And yet they could come to no decision.

Day after day they fought back and forth over points of order and resolutions and the result was always the same.

North and South were locked fast within the two rooms of one little Capitol.
They were rimmed around meanwhile by a fiery horizon that steadily came closer and closer.

The guns reducing Sumter had been a sufficient signal.

North and South were sharply arrayed against each other.
The Southern volunteers, full of ardor and fire, continued to pour to their standards.