“Ya, gov’nor!” Schultz whispered. “This is my country now—I fight—if you’ll give me a gun.”
A boy of eighteen, smeared with dirt and mud, pushed his way into the crowd and thrust a note into Vassar’s hand.
“In God’s name, Billy!” the young leader cried. “What are you doing here?”
The boy saluted.
“My duty, sir. When I heard what was happening I reported to General Hood. I’m on secret dispatch work.”
Vassar gripped the boy’s hand, dropped it, tore the letter open, read it hastily, and turned to the crowd:
“Now men, listen! The forts are intact. General Wood appoints me on his staff, with the rank of colonel. He is establishing his headquarters at Southhampton, Long Island. The Pennsylvania has slipped to sea and is gathering our fleet. She has picked up wireless messages which leads her to believe that the landing will be made at that point. Our little fleet is getting ready for the fight. I want every man that can find a gun to hustle over to Jamaica. The army holds the Long Island Railroad from Jamaica. Trains are now waiting for you there.
“They can’t begin to enforce that proclamation until their army lands. The garrisons here will stick to the armories and their machine guns until reinforced—”
A suppressed cheer swept the crowd.
Vassar lifted his hand for silence.