Port O' Gold Part 42

"You were a friend of Mr. Broderick's," he said impulsively. "He often spoke of you ... and once, not long before he died, he said to me: 'Herbert, when your soul's in trouble, go to Alice Windham ...'"

Mrs. Windham put aside her knitting rather hastily, rose and walked to the window. She made no answer.

Presently the boy continued: "That time has come--now--Mrs. Windham."

Alice crossed the room and laid a hand upon his shoulder. "Herbert!

What's the matter?"

His voice sank almost to a whisper. "There's a plot to overthrow the government in California. I'm a part of it.... I don't know what to do."

"You don't mean ... you're a traitor?" she asked unbelievably.

"I suppose I am or must be--to some one," he said wearily. "I'm caught in a net, Mrs. Windham. Will you help me get out? Advise me ... as you did him. Oh, I know what you meant to Mr. Broderick. Your faith, your counsel!"

"Please," said Alice sharply. "We won't speak of that. What can I do for YOU?"

"I beg your pardon. I'm a thoughtless a.s.s ... 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 ma.s.sed--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 pa.s.sed. 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."

Waters gazed into the fire half abstractedly. "Three of us were named,"

he said, "to have a conference with General Johnson." He turned to her, his eyes aglow, "I'll never forget that meeting. He asked us to be seated with his usual courtesy. Then he said, quite matter-of-factly ...

in an off-hand sort of way, 'There's something I want to mention before we go further. I've heard some foolish talk about attempts to seize the strongholds of the government under my charge. So I've prepared for all emergencies.' His eyes flashed as he added, 'I will defend the property of the United States with every resource at my command, with the last drop of blood in my body. Tell that to your Southern friends.'"

"And your plot?"

"It's been abandoned."

"Thank G.o.d," Alice exclaimed fervently.

"And thank yourself a little," he commented, smiling.

"General Johnson is a brave and honorable gentleman," Alice said. "I wonder--who could have informed him?"

Waters looked at her quickly. But he did not voice the thought upon his tongue.

April 24 General E.V. Sumner arrived with orders to take charge of the department of the Pacific. General Johnson's resignation was already on its way to Washington.

On the following morning came the news that Southern forces had attacked Fort Sumpter.

CHAPTER LVI

SOME WAR REACTIONS

San Francisco adjusted itself to war conditions with its usual impulsive facility. Terry, who had resigned from the Supreme bench following Broderick's death, and who had pa.s.sed through the technicalities of a farcical trial, left for Texas. He joined the Southern forces and for years California knew him no more. Albert Sydney Johnson, after being displaced by General Sumner, offered his services to Jefferson Davis and was killed at Shiloh. Edward Baker, now a Senator from Oregon, left the halls of Congress for a Union command. At the head of the California volunteer regiment he charged the enemy at Ball's Bluff and fell, his body pierced by half a dozen bullets. Curiously different was the record of Broderick's old foeman, William Gwin. In October, 1861, he started East via the Isthmus of Panama, accompanied by Calhoun Benham, one of Terry's seconds in the fateful duel. On the same steamer was General Sumner, relieved of his command in San Francisco, en route to active service. Convinced that Gwin and Benham plotted treason, he ordered their arrest, but not before they threw overboard maps and other papers.

They escaped conviction. But Gwin found Paris safer than America--until the war had reached its close.

When the first call came for volunteers by way of the pony express, Benito and Adrian talked of enlisting. Even thirteen-year Francisco, to his mother's horror, spoke of going as a drummer boy.

"One would think you men asked nothing better than to kill each other,"

Inez Windham stormed.

Yet she was secretly proud. She would have felt a mite ashamed had Adrian displayed less martial ardor. And to her little son she showed the portrait of Francisco Garvez, who had ridden with Ortega and d'Anza in the days of Spanish glory.

Lithographs of President Lincoln appeared in household and office. Flags flew from many staffs and windows. News was eagerly awaited from the battle-front.

Adrian had been rejected by a recruiting board because of a slight limp.