If you fire, we fire back." He spoke with no quiver in his voice, although his supply of ammunition was low, and the fort had a food supply for only four days.
"Then it is scarcely worth while for us to talk longer." "No, it would be a waste of time by both of us." The Southerners turned back to their boat.

Harry was the last and Anderson said to him in a low tone: "I am sorry to see your father's son here." "I am where he would wish me to be," replied the boy stiffly.
"Even so, I hope you will come to no harm," said Anderson in a generous tone.
After such a noble rejoinder Harry's heart softened instantly, and he returned the wish.

Then he followed the others into the boat, and they pulled back to the mainland.
The crowd surmised from the quick return of the boat the nature of the answer that it brought.

It seemed to feel one gigantic throb of passion, and perhaps of relief also, that the issue was made after so many weeks of waiting.

Yet the holiday aspect disappeared, as if a cloud had passed suddenly before the sun.
Harry noted the shadow even before he landed.