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, for--for--HE KNOWS NOTHING OF THIS.He knows nothing of my helping Colonel Marion; he knows nothing of--how foolish I have been, and--he 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 it--and 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!
