroboration of her story： how a brig had raced them
from the Gate； was heading for the bar； but suddenly sheered off
and pu