He pointed his fingers to the circling shells and cried:
"'Ook, mamma, 'ook!"
The mother made no answer. Only with her hungry eyes did she follow their track to the shore. Her mate was there.
The baby clapped his hands and caught the rhythm of the throb and roar of the cannon in his little voice:
"Boom!—Boom!"
The sun rose from the sea, a ball of dull red fire glowing ominously through the haze of smoke that hung in the sky.
Hour after hour the guns pealed, the windows rattled and the earth trembled.
Couriers were dashing into the city with reports from the batteries. Soldiers were marching through the streets. It was reported that the men from the fleet would attempt a landing.
The women rushed to the little iron balcony and watched the troops marching to repel them.
In the first line Jennie saw the tall figure of Dick Welford. He glanced upward, lifted his cap and held it steadily in his hand for four blocks until they turned and swept out of sight.