had disappeared into the horizon, and the sun had climbed over its obstructions to flood the harbor with reassuring light.
The mercurial spirits of the negroes rose with the genial warmth. Forebodings were forgotten. Even Clara sang a lighter air as she rocked the baby upon her lap.
But the sun had just lifted over the eastern wall, and the heat of noon was beginning to vibrate in the court, when suddenly the air of security was shattered. From the center of town sounded the deep, ominous clang of a bell.
At its first stroke life in Catfish Row was paralyzed. Women stopped their tasks, and, not realizing what they did, clasped each others' hands tightly, and stood motionless, with strained, listening faces.
Twenty times the great hammer fell, sending the deep, full notes out across the city that was holding its breath and counting them as they came.
"Twenty!" said Clara, when it had ceased to shake the air.
She ran to the entrance and looked to the north. Almost at the end of vision, between two buildings, could be seen the flagstaff that surmounted the custom-house. It was bare when she looked-just a thin, bare line against the intense blue, but even as she
