“Please,” said Alice sharply.  “We won’t speak of that.  What can I do for YOU?”

“I beg your pardon.  I’m a thoughtless ass ... that’s why I got into the pickle probably.  They asked me to join....”

“They?  Who?” she asked.  “Is he—­Benito—?”

“Oh, no, Benito’s out of it completely.  I’m a Southern boy, you know.  That’s why they let me in; a lot of them have money.  A man we call ’The President’ is our chief.  And there’s a committee of thirty, each of whom is pledged to organize a fighting force; a hundred men.”

Waters hesitated.  “I took an oath to keep this all a secret ... but I’ll trust you, Mrs. Windham.  You’ve got to know something about it....  These men are hired desperadoes or adventurers.  They know there’s fighting to be done; they’ve no scruples....  Meanwhile they’re well paid, ostensibly engaged in various peaceful occupations all around the bay.  When our President gives the order they’ll be massed—­three thousand of ’em; well armed, drilled—­professional fighters.  You can see what’ll happen....”

“You mean they’ll seize the forts ... deliver us to the enemy?” she spoke aghast.

“I’m afraid you’re right, Mrs. Windham.”

“Has your—­ah—­society approached General Johnson?”

“Not yet—­they’re a little afraid of him.”

Alice Windham thought a moment.  “When is your next meeting?”

“Tomorrow.  We are called by word of mouth.  I’ve just received my summons.”

“Well, then,” Alice told him, “make a motion—­or whatever you call it—­that the General be approached, sounded.  They’ll appoint a committee.  They’ll put you on it, of course.  Thus you can apprise him of the plot without violating your oath.  I don’t believe he will aid you, for that means betraying his trust....  But if he should—­come back to me.  We will have to act quickly.”

* * * * *

A fortnight passed.  Alice had learned by adroit questioning that the federal army was a purely negligible defensive force.

An attack would result in the easy plundering of this storehouse as well as the militia armories of San Francisco.  Thus equipped, an army could be organized out of California’s Southern sympathizers, who would beat down all resistance, loot the treasury of its gold and perhaps align the State with Slavery’s Cause.

Rebellion, civil warfare loomed with all its horrors.  If the plot that Waters had described were carried through there would be bloodshed in the city.  Her husband had gone to Sacramento on business.  Suppose it came tonight!

Anxiously Alice hovered near the cot where ten-year Robert slept.

There came a knock at the door.

“Who’s there?” she asked, hand upon the bolt.  Then, with an exclamation of relief, she opened it.  Admitted Herbert Waters.

He was smiling.  “I took your advice....  It worked.”

She pushed a chair toward the hearth.  “Sit there,” she ordered.  “Tell me all about it.”