Although the young soldiers remained immovable,
there was not a heart in the company that did not throb with excitement.
Colonel Talbot and Major St. Hilaire were a little in advance, erect and
commanding figures.
Other troops, volunteer companies, were present and they spread to right
and left of the South Carolinians. Behind and everywhere except in the
cleared space before them gathered the people, a vast mass through which
ran the hum and murmur of expectancy. Overhead, the sun leaped out and
shone for a while with great brilliancy. "A good omen," many said.
And to Harry it all seemed good, too. The excitement, the enthusiasm
were contagious. If any prophet of evil was present he had nothing to
say.
A jet of smoke standing black against the golden air appeared above a
hill, and then came the rumble of a train. It was that which bore the
President elect, coming fast, and a sudden great shout went up from the
multitude, followed by silence, broken only by the heavy breathing of so
many. Harry's heart leaped again, but his will kept his body immovable.
The rumble became a roar, and the jet of smoke turned to a cloud.
Then the train drew into the station and stopped.
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