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 passed. 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.
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