They landed at the wharf where the Butterfly was fastened, and before Captain Gerald had stepped on shore Sylvia called out:  “Father!  Father!  There he is!  And Mother, too!” and in another moment her mother’s arms were about her, and she was telling as rapidly as possible the story of her adventures, and of Estralla coming to her rescue.

Grace came running to meet Sylvia as they came near their home.

“Oh, Sylvia, I wish I had been with you,” she exclaimed.  “That is twice you have been to Fort Sumter without meaning to go, isn’t it?”

“We will hope that her next visit will not be as dangerous as this one,” said Mr, Fulton soberly.

For several days Sylvia could think and talk only of her wanderings among the sand-hills, and of her first sight of the guard-boat.  She began teaching Estralla on the very day of her return, and the little darky made rapid progress.

“Father, when may we go to Fort Moultrie again?” she asked one morning a few days later, for she wanted very much to see Mrs. Carleton, and was quite sure that her father would be ready to sail down the harbor on any pleasant day, and his reply made her look up in surprise.

“I do not know that we shall ever go to the forts again,” her father had replied.  “Did you not hear the bells ringing and the military music yesterday?  South Carolina has seceded from the Union.  No one is allowed to go to the forts.  And unless Major Anderson takes possession of Fort Sumter the Confederates will.”

“And we are to start for Boston next week, dear child,” Sylvia’s mother added.

It seemed to Sylvia that her mother was very glad at the thought of returning to her former home.  But Sylvia was not glad.  What would become of Estralla?

Mr. Waite had said that as long as Sylvia lived in his house the little colored girl could be her maid.  But if they went to Boston and left Estralla behind Sylvia was sure that there would be nothing but trouble for the faithful little darky.

“Why, Sylvia!  What is the matter?” questioned her mother anxiously; for Sylvia was leaning her head on the table.

“I can’t go to Boston and leave Estralla!” she sobbed.  “She has done lots of brave things for me.  She wouldn’t leave me to be a slave.”

Mr. and Mrs. Fulton looked at each other with puzzled eyes.

“But Estralla would not want to leave her mammy,” suggested Mr. Fulton.

“Oh, Father!  Can’t Aunt Connie and Estralla go with us?” and Sylvia lifted her head and looked hopefully at her father.  “Couldn’t I buy Estralla and then make her free?  I’ve got that gold money Grandma gave me.”

“I am afraid it wouldn’t be much use for me to even try to buy a slave’s freedom now,” Mr. Fulton said a little sadly.  “Don’t suggest such a thing to Aunt Connie, Sylvia.”

“When shall we go to Boston?” Sylvia asked.

“Right away after Christmas, unless Fort Sumter is attacked before that time.  Washington ought to send troops and provisions for the forts at once!” replied Mr. Fulton.