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diff --git a/42099-0.txt b/42099-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..822a559 --- /dev/null +++ b/42099-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5644 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42099 *** + + [Illustration] + + + + + _THE GUN-BOAT SERIES._ + + + FRANK, THE YOUNG NATURALIST, + FRANK ON A GUN-BOAT, + FRANK IN THE WOODS, + FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG, + FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. + + + Price, $1.25 per volume, or $6.25 per set, in a neat box, + forming a most excellent and interesting + LIBRARY FOR YOUNG FOLKS. + + + + + _THE GUN-BOAT SERIES._ + + + Frank + + BEFORE VICKSBURG. + + + BY + H. C. CASTLEMON, + "THE GUN-BOAT BOY." + + + WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + CINCINNATI: + R. W. CARROLL & CO., PUBLISHERS, + OPERA-HOUSE BUILDING, + _73 West Fourth Street_. + 1866. + + + + + Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1865, + BY R. W. CARROLL & CO., + In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for the + Southern District of Ohio. + + + STEREOTYPED AT THE + FRANKLIN TYPE FOUNDRY, + CINCINNATI, O. + + + + +Contents. + + + PAGE + CHAPTER I. + HOME AGAIN 7 + + CHAPTER II. + HARRY ON A SCOUT 23 + + CHAPTER III. + ON DUTY AGAIN 38 + + CHAPTER IV. + THE FIGHT IN THE WOODS 60 + + CHAPTER V. + IN THE HANDS OF THE "JOHNNIES" AGAIN 80 + + CHAPTER VI. + AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE 96 + + CHAPTER VII. + A CLOSE SHAVE 111 + + CHAPTER VIII. + TAKING DOWN THE CAPTAIN 126 + + CHAPTER IX. + A PRACTICAL JOKE 144 + + CHAPTER X. + NEW MESSMATES 153 + + CHAPTER XI. + A GOOD NIGHT'S WORK 162 + + CHAPTER XII. + IN THE TRENCHES 183 + + CHAPTER XIII. + THE SCOUT'S STORY 194 + + CHAPTER XIV. + RUNNING THE BATTERIES 206 + + CHAPTER XV. + A RACE FOR THE OLD FLAG 213 + + CHAPTER XVI. + THE RIVAL SHARP-SHOOTERS 227 + + CHAPTER XVII. + THE SMUGGLER'S CAVE--CONCLUSION 243 + + + + +FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +Home Again. + + +After all the tragic adventures which Frank Nelson had passed through, +since entering the service of his country, which we have attempted to +describe in the preceding volume of this series, he found himself +surrounded by his relatives and friends, petted and fêted, enjoying all +the comforts of his old and well-beloved home. + +Only those who have been in similar circumstances can imagine how +pleasant that quiet little cottage seemed to Frank, after the scenes of +danger through which he had passed. He looked back to the memorable +struggle between the lines; the scene in the turret during the first +day's fight at Fort Pemberton; the privations he had undergone while +confined in the prison at Shreveport; his almost miraculous escape; and +they seemed to him like a dream. All his sufferings were forgotten in +the joy he felt at finding himself once more at home. But sorrow was +mingled with his joy when he looked upon the weeds which his mother +wore, and when he saw the look of sadness which had taken the place of +her once happy smile. She seemed ten years older than she looked on that +pleasant morning, just fifteen months before, when, standing in the +door, she had strained her son to her bosom, and uttered those words +which had rung in Frank's ears whenever he felt himself about to give +away to his feelings of terror: + +"Good-by, my son; I may never see you again, but I hope I shall never +hear that you shrank from your duty." + +Frank shuddered when he thought how intense must have been the suffering +that could work so great a change. But now that he was safe at home +again, there was no cause but for rejoicing. His presence there afforded +abundant proof that he had _not_ been shot while attempting to run the +guards at Shreveport, as had been reported. + +And how great must have been the joy which that mother felt at beholding +him once more! Although he did not move about the house in his +accustomed noisy, boyish way, and although his cheek had been paled by +his recent sickness, from which he had not yet wholly recovered, he was +still the same lively, generous Frank whom she had so freely given up to +the service of his country. During the short time that they had been +separated, he had been placed in situations where his courage and +determination had been severely tested, and had come safely through, +never forgetting his mother's advice; and that mother could not suppress +the emotions of pride that arose in her heart, for she knew that her son +had done his duty. + +Numerous were the questions that were asked and answered, on both sides. +Frank was obliged to relate, over and over again, the story of his +capture and escape, until Aunt Hannah thrust her head into the room, +with the announcement that supper was ready. + +When the meal was finished, Frank removed his trunk into his study. +Every thing there was just as he left it: the fore-and-aft schooner, and +the box inclosing the scene at sea, still stood upon the bureau; his +sporting cabinet hung on the frame at the foot of the bed; the little +clock on the mantel-piece ticked as musically as in days of yore; and +the limb of the rose-bush that covered his window flapped against the +house just as it did the night when it was broken off by the storm. + +After he had taken a fond, lingering look at each familiar object, he +went into the museum, accompanied by his mother and sister, while Brave +ran on before. Julia opened the door, and there stood the wild-cat, just +as he looked when the young naturalist had encountered him in the woods. +Frank remembered how the cold sweat had started out from every pore in +his body when he first found himself face to face with this "ugly +customer," and he could not help smiling when he thought how terrified +he was. As he walked slowly around the museum, examining all the +specimens, as though he had never seen them before, he thought over the +little history of each. There was the buck that he and Archie had +killed in the lake, when they lost their guns, and the latter had +wished they "had never seen the deer." Then came the owl, which Frank +had shot on that rainy morning when Archie had felt so certain of his +prize. Then there was the white buck, which the boys had rescued from +the wolves only to have him killed by a panther. Next came the moose +with which Frank had struggled so desperately in the woods, and from +which he had been rescued by the trapper and his dog. The skin of the +bear, which he had trapped, and followed to the cave, and that of the +panther that killed the white buck, still hung on a nail behind the +door, where he had left them after his return from the woods. + +After examining every thing to his satisfaction, he went into the shanty +behind the museum, where he kept his pets. The raccoons, which had +become so tame that Julia allowed them to run about, started away at his +approach; but the squirrels and otter recognized him at once; and while +one ran down into his pockets in search for nuts, the other came toward +him, uttering a faint whine, and looked up as if expecting the piece of +cracker which Frank, in former days, had always taken especial care to +provide for him. While Frank was caressing the little animal, the +king-birds and crow flew into the shanty. The former were now five in +number, the old birds having raised a nestful of young ones, which were +no less efficient in driving every bird from the orchard, or less +lenient to the crow, than their parents. The old king-birds lit on +Frank's shoulders, while Daw seemed to prefer his master's uniform cap, +and was about to take possession of it, when his enemies straightway +commenced a fight, and the poor crow, after a desperate resistance, was +driven from the shanty. + +Perhaps the reader would like to know what has become of the young moose +and the cubs which Frank captured during his visit at the trapper's +cabin. Well, they have good quarters, and are well provided for at Uncle +Mike's, the same who assisted the young naturalist on the morning when +we saw him trying to get his scow up to his work-shop. The moose has +about an acre of pasture allowed him. He is as tame and gentle as ever, +never attempting to escape. Uncle Mike has put this entirely out of his +power, for he is surrounded by a ten-rail fence. The animal more than +pays for his keeping, and many a load of wood has he drawn up to Mike's +door for the use of his family. + +The cubs, which are considerably larger than when we last saw them, are +a source of a great deal of annoyance to the honest Irishman. They are +still as playful as ever, and amuse themselves all day long in turning +somersaults and wrestling with each other; but Mike has learned to +"stand from under." He can generally defend himself against the attacks +of one of the cubs, but the other is always ready to lend assistance, +and the Irishman is invariably worsted. He keeps them confined in a +building that once served as a smoke-house; and not daring to trust +himself within reach of their paws, he gives them their food through the +window. + +It was dark before Frank had seen and heard enough to satisfy him to +return to the cottage. The evening was spent in listening to his stories +of gun-boat life on the Mississippi, and it was midnight before he +retired to his room. The Newfoundlander, which had been close at his +master's side ever since he returned, scarcely leaving him for a moment, +followed him into his study, and took possession of the rug before the +door. After winding up the clock that stood on the mantel, and setting +the alarm, Frank put out the light, and tumbled into bed. Although he +was pretty well tired-out, he did not hesitate a moment to answer the +summons of the little bell that rang at four o'clock, but was out on the +floor almost before the notes of the alarm had ceased. In a few moments +he was dressed; and taking his fish-pole and basket, which hung on the +rack at the foot of the bed, accompanied by Brave, set out with the +intention of paying a visit to the lake in the swamp, which had been the +scene of the fight with the buck. + +As he walked along up the road, the associations connected with each +locality were recalled to his mind. Here was the place where the black +fox, which had so long held possession of Reynard's Island, had crossed +the creek with Sport--"the dog that had never lost a fox"--following +close on his trail. There was the tree leaning out over the creek, +behind which Archie had crept for concealment when in pursuit of the +canvas-backs; and a little further on was the bridge which they had +crossed on that rainy morning that the geese had taken refuge in the +swamp. + +Frank feasted his eyes on each familiar object as he walked along, until +he arrived at the end of the road, where stood Uncle Mike's rustic +cottage. As he approached, that individual appeared at the door, shaded +his eyes with his hand, gazed at our hero for a moment, and then sprang +out, and greeted him with-- + +"Arrah, Master Frank! is this you, me boy?" + +"Yes, Uncle Mike, it's I," answered Frank, extending his hand to the +man, who shook it heartily, while tears of genuine joy rolled down his +cheeks. "I'm back again, safe and sound." + +"It's me ownsilf that's glad to see you," said Mike. "I heered you was +kilt intirely by the rebels; bad luck to the likes o' them. But come +with me, Master Frank; ye's been fightin' rebels, but I've been fighting +them varmints ye ketched in the woods." + +The Irishman led the way to the building in which the cubs were +confined, and opened the blind which protected the window, to allow +Frank to look in. He could scarcely recognize in the large, shaggy forms +that were tumbling about over the floor, the small, weak cubs which he +had carried for twenty miles in the pocket of his overcoat. + +As soon as the window was opened, they raised themselves on their +haunches, and endeavored to reach Uncle Mike's red-flannel cap, an +article he had worn ever since Frank could remember. + +"Aisy, aisy, there, you blackguards!" exclaimed Mike, endeavoring to +ward off the blows which the cubs aimed at him. "Can't yees be aisy, I +say? That's the way they always do, Master Frank; me old cap seems to +give 'em a deal of throuble." + +After amusing himself for some time in watching the motions of the +clumsy animals, Frank followed Uncle Mike to the pen in which the moose +was kept. He had grown finely, was nearly as large as a horse, and his +head was furnished with a pair of wide-spreading antlers, the sight of +which made Frank shudder, and recall to mind that desperate fight in the +woods, and his narrow escape from death. The moose was very gentle, and +allowed his young master to lead him about the yard, and would come at +his call as readily as a dog. + +After seeing the animal "shown off" to his best advantages, Frank got +into Uncle Mike's skiff, and pulled up the creek toward the lake. Half +an hour's rowing brought him to the point behind which he and his cousin +had captured the eider-ducks, and where they had first caught sight of +the buck. After making his skiff fast to a tree on the bank, he rigged +his pole, baited his hook, and dropped it into the water. Almost +instantly a sudden jerk showed him that the "old perch-hole" had still +plenty of occupants, and in a moment more a fish lay floundering in the +bottom of the boat. + +We need not say that Frank enjoyed himself hugely during the hour and a +half that he remained in the lake. The fish bit voraciously, and the +sport was exciting, especially as it had been so long since Frank had +had an opportunity to engage in his favorite recreation. But his +conscience would not allow him to "wantonly waste the good things of +God," and, when he had caught enough for his breakfast, he unfastened +his skiff and pulled toward home. + +Frank spent the forenoon in recounting some of his adventures to his +mother and Julia, of which they seemed never to grow weary. When Aunt +Hannah announced that dinner was ready, he lingered for a moment on the +portico to watch the movements of a flock of ducks, which, in company +with the old ones, the same that he and Archie had captured in the lake, +were swimming about in the creek in front of the house; but, as he was +about to follow his mother into the dining-room, he heard a loud scream, +which seemed to come from above him, and looked up just in time to see a +bald eagle swoop down upon the ducks. The old ones uttered their notes +of alarm, and, rising from the water, flew over the cottage toward the +barn, while the ducklings darted under the leaves of the lilies. But one +was too late; for, as the eagle arose in the air, he bore off his prize. + +Frank immediately ran into the house for his gun, determined that the +life of the eagle should pay for that of the duck; but on his return he +found that the robber was already being severely punished for the +mischief he had done. Daw and the king-birds, which seemed to have an +idea that something unusual was going on, had attacked him with a fury +that Frank had never before witnessed. The eagle was flying, zigzag, +through the air, but was met at every point by his tormentors. Frank, +who dared not fire for fear of wounding his pets, ran down the walk, +sprang over the fence, and awaited the issue of the fight, hoping that +the eagle would be compelled to take refuge in one of the trees that +grew on the bank of the creek. Nor was he mistaken; for the robber, +finding that he could not escape his enemies, settled down on a limb but +a short distance off, and, after deliberately folding his wings, snapped +his beak, as if defying them to keep up the contest. The king-birds +seated themselves on the branches above his head, and commenced their +angry twittering, and Daw joined in with a loud "caw, caw." + +This seemed to be the first intimation that the king-birds had received +of his presence, for they straightway flew at him, and Daw, although he +had lent effective assistance in fighting the eagle, did not stop to +resist, but beat a hasty retreat toward the cottage. This seemed a +favorable moment for the eagle; he leaped from his perch, and was flying +off with his booty, when the report of Frank's gun brought him to the +ground. The young naturalist shouldered his prize, and was starting +toward the house, when a voice called out: + +"Halloo, there! At your old tricks again so soon?" + +Frank looked up, and saw Harry Butler coming toward him. Neither had +dreamed of the presence of the other in the village, and the cordial +manner in which the two friends greeted each other proved that their +long separation had not lessened their affection. But Frank noticed at +once that his friend was greatly changed. He looked haggard and +careworn; he was no longer the wild, impetuous Harry; he had grown more +sedate; and his face, which had once beamed with a smile for every one, +now wore a look of sorrow, for which Frank could not account. It is true +that he noticed that Harry carried his arm in a sling, but he knew that +it was not bodily suffering that had caused that look of sadness. + +"Harry, what is the matter with you?" was his first question. "You look +completely worn out." + +"So I am," was the answer. "Let us sit down on this log, and I'll tell +you all about it. I've often been here to visit your folks," he +continued, "never expecting to see you again, as I learned that you had +been captured, and afterward shot, while trying to escape. You say I +look worn out; so would you if your only brother was a prisoner in the +hands of the rebels, held as a hostage, and every moment expecting to be +hung. George is in that situation, and I look upon his death, not only +as a possible, but a very probable thing. It has been a hard task for me +to convince myself that, if I should live to return home after the war, +I should be alone, as I certainly thought I should be when I heard that +you had been shot, and that George was not much better off. I had made +up my mind to pass my furlough in the house, for I didn't want to have +any one near me; but, now that you are here, I want to visit all our old +haunts again. Let us take a walk in the woods. Bring your dinner along +with you; I haven't had mine yet." + +In accordance with Harry's suggestion, a basket was filled with +eatables, and the boys bent their steps through the orchard toward the +meadow that lay between the cottage and the woods. As they walked along, +Frank related some of the interesting incidents of his life in the +service, and Harry finally began to recover his usual spirits. At length +they reached the cabin in the woods, that had been the scene of the camp +on the day of the raccoon hunt, and here they stopped to rest and eat +their dinner. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +Harry on a Scout. + + +When they had finished every thing in the basket, the boys threw +themselves on the grass in front of the cabin, and Harry said: + +"I shall never forget the last time we made our camp here--on the day we +had that 'coon-hunt, and Archie fell into the creek. I've thought of it +a great many times since I left home to go into the service, and it +makes me feel sad to see how things have changed. From school-boys and +amateur hunters, who started and turned pale when we heard the howl of a +wolf or the hooting of an owl, you and I have grown pretty well on +toward manhood; have become experienced in scenes of danger, and have +had more narrow escapes than when we climbed up that tree to get out of +the reach of the wolves that were in pursuit of the white buck. But +there are some who have not been as fortunate as ourselves. There has +been a thinning out of our ranks, and two good fellows who have hunted +with us in these woods, and slept under the same blankets with us in +this cabin, we shall never see again; and the probabilities are, that, +if we live to return home again, after peace has been restored, and we +go tramping around through these woods, to visit all our old hunting and +fishing-grounds, we shall miss a third. Ben Lake and William Johnson are +dead; my brother is suffering in a rebel prison, and, from what I have +seen and heard of the manner in which Union prisoners are treated at the +South, I never expect to see him again, even if he is not executed. Ben +Lake, you know, was a quiet, good-natured fellow, scarcely ever saying +any thing unless he was first spoken to, and I had an idea that he would +be a little cowardly when he heard the bullets whistling around him; but +I was never more mistaken in my life, for he won his promotion in the +very first battle in which our regiment was engaged. When I was made +captain of our company, he received the appointment of first +lieutenant, and an excellent officer he made. He was a splendid rider, +and when mounted on his horse--'Thunderbolt' he called him--he made a +fine appearance. He was no band-box officer, however, for he never +shrank from his duty, and he was above ordering one of his men to do +what he was afraid to undertake himself. He and I were prisoners once +for about forty-eight hours, and the way it happened was this: + +"Our regiment, after the battle of Pittsburg Landing, was detached from +the Western army and ordered to the Potomac. We had scarcely been there +a week before we were sent out on a scout, with orders to capture Mosby, +who was constantly harassing us, and scatter his command. We were out +about ten days, without accomplishing our object. Not a single glimpse +did we get of a reb, and finally we turned our faces toward the camp. +Our horses, as well as ourselves, were nearly jaded, and the way we do +there, when a horse gives out, is to put a bullet through his head, +shoulder our saddles, and trudge along after the column on foot, until +we can find another animal to ride. I had command of the rear guard; +and when we had arrived within a day's march of camp, my horse suddenly +gave out--laid right down in the middle of the road, and couldn't go a +step further. I was in something of a fix, and my feelings were none of +the pleasantest when I found myself sprawling in the dusty road, and saw +that my horse was used up. It was something of an undertaking to find my +way back to camp, through a country infested with guerrillas, and with +which I was entirely unacquainted. It is true that I could have had a +horse, as several were at once offered me by my men; but I could not be +mean enough to save my own bacon by leaving one of those brave fellows +behind; so I told Ben to go ahead with the company, keeping a good +look-out for a horse, and if he could find one, to send it back to me. I +then shot my animal; and it was a job I hated to do, I tell you, for he +was as fine a horse as ever stepped; he had carried me many a long mile, +and being my constant companion for almost a year and a half, I had +become very much attached to him. But there was no help for it; our +orders were strict; and I shouldered my saddle, and marched after the +column, which was soon out of sight. + +"I walked along at a pretty lively pace, keeping a good look-out on each +side of the road for horses, and now and then looking behind, half +expecting to see a squad of Mosby's cavalry in pursuit, until I was +startled by the report of a pistol directly in front of me, and, coming +suddenly around a bend in the road, I found Ben sitting beside his +horse, which had also given out, waiting for me to come up. As I +approached, glad enough that I was not left to find my way back to camp +alone, Ben picked up his saddle, and glancing sorrowfully at the work he +had done, said: + +"'There's an end of poor Thunderbolt--the best horse in the regiment. It +has no doubt saved him many a long scout, but I never felt so sorry for +any thing in my life.' + +"It was hard work, walking along that dusty road, carrying our heavy +saddles, and we anxiously scanned every field which we passed, in hopes +that we should find some stray horse; but without success. About three +o'clock in the afternoon we reached a cross-road, and then we knew where +we were. We had frequently been there on short scouts; so, without +stopping to keep any further look-out for horses, we quickened our +pace, and about two miles further on, arrived at the house of a lady +with whom we were well acquainted, and who, as we had always considered +her loyal, had been allowed to remain in undisturbed possession of her +property, which our regiment had once defended against Mosby's men. Here +we halted, and asked the lady if she could furnish us with some dinner. +She replied in the affirmative, and we deposited our saddles in one +corner of the room, while the woman began to bustle about. In half an +hour as good a dinner as I ever tasted in that part of the country was +served up, and Ben and I sat down to it with most ravenous appetites. +Before sitting down, I should mention, we took off our belts, to which +were fastened our sabers and revolvers, and laid them in the corner with +our saddles; a very foolish trick, as it afterward proved; but, as we +were within fifteen miles of camp, we did not apprehend any danger. + +"After our hostess had seen us fairly started, she said: + +"'You will excuse me for a few moments, gentlemen, as I would like to +run over to see my sister, who is very sick. Will you keep an eye on +the baby?' she continued, pointing to the small specimen of humanity in +question, which lay fast asleep in the cradle. + +"'Yes,' answered Ben, 'I'll see to him;' and the woman started off, +leaving us to finish our dinner and attend to the child. + +"She hadn't been gone two minutes before the young one awoke, and, of +course, began to yell. We didn't know what to do, for it was new +business to us. After trying in vain to make it hush, Ben took it out of +the cradle, and began to trot it up and down on his knee. But it was no +use, and he finally put it back, determined to let it cry until it got +ready to stop, when I happened to think of the sugar-bowl. That was just +the thing. Ben took good care to keep its mouth so full of sugar that it +couldn't yell, and we succeeded in keeping it pretty still. + +"In about half an hour the woman returned, and, in reply to our +inquiries, informed us that her sister was considerably better, and she +hoped would be well in a few days. She then commenced talking on +indifferent subjects; and we finally finished every thing on the table, +and were thinking about starting for camp, when some one suddenly +called out: + +"'Here! here! Get up, you Yanks. Get up from that table.' + +"We looked up, and there, standing in the door-way, with their revolvers +leveled at our heads, were two rebels--Colonel Mosby and a corporal. + +"'I've fixed you!' exclaimed the woman, triumphantly. 'You didn't think +that while you were stealing my chickens, and abusing me, that I would +ever have the power on my side.' + +"The old hag had betrayed us. She had invented the story of her sick +sister, in order that her absence might not cause us any suspicions, and +had left the child for us to take care of, so that we should be obliged +to remain until she returned. The story of stealing her chickens, and +abusing her, was a mere pretext; for our orders to respect her property +were strict, and we had not dared to disobey them. + +"'There's only one thing that I am sorry for, madam,' said Ben, coolly, +'and that is, that I didn't choke that young one of yours.' + +"'Come, come, there!' interrupted the colonel. 'Get up from behind that +table at once, or you are dead men!' + +"'We're gobbled easy enough, Harry,' said Ben, in his usual careless +manner, as we arose from our chairs. 'Well, I suppose there's no help +for it, seeing that we have no weapons. What do you intend to do with a +fellow, Johnny?' + +"'Take you direct to Richmond,' was the encouraging answer, made by the +corporal, as he walked across the room and took possession of our arms. +'Come out here!' + +"We had no other alternative; so we marched out in front of the house, +our captors mounted their horses, and we trudged along before them on +foot toward Centerville. + +"You have been a prisoner, and can easily imagine the thoughts that +passed through our minds. We saw before us a long, fatiguing march, with +hard fare, and harder treatment, and the dreaded Libby looming up in the +background. But we were not allowed much time to commune with our own +thoughts, for Mosby immediately began to question us in relation to the +forces we had in different parts of the country. Of course we told him +some of the most outrageous stories, but he seemed to put some faith in +them; and when we reached the cross-road he left us, after ordering the +corporal to take us to Culpepper. + +"As soon as the colonel had got out of sight, the corporal began to +abuse us in the worst kind of a manner, swearing at us, and calling us +Abolitionists and the like; and said that if he could have his own way +he would hang us on the nearest tree. We told him that it was a mean +trick to treat prisoners in that way, and advised him to keep a civil +tongue in his head, as the tables might be turned on him some day; but +he paid no attention to us, and kept on jawing, until finally, just +before night, we reached Centerville. + +"We stopped at a house near the middle of the town, where we were +treated very kindly by the people, who gave us plenty to eat, but told +us that we were fighting on the wrong side. After supper, the corporal +took us out to the barn, where he proceeded to 'go through' us pretty +thoroughly. He robbed me of twenty dollars in greenbacks, a watch, comb, +several letters--in short, he did not leave me any thing. After +overhauling Ben's pockets, he ordered him to 'come out of his coat,' +which he did without a grumble; and after cutting off the +shoulder-straps--because Ben 'wouldn't need 'em any more,' he said--he +put the coat on his own back, locked the barn, and left us to our +meditations. As soon as the sound of his footsteps had died away, I +said: + +"'Ben, I'm going to get out of here, if I can.' + +"'All right,' said he; 'feel around on the floor and see if you can't +find something to force that door open with. How I wish I had that young +one here! I wouldn't feed it with sugar, I tell you.' + +"We commenced groping about in the darkness, but not a thing in the +shape of a club could be found. Then we placed our shoulders against the +door, and pressed with all our strength; but it was too strong to be +forced from its hinges, and the floor was so securely fastened down, +that it could not be pulled up; so, after working until we were +completely exhausted, we sat down on the floor to rest. + +"'We're in for it,' said Ben. + +"'But I'm not going to Libby, now I tell you,' I answered. 'To-morrow we +shall probably start for Culpepper, under guard of that corporal; and +the very first chance, I'm going to mizzle.' + +"Ben made no reply, but I well knew what he was thinking about. After a +few more ineffectual attempts, we then lay down on the hard boards, and +tried to go to sleep; but that was, for a long time, out of the +question. + +"Our situation was not one calculated to quiet our feelings much, and as +we rolled about the floor, trying to find a comfortable position, I +could hear Ben venting his spite against 'that brat.' He did not seem to +think of the woman who had betrayed us. + +"We passed a most miserable night, and at daylight were awakened with: + +"'Come out here, you Yanks. It's high time you were moving toward +Libby.' + +"That rascally corporal seemed to delight in tormenting us; but there +was only one thing we could do, and that was to 'grin and bear it.' +After a hasty breakfast, we again set out, the corporal following close +behind us on his horse, with a revolver in his hand, ready to shoot the +first one that made an attempt at escape. We kept on, stopping only once +or twice for water, until we reached the Bull Run bridge. Here the +corporal stopped, and called out: + +"'Come here, one of you fellers, and hold my horse.' + +"I did as he ordered, and the rebel dismounted, bent down on one knee, +and commenced fixing his spur. My mind was made up in an instant. It was +now or never. Giving a yell to attract Ben's attention, I sprang at the +rebel, caught him around the neck, and rolled him over on his back. He +kicked and swore furiously, and if I had been alone, he would most +likely have got the better of me; but Ben, being close at hand, caught +up the revolver, which the rebel had laid on the ground beside him, and +in a moment more I had secured his saber. He saw that further resistance +was useless, and bawled out: + +"'Don't shoot, Yank. Don't shoot me, for mercy's sake!' + +"'Nobody's going to hurt you if you behave yourself,' said Ben. 'Get +up.' + +"The rebel raised himself to his feet, and I at once began to 'sound' +him, as we call it. I got back my watch, money, and every thing else he +had taken from us the night before. We then ordered him to travel on +ahead of us, and, as Ben's feet were so badly swollen that he could +scarcely move, I told him to get on the horse, while I walked along by +his side. We passed back through Centerville, keeping a good look-out +for rebel scouts, which we knew were in the vicinity, but we did not +meet with any of them until along toward night, when we heard a yell, +and, looking up, saw half a dozen cavalry charging across the field +toward us. + +"'I guess we're gobbled again, captain,' said Ben. + +"'Not if our legs hold out,' I answered. 'Get down off that horse, +quick. We must foot it, now.' + +"Ben hastily dismounted, and, catching our prisoner by the arm, we +pulled him over a fence, through the woods, and into a swamp, where we +fastened him to a tree. We then tied a handkerchief over his mouth, to +prevent him from making his whereabouts known to his friends, and made +the best of our way to the camp, which we reached about daylight. We at +once reported to the colonel, who sent us back with our company after +the prisoner; but he was gone. His friends had doubtless discovered +him, and released him from his unpleasant situation. The woman who +betrayed us paid the penalty of her treachery. Her house was burned over +her head, and her husband, whom she had reported to us as dead, but who +was found concealed in the barn, was taken back to the camp a +prisoner." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +On Duty Again. + + +By the time Harry had finished his story, it was almost sundown. Putting +the cabin in order, and fastening the door, the boys then started for +home. After a hearty supper at the cottage, different plans for their +amusement were discussed and determined upon. If time would allow, we +might relate many interesting incidents that transpired during the month +they spent together; how, one day, the young moose ran away with Uncle +Mike's wood wagon and upset the boys in the road. We might, among +others, tell of the hunting and fishing expeditions that came off, and +the trials of speed that took place on the river, when the Speedwell +showed that she had lost none of her sailing qualities during the year +and a half that she had remained idle in the shop; but one incident +that happened will suffice. + +It was on the morning of the last day that they were to pass together, +as Frank's sick-leave had expired, and he must soon bid adieu to home +and friends again, perhaps forever. This day had been set apart for a +fishing excursion; and, bright and early, Frank was at Captain Butler's +boat-house, where he found Harry waiting for him. When the bait and +every thing else necessary for the trip had been stowed away in the +skiff, the boys pulled into the river, and after spending an hour in +rowing about the bass-ground, during which time they secured half a +dozen fine fish, they started toward the perch-bed, and anchored outside +the weeds. + +Although they were remarkably successful, they did not seem to enjoy the +sport. Frank's thoughts were constantly dwelling on the parting that +must come on the morrow. It could not be avoided, for duty called him; +and although the idea of disregarding the summons never once entered +into his head, he could not help condemning the circumstances that +rendered that call necessary. Harry, on the other hand, was impatient to +recover his health, as he wished to rejoin his command. While he was +free, and enjoying the delights of home, his brother was languishing in +a Southern dungeon--held as a hostage for a notorious guerrilla, who had +been sentenced to death--not knowing at what moment he might be led +forth to execution. Often, during the time that he and Frank had been +together, living over the scenes of their school-days, had Harry's +thoughts wandered to that brother, and it had done much to mar the +pleasure he would otherwise have enjoyed. He imagined he could see him, +seated in his loathsome cell, loaded with chains, pale and weak, (in +consequence of the systematic plan of starvation adopted by the brutal +authorities at Richmond to render our brave fellows unfit for further +service, if they should chance to live until they were exchanged,) but +firm in the belief that he had done his duty, and ready at any +moment--for George was far from being a coward--to be sacrificed. +Harry's thoughts, we repeat, often wandered to the dreaded Libby, and +especially did they on this morning. And as he pictured to himself the +treatment that his brother was daily receiving at the hands of the +enemies of the government, is it to be wondered if he indulged in +feelings of the deepest malice toward the inhuman wretches who could be +guilty of such barbarity? + +"There's only this about it, Frank," he said, suddenly breaking the +silence that had continued for half an hour; "there's only this about +it: if one hair of George's head is injured, Company 'M' of our regiment +never takes any more prisoners; and if I have no friendship for a +traitor, neither have I for such men as these who are now approaching." + +Frank looked up, and saw Charles Morgan and William Gage rowing toward +them. + +"Here is the very spot," continued Harry, "where we met Morgan when you +first became acquainted with him, on the morning when he told such +outrageous stories about the fishing there was in New York harbor, and +about his fighting Indians in the Adirondack Mountains, in the northern +part of Michigan. William Gage, you know, used to be first lieutenant of +the "Midnight Rangers." + +"Yes, I remember them both," answered Frank. "But it seems to me that I +heard some one say that Mr. Morgan is a rebel sympathizer; and Charley, +of course, not having brains enough to think for himself, is following +in his father's lead." + +"So I have heard; but he has never said a word against the government, +and he'd better not, for I feel just like choking somebody this morning; +and if I hate a rebel, I hold a domestic traitor in the most profound +abhorrence." + +"Hullo, boys!" exclaimed Charles, at this moment, coming alongside and +stretching out a hand to each of them, "how are you? I'm glad to see you +back again, Frank. But why haven't you been around to see a fellow? +You've kept yourselves very close since your return." + +"Yes, Harry and I have spent most of our time in the woods," answered +Frank. "But we part again to-morrow." + +"Going back to your ship, eh? Well, when do you suppose you will be home +again for good?" + +"I don't know. If I live, however, I'm going to see this war settled +before I come back to civil life again." + +"You've had some pretty hard times since you have been in the service, +from what I hear." + +"Rather tough," answered Harry. + +"Well now, you see Bill and I were too sharp to go into any such +business as that," said Charles, knowingly. "The old man said, from the +start, that you never could whip the South." + +"Well, your father was never more mistaken in his life," answered Frank. +"We _are_ going to bring back the seceded States, if it takes every man +and every dollar at the North. But I don't see why you don't volunteer. +How can you stay at home?" + +"O, it is the easiest thing in the world," answered Charles, with a +laugh. "In the first place, I think too much of my life; and then again, +I don't care a snap which whips. I am not interested either way--I'm +neutral." + +"You're no such thing," answered Harry, angrily. "You never saw two dogs +fight in the street, without wanting one or the other of them to whip, +and your sympathies are either one way or the other. There's no such +thing as a neutral in this war." + +"Besides," said Frank, "if I were in your place, I should be ashamed to +say that I was neutral. But I hope that you will be compelled to go into +the army. Since you have neither the intelligence to determine which +side is in the right, nor the courage to fight for that side, I hope +that you will be drafted, and that you can't find a substitute." + +"Thank you," replied Charles, sneeringly. "You are very kind. But I, of +course, know that this is a free country, and a man has a right to talk +as he pleases." + +"You have no right to utter treasonable sentiments," said Harry; "and +another thing, I am not going to sit here and listen to them." + +"You are not, indeed! I don't see how you can hinder it," replied +Charles. "I say now, and it makes no difference who hears me, that I +hope the South will whip, unless the North will allow her to go out of +the Union peaceably. I haven't any thing against the South." + +"Well, _I_ have," answered Harry, scarcely able to control himself. "My +brother is now starving in a rebel prison." + +"I can't help it. I have not the least sympathy for him. The South said, +at the commencement, that they only wanted to be let alone; and if +George hasn't any more sense than to meddle with them, I say, let him +take the consequences;" and, as Charles ceased speaking, he dropped the +oars into the water, and was about to row off, when Frank seized the +gunwale of his boat. + +"Avast heaving, there, for a moment," he said, quietly. "Charley, take +back what you have said." + +"No, sir; I sha'n't do it. I mean what I have said, and I won't take +back any thing. Let go of that boat, or I'll hit you," and he raised his +oar as if about to strike Frank. + +But Harry was too quick for him. Springing lightly into Charles's skiff, +he easily wrested the oar from him, and then, seizing him by the collar, +exclaimed: + +"Take back every word you have said, or I'll wash some of the vile rebel +sentiment out of you. I'll dump you overboard. Come, take it all +back--quick." + +"Help! help! Bill," whined Charles, writhing like an eel in Harry's +strong grasp, "are you going to sit there and see me abused in this +manner? Help, I tell you." + +William looked first at Harry, then at Frank, who had grown exceedingly +tall and muscular since the last time he had measured strength with him +in friendly contest, and made no reply. + +"Come, take it back," urged Harry. + +"No, I won't," replied Charles, who, finding that he was left to fight +his own battles alone, now began to struggle desperately. "I tell you I +won't take back any thing." + +"Then overboard you go," said Harry. "I'll see what effect cold water +will have on you;" and, easily lifting Charles from his feet, in spite +of his struggles, he threw him headlong into the water. + +"How is it now?" he coolly inquired, as Charles appeared at the surface, +looking very forlorn, indeed. "Any more rebel sentiment in you that +wants washing out? Come in here, you young traitor;" and, as he spoke, +he again seized him by the collar, and drew him into the boat. + +"Unhand me," shouted Charles, as soon as he could regain his feet; "I'll +fix you for this." + +"Are you ready to take back what you said?" demanded Harry, tightening +his grasp. + +"No; nor shall I ever be," was the stubborn answer. + +"Well, then, down you go again." + +"No, no! don't," screamed Charles, who now began to be really +frightened; "I take it all back." + +"What do you take back?" asked Harry. + +"I don't want to see the Northern prisoners all starved." + +"Well, what else?" + +"I don't want to see the Union destroyed." + +"Go on; what next?" + +"But I _do_ wish the South could be whipped to-morrow, and be made to +stay in the Union." + +"Well, now you are talking sense," said Harry, releasing his hold of +Charles's collar. "Of course, I know you don't mean what you say, but I +was bound to make you say a good word for the Union before I let you +off. I have one more favor to ask of you, and then I am done. Will you +oblige me by giving three cheers for the boys who are fighting our +battles--every day risking their lives in defense of the old flag?" + +Charles hesitated. + +"I sha'n't ask you but once more, then," and here Harry pointed to the +water, in a very significant manner. + +Charles, knowing that he was in earnest, and that there was no escape, +gave the required cheers with as good a grace as he could command. + +"That's right," said Harry, approvingly. "Now I have done with you, and +you can thank your lucky stars that you have got off so easily. If you +had been in the army when you said what you did a few moments since, the +boys would have hung you to the very first tree they could have found. +Now, take my advice, and don't let me hear of your uttering any more +such sentiments as long as I remain in the village; if you do, I'll duck +you as often as I can get my hands on you." + +Harry then sprang into his own skiff, and Charles sullenly picked up his +oars, and pulled toward home. + +"There," exclaimed Harry, "I feel better now. I worked off a little of +my indignation on that fellow. The rascal! to tell us that George ought +to be starved for helping to maintain the government, and that he didn't +care whether the Union went to ruin or not. Now that I think of it, I'm +sorry that I let him off so easily." + +"He was pretty well punished, after all," said Frank. "It will have the +effect of making him a little more careful." + +At noon, the fish stopped biting, and the boys started for home. They +parted at the boat-house, after Frank had promised to call and say +"good-by" before he left in the morning. + +When the latter reached home he found his trunk packed, and every thing +in readiness for the start, so that he had nothing to do but roam about +the premises, and take a last look at every thing, as he had done on a +former occasion. His mother and sister tried to look cheerful, but it +was a sorry failure, for Frank could easily read what was passing in +their minds. + +Morning came at length, and at eight o'clock, to Frank's great +relief--for he wished the parting over as soon as possible--he saw the +carriage approaching which was to take him to the steamer. A few +embraces and hastily-spoken farewells, and Frank was whirling away from +his home. At Captain Butler's he stopped for Harry, who met him at the +gate with an open letter in his hand; and, as he sprang into the +carriage, he exclaimed, joyfully: + +"It's all right, Frank. Here's a letter from George. He has been +exchanged, and is now in the hospital at Washington. The rebels, he +says, tried to starve him to death, but couldn't make it. He is only +waiting until he gets strong enough to travel, and then he's coming +home. He's pretty well used up. When I get back to the army, with +Company 'M' to back me up, I'll make somebody smart for it." + +By the time Harry had finished venting his anger against the enemies of +the government, the carriage reached the wharf, as the steamer was +moving out into the river. Frank had just time to get on board, and a +few moments afterward the Julia Burton carried him out of sight of the +village. He stopped only a short time at Portland; and, four days after +leaving that place, found Archie waiting for him as he sprang off the +train at Cairo. He reported to the fleet captain, who ordered him to +"take passage down the river on the United States dispatch steamer +General Lyon," which was to sail at four o'clock that afternoon. The +cousins passed the day together. When four o'clock came, Archie returned +to his high stool with a sorrowful countenance, and Frank waived his +adieu from the steamer that was to carry him back--to what? It is well +that the future is hidden from us, for Frank would not have trod that +deck with so light a heart had he known what was in store for him. + +In a few days he arrived at his vessel, which he found anchored at White +River. Time makes changes in every thing, and Frank saw many new faces +among the ship's company. The old mate was still on board, and greeted +him in his hearty sailor style as he came over the side. After he had +reported to the captain, and had seen his luggage taken to his room, he +was joined by one of his old messmates, whose name was Keys; and who, in +answer to Frank's inquiry, "How is every thing?" proceeded to give him a +statement of the condition of affairs. + +"The ship still floats on an even keel," said he, pulling off his boots, +and taking possession of Frank's bed. "The old man is as eccentric and +good-natured as ever, sometimes flying off into one of his double-reefed +topsail hurricanes, which don't mean any thing. All goes right about +decks, but you will find some things changed in the steerage. There are +only five officers left in our mess that were here when you went away, +and we have three new Johnny master's mates. They all came down in the +same box; and the express man must have left them out in the damp over +night, for they are the softest fellows I ever saw. They must have been +brought up in some country where such a thing as a steamboat is unknown, +for they don't know the starboard from the port side of the ship, call +on deck 'up stairs,' and the captain's cabin goes by the name of the +'parlor.' It wouldn't be so bad if they would only try to learn +something, but they are very indignant if any one undertakes to +volunteer advice; and, besides, they stand on their rank." + +At this moment supper was announced, and Frank and his friend repaired +to the steerage, where they found the mates of whom the latter had +spoken. While they were eating, the whistle of a steamer was heard, and +one of the new mates (whose name was French, but who was known as +"Extra," from the fact that he was perfectly useless as an officer,) +ordered the waiter to "go up stairs and see what boat it was." The boy +did not move, for it was a regulation of the mess that when there was +only one waiter in the room to attend to the table, he was not to be +sent away. Besides, the mate had no right to give such an order without +first obtaining the permission of the caterer. + +"Do you hear what I tell you?" he inquired, in a rage. + +"Mr. French," said the caterer, quietly, "you can find out the name of +that boat after supper, by asking the officer of the deck, or the +quarter-master on watch." + +"But I choose to send this boy to find out for me," replied Mr. French. +"Come, go on, there, and do as I tell you, or I will see if you can not +be made to obey the orders of your superiors." + +"Stay where you are," said the caterer, addressing the waiter, "and +don't start until I tell you to." Then, turning to the mate, he +continued, "You have no right to order him to do any thing in this +mess-room without first consulting me." + +"I haven't, eh? I wonder if this darkey ranks me? My appointment reads +that I 'am to be obeyed by all persons under me in this squadron.'" + +"That boy is not subject to your orders, as long as I am in the +mess-room." + +"Well, I shall take pains to inform myself on that point. I'll ask the +captain." + +"Do so," said the caterer, quietly; "and if you don't get the worst +raking-down that you have had since you have been on board this vessel, +then I am greatly mistaken." + +The mate made no reply, but, after he had finished his supper, went on +deck. + +"Now, Frank," whispered Keys, "just come with me, and I will show you +some fun." + +Frank, always ready for any mischief, followed his companion on deck, +where they found Mr. French in animated conversation with his two +friends. + +"See here, French," said Keys, approaching the latter in a confidential +manner, "are you going to put up with such abuse as you received from +that caterer?" + +"I'd see, if I were in your place, whether or not I had authority to +command my inferiors," chimed in Frank. + +"Certainly, so would I," said Keys. "Go and report the matter to the old +man." + +"That caterer ought to be brought down a peg or two," said Frank. + +"Well," said the mate, "I know that I have got the right on my side; but +I'm afraid, if I report the matter, the captain will give me a blowing +up." + +"O, that's only one of that caterer's stories," said Keys, +contemptuously. "You see he's afraid you will report him, and he told +you what he did to frighten you. Every body on board the ship is trying +to run down us mates; they don't seem to care a fig for our orders; even +the men laugh at us, and the sooner they find out that we have some +authority here, the better it will be for us. I wish I had as good a +chance as you have; I'd report the whole matter." + +"I believe I will report it," said the mate, encouraged by the sincere +manner in which Mr. Keys and Frank spoke. "I can't have a man trample on +my authority, when it comes from the admiral. Is the captain in the +parlor?" + +"Yes," answered Frank, making use of his handkerchief to conceal his +laughter; "I saw him go in there just a moment since." + +The mate accordingly walked aft, and without waiting to speak to the +orderly, who stood at the gangway, he opened the door without knocking, +and entered the cabin. + +As soon as he had disappeared, Frank and his companion ran on to the +quarter-deck, and took a position at a grating directly over the +captain's cabin, where they could hear all that went on below. + +"My eyes!" whispered Keys; "I wouldn't be in Extra's boots for the whole +squadron. Won't he get his rations stuffed into him?" + +The captain, who was at supper, looked up in surprise, as Mr. French +entered unannounced; and, after regarding him sharply for a moment, +said: + +"Well, sir!" + +"I came here, sir," began the mate, "to tell you"---- + +"Take off your cap, sir!" vociferated the captain. + +The mate, not in the least embarrassed, did as he was ordered, and again +commenced: + +"I came here, sir"---- + +"Do you know what that marine is standing out there for?" again +interrupted the captain. "If you don't, your first hard work will be to +go to the executive officer and find out. Now, don't you again ever come +into my cabin in this abrupt manner. Always send in your name by the +orderly. It seems impossible to teach you any thing. But what were you +going to say?" + +"I came here, sir," began the mate again, "to see if I have any +authority to command my inferiors in rank. My appointment says"---- + +"O, hang your appointment!" shouted the captain. "Come to the point at +once." + +"Well, sir, while at supper, I ordered our steward to go up stairs and +execute a commission for me, and he wouldn't go." + +"Are you caterer of your mess?" + +"No, sir." + +"Then sir, allow me to inform you that you have no more authority over +those waiters in that mess-room than you have to break open my trunk and +take out my money. If you should need the services of one of the boys, +go to the caterer and get his consent. But I wish you would try and +learn something. You have been on board this ship now three weeks, and +are of no more use than an extra boiler. Go to somebody else in future +with your foolish complaints. You may go, sir." + +The mate left the cabin, feeling very cheap, and wondering what was the +use of having any rank, if he couldn't use it, and more than half +inclined to believe that the captain had no right to address him in so +rude a manner. + +"Well, what did the old man say?" inquired Keys, who, with Frank, had +hurried forward to meet him at the gangway. + +"He says he will fix it all right," replied Mr. French, averting his +face, for he knew that he was uttering a falsehood. "I knew I would get +satisfaction." + +So saying, he walked off, shaking his head in a very knowing manner, +while the two friends retreated to the steerage, where they gave full +vent to their feelings. The circumstance was related to the caterer, who +came in a few moments afterward, and after enjoying a hearty laugh at +the mate's expense, Frank retired to his room and turned in. + +About two o'clock in the morning a steamer came down and reported that a +regiment of rebels had posted themselves behind the levee at Cypress +Bend, and were holding the position in spite of the efforts of three +gun-boats to dislodge them, rendering navigation impossible. The matter +was reported to the captain, who, after making himself acquainted with +the facts, ordered the Ticonderoga to be got under way and headed up the +river. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +The Fight in the Woods. + + +On the next day they arrived at Cypress Bend, where they found three +"tin-clads" anchored, paying no attention to the perfect storm of +bullets which the concealed rebels rained upon their decks from behind +the levee. As soon as the Ticonderoga came within range, the guerrillas +directed a volley against her; but, although her decks were crowded with +men, the fire was without effect. The boatswain's whistle, and the +order, "All hands under cover," rang sharply through the ship, and the +decks were instantly deserted. The second division--the one which Frank +commanded--was at once called to quarters, and as soon as the gun could +be cast loose and pointed, an eleven-inch shell went shrieking into the +woods. It burst far beyond the levee. The rebels sent back a taunting +laugh, and their bullets fell faster than ever. + +The levee which lines both banks of the Mississippi forms a most +excellent breastwork; and behind this, a party of determined men can +easily hold twice their number at bay, unless a position can be obtained +where they can be brought under a cross-fire. The formation of the river +rendered it impossible for such a position to be taken, and it was +evident that to anchor before the levee and attempt to dislodge them +with big guns, was worse than useless; neither could they be beaten back +with their own weapons, for the rebels were very expert in +"bushwhacking," exposing but a very small portion of their persons, and +the best marksman would stand but a poor chance of hitting one of them. +Some more decisive steps must be taken. + +So thought the captain of the Ticonderoga, as he paced up and down the +turret, while Frank, divested of his coat, was issuing his commands with +his usual coolness, now and then catching hold of a rope and giving a +pull at the gun, all the while sending the shells into the levee, making +the dirt fly in every direction. + +"Cease firing, Mr. Nelson," said the captain, at length. "It is useless +to think of driving them off in this manner." + +"Cease firing, sir," repeated Frank, showing that he understood the +order. "Run the gun in, lads, and close those ports." + +The captain then ordered his vessel to be run alongside of the Rover, +(one of the tin-clads,) and, after a few moments' consultation with her +commander, some plan seemed to have been determined upon, for Frank was +again ordered to open a hot fire on the levee. Under cover of this, +signal was made for the other two vessels to get under way, and proceed +down the river. + +"Mr. Nelson," said the captain, as soon as he had seen the signal +obeyed, "give the command of your division to the executive officer, and +come down into the cabin for orders." + +As soon as the executive could be found, Frank gave up the command to +him, and as he entered the cabin, the captain said to him: + +"I have ordered the tin-clads to go down the river and land as many men +as they can spare, to get around in the rear of those rebels, and get +them out from behind that levee. They must be got out of that, if +possible, for navigation is virtually closed as long as they remain +there. I shall also send our two howitzers and forty men, of which you +will take command. I need not tell you to do your best." + +The captain then went on deck, selected the men, and Frank succeeded in +getting them and the howitzers safely on board the Rover, which still +lay alongside. The smoke from the gun of the Ticonderoga completely +concealed their movements, and the rebels were entirely ignorant of what +was going on. As soon as the men were all on board, the Rover steamed +down the river and joined the other vessels, which were waiting for her +to come up. + +About five miles below was a point which completely concealed them from +the view of the rebels, and behind this point the vessels landed; the +crews disembarked, and commenced marching through the woods toward the +place where the rebels were posted. They numbered two hundred and fifty +men, and were commanded by the captain of the Rover, who, although a +very brave man and an excellent sailor, knew nothing of infantry +tactics. The second in command was Mr. Howe, an ensign belonging to the +same vessel. He had never been in a fight; and when he first entered +the navy he knew no more about a vessel than he did about the moon. His +appointment had been obtained through some influential friends at home. +He had served in a company of state militia, however, before the +breaking out of the war, and considered himself quite a military genius. + +The sailors marched in line of battle--with skirmishers in front and on +each flank, and Frank, with his battery, was in the center. In this +manner they marched for about an hour, and then a halt was ordered, and +the captain, with several of his officers, went forward to reconnoiter, +while Mr. Howe, who was left in command, ordered the men to "stack +arms." Frank was astounded when he heard this command, and, approaching +the officer, saluted him, and said: + +"I object to this, Mr. Howe. I think it would be much better, sir, to +keep the men under arms; for it is by no means certain that all the +rebels we shall be obliged to fight, are in front of us." + +"I believe you were put in command of that battery, sir," replied Mr. +Howe, haughtily, "while I was left in charge of these men. I would +thank you, then, to attend to your own business, and to let me alone." + +"Very good, sir," answered Frank. "I did not intend to give any offense, +sir, but merely to offer a suggestion. But if I command that battery, I +intend to have it in readiness for any emergency. Cut loose those guns, +lads, and stand to your quarters!" + +The reports of muskets in their front proved that the rebels were yet +keeping a hot fire directed against the Ticonderoga. But still Frank was +not deceived; he knew that all the fighting would not be done at the +front. Scarcely had these thoughts passed through his mind, when there +was a rapid discharge of fire-arms in their rear, and two of the men +fell. As Frank had expected, the rebels had been informed of what was +going on, and had sent part of their force to cut the sailors off from +the river. For a moment the greatest confusion prevailed. The men, who +had been lying about in the shade of the trees, made a general rush for +their weapons, and after delivering a straggling and ineffectual fire, +hastily retreated, with the exception of Frank's men, and a few of the +more courageous of the infantry. The latter concealed themselves behind +trees and logs, and deliberately returned the fire of the rebels, while +the former, who were old seamen, and had long been accustomed to the +discipline of the service, stood at their guns awaiting orders. Mr. +Howe, for a moment, stood pale and trembling, and then, without waiting +to give any orders, disappeared in the bushes. Frank, who was left alone +with but sixty men, was astounded when he witnessed this cowardly +conduct of his superior, and he had hardly time to recover from his +surprise, when the rebels, after firing another volley, broke from their +concealments, with loud yells, and charged toward the guns. This brought +Frank to his senses. With the handful of men he had left, he could at +least cover the retreat of his timid support. + +"Steady there, lads!" he shouted. "Aim low--fire!" + +The howitzers belched forth their contents, and, as Frank had taken the +precaution to have them loaded with canister, the slaughter was awful. +The muskets had also done considerable execution, and the rebels +recoiled when they witnessed the havoc made in their ranks. Frank, who +was always ready to take advantage of such an opportunity, immediately +ordered a counter-charge. The sailors sprang at the word, with a yell, +and, led by Frank, who fixed his bayonet as he ran, threw themselves +upon the rebels, who at once fled precipitately, leaving their dead and +wounded on the field. + +"Back to your guns, lads," shouted Frank, "and give 'em a shot before +they get out of range." + +The men worked with a yell, sending the shells rapidly in the direction +in which the rebels had retreated, until a loud roar of musketry at the +front told them that they had other enemies with which to deal. + +While this fight at the rear had been going on, the sailors who had +retreated had been met by the captain and his officers, who were +returning from their reconnoissance, and, as soon as order could be +restored, an attack had been made on the rebels who were still posted +behind the levee. In a few moments Mr. Howe came running up, and +addressing himself to Frank, exclaimed: + +"What are you doing here, sir--shooting into the woods where there are +no rebels? Why are you not at the front, where you belong? If you are +afraid to go there, you had better give up the command of that battery." + +Frank thought this was a nice way for Mr. Howe to talk, after the manner +in which he had behaved a few moments before, but, without stopping to +reply, he ordered the guns to be secured, and the men, catching up the +trail-ropes, commenced dragging the battery toward the place where the +fight was raging, while Mr. Howe again suddenly disappeared. + +When Frank arrived at the front, he found the rebels were still behind +the levee, where they were exposed to a galling fire from the sailors +who were concealed among the trees, evidently preferring to run the risk +of being driven out by the musketry than to brave the shells from the +Ticonderoga, which now began to fall into the woods just behind them, +and bursting, threw dirt and branches in every direction. Without +waiting for orders, Frank immediately took up a sheltered position, and +straightway opened upon the rebels a hot fire of canister. By the +exertions of the officers, the stragglers were all collected, and, while +the line was being formed for a charge, Frank was ordered to move his +battery out of the woods, into the open field. The young officer's blood +ran cold when he heard this command, for the rebels, who greatly +outnumbered the sailors, and who were deterred from making a charge and +overpowering them only through fear of the shells from the Ticonderoga, +were sending a perfect shower of bullets into the bushes where the +howitzers were stationed. Even in his present protected position, Frank +had lost five of his men, and when he thought what a slaughter there +would be when he should move out of his concealment, it made him +shudder. But he had always been taught that the success of the navy was +owing to "strict discipline;" and once, when he had been reported to the +captain for disobeying an order which he had considered as unjust, that +gentleman had told him--"Always obey whatever orders you may receive +from your superiors, and, if you are aggrieved, you can seek redress +afterward." In the present instance, this seemed very poor policy; for +what good would it do to make objections to the order after his men had +been sacrificed? He had no alternative, however, but to obey. The men, +too, were well aware of the danger they were about to incur, but +hesitated not a moment when Frank repeated the order to advance. They at +once pushed the guns out into the open ground, and the effect was as +they had expected. The whole fire of the rebels was directed against +them, and every volley left Frank with less men to handle his battery. +In fact, it soon became impossible to load the guns; for, as fast as the +men picked up a rammer or sponge, they were shot down. It was evident +that they could not remain there. + +"Jack," said Frank at length, turning to the old boatswain's mate, "go +and ask the captain if I can't be allowed to move back to my old +position. I can do more execution there. Besides, we'll all be dead men +in less than five minutes, if we remain here." + +The man bounded off to execute the order, and just then the captain of +one of the guns was killed. Frank immediately seized the priming-wire +which had fallen from his hand, and worked with the rest. His fear had +given place to a reckless determination to do his duty, for, let the +consequences be what they might, no blame could be attached to him. +Impatiently, however, he waited for the return of the mate, and his +impatience increased when word was brought him that the ammunition was +failing. At length, after a delay which seemed extraordinary, a charge +was ordered. + +The rebels seemed to have an idea of what was going on, for, a few +moments before the order was given, their fire slackened considerably; +but, as soon as the sailors, in obedience to the command, issued from +the woods, they were met with a terrific fire, which threw them into +confusion. In vain their officers urged and commanded; the men refused +to advance, but remained standing in full view of the rebels, while +every moment their comrades were falling around them. At length the +enemy made a counter-charge, and the sailors, without waiting to resist, +broke and fled in every direction. Frank and his men remained at their +posts until the last moment; but they soon found themselves completely +deserted, and were obliged to fall back into the woods. + +By the exertions of the officers, a few of the men were rallied in the +edge of the timber, and, bravely standing their ground, the rebels were +met with a murderous fire, and the shells from the Ticonderoga, which +now began to burst in their very midst, completed their confusion, and +they, in turn, were compelled to retreat. + +In an instant, Frank and several of his men sprang out and attempted to +recover the howitzers, which had been left between the lines, but the +rebels were on the watch, and, after the loss of three of his men, he +was obliged to order a retreat. For two hours a severe a fight was +maintained, the rebels making several charges, which were easily +repulsed by the sailors; and each time Frank made unsuccessful attempts +to recover his battery, but was as often compelled to retreat, leaving +some of his men dead on the field, or prisoners in the hands of the +enemy. + +The left of the line rested on the bank of the river, where a full view +of the Ticonderoga could be obtained. After the fight had raged nearly +three hours, without any advantage being gained on either side, one of +the men reported that the ship was making signals. The commander of the +expedition hurried along the line, calling out-- + +"Mr. Howe! Where's the signal officer, Mr. Howe?" But he received no +answer. No one had seen Mr. Howe since he had so ingloriously retreated +at the commencement of the fight. + +"Pass the word along the line for Mr. Howe!" shouted the captain. + +The order was obeyed, and finally a faint voice, some distance in the +rear, replied, "Here, sir." + +"What are you doing there, sir?" demanded the captain, in a voice of +thunder. "Why are you not at your post? Get out there with your flag, +and answer the Ticonderoga's signals." And the captain began to consult +his signal-book. + +Mr. Howe looked first at the rebels, then at the captain, then down at +the flag which he held in his hand, but he did not move. It was a +dangerous undertaking; for, in answering the signals, he would be +obliged to stand on the bank of the river, where there was nothing but +bushes to protect him, and where the rebels would be certain to see him; +but the rattling of the musketry, the sharp whistle of the bullets as +they flew thickly about among the trees, and the roar of the +Ticonderoga's guns--sounds which he had never before heard--so worked +upon the imagination of the terrified man, that the danger seemed +tenfold worse than it really was. + +In a few moments the captain had made out the signal, which was, "How do +you succeed?" and exclaimed: + +"Mr. Howe, make the answer that we don't succeed at all--no advantage on +either side; that our ammunition is getting scarce; and that----. Why +don't you start, sir?" he shouted, seeing that Mr. Howe did not move. + +"Captain," faltered the man, in a scarcely audible voice, "I should be +very happy, sir; very glad, indeed, sir; but--, but--" + +"No remarks, sir, but do as you are ordered, instantly." + +"Really, captain, I--, I--" + +The man could go no further, but stood trembling like a leaf, with the +utmost terror depicted in every feature. + +"You're a coward, sir!" shouted the captain, in a terrible rage--"a +mean, contemptible coward." + +"I know it, sir," replied the man, so terrified that he scarcely knew +what he was saying; "but the fact is"---- + +[Illustration] + +"Go to rear!" shouted the captain, "and stay there. Here, sir," he +continued, turning to Frank, who happened to be the nearest officer, +"can you make those signals?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Frank, promptly. His face was very pale, for, +accustomed as he was to the noise and confusion of battle, he well knew +there was danger in the step he was about to take. But his features +expressed determination instead of betraying terror. His duty must be +done, whatever the consequences might be; and hastily picking up the +flag which Mr. Howe, in his fright, had dropped, he sprang out in view +of the Ticonderoga, made the required signals, and retreated in safety. +The rebels had seen the flag waving above the bushes, and had directed a +hot fire against it, but, although his frail protection was riddled with +bullets, Frank escaped unhurt. + +In a quarter of an hour, during which time the fire was warmly sustained +by both parties, the Ticonderoga again made signals, ordering the +captain of the expedition to make the best of his way back to his +vessels. Frank answered the signal, and again retreated in safety. + +The word had already been passed along the line to fall back slowly, +when Frank, approaching the captain, said: + +"I do not wish to go back to the ship without my battery, sir. Will you +give me men enough to recover it?" + +"No, sir; I can't send any one out there to be shot at. It is certain +death, sir." + +Frank, who thought that the captain had suddenly grown very careful of +his men, made no reply, but hastened back to the spot where he had left +his battery. To his joy and surprise he found one of the howitzers safe +in the hands of his men; and, as he came up, a shell went crashing +toward the rebel line, followed by a triumphant shout from the sailors. +The boatswain's mate, who had managed to secure the gun, by throwing a +rope around the trail-wheel, was endeavoring, in the same manner, to +obtain possession of the other. After a few ineffectual attempts, he +succeeded, and the gun was pulled back safely into the bushes. When they +had secured the remainder of the ammunition, the men caught up the +trail-ropes, and, without delay, Frank took his old position in the +center of the retreating line. The rebels followed them so closely that +the sailors were frequently compelled to halt and drive them back. +During one of these halts, the captain of the expedition was killed. As +if by magic, Mr. Howe appeared on the scene, and, without waiting to +recover the body of his officer, gave the command to fall back more +rapidly. At length, just before they reached the bank where they had +disembarked, the ammunition for the howitzers being exhausted, Frank +requested permission to retreat still more rapidly, and get his guns on +board the nearest vessel. + +"That request is in perfect keeping with your conduct during the fight," +returned Mr. Howe, sneeringly. "The plea of saving your battery is a +very handy one; but if you are afraid to remain here with us, you may +run as fast as you wish. I'd be ashamed to hold up my head after this, +if I were in your place." + +"I am not afraid to remain here, sir," answered Frank, with a good deal +of spirit; "and if you say that I have acted the part of a coward during +this fight, I defy you to prove the charge. The idea that I am afraid, +because I wish to retreat in order to save my battery, is absurd. Run +those guns along lively, lads." + +Frank succeeded in getting his howitzers on board one of the tin-clads, +which still lay alongside of the bank, without the loss of another man. +A moment afterward the sailors came pouring down the bank. As soon as +they were all on board, the vessels moved out into the stream, and +commenced shelling the woods. While thus engaged, the Ticonderoga came +down the river, and, after dropping her anchor, signaled for the officer +in command of the expedition to repair on board. Mr. Howe at once put +off in a boat to obey the order, while the vessel in which Frank had +taken refuge ran alongside of the Ticonderoga, and as soon as the +battery had been taken off, the men, covered with dust and blood, and +their faces begrimed with powder, stood silently around the guns, while +the remainder of the crew gathered on the opposite side of the deck, and +regarded their comrades with sorrow depicted in every feature of their +sun-burnt faces. Frank knew that the fight had been a most desperate +one, and that he had lost many of his men; but he could scarcely believe +his eyes, when he found that out of the forty brave fellows who had +started out with him in the morning, but _fifteen remained_--more than +half had been left dead on the field, or prisoners in the hands of the +rebels. + +In a scarcely audible voice he called the roll, and his emotion +increased when, at almost every third name, some one answered: + +"Not here, sir." + +In a few moments the captain appeared on deck. The report of the +commander of the expedition had, of course, been unfavorable, and the +captain's face wore a look of trouble. Hastily running his eye over the +line of dusty, bleeding men that stood before him, he said, in a low +voice, as if talking to himself: + +"Only fifteen left. I could ill afford to lose so many men. You may go +below, lads. Doctor, see that the very best care is taken of the +wounded." + +After delivering this order, the captain, who was evidently ill at ease, +turned and walked down into his cabin. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +In the Hands of the "Johnnies" Again. + + +As soon as the men had disappeared, Frank, with a heavy heart, repaired +to his room to dress for supper. He thought over all the little +incidents of the day, and frequently detected himself in saying: "Only +fifteen men left; fifteen out of forty!" + +What a slaughter--a useless slaughter--there had been! And all had been +occasioned by the ignorance of the commanding officer of the expedition. +Had Frank been allowed to retain the sheltered position which he had at +first taken up, the result would have been far different. And how had he +escaped without even a scratch? He had stood beside his men during the +whole of the fight--freely exposing himself, and, rendered conspicuous +by his uniform, had signaled the vessel twice; and each time the flag +had been riddled by bullets, but not a shot had touched him! It seemed +but little short of a miracle that he had come off unscathed, when so +many men had fallen around him. + +He was interrupted in his meditations by the entrance of the orderly, +who informed him that his presence was wanted in the cabin. Frank +hastily pulled on his coat and repaired thither. As he entered, the +captain said: + +"Take a chair, Mr. Nelson. I wish to have a few moments' serious +conversation with you." + +Frank, surprised at the captain's tone and manner, seated himself, and +the latter continued: + +"Are you aware, sir, that you have this day destroyed all the confidence +I have hitherto placed in you, and have rendered yourself liable to +severe punishment?" + +The effect of this question, so abruptly put, was astounding, and Frank +could only falter-- + +"Sir? I--I--don't understand you, sir." + +"Mr. Nelson, I am surprised at you, sir," said the captain, sternly. "I +shall have to refresh your memory, then. You have this day been guilty +of misdemeanors, any one of which renders you liable to a +court-martial, and to a disgraceful dismissal from the service. In the +first place, you have shown gross disrespect to your superior officer, +and"---- + +"I guilty of disrespect, sir!" repeated Frank, scarcely believing his +ears. "There must be some mistake, sir, for"---- + +"Don't interrupt me, sir. I repeat, you have been guilty of disrespect +to your superior officer, and of cowardice, having been found with your +battery far in the rear at a time when your services were very much +needed at the front; and then, after the fight had fairly commenced, as +if waking up to a sense of your duty, and, no doubt, wishing to make +amends for what you had done, you, contrary to orders, recklessly +exposed your men, and, as a consequence, out of forty of the bravest +fellows that ever trod a ship's deck--which were placed under your +command this morning--you had but fifteen left when you returned on +board. The energy displayed by you in working your battery, and the +manner in which you obtained possession of it, after you moved out from +your sheltered position, and had been compelled to retreat, were feats +of which any officer might be justly proud, and which I should have +been most happy to reward with your promotion, had you not spoiled every +thing by your infamous conduct at the commencement of the fight. +Hitherto, since you have been on board this ship, you have been a good +officer, have always attended to your duties, and it pains me to be +obliged to talk to you in this manner. I never thought that you, after +what you did at Cypress Bend, while you were on board of the Milwaukee, +would ever have been guilty of such misdemeanors. However, as your +conduct heretofore has always been such as I could approve, I shall see +that no charges are made against you; and I sincerely hope that what you +have learned to-day will be a lesson that you will never forget. I shall +give you sufficient opportunities to make amends for what you have done, +and I shall commence by sending you ashore with a flag of truce, to ask +permission of the rebels to bury our dead. You may start at once, sir." + +This was a hint that his presence in the cabin was no longer desirable, +and Frank, who, in his confusion and bewilderment scarcely knew what he +was doing, made his best bow and retired. + +What his feelings were as he listened to this reprimand, administered +by the captain, who never before had spoken a harsh word to him, it is +impossible to describe. He again thought over every thing he had done +during the fight; how he had, at the commencement of the action, beaten +back the rebels, with a mere handful of men; how he had, in obedience to +orders, taken the exposed position where he had lost so many of his +gun's crew, and which he had held in spite of the storm of bullets that +rained around him, until the whole line had been compelled to retreat, +and he was left unsupported; how he had twice risked his life in +signaling the ship; and how, when the retreat was ordered he had brought +back his guns in safety: he thought of all these things, and wondered +where the charge of cowardice could be brought in. And then, when and +how had he been guilty of disrespect to his superior officer? Certainly +not in remonstrating against ordering the men to stack their arms, for +that was a privilege to which he, as one of the commanding officers of +the expedition, was entitled. In regard to recklessly exposing his men, +the case was not quite so clear. It was true that, in the beginning of +the fight, he had ordered a charge upon the rebels, who greatly +outnumbered his own men, and had easily driven them, without loss to +himself: perhaps it was there that the third charge had been brought in. +But although he was conscious that he had endeavored to do his whole +duty, the words of the captain had cut him to the quick. It had been an +unlucky day for him. The expedition had proved a failure, and he had +been accused of misdemeanors of which he had never dreamed. It seemed as +if fate was against him. + +"I believe, as Archie used to say," he soliloquized, "that I am the +unluckiest dog in existence. Troubles never come singly." + +"The captain wishes to see you, sir," said one of the men, stepping up +and interrupting his meditations. + +"All right," answered Frank, who was so completely absorbed in his +reverie that he was entirely unconscious of what was going on around +him; "call all hands to quarters immediately." + +"Sir--I--I don't mean--sir--the captain wishes to speak with you, sir," +repeated the sailor, half inclined to believe that Frank was getting +crazy. This aroused the young officer to a sense of his situation; as he +approached the quarter-deck, where the captain was standing, the latter +said: + +"Mr. Nelson, do you intend to go ashore with that flag of truce, sir?" + +"I beg your pardon, sir," faltered Frank, "I forgot all about that. Will +you have the kindness to call away the first cutter?" he continued, +approaching the quarter-master, and saluting him as the officer of the +deck. + +"Mr. Nelson," shouted the captain, "what are you doing? Are you crazy, +sir?" + +"I believe I am, captain, or pretty near it," answered Frank. "The +charges that have been brought against me have well-nigh upset me. They +are false, sir, and I don't deserve the reprimand I have received." + +In his next attempt to find the officer of the deck Frank met with more +success. While the cutter was being manned, he ran down into the +steerage, and seizing a pen, hastily dashed off the following: + + UNITED STATES STEAMER TICONDEROGA, } + OFF CYPRESS BEND, _Oct. 30, 1863_. } + + SIR: + + Having been reported, by the officer in command of an + expedition--sent ashore this day for the purpose of dislodging + a body of rebels posted behind the levee--for cowardice, disrespect + to my superior officer, and for recklessly exposing my men to the + fire of the rebels, and knowing, sir, that these charges are + utterly groundless, I respectfully request that a Court of Inquiry + may be convened to examine into my behavior while under the enemy's + fire. + + I am, sir, very respectfully + Your obedient servant, + FRANK NELSON, + _Acting Master's Mate_. + + Acting Rear-Admiral D. D. PORTER, U. S. N., + _Commanding Miss. Squadron_. + +While he was sealing the envelope the messenger boy entered and reported +the cutter ready. Frank ran on deck, and, after giving the communication +to the captain, with a request that it might be approved and forwarded +to the Admiral, he sprang into the boat, and gave the order to shove +off. + +The old boatswain's mate, who was acting as the coxswain of the cutter, +had rigged up a flag of truce. As they pulled toward the shore, Frank +waved this above his head until he elicited a similar response from the +bank; then, throwing down the flag, he seated himself in the stern +sheets, and covered his face with his hands. The old mate, mistaking his +emotion for sorrow at the death of so many of his men, said: + +"Yes, it is a hard case. Not a few of us are left without our chums; but +we all know it wasn't your fault. There would have been more of us left +if you had been allowed to have your own way." + +"Then I did not expose you needlessly, did I, Jack?" + +"Why, bless you, no, sir. Who says you did, sir?" inquired one of the +crew. + +"But tell me one thing, Jack," said Frank, his face still covered with +his hands, "Am I a coward?" + +"No, sir," answered the mate, indignantly; "'cause if you was, you +wouldn't have held on to them guns as long as you did, and you would not +have pitched into that rebel atween the lines, as you did about a year +ago, at this very place. In course you ain't no coward." + +This was some consolation. The men whom he commanded, and who had always +cheerfully followed where he had dared to lead, thought very differently +from the man who had retreated almost before the fight had commenced, +and who, to screen himself, had brought those charges against one whose +conduct had always been above reproach. + +"Yes, as you say, it is a hard case, Jack," said Frank, uncovering his +face, and glancing toward the rebels who thronged the levee. "It is a +hard case, indeed, but I will come out at the top of the heap yet." + +"What's the matter, sir?" inquired the mate. "Any one been wrongin' you, +sir? He'd better not show his ugly figure-head when what's left of the +first division has shore liberty. We'll douse his top-lights for him." + +By this time the cutter had reached the shore, and Frank, taking the +flag of truce, sprang out, and walked up the bank to where a group of +officers was standing. + +"Wal, Yank, what do you want now?" inquired a man dressed in the uniform +of a colonel. + +How Frank started when he heard that voice. Could he be mistaken? He had +certainly heard it before, and he remembered the time when it had given +an order which still rang in his ears: "Stiles, you stay here until this +man dies." He looked at the men, some of whom were lying on the ground +about the levee, and others standing at a little distance, waiting to +hear what was going to be the result of the interview, and what had at +first appeared a vague suspicion, now forced itself upon Frank as a +dread reality. He was in the presence of _Colonel Harrison and the +Louisiana Wild-cats_. Nothing but a bold front could save him, for he +knew that these men paid very little respect to a flag of truce, unless +it was likely to further their own interests; and if he should be +recognized, his recapture was certain, and then, what would be his fate? +Would not summary vengeance be taken upon him, in retaliation for the +manner in which he had treated the sentinel on the night of his escape, +and the way he had served the man who had overtaken him in the woods? +Brave as Frank was, and accustomed as he had become to look danger in +the face, he could not but regard his situation as critical in the +extreme. + +"What did you say your business was, Yank?" inquired the colonel again. + +"I wish to see the commanding officer," said Frank, steadily meeting the +rebel's searching glance. "I wish permission to bury our dead." + +"Well, that's a fair request," said the colonel, carelessly. "I don't +know as I have any objection to it. Want your prisoners also?" + +"Yes, sir," answered Frank, with a smile. "I should like to take them +back to the ship with me. But you know that I have none to exchange for +them." + +"That's what I thought. I couldn't afford to give your men back for +nothing." + +"I didn't suppose you would. But have we your permission to come ashore +and bury our dead?" inquired Frank, who was anxious to bring the +interview to an end. + +"Yes," answered the colonel, "and we will leave the field in your +possession. You will send that message by one of your men, for I don't +think, youngster, that you can go back. If I am not very much mistaken, +I've got a better right to you than any one else." + +"Yes, colonel," shouted one of the men, "I'll be dog-gone if I didn't +think he was the chap that give us the slip at Shreveport." + +"I didn't think I could be mistaken," said the colonel. "So, youngster, +just consider yourself a prisoner." + +"What do you mean, sir? You have no claim whatever upon me, and never +had!" exclaimed Frank, indignantly. "I am acting in obedience to +orders, and am under the protection of this flag of truce." + +"Very well spoken. But what do you suppose we care for that dish-rag? +Besides, I say we _have_ a good claim upon you, for you have never been +exchanged. Here, Jim!" he shouted to one of his men, "put this little +Yank with the rest, and don't give him a chance to get away this time." + +The man advanced to obey the order, and when he came up to the place +where Frank was standing, he seized him by the hair and shook him until +every tooth in his head rattled. + +"Avast heavin' there, you land-lubber!" shouted the mate, who until this +time had remained in the boat with the crew; and, springing ashore, he +ran up the bank, and with one blow of his fist felled the rebel to the +ground. + +"Here we have it," said the colonel, who, instead of defending Frank, +seemed to consider the manner in which he was treated a good joke. +"Boys, secure this blue-jacket also." + +"No you don't, Johnny!" exclaimed the mate, as one of the men sprang +forward to seize him. "If you think that one of you is as good as five +Yankee sailors, now is your chance to try it on. It'll take more'n one +of you to put the bracelets on me;" and, as he spoke, he planted another +of his tremendous blows in the face of the advancing rebel, which lifted +him completely off his feet. But before he had time to repeat it, he was +overpowered by half a dozen rebels, who had run to the assistance of +their comrade. After a hard struggle, he was secured, and his hands were +bound behind his back. + +"Now, you fellows," said the colonel, addressing himself to the men in +the boat, "get back to your vessel; tell the captain how matters stand, +and also that he may come ashore and bury his dead as soon as he +chooses." + +"Tell the first division," said the mate, "that the next time they go +into action they must give one shot for Jack Waters. If you fellers +don't pay for this," he continued, turning to the rebels, "then blast my +to'-gallant top-lights." + +"Tell the captain," chimed in Frank, "that he had better not trust these +men again, for they are not sufficiently civilized to know what a flag +of truce is." + +"You are very complimentary, young man, to say the least," said a +rebel, who was standing near the colonel. + +"I am telling the plain truth," answered Frank, "and you will find that +your barbarous mode of warfare will never succeed; and that the crew of +that vessel will never allow the mean action of which you have been +guilty to pass unnoticed." + +"Douse my top-lights but that's the truth," said the mate, making an +effort with his confined hands to salute his officer. + +"See that these prisoners are well secured," said the colonel, "and be +sure and take special care of that youngster, for if you allow him the +least chance, he'll escape," and the colonel turned on his heel and +walked away. + +In obedience to these instructions, Frank and the mate were delivered +into the charge of a sergeant, who at once conducted them toward the +place where the prisoners which had been taken during the fight were +confined under guard. As they passed along through the rebels, they were +insulted at every step, and finally a man drew his ramrod out of his +gun, and seizing Frank by the collar, proceeded to give him a severe +thrashing. Frank immediately appealed to the sergeant, who, instead of +offering to defend him, stood at a little distance, watching the +operation, as if not at all concerned. The mate was fairly beside +himself with rage, and struggled desperately to free his hands, all the +while venting his anger by "dousing" his "top-lights" and "shivering" +his own "timbers." The rebel continued his punishment amid the cheers of +his companions, and at every stroke of his ramrod he exclaimed: "Shot +the best blood-hound in Louisiana, did ye! Stick a bayonet into young +Davis, won't ye!" until Frank, smarting with the pain, determined to +defend himself. + +"Unhand me, you scoundrel!" he shouted; "I've had just about enough of +this." Turning fiercely upon his persecutor, he snatched the ramrod from +his hand, and commenced laying it over his head and shoulders. The +rebel, after trying in vain to defend himself, retreated precipitately, +amid the jeers of his comrades, and shouts of derision from the mate. +The sergeant here thought it time to interfere, and Frank and the mate +were not again molested. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +An Old Acquaintance. + + +They found that the rebels had captured nearly twenty of their men, +several of them badly wounded, and, as there was no surgeon with the +enemy, the poor fellows were suffering intensely. Frank shuddered when +he thought of the inhuman treatment to which his wounded companions had +been subjected by the very men in whose power they now were, on the +march from Vicksburg to Shreveport; and he knew, from the scenes through +which he had just passed, that the Wild-cats had not grown more lenient +in their treatment of those who were so unfortunate as to fall into +their power. As soon as they were placed under guard, Jack's hands were +unbound, and he seated himself on the ground beside his officer, in no +very amiable mood. + +"It isn't for myself that I care, sir," said he; "but I am afraid that +the treatment you will receive will be a heap worse nor keel-haulin' on +a cold winter's mornin'." + +"Don't talk so loud, Jack," whispered Frank, glancing toward the guard, +who was walking his beat but a short distance from them. "I've been in +just such scrapes as this before, and I'm not going to be strung up. If +they give me the least chance for life, I'm going to take advantage of +it." + +"There comes a boat from the ship, sir," said the mate. "If we could +only give them the slip now." + +"No, sit still; we are watched too closely; wait until to-night." + +In a short time the cutter reached the shore, and an officer, whom they +recognized as the gunner, sprang out with a flag of truce in his hand. +He walked straight up to Colonel Harrison. After a short conversation +with that individual, he handed him a letter, and, accompanied by a +rebel officer, approached the place where Frank was sitting. + +"Well, old fellow," he said, as he came up, "I'm sorry to see you in +this fix. But I've got good news for you. The colonel has given me +permission to inform you that you will be well treated as long as you +remain a prisoner. You see, we happen to have a prisoner who belongs to +this regiment on board the flag-ship, and the captain is going to ask +the admiral to exchange him for you. So keep a stiff upper lip. Don't +think of trying to escape, and we shall see you on board of the ship +again in less than a week. Good-by." + +Frank and the mate shook hands with the gunner, who walked back to the +place where he had left his men, and set them to work collecting and +burying the dead. + +After considerable trouble, an agreement was entered into between +Captain Wilson and the colonel, and all the prisoners, with the +exception of Frank and the mate, were paroled and allowed to return on +board the vessel, after which the Wild-cats mounted their horses and +commenced marching back into the country. While the fight had been +raging, their horses were safely hidden in the woods, out of range of +the Ticonderoga's guns; and when they were brought out, Frank, although +he had not seen either a dead or wounded rebel, was able to judge +pretty accurately of the number that had been disabled in the struggle, +by counting the empty saddles. What had been done with the dead and +wounded he could not ascertain; but the probability was, that the latter +had been carried on in advance of the main body of the regiment, and the +former hastily buried on the field. The prisoners were each given a +horse, and Frank was a good deal surprised to find that although the +mate was closely watched, scarcely any attention was paid to himself; +his captors, no doubt, thinking that he would prefer waiting to be +exchanged, rather than run the risk of the punishment that had been +threatened in case he was detected in any attempt at escape. He was +given to understand that it was useless to think of flight, for he would +certainly be recaptured, even if he succeeded in getting outside of the +pickets, and that he would be shot down without mercy. But Frank, who +well knew that the rebels would not willingly lose an opportunity of +regaining one of their officers, was not at all intimidated by these +threats; and, as he had not bound himself to remain a passive prisoner, +he commenced laying his plans for escape, intending to put them into +operation at the very first opportunity which offered. + +Just before dark the column halted in front of a plantation, and +commenced making its camp on each side of the road. While the men were +making their preparations for the night, the colonel, who evidently +preferred more comfortable quarters than could be found in the open air, +repaired to the house, where he was cordially greeted by its inmates. + +Frank and the mate lay down on the ground by the side of the road, and +were talking over the incidents of the day, when a dashing young +lieutenant stepped up, and inquired: + +"Yanks, don't you want something to eat? Come into our mess; we want to +talk to you. I'll hold myself responsible for their safe return," he +continued, turning to the guard. + +This individual, after a few moments' consideration, concluded that the +"Yanks could pass," and the prisoners followed the lieutenant to the +place where the members of the mess to which he belonged were seated on +the ground, eating their suppers. + +"Sit down, Yanks, at the very first good place you can find," said +their host. "Our chairs have been sent on board one of your gun-boats to +be repaired, and the sofa hasn't come in yet. Do you ever have as good a +supper as this on board your men-o'-war?" + +"O yes," replied Frank, glancing at the different dishes that were +scattered about over the ground, which contained corn-bread just raked +out from the ashes, salt pork, onions, and boiled chicken, the latter +evidently the fruits of a raid on some well-stocked hen-roost. "O yes, +we live very well on board our boats. There is nothing to hinder us, if +we have a caterer worth a cent." + +"Where do you get your grub?" asked the lieutenant. "We steal every +thing along the shore that we can lay our hands on, just to keep it away +from you, and there are no provisions at the North." + +"Well, you need not believe any such story as that," answered Frank, who +could not help laughing outright at the idea of the people at the North +having no provisions to spare. "I never knew a gun-boat to be short of +rations, except down the Yazoo Pass." + +"Well, then, some of our folks tell what is not the truth," said one of +the officers, who had not yet spoken. "But, to change the subject, how +many men did you lose in the action to-day?" + +"I am not able to tell," replied Frank. "I see that you have taken good +care to hide your loss. I haven't seen a single wounded man since I have +been with you, and I know I saw several drop during the fight." + +"Yes, we did lose a few men," said the lieutenant; "how many, you will +never know. But, to change the subject again, what did you come down +here to fight us for?" + +"Now, see here," said Frank, setting down his plate, which had been +plentifully supplied by the lieutenant, "you were kind enough to ask me +here to get some supper, and I don't want to spoil a good meal by +entering into a political discussion; for, if I answer your question, I +shall tell you some pretty plain things, and I know you will get +provoked at me." + +"O no, we are not as unreasonable as that," replied the man. "Answer my +question." + +"Well, then," said Frank, "I will make the same reply as I once did to +that question in the prison at Shreveport. It is this: I believe that +if ever there was a lot of men in the world who need a good, sound +thrashing, you rebels do." + +"That's the truth, sir," said Jack, talking as plainly as a mouthful of +salt pork would permit. "Stand up for the old flag, sir." + +The discussion thus commenced was maintained for an hour, the rebels +evincing the utmost ignorance in regard to the principles for which they +were fighting; and the manner in which Frank knocked their flimsy +arguments right and left, and the fearlessness with which he upheld the +course the government has pursued, and predicted the speedy overthrow of +the rebellion, excited their respect and admiration. + +At length bedtime came, and, just as Frank and the mate were about to be +conducted back to the guard, Colonel Harrison, accompanied by two ladies +and a strange officer, walked up. + +"Here, Yank," he exclaimed, addressing Frank, "here's an old +acquaintance of yours. Come here." + +As Frank obeyed the order, the strange officer advanced to meet him, and +he recognized Lieutenant Somers. He was not at all pleased to see him, +for the lieutenant, doubtless, had not forgotten the circumstances +connected with his capture, and although he could not remember of ever +having treated him badly, still he feared he might harbor some feelings +of malice, and might see fit to take a summary revenge upon him. To his +surprise, however, the rebel eagerly advanced to meet him, and, +extending his hand, greeted him with: + +"How are you, Nelson? You're in a fix, I see. I am the free man now, and +you the prisoner." + +"Yes," answered Frank, "I'm in for it again. Although I was captured in +violation of all the rules of war, I suppose I must submit to it for +awhile." + +The lieutenant passed nearly an hour in conversation with him, talking +over all the little incidents that had happened while he was a prisoner +in the hands of Frank and his fellow-fugitives, and was compelled to +pilot them through the country, and ended by saying: + +"Although you were sometimes obliged to use me rather roughly, you did +the best you could under the circumstances, and I shall let you see that +I don't forget favors. I'll speak to the colonel, and get him to +furnish you with quarters at the plantation to-night." + +The lieutenant then left them, and shortly afterward a corporal and his +guard came up, and conducted Frank and the mate to the plantation, where +they were confined in a deserted negro cabin. A few blankets had been +spread out on the floor to serve as a bed, and, had they been among +friends, they could have passed a very comfortable night. + +As soon as the corporal had locked the door and retired, the mate, who +had been examining their quarters, said: + +"I wish, sir, that lieutenant hadn't taken so much interest in you, +'cause we're in Darby now, sure." + +"We are much better off than we would be out in the camp," answered +Frank. "Try that window-shutter--carefully, now." + +The mate did as he was ordered, and, to Frank's joy, reported that it +was unfastened. + +"Now," said the latter, "the next thing is to ascertain where the +sentries are posted." + +"There's one out aft here," replied the mate, "'cause I can see him; and +there's one at the gangway for'ard, 'cause I heered the corporal tell +him to keep a good look-out." + +"We must wait until the camp is still," said Frank, "and then we will +make the attempt." + +For two long hours the prisoners sat on their rough bed--the mate, in +accordance with the discipline to which he had been accustomed from +boyhood, waiting for his officer to speak, and Frank listening for the +advent of that silence which should proclaim that the time for action +had arrived. + +Eleven o'clock came at length, when, just after the sentry's cry of +"All's well," Frank arose to his feet, and cautiously approaching the +window, pushed open the shutter and looked out. The sentry was seated on +the ground at the corner of the cabin, holding his musket across his +knees, now and then stretching his arms, and yawning. Jack remained +seated on the bed, while Frank debated long and earnestly with himself +as to what course it was best to pursue. Should they spring out and +overpower the sentry where he sat? This could not be accomplished +without a fight, for the sentry was a large, powerful-looking man, and, +without doubt, possessed of great strength; besides, if a struggle did +ensue, the noise would attract the attention of the guard at the other +side of the cabin, who would lend prompt assistance, and, with these two +men opposed to them, escape would be impossible. Still, there seemed to +be no other course for them to pursue, and Frank had already proposed +the plan to the mate, and was about to push open the shutter and make +the attempt, when he noticed that the sentinel had leaned his head +against the cabin, and was sleeping soundly. + +"Jack," he whispered, "get out of this window quickly, and make the best +of your way into those bushes," pointing to a thicket that stood about +twenty feet from the cabin. "As soon as I see you safe, I will follow. +Don't make any noise now." + +The mate touched his cap, lingered for an instant to press Frank's hand, +then mounted lightly into the window, reached the ground without +arousing the rebel, and, in a moment more, disappeared in the bushes. +Frank was about to follow when the sentry suddenly awakened, rubbed his +eyes, gazed vacantly about him, and then sank back to his former +position. As soon as Frank felt certain that he was asleep, he again +opened the shutter, descended noiselessly to the ground, and, after +carefully closing the window, sprang into the bushes. + +"Shiver my timbers, sir," whispered Jack, seizing his officer's hand, +"that was well done. Won't the Johnnies be surprised when they call all +hands in the morning, and find us missin'?" + +But the fugitives were by no means safe, neither had their escape been +accomplished. They were still inside of the lines, and might, at any +moment, stumble upon a picket. But it was necessary that they should get +as far away from the camp as possible before their escape became +discovered, and Frank, without waiting to receive the congratulations of +the mate, who now looked upon their escape as a certain thing, threw +himself on his hands and knees, and moved slowly across a field that +extended a mile back of the cabin, and which must be crossed before they +could reach the woods. Their progress was slow and laborious, and it was +two hours before they reached a road which ran in the direction in which +they supposed the river to lie. Not having seen any pickets, and now +feeling quite certain that they were outside of the lines, they arose +to their feet, and commenced running at the top of their speed. The road +ran through a thick woods, but they had no difficulty in following it, +as the moon was shining brightly. Just before daylight, they arrived at +the Mississippi. It was a pleasant sight to their eyes, and both uttered +a shout of joy when they found themselves standing on its banks. But +their spirits fell again, when, on glancing up and down the river as far +as their eyes could reach, they could not see a vessel of any kind in +sight. They were not yet at their journey's end. There might be a +gun-boat close by, hid behind one of the numerous points that stretched +out into the river, or there might not be one within a hundred miles. +They must not linger, however, for they were not free from pursuit until +they were safe on board some vessel. + +Sorrowfully they bent their steps down the river, listening for sounds +of pursuit, and eagerly watching for signs of an approaching steamer; +but the day wore away, and the fugitives, who began to feel the effects +of hunger, halted, and were debating upon the means to be used in +procuring food, when, to their joy, they discovered smoke around a bend, +and, in half an hour, a transport, loaded with soldiers, appeared in +sight. They at once commenced waving their hats, to attract the +attention of those on board, who evidently saw them, but being +suspicious that it was a plan of the rebels to decoy them into shore, +turned off toward the opposite bank. + +"I should think they ought to see us," said Frank, and he commenced +shouting at the top of his lungs. A moment afterward a puff of smoke +arose from the forecastle, and a twelve-pounder shot plowed through the +water, and lodged in the bank at their very feet. It was then evident to +them that they had been taken for rebels. After watching the boat until +it disappeared, they again turned their faces down the river. Night +overtaking them without bringing any relief, the fugitives, hungry and +foot-sore, lay down in the woods and slept. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +A CLOSE SHAVE. + + +When the morning came they bent their steps down the bank, keeping in +the edge of the woods to prevent surprise, but not far enough from the +river to allow any boat that might chance to pass to escape their +observation. They again began to feel the fierce pangs of hunger, which +they endeavored to alleviate by chewing twigs and roots. But this +affording them no relief, the mate finally proposed that they should +turn back into the country and ask for food at the first house they +could find. Recapture was preferable to starving to death. Frank easily +turned him from his purpose by assuring him that they would certainly be +picked up during the afternoon, or on the following morning. But night +came, without bringing them any relief, and the tired and hungry +fugitives again lay down in the woods and slept. + +About noon, on the next day, they found themselves on the banks of a +wide and deep ravine, that ran across their path. To climb up and down +those steep banks was impossible; their wasted strength was not equal to +the task. Their only course was to follow the ravine back into the woods +until they could find some means of crossing it. After wearily dragging +themselves for two hours over fallen logs, and through thick, tangled +bushes and cane-brakes that lay in their path, they emerged from the +woods, and found before them a small log-hut, standing close to a bridge +that spanned the ravine. Hastily drawing back into the bushes, they +closely examined the premises, which seemed to be deserted, with the +exception of a negro, whom they saw hitching a mule to a tree at the +back of the cabin. + +"I don't see any white men there, Jack," said Frank. "I think we may +safely ask that negro for something to eat. I hardly think there is any +danger, for, if he should attempt mischief, we could soon overpower +him. What do you say? Shall we go up?" + +"Just as you say, sir," answered the mate. "But let us first get +something to use as a belaying-pin, in case any body should run foul of +our hawse." + +The fugitives procured two short clubs, and moved out of the woods +toward the cabin. The negro immediately discovered them. At first, he +rolled up his eyes in surprise, and acted very much as if he was about +to retreat; but, after finding that the two sailors were alone, his face +assumed a broad grin, which the fugitives took for a smile of welcome. + +When they had approached within speaking distance, Frank inquired: + +"Well, uncle, is there any chance for a hungry man to get any thing to +eat in here?" + +"Plenty ob it, massa," answered the negro. "Go right in de house." + +The fugitives, far from suspecting any treachery, were about to comply; +but Frank, who was in advance, had scarcely put his foot on the +threshold, when two rebel soldiers sprang out of the cabin, and one of +them, seizing him by the collar, flourished a huge bowie-knife above +his head and demanded his surrender. So sudden was the assault that +Frank, for a moment, was deprived of all power of action. But not so +with the mate, who, retaining his presence of mind, swung his club about +him with a dexterity truly surprising, and brought it down with all the +force of his sturdy arms upon the head of the rebel, who, instantly +releasing his hold, sank to the ground with a low groan. But before he +could repeat the blow, three more soldiers sprang from the cabin, and, +in spite of their struggles, overpowered them; not, however, until the +mate had been stunned by a blow from the butt of a pistol. + +"Wal, I'll be dog-gone!" exclaimed one of the rebels, "but this is a +lucky haul of Yankees. Tom, get some water and throw it into the +captain's face," pointing to their prostrate companion, "an' fetch him +to. The rest of you, get some ropes an' tie these fellers' hands behind +them." + +While the men were executing these orders, Frank had time to scan the +countenances of his captors. They evidently did not belong to the +Wild-cats, for, although that regiment was composed of most +ferocious-looking men, they appeared like gentlemen compared with those +in whose power he now found himself. These were a dirty, ragged, +blood-thirsty looking set of men, and, unless their countenances belied +them, they were capable of any atrocity. + +Presently, the men who had gone into the cabin returned with some pieces +of cord, with which they proceeded to confine the hands of their +prisoners, who offered no resistance. By the time this was accomplished, +the man whom the mate had handled so roughly had been restored to +consciousness, and supported himself against the cabin to collect his +thoughts, while the others stood silently by, as if awaiting his orders. + +"Get every thing ready," he said, at length, "and let the job be done at +once. It needs no judge or jury to decide the fate of these men, +knowing, as we do, what has befallen those of our number who were so +unfortunate as to fall into the hands of the Federals." + +The rebels, in obedience to the order, brought out of the cabin two +pieces of rope, which they took to a tree that stood close by, and, +coiling them up in their hands, threw one end over a limb that +stretched out about six feet from the ground, and fastened them there. + +"Douse my top-lights," exclaimed the mate, as he witnessed these +proceedings, "but it is all up with us, sir. They're going to swing us +to the yard-arm." + +The horrid truth was too apparent, and Frank was so completely unnerved +that he was compelled to lean against the cabin for support. He was soon +aroused by the voice of the leader of the rebels, who said: + +"This is to be done in retaliation for an order issued by Admiral +Porter, stating that he would hang all 'guerrillas,' as he termed them, +who might be caught firing into transports along the river. You can see +the effect of that order right here. Out of a company of a hundred of us +who entered the army at the commencement of the war, you see all that +are left. The remainder have been killed or captured by you gun-boat +men. Those captured have suffered the penalty of that order. They were +no more guerrillas, however, than you are, but were regularly sworn into +the service, and were detailed to harass the enemy in every possible +manner; and, for obeying our orders, some of us have been strung up like +dogs. We shall continue to retaliate on you until our government +receives notice that the order has been countermanded. I will give you +an hour, and at the end of that time you must swing." + +"If you must execute us," said Frank, in a husky voice, "why not let us +die like men, and not like criminals?" + +"My men would have preferred to be shot," said the rebel, "but were not +allowed the privilege of choosing." So saying, the captain turned on his +heel and walked away, while Frank seated himself on the threshold of the +cabin, and repeated his sentence with a calmness that made him think his +senses were leaving him. Could it be possible that he had heard aright, +and that he was in reality a condemned man? When he had entered the +service, the thought that he should be killed had never once occurred to +him. He had fully and confidently expected that he would be permitted to +live to see the end of the war, and to return home to enjoy the society +of his friends once more. Could it be possible, then, that, after +indulging in such bright anticipations, he must end his life in that +desolate place, away from home and friends, in so terrible a manner? He +could not convince himself that it was a reality. But there was the +tree, with the ropes, and the fatal noose at the end, dangling from the +limb; and there were those blood-thirsty looking men lounging in the +shade, and only waiting until the hour granted by their leader should +expire to begin their horrid work. O, the agony of that moment, when he +could look forward and count the very seconds he had to live! An hour! +How often and how lightly had he spoken of it! For an hour in the life +of one moving about at freedom in the world, not knowing when death will +come, and, as is too often the case, scarcely giving the matter a +moment's thought, is a space of time of very little importance; is +carelessly spoken of, and, when passed, no notice is taken of its +flight. But an hour to a person condemned to die, who has heard his +sentence, and who is bound, and watched over by armed men, that he may +not escape from that sentence; who is in the full possession of all his +faculties; who can look abroad upon the beauties of nature, and feel the +soft breeze of heaven fanning his cheek, but who knows that, at the end +of that time, he will be deprived of all these faculties; that his life +will be suddenly and terribly terminated--in the case of such a person, +who can describe the thoughts that "make up the sum of his heart's +fevered existence?" + +It seemed to Frank that scarcely five minutes of the allotted time had +passed, when the leader of the guerrillas arose from the ground where he +had been sitting. The signal was understood by his men, two of whom +approached the prisoners, and conducted them toward the scaffold. The +mate had been encouraged by the example set him by his officer, and both +walked with firm steps; their faces, although pale as death itself, +being as expressionless as marble, and bearing not the slightest trace +of the struggle that was going on within them. Without the least +hesitation they took their stand on a log under the tree, and the fatal +ropes were adjusted. Their farewells had been said, and the leader of +the rebels had made a signal for the log to be removed from under their +feet, when suddenly there was a sound of approaching horsemen, and the +next moment a party of the Wild-cats galloped up, headed by Colonel +Harrison and Lieutenant Somers. A few harshly-spoken orders rung in +Frank's ears; he saw the leader of the guerrillas fall, pierced by a +dozen bullets, and then all was blank to him. + + * * * * * + +Let us now return to the Wild-cats, whom Frank and the mate had so +unceremoniously deserted. + +The escape was not discovered until morning, when the orderly sergeant +went to the cabin to call them. It was scarcely daylight, and quite dark +inside of the cabin, and as the sergeant opened the door, he +vociferated: + +"Come, Yanks! get out of this and get your grub!" + +The echo of his own voice was the only reply he received. After waiting +a moment, he repeated the summons in a louder tone, and still received +no answer. + +"I'll be dog-gone if them ar Yanks don't sleep at the rate of more'n +forty miles an hour," said the sergeant to himself, as he entered the +cabin and commenced feeling around in the dark to find his prisoners. +"Come now, Yanks!" he exclaimed, "none of your tricks. I know you +heered me. Get up, I say, and get your grub, for it is high time we were +movin'." + +Still no answer. The rebel finally threw open the window-shutter, and by +the straggling rays of light that came in, he found, to his utter +amazement, that his prisoners were gone. With one bound he reached the +open air, and without paying any attention to the inquiries of the guard +as to what was the cause of his strange behavior, he started for the +house, where he hurriedly asked for the colonel. + +"What's the matter now, sergeant?" inquired that gentleman, appearing at +the door with his boots in his hand. + +"The prisoners, sir," began the sergeant---- + +"Well, what's the trouble with them?" asked the colonel, who was very +far from guessing the facts of the case. "Won't the lazy Yankees get up? +Punch 'em with your bayonet a little if they get unruly; that will put +life into them, and keep them civil at the same time." + +"I could manage them easy enough, sir, if they were here," answered the +sergeant; "but, sir, they"---- + +"If they were _here_," repeated the colonel, who now began to suspect +the truth. "If they were here! Have you allowed them to escape?" + +"No, sir, we didn't _let_ them; they went without asking us!" + +"A plague on you lazy scoundrels," shouted the colonel, in a rage. "Let +loose that blood-hound at once, and pursue them. No; stop! Tell the +officer of the day that I want to see him." + +The sergeant started off to execute the order; and the colonel, after +pulling on his boots, entered the house, where Lieutenant Somers and the +people of the plantation were assembled, awaiting breakfast. + +"What's the matter, colonel?" inquired the lieutenant. "Any thing +wrong?" + +"Don't bother me with your foolish questions now," replied the colonel +roughly, pacing up and down the floor with angry strides. "It's enough +to upset any one's patience. That little Yankee has escaped again." + +"Escaped!" repeated all in the room, holding up their hands in +astonishment. + +"Yes; escaped--gone--mizzled--cleared out," said the colonel, +frantically flourishing his arms above his head; "and unless I catch +him, which I don't expect to do, I'm short a captain, for he was to have +been exchanged for one of my officers." + +At this moment the officer of the day entered, and the colonel, turning +to him, continued: + +"That rascally little Yankee has escaped again. I thought I had him safe +this time, but he has succeeded in giving me the slip when I least +expected it. That sailor that we captured with him has gone too. Send a +squad in pursuit of them at once. Use the blood-hound, but hold him in +the leash, and don't injure either of the prisoners if you can avoid +it." + +The officer bowed, and left the room; and the colonel, after giving +orders that the case should be investigated, in order to see who was to +blame in allowing the prisoners to escape, mounted his horse, and, +accompanied by Lieutenant Somers, set out in pursuit of the squad, which +had already started and was following the trail of the fugitives, led by +a large blood-hound, which was kept in check by a chain held by one of +the men. In a couple of hours they arrived at the place where Frank and +the mate had been fired upon by the steamer, and here the trail was +lost. After several hours spent in unavailing search, the squad +separated, and, for two days, scoured the country every-where, looking +in vain for traces of the fugitives. + +At the end of that time, the colonel, completely disheartened, collected +his forces, and was returning to the plantation, when they were met by a +negro, in a great state of excitement, who anxiously inquired for the +commanding officer. + +"Get away from me, boy," shouted the colonel, impatiently, "and don't +bother me now." + +"But, sar," persisted the negro, "Massa Thorne done kotched two white +gemman, an' be gwine to kill 'em, shore." + +"Bill Thorne in this part of the country again!" said the colonel. "He'd +better keep clear of me. He and his pack of horse-thieves are more +injury to us than a Yankee gun-boat;" and the colonel, without waiting +to hear any more, put spurs to his horse, and galloped off. + +"These two white men he caught," said Lieutenant Somers, "what were +they? Yankees?" + +The negro replied in the affirmative, and then proceeded to give a full +and complete description of the prisoners, so that the lieutenant knew +in a moment that they were Frank and the mate. After questioning him as +to the locality where the execution was to take place, he galloped down +the road, and soon overtook the colonel, to whom he related the +circumstance. The latter at once ordered part of his men to follow him, +(directing the others to keep on the trail, so that, in case the negro +was misleading them, no time would be lost.) As we have seen, he arrived +just in time to save his prisoners; one moment more, and he would have +been too late. + +The guerrillas were so completely surprised at the approach of the +cavalry, and so dismayed at the death of their leader, that they did not +think of retreat until it was too late. The Wild-cats had surrounded +them, and the sight of half a dozen revolvers leveled at their heads +caused them to throw down their weapons and cry for quarter. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +Taking Down the Captain. + + +When Frank's consciousness returned, he found himself lying on the floor +of the cabin, where the fight had taken place which resulted in his +capture by the guerrillas, his head supported by a dirty blanket, rolled +up to serve as a pillow, and the mate sitting on a three-legged chair +beside him. Through the open door could be seen a squad of the +Wild-cats, lounging under the shade of the trees. + +Slowly the recollection of the scenes through which he had passed, the +sentence he had heard pronounced, the preparations he had seen made for +his execution, came to his mind, and he instinctively put his hand to +his throat, as if expecting to find it encircled by the fatal rope. + +"Are you on an even keel now, my hearty?" asked the mate. + +"Where are the guerrillas, Jack?" asked Frank. "Are we safe?" + +"O yes, we're safe from them, but we are still prisoners." + +At this moment a shaggy head, nearly covered up with a slouch hat, was +thrust in at the door, and a voice inquired: + +"Are you all right now, Yank? If you are, come out here, for we must be +off." + +Frank, although very weak, was able, with the assistance of the mate, to +walk out of the cabin, where they found several of the rebels mounted, +and waiting for them. They were each given a horse, after which the +Wild-cats closed about their prisoners, as if to put all further +attempts at escape out of the question, and conducted them down the road +at a rapid gallop. + +As soon as Frank's ideas had fairly returned, he began to make inquiries +in regard to the singular manner in which he and the mate had been +rescued, and learned that the men by whom they had been captured were +guerrillas, in spite of what they had said to the contrary; that they +made war on rebel as well as Union people, and being especially +obnoxious to Colonel Harrison--from whom they had stolen several +horses--they had been summarily disposed of. At first Frank could +scarcely credit the statement that they had been rescued through the +agency of the very negro to whom they owed their capture; but, after +being assured that such was the case, it occurred to them that their +approach had first been discovered by the rebels in the cabin, and that +the negro, to save his own life, had acted in obedience to their orders; +and then, to make amends for what had at first appeared to be an act of +treachery, he had conveyed the news of their capture to Colonel +Harrison. + +As soon as they had fairly started, the orderly sergeant galloped up +beside Frank, and inquired: + +"Yank, how did you get out of that cabin that night? Nobody don't seem +to know nothing about it." + +"I have already told him, sir," said the mate, "that we walked by the +sentinel when he was asleep; but he don't believe it." + +Frank then proceeded to give an account of the manner in which their +escape had been effected, and as it corresponded with the mate's story, +the sergeant was compelled to believe it. + +"Purty well done," said he. "But, mind you, don't go to tryin' it on +agin, 'cause, if you do, it's the colonel's orders that you both go in +double irons." + +Having delivered this piece of information, the sergeant rode up to the +head of the column. The prisoners did not again attempt to escape, for +they knew that it would be an impossibility. They were closely watched, +not a single movement escaping observation. Wherever they went, two +stalwart rebels were at their heels; and when they slept, their guards +stood over them with loaded muskets. That same evening they overtook the +main body of the regiment, and on the sixth day after their rescue from +the guerrillas, they arrived opposite the village of Napoleon, where the +exchange was to take place. The Ticonderoga was not there, but two days +afterward she made her appearance; and, as soon as she had dropped her +anchor, a boat was seen approaching the shore with a flag of truce +flying in the bow. The colonel waved his handkerchief in reply. As the +boat drew near, Frank saw two men in rebel uniform seated in the +stern-sheets, and he knew, from the remarks made by the Wild-cats, that +one of them was the officer for whom he was to be exchanged. + +As soon as the boat touched the shore, the executive officer sprang out, +followed by the two rebels. After a moment's conversation with the +colonel, the former advanced toward Frank and the mate, and, after +greeting them cordially, exclaimed: + +"Come aboard the ship, boys; you belong to Uncle Sam once more." + +The mate could scarcely believe that he, too, was exchanged. He had +expected nothing less than a long confinement in Vicksburg, or perhaps a +march to Shreveport; but, as it happened, the captain of the Ticonderoga +had found a rebel soldier on board the flag-ship, and had obtained +permission from the admiral to exchange him for the mate. + +"Yes, Yanks," said the colonel, "you are at liberty to make yourselves +scarce as soon as you choose." + +The prisoners lingered only to shake hands with Lieutenant Somers, who +had treated them very kindly, and had often found means to procure them +many little privileges and comforts, and then ran down the bank and +sprang into the boat, which at once pushed from the shore and started +toward the Ticonderoga. As Frank came over the side, the officers +crowded around him, asking innumerable questions in relation to the +treatment he had received while in the hands of the rebels; but he was +scarcely allowed time to answer one-half of their inquiries before he +was summoned into the presence of the captain. + +That gentleman greeted him in the most cordial manner, requesting him to +be seated and relate his adventures. Frank gave a minute description of +the manner in which he had transacted the business intrusted to him with +the flag of truce, his recapture by the Wild-cats, and the circumstances +that had led to the retention of the boatswain's mate; recounted the +plans he had laid for their escape, their reception by the guerrillas, +and, finally, the rescue from a horrible death, to all of which the +captain listened attentively. After Frank had finished, the captain +said: + +"It is, of course, needless to say that I am overjoyed to see you safe +on board the ship again, Mr. Nelson, and that you have returned none +the worse for your sojourn among the rebels. I am especially glad, +because I wish to make you an explanation. You have been misrepresented +to me, and I was very hasty in reprimanding you as I did on the day that +you behaved so gallantly in the fight at Cypress Bend. It was on account +of the report of Mr. Howe, who assumed command of the expedition after +the captain had been killed. His report showed that we had been severely +whipped; and when I learned what a slaughter there had been of the men I +placed under your command, and which I find, upon inquiry, was caused by +the ignorance of your superior officer, and not by any fault of your +own--I say, when I heard of this, I was so completely disheartened that +I scarcely knew what I was about. It was the first time that ever an +expedition that I had planned failed, and also the first time in my life +that I ever gave the order to retreat; and as I had every reason to hope +for success, you can have some idea of how I felt. After you had gone, +many facts came to light, of which no mention was made in Mr. Howe's +report, and with which I was, of course, unacquainted, and I find that +I have done you a great injustice. If ever a man earned a +shoulder-strap, you did at that fight. I have, however, sent in your +application for a court of inquiry, and have also represented the case +to the admiral. As soon as we arrive at the flag-ship, you will report +to him, and he will investigate the case." + +Frank, as can easily be imagined, listened to this statement with a much +lighter heart than when he had received that unjust reprimand. After the +captain had finished questioning him in relation to incidents that had +transpired during his captivity, he left the cabin, and went forward +into the steerage, where he found his mess just sitting down to dinner. + +"Well, Frank," exclaimed Keys, as the former entered and took his place +at the table, "was the captain glad to see you?" + +"Yes, he appeared to be," replied Frank. + +"I thought as much. He has been as uneasy as a fish out of water ever +since you were captured. He told the executive officer that if there was +any thing he had ever done that he regretted, it was that he had given +you that blowing up. He said that he had no right to talk to you as he +did, and that he would make amends for it at the very first +opportunity." + +"Did he?" inquired Mr. French, eagerly. "I was certain that the navy +regulations state distinctly that the captain of a vessel has no right +to reprimand an officer, and that, if he does do it, he can be made to +apologize. He once gave me a blowing up, and said that I was of no more +account on this ship than an extra boiler; and, if he has apologized to +Mr. Nelson, he must do the same by me. I'll go and see him immediately +after dinner." + +The effect of this speech on the older members of the mess can be easily +imagined. They looked at Mr. French for a moment, to see if he was +really in earnest, and then burst into a fit of the most uproarious +laughter. The idea of forcing the captain of a gun-boat to apologize to +one of his subordinate officers for administering a reprimand that he +really deserved, was ludicrous in the extreme. Mr. Keys was the only one +who could keep a straight face. He, with his ready wit, at once saw that +here was a capital chance to satisfy his love of mischief. He dropped +his knife and fork, looked first at one, then at another, and, when the +noise had subsided, said, quietly: + +"I don't see where the laugh comes in. Perhaps some of you gentlemen +think that an officer has no right to demand an apology from a superior! +Then I can tell you that you are very much mistaken, for I have got the +whole thing in black and white, copied from the navy regulations; and, +if I was in Mr. French's place, I would make the captain take back what +he said, or I would report him." + +We must pause here, for a moment, to say that the result of Mr. French's +interview with the captain, when the former had complained that his rank +was not respected, had become known. Mr. Keys, who had overheard every +word of it, and who was one of those uneasy, mischief-loving fellows who +always liked to see some one in hot water, considered the joke as too +good to be kept, and had told it, confidentially of course, first to +this officer, then to that one, until every person on board the ship had +become acquainted with the particulars; and thus far Mr. French had been +compelled to bear the jokes of his messmates without any chance of +obtaining redress. However, he had discovered it at last. The captain +had apologized to Frank, and he must do the same by him, if he wished to +keep out of trouble. He was certain that he should succeed this time, +for he knew that Keys had been in the service long enough to become well +acquainted with its rules and regulations, and there was such apparent +truthfulness and sincerity in what he said, that Mr. French was certain +of bringing the captain to terms. + +"Yes, sir," repeated Keys; "if my superior officer abuses me, I shall +seek redress. Because a man wears three or four stripes of gold lace +around his arms, he has no right to impose upon me." + +"I shall see the captain about it as soon as I have finished my dinner," +said Mr. French, decidedly. + +"You had better let that job out," said the caterer, who, being a very +quiet, staid sort of a person, did not wish to see any disturbance. "You +will remember that you got a blowing up once for not taking my advice. I +have been in the navy longer than you, and you had better listen to +me." + +"I know that you have more experience than myself," answered French; +"but that experience doesn't tell you that a captain can use me as he +pleases. I have rank as well as he has. Besides, you see, I have the +advantage this time." + +"Yes, sir," chimed in Keys, winking at Frank, who struggled hard to +suppress a laugh, "and, if you will only push the matter, you will see +some fun on this ship." + +Here the subject was dropped. Immediately after dinner was finished, as +usual, the officers all congregated under the awning on the main-deck. +Mr. French walked up and down the deck, conversing earnestly with his +two friends, who, entirely ignorant of what might be the consequences of +such a step, were urging him to seek an interview with the captain, to +demand an apology, which would certainly be given, and would show the +ship's company that they _had_ rank, and that it must be respected. + +Frank had for some time missed Keys, and was wondering what had become +of him, when he discovered that individual on his hands and knees behind +the pilot-house, beckoning eagerly. Frank walked toward him carelessly, +so as not to attract the attention of Mr. French and his friends, and, +as he came up, Keys said, in a hurried whisper: + +"See here, Nelson; you know I told French that I had the rules and +regulations all copied down in my order-book. Now, it has just occurred +to me that he might want to see them; so I want to write something to +show him. I can't get to my room without his seeing me, so I wish you +would lend me your key." + +Frank accordingly produced it; but his conscience reproved him when he +thought in what an unpleasant position his friend was endeavoring to +place Mr. French. + +"Look here, Keys," said he, "I propose that you don't carry this joke +any further. It will get the poor greenhorn in a bad fix." + +"I can't help it," returned Keys. "I have often volunteered to give him +advice, and have tried to convince him that if he ever wants to +understand his business he must make use of somebody's experience +besides his own. But he has always snapped me up very short. Now, if he +wants to learn by experience, I'll help him all I can." + +So saying, Keys crawled off on his hands and knees toward Frank's room, +where he locked himself in, and the latter returned to the main-deck. +About an hour afterward Keys made his appearance, walking rapidly across +the deck, as if searching for something that he was in a great hurry to +find, and thus attracted the attention of Mr. French and his two +friends, who took him familiarly by the arm and led him forward, out of +ear-shot of the other officers, who were still seated on the main-deck. + +"See here, Keys," said French, "I understood you to say that you had the +regulations in relation to the treatment of subordinate officers, copied +in your order-book. Will you allow me to look at them?" + +"Ah, yes," said Keys, "I remember. Here's something that relates to it;" +and he produced his memorandum-book, and pointed to an article hastily +written in lead pencil, which ran as follows: + + "_And be it further enacted_: That, as in the maintenance of his + authority over his officers on shipboard, it is rendered necessary + that the commanding officer should, in all cases, treat his + subordinates as gentlemen, all harsh words from a commanding + officer to an officer of lower grade are hereby strictly + prohibited; and in all cases where the commander is guilty of a + violation of this act, the person aggrieved shall be, and is + hereby, authorized to seek redress." + +"There, gentlemen," exclaimed Mr. French, after he had carefully read +the article, "is an act of the American Congress, which authorizes me to +seek redress. All harsh words in the navy are strictly forbidden; and if +the captain does not apologize for what he said to me, I'll report him." + +"You will please excuse me, gentlemen, for the present," said Keys, who +was finding it exceedingly difficult to control himself. "The turret +must be got ready for inspection at sundown;" and, thrusting the book in +his pocket, he walked rapidly below. + +Mr. French immediately moved aft, and, drawing himself up very stiffly, +said to the orderly: + +"Tell the captain that I have business with him." + +The marine disappeared, and soon returned with a request that he would +walk into the cabin. The captain was seated at his table, writing; but, +as the mate entered, he dropped his pen, turned in his chair, and +waited for him to make known his wants. + +"Captain," began Mr. French, hesitatingly, for he scarcely knew how to +commence the conversation, "I--I--I--have been reading the navy +regulations, and I find that I have been abused." + +"Who has abused you, sir?" + +"Well, you see, sir," began the mate---- + +"I asked you who had been abusing you, sir," interrupted the captain. +"Answer my question, and make your explanations afterward." + +"Well, sir, to come to the point, you have abused me, sir." + +The captain started back in surprise, and looked at the mate for several +moments, as if to make sure that he was in his right mind, and then +quietly asked: + +"How have I abused you, sir?" + +"In reprimanding me, sir. The navy regulations distinctly state that a +commanding officer has no right to use harsh words to his subordinates; +and I demand an apology." + +"Can you furnish me with a copy of those regulations?" + +"Yes, sir; Mr. Keys has them," replied the mate; and he left the cabin, +and commenced searching for that individual. + +We should remark that Mr. Keys was pretty well aware that he would be +likely to get himself into hot water. Wishing to delay the interview +between himself and the captain as long as possible, he had retreated to +the hold, where he appeared to be very busily engaged; but, as soon as +Mr. French made known his errand, he readily produced his book, glad +indeed that he was to be let off without seeing the captain. The mate +carried it into the cabin. The captain read over the article several +times, and then arose from his seat, and, going to one of the +after-ports, appeared to be busily engaged with his own thoughts. Mr. +French stood watching him with a smile of triumph, certain that the +captain had been worsted, and that he would soon receive the required +apology; but, had he been a keen observer, he would have seen that the +captain was convulsed with laughter, which he was vainly endeavoring to +conceal. He easily saw through the trick, and it reminded him of the +days when he was a midshipman, and had been implicated in similar +jokes. + +"Mr. French," said he, at length, "you may retire for a few moments. I +will send for you presently. Orderly, tell Mr. Keys that I wish to see +him." + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +A Practical Joke. + + +Mr. Keys, who began to be really afraid that the plan he had adopted for +assisting his green messmate to "learn by experience" was about to +rebound with redoubled force on his own head, was found by the orderly +in earnest conversation with Frank, to whom he always went for advice. + +"It's getting hot, Nelson," said he. "What shall I do? I'm in for my +share of the rations this time, sure." + +"Make a clean breast of it," replied Frank. "You will only get yourself +in trouble if you do not, for the captain knows exactly how the matter +stands." + +The mate had already determined to make a full confession; but, +nevertheless, his feelings, as he entered the cabin, were not of the +most pleasant nature. His reception, however, was far different from +what he had expected. The captain, as we have seen, was one of the most +reasonable men in the world, if approached in the proper manner, and if +he saw that an officer endeavored to do his duty, he was very patient +with him; if he found that a reprimand was necessary, it was +administered in the most friendly manner; but if he once took it into +his head that an officer had willfully, or through negligence, omitted a +portion of his duty, then, as the ship's company used to remark, it was +"stand from under." Mr. Keys was a great favorite with the captain, as +he was with all his brother officers, who admired his dashing style and +his good-natured disposition. He was never idle, but was always hurrying +about the ship, as if the well-being of every person on board depended +upon himself, and, as a consequence, his duty was always done, and the +deck of which he had charge was kept in the nicest order. + +As he entered the cabin the captain greeted him with a smile. Pointing +to a chair, he inquired, as he commenced turning over the leaves of the +memorandum-book: + +"Mr. Keys, is this some of your work?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the mate. + +"Well, what in the world possessed you to hoodwink Mr. French in this +manner?" + +"Because, sir, he has often informed me, when I have undertaken to +instruct him, that he wishes to learn every thing by experience, sir. I +have been assisting him." + +"Do you think he has improved any with your help?" + +"Yes, sir; he has learned that his authority in the mess-room is not +equal to that of the caterer." + +"Well, I thought you had a hand in that affair," said the captain, "and +now I wish to give you a piece of advice. I, myself, have often been in +such scrapes as this, and have been brought up with a round turn. This +reminds me of a little incident that happened while I was a midshipman +on the Colorado. The story has grown old by this time, but it will be +considered a good one as long as the navy shall exist. There were eight +of us in the mess, and while we were lying at the navy-yard we had +nothing to do but to play tricks upon each other, and upon every one who +came in our way. Our ship was commanded by a commodore who never +bothered his head about us so long as we remained within bounds. As is +always the case, we abused our privileges, grow's bolder by degrees, +until finally the commodore taught us a lesson that we never forgot. + +"One pleasant afternoon, as we were lounging about the decks, waiting +for something to turn up, we saw a green-looking specimen of humanity +come over the side, and, in an instant, were on the alert. He, probably, +had never been on board of a man-o'-war before, for he stared with open +mouth at every thing he saw. Here was a chance for us, and as soon as +the officer of the deck had walked aft, out of sight, we collared the +countryman, and led him back to our mess-room. + +"'By gum, but you have got every thing nice here,' said he. 'I'd like +this better than workin' on a farm.' + +"'Ah, you ought to go up in the commodore's cabin if you want to see +something nice,' said a midshipman, who was our leader in all sorts of +mischief. 'But, look here, my friend, if you wish to remain with us, you +must have on a uniform. No civilians are allowed to stay here.' + +"We all took this as a hint, and commenced rigging the Yankee out in +our clothes. One furnished him with a coat, another a pair of pants, +another a cap, and I gave him a sword that had just been presented to +me. + +"'Now,' said our leader, 'do you want a good dinner--one of the very +best?' + +"'Sartin,' replied the countryman. 'Got any?' + +"'No; but the commodore has, and it is just about his dinner time.' + +"We then explained to him that he must go up to the cabin and tell the +commodore that he had just been ordered to the ship; and, in accordance +with his usual custom, the old gentleman would be certain to invite him +to dinner. + +"'He is very cross sometimes,' said we, 'but don't be at all afraid of +him--he doesn't mean any thing. Talk to him as though he was your +father.' + +"'By gum, I kin do that,' said the Yankee, and off he walked, while we +took up a position where we could hear and see all that passed. + +"The commodore was seated at his desk, writing, and the countryman at +once walked up to him, slapped him familiarly on the shoulder, and +shouted: + +"'Hullo, ole hoss! how de do? Shake hands with a feller, won't ye?' + +"The commodore looked up in surprise, and ejaculated: + +"'Eh! What do you want here? Get out of this. Away you go.' + +"'O no, ole hoss, not by a long shot,' replied the Yankee, coolly +seating himself in the nearest chair. 'Them ar young fellers down stairs +told me to come up here and git some dinner; and, by gravy, I ain't +goin' till I git it; so fetch it on.' + +"Of course, it was as plain as daylight to the commodore that we were at +the bottom of the whole affair, for the countryman never would have had +the audacity to act in such a manner, unless some one had put him up to +it, and he determined to punish us in a manner that we had not thought +of. + +"'Look here, my man,' said he, 'do you see that soldier out there?' +pointing to a marine that was pacing back and forth before the gangway. +'Well, he has got a loaded musket, and unless you get off this ship +instantly, he will shoot you. Now, away you go, you land-lubber, and +don't stop to talk to any body.' + +"We saw our victim moving off, and were convulsed with laughter at what +we considered to be the best joke we had ever perpetrated. We supposed, +of course, that he would return with our clothes, but you can imagine +our astonishment when we saw him walk down the gang-plank and out on to +the wharf. We held a hurried consultation, and then I started for the +cabin, and, making my best bow, asked permission to step ashore for a +moment. + +"'No, sir,' replied the commodore; 'no shore liberty is to be granted +to-day.' + +"In short, we all lost our clothing--every thing that we had loaned the +countryman--and a more crest-fallen set of midshipmen one never saw. We +endeavored to keep the affair a secret, but the commodore told it to the +first lieutenant, and from him it soon spread, until the entire ship's +company were acquainted with the particulars. We were very careful after +that, and never undertook to play any more jokes on the commodore. There +are many things objectionable in this custom--for I can call it nothing +else--which is so general among young officers, of playing off tricks +upon each other; and your jokes are getting a little too practical. If +you must indulge in them, I wish you would endeavor to keep them out of +the cabin, for I don't like to be bothered. That will do, sir." + +Mr. Keys retired, highly pleased with the result of his interview with +the captain, and went straight to Frank, to whom he related every thing, +and showed him the sham "regulation" in his memorandum-book, which had +been the cause of so much merriment. + +Mr. French was soon afterward seen to emerge from the cabin, where he +had listened to a lengthy lecture, containing advice which, if followed, +would in future prevent all difficulty. Of course, all the officers were +soon made acquainted with the affair, and many were the inquiries, in +Mr. French's hearing, as to what kind of an apology the captain had +made. It is needless to say that he was fully convinced that "experience +is a hard taskmaster," and that it is well enough, especially on +shipboard, to take advice. + +A few days after the events which we have just been relating transpired, +the Ticonderoga arrived at Yazoo River. In obedience to his orders, +Frank reported on board the flag-ship. Owing to a press of business, it +was nearly a week before the court of inquiry was convened. Scarcely an +hour was passed in the examination of the witnesses, during which time +the main facts of the case were developed, Frank completely vindicated, +and Mr. Howe, who had reported him, was sent on board of ship in +disgrace. The same evening the former received his promotion as acting +ensign, accompanied by orders to report on board of the Trenton for +duty. + +"I am very glad, for your sake, Mr. Nelson," said the captain, "to be +able to give you this promotion, but very sorry for my own. I regret +exceedingly that you are detached from this vessel, but it is something +over which I have no control. I am perfectly satisfied with your conduct +since you have been with me. If you will attend to your duties in future +as well as you have since you have been here, I will answer for your +rapid advancement." + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +New Messmates. + + +The next morning, immediately after quarters, the second cutter was +called away; and Frank, after seeing his luggage safely stowed away in +her, shook hands with his brother officers, who had gathered on the +quarter-deck to see him off, and started toward his new vessel. + +The cutter had made, perhaps, a dozen yards from the Ticonderoga, when +Frank observed a commotion among the crew assembled on the main-deck, +and the old mate, mounting one of the boat-davits, shouted: + +"Three cheers for Mr. Nelson!" + +The cheers were given with a will, and Frank answered them by taking off +his cap. It was one of the happiest moments of his life. He knew that +while attached to the Ticonderoga he had endeavored to do his whole +duty. The shoulder-straps which he wore showed that his services had +been appreciated by the captain, and the hearty expression of good +feeling which had just been exhibited by the men, afforded abundant +proof that he had left no enemies among them. + +When he arrived alongside of the Rover, he found the officer of the +deck, boatswain's mate, and side-boys standing on the after-guard, and +Frank was "piped over the side" with all the ceremony due his rank. It +made him feel a little embarrassed at first, for never before had so +much respect been shown him. But he knew that he had won the uniform he +wore by hard knocks, and was more entitled to this honor than those who +sported ensign's shoulder-straps which had been obtained, not by any +skill or bravery of their own, but by the influence of friends at home. + +Frank made known his business, and was immediately shown down into the +cabin. The captain, who had often met him on board of the Ticonderoga, +and who had heard of his exploits, greeted him cordially, and was glad +to learn that he had received such an acquisition to his crew. When he +had endorsed Frank's orders, he sent for the chief engineer, to whom he +introduced him, with a request that he might be made acquainted with the +other officers of his mess; after which Frank was shown to his room, +whither his luggage was soon conveyed. + +Just before supper he was introduced to the officers belonging to the +ward-room mess; but when he had seated himself at the table, and +listened a few moments to the conversation that followed, he found that +some of his new messmates went by names very different from those by +which they had been introduced. One of the ensigns, whose name was +Andrews, was known as Count Timbertoes, from the very dignified manner +in which he always conducted himself, and from his wooden-leg style of +progression. + +The executive officer, whose name was Short, answered to its +opposite--Long; and sometimes, behind his back, he was called "Windy." +Frank was not long in discovering why it was that such a name had been +given him, for he was certainly the most talkative man he had ever met; +and when asked the most simple question, instead of answering it by a +plain Yes or No, he would "beat about the bush," and deliver a regular +oration on the subject. He had a great command of language, and seemed +desirous of making every one whom he met acquainted with the fact. + +The paymaster went by the name of Young Methuselah. He was a man about +twenty-seven years of age, but the account kept by one of the engineers, +who messed in the steerage, made him about two hundred and eighty years +old. There was scarcely a trade or profession in the world that, +according to his own account, he had not followed for five or ten years. +He had been a shoemaker, a painter, a grocer, a horse-jockey, and an +editor; had practiced medicine, traveled in Europe, and, when a mere +boy, had been master of as fine a vessel as ever sailed out of Boston. +He was a "self-made man," he said, and early in life had started out +with the intention of seeing the world. This was the reason he gave for +following so many different occupations. + +Unlike the rest of the officers, he disliked very much the name they had +given him, and had often complained to the caterer of the mess, and +finally to the captain. The former took no measures to correct it, and +the latter "didn't want to be troubled with mess affairs," and so the +paymaster was compelled to bear his troubles, which he did with a very +bad grace, that only made matters tenfold worse. It was a noticeable +fact, however, that, whenever any of the officers were in need of money, +he was always addressed as _Mr._ Harris, but as soon as the money had +been obtained, or the safe was empty, he was plain Methuselah again. + +The chief-engineer's name was Cobbs, but he went by the name of +Gentleman Cobbs, from the fact that he was always dressed in the height +of fashion, sported his gold-headed cane and patent-leather boots about +decks, and had never been known to "do a stitch of work" since he had +been on board the vessel. + +These names were, of course, applied only in the mess-room, for the +captain was a regular naval officer, a very strict disciplinarian, and +any such familiarity on deck would have brought certain and speedy +punishment on the offender. On the whole, Frank was very well pleased +with his new messmates; they seemed to be a set of generous, +good-natured men, and, aside from the grumbling of the paymaster, which +was kept up without intermission from morning until night, but which +received no attention from the other members of the mess, every thing +passed off smoothly. The ward-room was kept scrupulously clean and neat, +and the manner in which all the delicacies of the season were served up +bore testimony to the fact that, although Gentleman Cobbs was very much +averse to work, he well understood the business of catering, and was +fond of good living. + +After dinner, the officers belonging to both the steerage and ward-room +messes congregated on the main-deck, under the awning, to smoke. During +the conversation the carpenter, who went by the name of "Chips," +remarked, as he wiped the big drops of perspiration from his forehead: + +"This boat is intolerable. I would like to be where I was six years ago +this summer." + +"Where was that?" + +"I was in a whale-ship, off the coast of Greenland. I was tired enough +of it then, but now I'd like to have just one breath of air off those +icebergs." + +"So would I," said the paymaster. "It would be so refreshing." + +At this, a little, dumpy man, who had sat lolling back in his chair, +with his hat pushed down over his eyes, and his cigar, which he had +allowed to go out, pointing upward toward his left cheek, started up, +and carelessly inquired: + +"Were you ever there, sir?" + +"Yes, when I was a youngster. I went up there just to see the country. I +spent five years on the voyage." + +The dumpy man made no answer, but there was a roguish twinkle in his +eye, as he drew a little memorandum-book from his pocket, and, after +deliberately placing it on his knee, proceeded to make the following +entry, on a page which was headed "Chronological Tables," and which was +covered on one side with writing, and on the other by a long column of +figures: + + Paymaster spent on voyage to Greenland 5 years. + +After adding up the column of figures, he closed the book and returned +it to his pocket. Then, turning to the paymaster, he quietly remarked: + +"Four hundred and eighty-five years old! That's doing well-extremely +well. You don't look as old as that, sir. You won't find one man in five +hundred hold his age as well as you do." + +The effect of this speech on the officers sitting around was ludicrous +in the extreme, and had the party been in the mess-room the dumpy man +might possibly have been obliged to "run a race" with a boot-jack, or +any other missile that came handy to the paymaster; but as it was, the +latter was compelled to choke down his wrath, and leave the deck. + +Frank also found that these strange cognomens were common in the +steerage; one, in particular, he noticed. It was a master's mate, who +went by the name of "Nuisance." He was as "green" as he could possibly +be, and, although he seemed to try hard to learn his duty, was +continually getting himself into trouble. He had a room off the +quarter-deck, (the same that Frank was to occupy,) but seemed to prefer +any other room than his own; for, when off watch, he would take +possession of the first bunk that suited his fancy; and, not +unfrequently, boots, neck-ties, collars, etc., which had been missed, +were found upon his person. It was not his intention to _steal_ them, +for the articles were always returned after he had worn them to his +satisfaction. If an officer went into his room to write, or to engage in +any other business at which he did not wish to be disturbed, the mate +was sure to be on hand, and hints were of no avail; nothing but a direct +"Clear out--I don't want you in here," would have the desired effect. It +was this habit that had given him the name he bore. One would suppose +that after receiving so many rebuffs he would cease to trouble his +brother officers; but he seemed to be very dull of comprehension. The +executive officer scolded him continually. Finding that it did no good, +the officers were obliged, as a last resort, to keep their rooms locked. +Had the mate been of a surly, unaccommodating disposition, he would not +have got off so easily; but no one could have the heart to report him, +for every one liked him. He was always cheerful, ready to do any one a +favor, and was generous to a fault. Frank at once took a liking to his +new room-mate, but, having been duly instructed by the others, he took +particular pains to keep all his wearing apparel, when not in use, +safely locked in his trunk. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +A Good Night's Work. + + +Frank's past history soon became known to every one on board the +Trenton, for several of the crew had acquaintances on board of the +Ticonderoga, and when they were allowed liberty, had taken pains to +inquire into the character of their new officer. He was scarcely allowed +time to become settled down in his new quarters, before he was given an +opportunity to establish his reputation among his messmates. Information +was received that the rebels were intending to cross a large body of +cavalry about twenty miles above the Yazoo River, and the Trenton was +ordered up the Mississippi to prevent it, if possible. + +For several days they patrolled the river near the suspected point, but +nothing unusual was seen; neither could any intelligence of the +contemplated move be obtained from the people on shore. There were +several houses on the beat, and in one of them lived a Frenchman, who, +as he said, having claimed the protection of his own country, was not +compelled to bear arms; neither was he at all interested in the war. It +was near his house, however, that the crossing of the cavalry was to +take place, and the captain of the Trenton thought that this neutral +Frenchman would bear watching. + +Although there were several white women on the premises, he was the only +man who had been seen; and he seemed to be in constant anxiety lest the +rebels should confiscate a large drove of cattle he had at a pasture +back in the country, and was in the habit of riding out twice each week +to "see to them," as he said. There was something suspicious in this, +for persons as much in want of provisions as the rebels were reported to +be--as they had gathered up all the stock in the country for miles +around Vicksburg--would not be likely to respect such property, although +it did belong to a neutral. + +The captain and his officers mingled freely with the people, who +appeared to be eager to communicate all the plans of the rebels with +which they had become acquainted. Frank, as usual, was on the watch; and +if he sometimes paid a visit to the house, he was more frequently seen +questioning the negroes--of whom there were about half a dozen on the +plantation, the others having been compelled to leave their master to +work on the fortifications--who were either profoundly ignorant of what +was going on, or else were true rebels. There was one negro, in +particular, in whom the young officer was interested. He was a tall, +muscular fellow, black as midnight, about whom there was a kind of +sneaking, hangdog look that Frank did not like. He always accompanied +his master on his trips to attend his cattle, and Frank felt confident +that if any one about the plantation knew of any thing suspicious going +on, it was this negro; but, in spite of his efforts, he could not find +an opportunity to talk with him, for the negro was generally in the +company of his master, and, when alone, seemed to take particular pains +to avoid the young officer. This was enough to arouse his suspicions, +and he determined to watch him closely. He reported the matter to the +captain, who readily granted his request that he might be allowed to +spend his time, when off watch, on shore. + +A week passed, but nothing had been developed. At length, one morning +the Frenchman prepared to pay his usual visit to the country. The negro +was to accompany him, and as Frank saw them about to move off, he +inquired, carelessly: + +"Haven't you got another horse? If you have, I should like to go with +you." + +"O, no," answered the man, quickly, "I have no other horse; and if I +had, it wouldn't do for you to go, for you would certainly get +captured." + +This set Frank to thinking. The Frenchman had often told him that there +were no rebels in that section of the country, and now his excuse for +not wanting company was that Frank would be captured. There was +something suspicious in this. After seeing the man depart, he hailed the +ship for a boat, and as soon as he arrived on board, sought an interview +with the captain. + +"I do not believe, sir," said he, "that this Frenchman owns any stock in +the country. It is my opinion that he goes out there to hold +communication with the rebels. He's a sort of spy and messenger-boy, +and relies on his nationality to protect him from suspicion." + +Frank then related the particulars of what had transpired at the house, +and the captain readily agreed with him. But the question was, how to +proceed, in order to ascertain what was going on, and what kind of +information was furnished the rebels. It was impossible to follow the +men on their trips without being discovered; neither was it policy to +seize the man, accuse him of treachery, and compel him to confess the +truth, for the plot, whatever it was, might not be completed, and it +might be necessary to keep the Frenchman in ignorance of the fact that +his complicity with the rebels had become known, in order that, when the +work was completed, it might be finished up entirely. + +"Well, to tell the truth," said the captain, rising from his chair and +pacing up and down the cabin, "I really don't know how to act. That +something is wrong, I have long been satisfied; but I don't know how to +go to work to find out what it is." + +"I believe I can find it out, sir," said Frank, who, with his usual +promptness, had determined upon a plan. "They will return this afternoon +about three o'clock, and, with your permission, I'll see what I can do." + +"Very well," replied the captain, in a tone which showed that he did not +anticipate his success. "Go ahead; but be careful not to excite their +suspicions." + +Such a commission as this--something requiring skill and judgment--was +just what suited Frank, and, having laid his plans, he felt confident of +success. At half-past two a boat was called away, and he, in company +with the mate--both armed with revolvers--went on shore. Frank walked up +to the house and seated himself on the portico, while the mate, +previously instructed, strolled off toward the barn. + +There were two officers in the house belonging to the vessel, and Frank +had spent but a few moments in conversation with them, when the +Frenchman and the negro rode up. The former dismounted and greeted the +officers with apparent cordiality, but Frank scarcely noticed him, for +his eyes were upon the negro, who rode off toward the barn to put up the +horses. Frank arose from his seat and followed slowly after him. As the +officers were accustomed to roam wherever they pleased about the +plantation, no notice was taken of his movements. When he reached the +barn where the negro was unsaddling the horses, he entered and closed +the door behind him. The negro became terrified when he found himself +thus confronted, for suspicions that he and his master had been +discovered instantly flashed across his mind. + +"Ah, I know that you are guilty, you rascal," said Frank, triumphantly, +as he noticed the man's trepidation. "Come here; I want to have a few +moments' conversation with you on a very important subject. Come here." + +The negro dropped the saddle which he had just taken from one of the +horses, and stood for a moment undecided how to act; then springing +forward like a tiger, he thrust the officer aside, and endeavored to +open the door. Quick as thought, Frank grappled with him, but the negro +was a most powerful fellow, and would no doubt have succeeded in +escaping, had not the mate sprang from a manger, where he had lain +concealed, and felled him to the floor with a blow from the butt of his +revolver. For some time he lay insensible, in spite of the buckets of +water which were dashed over him; but at length he began to recover. +When he was able to sit up, the mate stationed himself at the door to +guard against surprise, and Frank proceeded to interrogate the negro. + +"In the first place," said he, "I guess you have found that we are in +earnest, haven't you?" + +The negro felt of his head, but made no reply. + +"Now," continued Frank, "unless you answer every question I ask you, +I'll take you on board the ship as a prisoner. What do you and your +master go out into the country for, twice every week?" + +The negro still remained silent, and Frank, finally growing impatient, +exclaimed, "Here, Jack, take this scoundrel on board the ship; I guess +we can find means to make him open his mouth." + +"O, my master will kill me," whimpered the negro, trembling violently. +"If I don't tell you every thing, you will kill me; and if I do, my +master will kill me, too; so I shall die any way." + +"No you won't; just tell me the truth, and I'll see that no one harms +you. Your master need know nothing about it; we shall not be likely to +tell him. Now, what is there out in the country that you go to see so +often?" + +"Torpedoes," replied the negro, in a low voice, gazing about the barn +with a frightened air, as if he expected to see his master appear before +him in some magical manner. + +"Torpedoes!" repeated Frank. "Where are they?" + +"In a little creek about six miles from here." + +"Who is making them? Are there any rebels there?" + +"Yes; there is a colonel, major, and lieutenant there; but my master's +black men are doing the work." + +By adroit questioning--for the negro was very careful to answer no +further than he was asked--Frank finally gleaned the whole particulars. +One piece of information troubled him not a little, and that was, an +attempt was soon to be made to blow up the Trenton. He also learned the +number of the torpedoes, the manner of operating with them, and other +particulars that will soon appear. He was then as much puzzled as ever, +and paced the floor of the barn, undecided how to act. The time set for +the sinking of the Trenton was Friday night, (it was then Thursday), and +as information of her movements was every day conveyed to the rebels, +the question was, how to keep them in ignorance that their plot had been +discovered, so that the work might be carried on as usual. There was, +apparently, but one way, and that was to hold out inducements to the +negro. + +"See here," Frank suddenly exclaimed, "you are between two fires now." + +"I know that," replied the negro, well aware that he was in a most +precarious situation; "I know that. But what am I to do?" + +"Well, this is what you must do," answered Frank; "go off and attend to +your business, just as you did before. Of course you won't be foolish +enough to say a word about this meeting to any one around the +plantation; but if every thing does not transpire to-morrow night just +as you said it would, I shall think that you have been telling some one, +and that the plot is discovered, and then you're a goner. But if you +will assist me, I will take care of you; I will take you on board the +ship, and make a free man of you." + +The negro, who had been worked up to the highest pitch of terror at the +turn affairs were taking, brightened up when the words "free man" struck +his ear, and Frank, who was a pretty good judge of human nature, could +easily read what was passing in his mind, and knew that in the negro he +had a faithful coadjutor. + +"Now, if you are certain that you understand what I mean," said he, "be +off. Go out the back door, so that no one will see you from the house; +and remember that your freedom depends upon the manner in which you +behave yourself." + +The negro arose from the floor, and speedily made his exit. After +waiting long enough to allow him to reach the house, Frank and the mate +slipped out of the front door. Giving the negro quarters a wide berth, +they approached the house in a different direction from that in which +they had left it. + +The mate had been instructed to keep the affair a profound secret, for, +now that they had succeeded in working out so much of the plot, they +wished to have the honor of completing it. + +After a few moments' conversation with the Frenchman at the house, they +repaired on board the vessel. + +"I have returned, sir," said Frank, as he entered the cabin. + +"So I see," replied the captain, good-humoredly, "and have, I suppose, +accomplished nothing." + +"No, sir; I can't say that," answered Frank, guardedly. "I HAVE +accomplished considerable. I know that the Frenchman is a spy; that he +has daily communication with the rebels, and that his story of visiting +his stock in the country is nonsense. He has about as many cattle there +as I have." + +"Have you indeed succeeded?" inquired the captain, in surprise. + +"Well, no, sir, not entirely," replied Frank, who did not know how much +it was best to tell the captain. "I have learned more than that, but it +takes time to complete the work. Before I go further, sir, I should like +authority to manage the affair myself. After I have gone as far as I +have, I shouldn't like to be superseded." + +"That was not my intention. No one shall be placed over you. If you can +accomplish any thing more, do it. But what else did you hear?" + +Frank then related the result of the interview between himself and the +negro, and then left the cabin, with repeated assurances that his plans +for capturing the rebels should not be interfered with. + +The next day, it seemed to Frank, moved on laggard wings; but afternoon +came at length. He then went on shore, and after having learned from the +negro that every thing was working as nicely as could be wished, +returned, and commenced making his preparations for the night's work. At +eight o'clock he again left the vessel in a small skiff, with two +negroes for a crew, and the mate shortly followed in the cutter, with +twenty men, all well armed. The former held up the river, and the cutter +pulled in an opposite direction. The officers of the ship were, of +course, very much surprised at these movements. As they had not been +informed of what was going on, they thronged the forward part of the +deck, watching the expedition as long as it remained in sight. + +The night was dark as pitch, but it could not have been better for their +purpose; and Frank was highly delighted at the handsome manner in which +all his plans were working, and which promised complete success. He held +his course up the river until he arrived at a small creek whose mouth +was almost concealed by thick bushes and trees. He boldly entered this +creek, but had not proceeded far when a voice hailed: + +"Who comes there?" + +"Death to the Yankees," promptly replied Frank. + +"Why, you're half an hour ahead of time," said the voice. "Didn't the +Yanks see you as you came up?" + +"I'll wager a good deal they did," said another voice. "It would be just +our luck to have the whole affair knocked in the head. But we'll make +the attempt, any way. Come up here." + +It was so dark in the creek that Frank could scarcely see his hand +before him; but he knew pretty well who it was addressing him. Pulling +up the creek, in obedience to the order, he came in sight of a boat +lying close to the bank, in the shade of the bushes that hung out over +the water. In this boat were seated three men, two of whom were holding +in their hands several ropes that led to a dark object that lay in the +water astern of the skiff. + +"Here's the torpedo," said one of the men, as Frank came alongside, and +as he spoke he passed the ropes over to the young officer. "Just drop +silently down the river as far as you can without being discovered, and +then cast off the torpedo, and let it float down on to the Trenton. +We'll go up on the bank and watch the experiment." + +"Gentlemen," said Frank, suddenly pulling a brace of revolvers from his +pocket, "you are my prisoners." + +As he spoke, the negroes threw down their oars and sprang into the +skiff. Before the rebels could draw a weapon, they were powerless in the +strong grasp of Frank's sable coadjutors. The prisoners were the colonel +and major of whom the negro at the plantation had spoken. The third +person in the boat was one of the Frenchman's slaves, who had rowed the +boat down the creek for the rebels. He had jumped to his feet as if +about to escape, but had been collared by one of Frank's negroes, and +thrown into the bottom of the boat, where the fear of the revolvers kept +him quiet. + +"What's the meaning of all this?" asked the colonel, as he struggled +furiously to free himself. + +[Illustration] + +"It means," replied Frank, coolly, "that you are prisoners in the hands +of those you sought to destroy. So surrender yourselves without any more +fuss. Make their hands fast, boys." + +The negroes, who seemed to be well prepared, drew from their pockets +several pieces of stout cord, with which they proceeded to tie the arms +of the rebels, who, finding that escape was impossible, submitted to the +operation without any further resistance. As soon as they were secured, +Frank made the torpedo fast to the bank, after which he and his men, +with the prisoners, disembarked, and commenced marching toward the +house. They had proceeded but a short distance when they received a +challenge, to which Frank replied, when they were joined by three of the +crew, who had been stationed on the bank by the mate, to capture the +rebels, in case they should escape from his officer. The prisoners were +given into their charge, and Frank continued his march toward the house, +congratulating himself that, although his work was but half done, he had +succeeded beyond his expectations. + +The field about the house was silent as death, but he knew that the mate +had neglected none of his instructions, and that trusty men were hidden +all around him, ready at any moment to lend effective assistance. +Arriving at the door, he pounded loudly upon it with the butt of his +revolver. The summons was answered by the Frenchman, who gazed upon our +hero with surprise, not unmingled with a feeling of alarm. + +"I'm glad to see you," said Frank. "You're just the chap I want." + +The Frenchman comprehended at once that he had been betrayed. Drawing a +pistol, he leveled it full at Frank's head, but before he had time to +fire, a blow from a saber in the hands of one of the negroes, who had +followed close behind Frank, knocked the weapon from his grasp. The next +moment the back door of the room was suddenly opened, and the Frenchman +was clasped in the sturdy arms of the mate. + +"Give him to some of the men, Jack," said Frank, "and then follow me +quick, or we may be too late." + +The order was obeyed, and the mate, accompanied by the two negroes, +followed Frank, who led the way back to the creek where the torpedo had +been captured. They were just in the "nick of time," for, as they +approached, they distinctly heard a voice inquire: + +"Where's the colonel? Here's the torpedo, made fast to the bank. I +wonder if there is any thing wrong?" + +Frank and the mate at once became more cautious in their movements, but +their approach had already been discovered, for the lieutenant called +out: + +"Who goes there?" + +"Yankees," replied Frank, stepping out from the bushes, with a revolver +in each hand. "Come out here, and surrender!" + +The rebel was taken so completely by surprise that he seemed deprived of +all power of action. He could hardly realize that he was a prisoner, +until Frank repeated his order in a more decided manner, adding, "I'm a +good shot at that distance." The lieutenant evidently did not doubt +this, for he arose to his feet, and sprang out upon the bank. The +prisoners having now all been secured, Frank collected his men and +returned on board his vessel. + +We will now pause to explain. Frank, as we have seen, had learned from +the negro that one of the torpedoes would be finished by Friday night; +that it was to be towed down the creek to the river by the colonel and +major, who were to put it in working order, and deliver it to the +lieutenant, who, with two negroes to row his boat, was to leave the +plantation at half-past eight o'clock, to note the exact position of the +Trenton, so that, after getting the torpedo into position, he could +allow it to float down upon the vessel. The Frenchman was to be on +board, and, with the assistance of the negroes, was to capture any who +might escape the explosion. Frank had laid his plans to capture the +lieutenant first; but, through fear of creating a disturbance, or being +seen from the house, he had been compelled to abandon the idea, and had +started half an hour earlier, that he might secure the lieutenant after +the capture of the others had been effected, and before he would have +time to discover that any thing was wrong. His plans had all worked so +admirably, that he was not a little elated with his success. It was a +happy moment for him when he brought his prisoners over the side of the +vessel, and conducted them to the quarter-deck, where the captain and +all the officers were waiting to receive them. The necessary +explanations were soon given, after which the prisoners were ordered +below, and Frank retired to his room, well satisfied with his night's +work. + +The next morning an expedition went ashore, accompanied by the captain. +After destroying the torpedo which had been captured the night before, +they were conducted by the negro to the place where several more were in +process of completion. These also were demolished. While thus engaged, +one of the sentinels, which Frank had posted a short distance up the +road, fired his gun, and commenced retreating. Frank at once formed his +men in line, in readiness for an attack. Shortly afterward a company of +cavalry came galloping around a bend in the road, and fired their +carbines at the sentinel, who ran for dear life. They halted, however, +on seeing the preparations made to receive them, and the captain, taking +advantage of this, ordered Frank to fire. The muskets cracked in rapid +succession, and, when the smoke cleared away, the sailors saw several +riderless horses galloping about, showing that their fire had been +effective. + +The rebels scattered in all directions, and, dismounting, concealed +themselves behind logs and bushes, and commenced fighting in their +regular Indian fashion. The captain, knowing that such an action would +not result advantageously to him, and having accomplished the work for +which he had set out, ordered the sailors to fall back slowly. As they +obeyed, the rebels commenced pursuing; but the expedition reached the +river without the loss of a single man. The officer in command of the +vessel, hearing the firing, commenced shelling the woods, and under +cover of this fire the sailors reached the ship in safety. + +The work which had been assigned the Trenton had not been accomplished, +but as the time allotted for her stay had expired, she started the next +morning to join the fleet at Yazoo River. The prisoners were delivered +over to the commanding naval officer--the admiral being below the +batteries--to whom a flattering mention was made of Frank, and the +skillful manner in which he had performed his work. The young officer +received the assurance that his gallant exploit should not be +overlooked. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. + +In the Trenches. + + +The day after their arrival at Yazoo River an officer from the flag-ship +came on board. After holding a short consultation with the captain, the +order was given to get the ship under way, when, as soon as the anchor +was weighed, they steamed down the river. + +What could be the meaning of this new move? Were their services needed +below Vicksburg, and were they about to imitate the Queen of the West, +and run by the batteries in broad daylight? That hardly seemed to be the +case, for the men were not called to quarters, and the officers were +allowed to remain on deck. Every one was excited, and many were the +speculations indulged in as to what was to be the next duty the Trenton +would be called on to perform. To the impatient men, the seven miles +that lay between Yazoo River and Vicksburg seemed lengthened into a +hundred; but at length they rounded the point above the mouth of the +canal, and saw before them the Sebastopol of the Rebellion. It was the +first time Frank had ever seen the city, and it was a sight that he +would not have missed for a good deal. On the heights above the city, +and even in the streets, the little mounds of earth thrown up showed +where rebel cannon were mounted, and now and then a puff of smoke would +rise from one of these mounds, and a shell would go shrieking toward the +solid lines of the besiegers, which now completely inclosed the rebels, +while an occasional roar of heavy guns told them that the iron-clads +still kept close watch on the movements of the enemy below. + +The right of the army rested on the river, above the city, and here the +Trenton landed, just out of range of the batteries. Preparations were at +once made to move some of the guns on shore. The ones selected were +those belonging to Frank's division, and they were to be mounted in the +batteries above the city, and about a quarter of a mile from the river. +It was something of a task to move the battery that distance, but Frank +and his men worked incessantly, and on the second night the guns were +brought to the place where it was proposed to mount them. The sailors, +although almost exhausted, at once commenced throwing up a battery; but +as soon as the day dawned, a couple of shells, whistling over their +heads, admonished them that it was time to cease. After a hearty +breakfast on the rations they had brought with them, the men lay down in +the trenches, and, wearied with their night's work, slept soundly, in +spite of the roar of cannon and the rattling of musketry that had +commenced as soon as it became light enough for the combatants to +distinguish each other. But life in the trenches was a new thing to +Frank, and he walked through the rifle-pits, every-where cordially +greeted by the soldiers, who liked the looks of these big guns, with +which they knew he had something to do, and who made their boasts that, +as soon as the "beauties" were mounted and in position, they would +"square accounts" with the rebels. There was one gun in particular that +annoyed the soldiers exceedingly, and prevented them from working on the +trenches. Every time a shell flew over their heads, they would exclaim, +"Shoot away there, for this is your last day;" and Frank was obliged to +promise, over and over again, that his first care should be to dismount +that gun. + +Frank found that, the further he went, the nearer the rifle-pits +approached to the city; and finally he came to a group of soldiers who +appeared to be conversing with some invisible persons. As he approached, +he heard a voice, which seemed to come from the ground, almost at his +side, exclaim: + +"I say, Yank, throw over your plug of tobacco, won't you?" + +"Can't see it, Johnny," replied one of the soldiers. "You wouldn't throw +it back again." + +"Yes, I will, honor bright," answered the rebel. + +"Why," exclaimed Frank, in surprise, "I didn't know that you had pushed +your lines so close to the enemy's works!" + +"Yes," said a lieutenant, who at this moment came up, "there's a rebel +rifle-pit not four feet from you." + +"Here," said a soldier, handing Frank his gun, "put your cap on this +bayonet and hold it up, and you'll soon see how far off they are." + +Frank did as the soldier suggested. The moment he raised his cap above +the rifle-pit, a bayonet was suddenly thrust out, and when it was drawn +in, his cap went with it. + +"Now, look at that!" exclaimed Frank. "It's very provoking!" + +"Aha, Yank! you're minus that head-piece," shouted a voice, which was +followed by a roar of laughter from the rebels, and from all the +soldiers in the rifle-pit who had witnessed the performance. + +"I'm sorry, sir," said the soldier. "I did not want you to lose your +cap." Then, raising his voice, he shouted--"Johnny, throw that cap back +here!" + +"O, no," answered the rebel; "but I'll trade with you. A fair exchange +is no robbery, you know," and as he spoke a hat came sailing through the +air, and fell into the rifle-pit. It was a very dilapidated looking +affair, bearing unmistakable proofs of long service and hard usage. + +"Say, Yank," continued the rebel, "do you see a hole in the crown of +that hat?" + +"Do you call this thing a hat?" asked Frank, lifting the article in +question on the point of his sword, and holding it up to the view of the +soldiers. "It bears about as much resemblance to a hat as it does to a +coffee-pot." + +"I don't care what you call it," returned the rebel; "I know it has seen +two years' hard service. That hole you see in the crown was made by one +of your bullets, and my head was in the hat at the time, too." + +"Well, throw me my cap," said Frank; "I don't want to trade." + +"What will you give?" + +"We will return your hat, and give you a big chew of tobacco to boot," +said the lieutenant. + +"That's a bargain," said the rebel. "Let's have it." + +"We are not doing a credit business on this side of the house," answered +Frank. "You throw over my cap first." + +"You're sure you don't intend to swindle a fellow? Upon your honor, +now." + +"Try me and see," replied Frank, with a laugh. + +"Here you are, then;" and the missing cap was thrown into the rifle-pit, +and a soldier restored it to its owner. It was rather the worse for its +short sojourn in the rebel hands, for there was a bayonet hole clear +through it. + +"Say, you rebel," exclaimed Frank, "why didn't you tell me that you had +stuck a bayonet into my cap?" + +"Couldn't help it, Yank," was the answer. "Come now, I've filled my part +of the contract, so live up to your promise. Remember, you said honor +bright." + +"Well here's your hat," replied Frank; and he threw the article in +question over to its rebel owner. + +"And here's your tobacco, Johnny," chimed in a soldier, who cut off a +huge piece of the weed, and threw it after the hat. + +"Yank, you're a gentleman," said the rebel, speaking in a thick tone, +which showed that the much coveted article had already found its way +into his mouth. "If I've got any thing you want, just say so, and you +can have it; any thing except my weapons." + +Frank, who was so much amused at what had just taken place that he +laughed until his jaws ached, returned his mutilated cap to his head, +and, in company with the lieutenant, continued his ramble among the +rifle-pits, the latter explaining the operations of the siege, and the +various incidents that had transpired since it commenced. The +rifle-pits, the entire length of General Sherman's command, were close +upon those of the rebels, and the soldiers of both sides were compelled +to suspend operations almost entirely. If a man raised his head to +select a mark for his rifle, he would find a rebel, almost within reach, +on the watch for him. The soldiers were very communicative, and all +along the line Frank saw groups of men holding conversation with their +invisible enemies. + +After viewing the works to his satisfaction, Frank accompanied the +lieutenant to his quarters--a rude hut, which had been hastily built of +logs and branches, situated in a deep hollow, out of reach of the +enemy's shells. Here he ate an excellent dinner, and then retraced his +steps, through the rifle-pits, back to the place where his battery was +to be mounted. Throwing himself upon a blanket, he slept soundly until +night. + +As soon as it became dark, the work of mounting the guns commenced, and +was completed in time to allow the weary men two hours' rest before +daylight. Frank had charge of one of the guns, and an ensign attached to +one of the iron-clads commanded the other. The whole was under the +command of the captain of the Trenton. As soon as the enemy's lines +could be discerned, Frank, in accordance with the promises made the day +before, prepared to commence the work of dismounting the battery which +had given the soldiers so much trouble. He pointed his gun himself, and +gave the order to fire. With the exception of now and then a +musket-shot, or the occasional shriek of a shell as it went whistling +into the rebel lines, the night had been remarkably quiet, and the roar +that followed Frank's order awoke the echoes far and near, causing many +a soldier to start from his blanket in alarm. A shell from the other gun +quickly followed, and the soldiers, as soon as they learned that the +"gun-boat battery" had opened upon the rebel works, broke out into +deafening cheers. They had great confidence in the "beauties," as they +called the monster guns, for they had often witnessed the effect of +their shells, and knew that those who worked them well understood their +business. Frank had opened the ball, and in less than half an hour the +firing became general all along the line. The gun against which their +fire was directed replied briskly; but after a few rounds the battery +got its exact range--an eight-inch shell struck it, and it disappeared +from sight. Cheers, or, rather, regular "soldier-yells"--a noise that is +different from every other sound, and which can not be uttered except by +those who have "served their time" in the army--arose the whole length +of the line, as the soldiers witnessed the effect of the shot, and knew +that their old enemy would trouble them no more. + +In obedience to the captain's order, the fire of the battery was then +directed toward different parts of the rebel works. The "beauties" +performed all that the soldiers had expected of them, for they were well +handled, and the huge shells always went straight to the mark. At dark +the firing ceased, and Frank, tired with his day's work, ate a hearty +supper, and threw himself upon his blanket to obtain a few moments' +rest. + +The soldiers from all parts of the line at length began to crowd into +the battery, examining every part of the guns, and listening to the +explanations given by the old quarter-gunner, who, although almost +tired out, was busy cleaning the guns, and could not think of rest until +the battery had been put in readiness for use on the morrow. At length a +man approached the spot where Frank was reposing, and, seating himself +at his side, commenced an interesting conversation. Frank soon learned +that his visitor was one of the most noted scouts in the Union army. He +was a tall, broad-shouldered man, straight as an arrow, and evidently +possessed a great deal of muscular power. Though ragged and dirty, like +his companions, there was something about him that at once attracted +Frank. His actions were easy and graceful, and he had an air of +refinement, which was observed by every one with whom he came in +contact. He was serving as a private in his regiment, and, although +frequently urged to accept a command, always declined, for he despised +the inactivity of camp life, and delighted in any thing in which there +was danger and excitement. It was hinted that he had seen some hard +times during his career as a scout. At length, when the conversation +began to flag, one of the soldiers asked for a story, and the scout, +after lighting his pipe, settled back on his elbow, and began as +follows: + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + +The Scout's Story. + + +"Boys, the life of a scout is the most fascinating, as well as the most +dangerous one that I know of. It is a responsible one, too, for not +unfrequently the safety and well-being of the entire army depends upon +our reports. If, while we are roaming about the enemy's camp, we are +deceived in regard to their numbers and position, and our commanding +officer, judging by our reports, thinks himself able to surprise and +defeat them, and if, upon making the attack, he finds that he has been +misled, we are responsible; at least that is the way I have always +looked at the matter; and many a time I have misrepresented cases, and +have, no doubt, been the cause of allowing the rebels to escape, when +they might easily have been beaten, knowing that our hot-headed +commander would order an attack, no matter how small the chance for +success might be. + +"Just before we started on the campaign that resulted in the capture of +Fort Donelson, I was detailed to scout for head-quarters; and one day, +while lying in my tent, heartily wishing that a move would be made which +would put an end to the lazy life I was compelled to lead, one of the +general's staff-officers entered, accompanied by a youth, whom he +introduced to me as Mr. Henderson, and informed me that he was to be my +'partner.' + +"'He my partner!' I ejaculated. 'Is he a scout? What does he know about +soldiering?' + +"The new-comer was rather below the medium height, very slimly built, +with soft, white hands, that looked as though they had never been +accustomed to hard work, and a smooth, beardless face. He seemed very +much out of place among our rough soldiers. + +"'I don't know much about scouting, that's a fact,' said he, with a +laugh. 'But I know every inch of the country, and can use a rifle. I +have been knocked about considerably since the war commenced, and my +father was hanged in Tennessee for being a Union man, and I suffered all +sorts of hardships before I succeeded in making my escape.' + +"The officer left us together, and, in spite of the chagrin I felt that +a mere stripling had been sent to me for an associate, I was soon deeply +interested in him, for with his almost childlike simplicity there was +mingled an air of confidence in his own powers which drew me +irresistibly toward him. He told me his history, and when he dwelt on +the cruelty with which the rebels had treated Union men in Tennessee, +and related, in a subdued voice, the particulars of his father's death, +his slight frame quivered with excitement, and his fingers twitched +convulsively, as if he felt the perpetrators of the deed in his grasp. +He seemed to have the real grit in him, and I finally came to the +conclusion that I had mistaken my man. I soon learned it was so, for, +the very first time we got on a scout together, I found that he was made +of the right stuff, and I began to have a great deal of confidence in my +youthful companion. I don't believe he knew what fear was. He was a +splendid shot and an excellent rider; in fact, he seemed to be out of +his element unless he was in the saddle. + +"The first time that Sam (for that was my companion's name) had a chance +to show his qualities was after the battle of Pittsburg Landing. One +night, just after dark, we set out on horseback to watch the movements +of the enemy. We were dressed in our rebel uniform, and provided with +passes which would carry us through our lines. The night was dark and +cloudy, but Sam, who knew the road like a book, took the lead. We had +proceeded in this manner about four miles, scarcely saying a word to +each other, when suddenly, as we came around a bend in the road, we +found ourselves close upon a picket station. Several men were lying +around a fire, eating their supper; and the reason why we had not +discovered them sooner was on account of the thick trees and bushes, +which completely concealed the glare of the fire from any one coming +down the road. How we had succeeded in passing the sentries, which were +posted some distance from the station, is still a mystery to me. Either +our advance had been so still that they had not heard us, or else the +sentries were asleep; at any rate, we were in the enemy's lines before +we knew it, and in something of a scrape. If we undertook to retreat, +besides running the risk of being shot by the men at the fire, we should +be obliged to pass the sentries, and we might not succeed, for the +clatter of our horses' hoofs would certainly alarm them. The only way +was to ride up to the fire and put a bold face on the matter, which we +did, the rebels supposing that, as we had passed the sentries, we were +all right. They at once took us for some of their scouts, and one of +them inquired: + +"'How are the Yanks?' + +"'They're there,' I replied. 'And you'll have to haul in these picket +posts before long, or I am mistaken.' + +"'How is that sentry out there?' asked the lieutenant in command. + +"'O, he's all right,' I answered, and seating myself at the fire, began +to pitch into the eatables. Sam followed my example, and we enjoyed a +very good meal, after which we smoked a pipe, and talked with our +companions about the probability of soon thrashing the Yankees soundly, +and wishing that we were in the Eastern army, that we might have the +honor of carrying the secesh rag into Philadelphia and all the other +large cities at the North. We also received some very valuable +information in regard to the rebels and their intended movements; and +finally, concluding that the general must be looking for us, we bade the +pickets good-by, mounted our horses, and galloped down the road toward +the rebel camp. As soon as we thought we had gone far enough to deceive +the pickets, we turned off from the road and started through the woods, +intending to take a wide circuit, pass the pickets, and start back for +our own camp. We stumbled about through the woods for nearly an hour, +and finally struck a road that appeared to run at right angles with the +one we had just left. This we followed at a rapid gallop for about a +mile, when Sam pointed out a light that appeared to be shining in the +window of a house ahead of us. We at once determined to reconnoiter, and +rode slowly forward for that purpose, walking our horses on the grass at +the side of the road, so that our advance would be noiseless. We had +gone but a short distance when we were halted. To the challenge, 'Who +comes there?' Sam replied, 'Scouts,' and throwing me his rein, he swung +himself from his saddle, whispering: + +"'Hold on a minute, Bill! Let me manage that fellow;' and before I could +say a word he had disappeared in the darkness. + +"Several moments passed, when I again heard his voice, and riding +forward, wondering how he had 'managed' the sentinel, I was surprised to +see him with a musket in his hand, pacing back and forth across the +road. I instantly understood what had transpired, and leading the horses +cautiously into the bushes at the side of the road, I fastened them +there, and then returned to Sam. + +"'I couldn't help it, Bill,' he whispered, as I came up. 'I meant to +capture him, and compel him to give us some information; but he fought +so desperately that I had to settle him to save myself.' + +"'It can't be helped; such things are not uncommon in war times. Now you +play the part of sentry here until some one passes, and you can find out +what the countersign is. Then I'll go up to the house and reconnoiter.' + +"I then lay down by the side of the road, and in a few moments Sam +whispered: + +"'Bill, I wonder what's the number of this post?' + +"'I'm sure I don't know,' I replied. + +"'Well, how am I going to find out?' he inquired. 'If some one should +happen to come along without the countersign, and I should want to call +the corporal, I would be in a nice fix, wouldn't I?' + +"Sam said this in such a perfectly cool and unconcerned manner, that I +could not help admiring him. + +"Just then I heard a faint shout: + +"'Twelve o'clock! Number one. All's well.' + +"'There,' I whispered; 'the sentries are passing the call. Now look +sharp.' + +"The call passed the round of the sentinels, until number eight was +called, but a short distance from us. Then came a pause. + +"'Sam, you're number nine,' I hurriedly whispered. + +"'Number nine; and all's well!' shouted Sam at the top of his lungs. 'So +far, so good,' he continued, in a low voice. 'Now I guess we're all +right. Halt!' he shouted, hearing the sound of horses' hoofs rapidly +advancing. The horseman at once drew rein, and at Sam's challenge, +answered: + +"'Colonel Peckham.' + +"'Dismount, Colonel Peckham, and give the countersign.' + +"'Look here, my man, just let me pass, will you? Don't detain me, for I +am on important business, and am in a great hurry.' + +"'Halt,' shouted Sam again; 'dismount.' + +"'I tell you I am Colonel Peckham, commanding----' + +"'I don't care what you command. Just climb down off that horse +instantly, or I'll fire on you. You shouldn't go by me if you were +President Davis himself.' + +"The colonel, seeing that entreaty was in vain, reluctantly dismounted +and gave the countersign, 'Virginia.' + +"'The countersign is correct. Pass, Colonel Peckham,' said Sam, bringing +his musket promptly to a shoulder arms. + +"After the rebel had mounted and disappeared, I whispered: + +"'Now, Sam, I'm going up to that house. Keep a sharp look-out.' + +"After shaking his hand I started toward the place where I had seen the +light. Walking carelessly up toward a group of soldiers who were +lounging about on the ground, I glanced in at the window, and saw +several officers seated around a table, apparently engaged in earnest +debate. I listened for a few moments to the conversation of the men, and +found that I was two miles inside of the rebel lines. This knowledge was +something that would not have pleased me had I been alone, for I was +wholly unacquainted with the country, but, knowing that I had a friend +on whom I could rely, I looked upon it as merely a little difficulty, +from which I could extricate myself as soon and as easily as I pleased. + +"I lounged about, picking up a good deal of information, until I heard +the relief called, and knowing that, unless we beat a hasty retreat, we +would be discovered, I hastened back to the place where I had left Sam, +and found him industriously pacing his beat. I was about to bring out +the horses, when we heard the clatter of hoofs coming up the road from +toward the house, and I at once concealed myself. The answer to the +challenge was Colonel Peckham, who was returning to his command. As he +was about to pass, I, thinking that it would not look well to go back to +the camp empty-handed, sprang out of my concealment and seized his +reins, while Sam, who instantly comprehended what was going on, placed +his bayonet against his breast. + +"'What means this?' asked the colonel. + +"'Don't talk so much,' replied Sam. 'A blind man could see that you are +a prisoner. So hand over your weapons, and don't make any fuss.' + +"As Sam spoke, he proceeded to 'sound' the colonel, and the search +resulted in the transfer of two revolvers to his belt. Then, throwing +away his musket and cartridge-box, he sprang upon his horse, which I had +by this time brought out, and, seizing the colonel's reins, we started +down the road at a full gallop. + +"We had proceeded scarcely a quarter of a mile when we heard several +musket-shots behind us, and we knew that the relief had found No. 9 post +vacant, and were alarming the camp. Sam, still holding fast to the +colonel's horse, at once turned off into the woods, through which we +with difficulty worked our way. At length, however, we reached an open +field, which we crossed at a gallop, and, leaping our horses over the +fence, found ourselves in the road again. We had struck it just outside +of the rebel pickets, who, hearing us gallop away, fired at us; but the +bullets all went wide of the mark, and in less than an hour we reached +our own camp, and the prisoner was delivered over to the general." + + * * * * * + +"I could relate many other adventures to you, but, as I have to go on +guard at midnight, I must bid you good-night." + +So saying, he arose from the ground, where he had been lying, and walked +off toward his quarters. One by one the soldiers, who had gathered about +to listen to his story, followed his example, and finally Frank and the +ensign who had assisted him in managing the battery, were left alone. +Although they had been together but two days, they were on excellent +terms with each other; and as Frank had learned that his companion had +run by the batteries at Vicksburg, he was naturally anxious to hear the +details. The ensign, at his urgent solicitation, then told the story of +his thrilling adventures, which here follows. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + +Running the Batteries. + + +"In obedience to orders from the admiral," began the ensign, "the +Concord, with the iron-clads, commenced making preparations to run the +batteries, by greasing the casemates to glance shot, and by protecting +the machinery with heavy timbers and bales of hay. When every thing was +ready, the long-looked-for signal was made. The vessels took their +stations in accordance with a general order that had been issued a few +days previous--the Concord, with a coal-barge in tow, being the fourth +in advance. + +"As soon as the anchors were weighed, all hands were called to quarters, +the ports closed, and every light on board the ship, except those in the +magazine and shell-rooms, was extinguished. I took my station beside my +men, who stood at their guns as motionless as so many statues, and in +that darkness awaited the issue of events, with feelings that can not be +described. The moment I had so long been dreading was fast approaching. +Would I survive the experiment? + +"As soon as the vessels were fairly under way, the engines were stopped, +and we drifted along with the current. Not a sound was heard, except the +creaking of the wheel as the pilot guided the vessel down stream. I +became more and more excited each moment, until finally my suspense +seemed greater than I could bear. That awful silence was worse than the +fight itself. I became impatient, and strode up and down the deck, +anxiously waiting for the first roar of a gun that should announce that +our approach had been discovered. How I longed to look out and see what +progress we were making! But the ports had been closed, with imperative +orders that they must not be opened without the captain's command, and I +was obliged to remain in ignorance of what was going on outside. + +"At length, after remaining at our quarters for nearly an hour--to me it +seemed an age--the loud roar of a gun burst upon our ears. The pilot at +once rang the bell to 'go ahead strong,' and the puffing of the engines +told us that we were rapidly nearing the city. Soon, from another +direction, came a second report, accompanied by a shell from 'Whistling +Dick,' which went directly over our heads, and exploded far behind us. +This was followed, not by the report of a single cannon, but by a crash, +as if all the artillery of heaven had been let loose at once, and shells +and solid shot, with a noise that was almost deafening. It did not seem +possible that we could succeed in running by the batteries; besides, I +was very much averse to being shut up in that manner, without the +privilege of returning shot for shot. The idea of allowing my vessel to +be made a target of, when so many brave hearts were waiting impatiently +to give as good as they received, did not at all suit me. + +"Until we reached the city, the Concord escaped unhurt, and I began to +think that our danger was not so great as I had at first supposed, when, +just as we arrived opposite the upper batteries, a shot came crashing +through the sides of the vessel. The deck was lighted up for an instant +with a flash, and the groans and shrieks that followed told that it had +been too well directed. Confined as the men were, in total darkness, +where it was impossible for a person to distinguish those who stood next +to him, such an occurrence was well calculated to throw them into +confusion. I believe that every one on deck was frightened, but the +order, 'Stand to your guns, lads!' delivered in a firm voice by the +executive officer, at once put an end to the confusion. + +"'On deck, there!' came thundering through the trumpet. 'Open the ports, +and return their fire!' + +"How my heart bounded when I heard that order! And the men, too, anxious +to be on more equal terms with the enemy, sprang at the word, the +port-shutters flew open with a crash, and the city of Vicksburg burst +upon our astonished view. + +"The rebels had profited by their experience, and instead of finding the +city shrouded in total darkness, as I had expected, a glare equal to the +noonday sun lighted up both the river and the city, the latter seeming +one blaze of fire. The vessels in advance of us were rapidly answering +the fire of the batteries, and the waters of the river, usually so +quiet and smooth, were plowed in every direction by the shrieking, +hissing shells. It was a magnificent sight, one upon which I could have +gazed with rapture, had I been a disinterested person; but, as it was, I +had no time to dwell upon it. + +"'Out with those guns--lively!' shouted the captain. 'Give the rascals +as good as they send.' + +"For half an hour the fight continued, the rebels sending their shells +thick and fast about our devoted vessel, and we directing our fire +against the water-batteries, which lined the shore as far as the eye +could reach, when suddenly the pilot rung the bell to stop, which was +followed by a command shouted down through the trumpet to 'Back +her--quick!' I scarcely noticed the circumstance, until one of my men +exclaimed, in a frightened voice, 'We are drifting into the bank, sir, +right under the batteries!' + +"The appalling fact was too evident. We were fast approaching the shore, +and the engines appeared to be working in vain against the strong +current. A cry of horror burst from the lips of the men, who deserted +their guns, and made a general rush for the after part of the vessel. I +was astounded. Had the Concord been disabled, and was the captain about +to run her ashore and surrender? But I was not allowed much time to ask +questions. The conduct of the men recalled me to my senses, and, after +considerable difficulty, I succeeded in bringing them all back to their +quarters. + +"'The vessel must have been surrendered, sir,' said one of the men. + +"'I can't help that. I've received no orders to cease firing. Let them +have it. Powder-boy, bring two eight-inch canister as soon as possible. +Run away lively, now.' + +"The vessel still continued to approach the bank, and several of the +nearest batteries ceased firing, while the rebels, supposing that she +was about to surrender, came running down the bank in crowds, calling +out: + +"'Have you struck your flag?' + +"'No!' came the answer, in a clear, ringing voice, which I knew belonged +to the captain. 'That flag floats as long as one plank of this vessel +remains above water!' + +"This reply was followed by a shell from one of our broadside guns, +which burst in the very midst of a crowd that was preparing to board +the vessel the moment we touched the bank; and by this time the Concord +began to mind her helm, and commenced moving from the bank. The +astonished rebels hastily retreated to the cover of their breastworks, +and I succeeded in getting my guns loaded in time to use the canister +upon them. The vessel soon got headed down the river again, and at two +o'clock in the morning we rounded to, out of reach of the batteries. The +passage had been effected without material damage to us, and it was with +a light heart that I repeated the order, 'Secure your guns, lads!' The +battle was over, and after the decks had been cleared, and the wounded +taken care of, the dead were laid out in the engine-room, and covered +with the flag in defense of which they had delivered up their lives. The +weary sailors then gladly answered to the order, 'All hands stand by +your hammocks,' and I retired to my room almost exhausted, but highly +elated at our glorious success." + + + + +CHAPTER XV. + +A Race for the Old Flag. + + +"The next day," continued the ensign, "the squadron again got under way +and steamed down the river, and came to anchor above, and almost within +range of, the heights of Grand Gulf. A casual observer would hardly have +thought that the bluffs which arose so majestically, like grim sentinels +watching over the lesser heights around them, were bristling with +hostile batteries, ready to dispute the further advance of the Union +fleet; for, so carefully had they been concealed, that nothing +suspicious could be discovered. But we were not deceived. We knew that +the trees which covered the bluffs, and waved so gently back and forth +in the breeze, concealed fortifications of the most formidable kind, and +that Union blood must be shed before they could be wrested from the +traitorous hands that had constructed them. + +"During the week of inactivity that followed, many an impatient eye was +directed toward the heights which, now so quiet, were soon to be +disturbed by the noise and confusion of battle. At length the flag-ship +was seen approaching, and every one was on the alert. Two more days of +inactivity passed, however; but on the third morning, just after the +crews had finished their breakfast, signal was made to commence the +attack. The anchors were weighed, the men called to quarters, and the +fleet bore down upon the rebel stronghold, which was soon enveloped in +the smoke of battle. + +"The Concord led the advance. For two hours the battle raged with great +fury on both sides, the rebels stubbornly holding their ground, in spite +of the storm of shells that thinned their ranks and tore up the ground +about them. During this time the Concord had again become unmanageable, +on account of the strong eddies in the river, and had worked into a +position scarcely two hundred yards from the batteries, from which she +could not be extricated. It was impossible either to advance or retreat +without running into the bank, and if she attempted to round-to, her +destruction was certain. Of course, we below, being busy fighting our +guns, knew nothing of our danger; but the captain, although as brave a +man as ever trod a ship's deck, was not a little dismayed when he found +himself in this perilous situation. He did not expect to bring his +vessel safely out of the action, but he stood in the pilot-house and +issued his orders with as much coolness as though he were going through +the regular daily exercise, instead of being under the hottest fire the +enemy could rain upon his vessel. + +"In the mean time, I had been sending my shells as rapidly as possible +toward the rebel gunners, whom I could see moving about in the +batteries. Up to this time not one of my men had been injured; but, just +as I was in the act of sighting one of my guns, there was a stunning +crash, and a vivid light shone for an instant in my eyes, accompanied by +a terrific explosion. I saw the air filled with smoke and splinters, +heard appalling cries of terror and anguish, and then all was blank. A +shell had entered the casemate above the port, killing and wounding +several of my crew, and a piece of heavy timber, which had been +detached from the bulk-head by the explosion, struck me on the head, and +laid me out senseless on the deck. + +"When I was restored to consciousness I was lying on a mattress in the +engine-room, and anxious faces were bending over me. I remember of +mistaking the doctor and his attendants for the men belonging to my +gun's crew, and imagining myself still in battle, I gave the order to +'Train that No. 2 gun a little further to the left, and fire;' then I +became insensible again. + +"About the middle of the afternoon I awoke from a refreshing slumber, +but, of course, could not imagine how I came to be in that situation. I +felt of my head, which was covered with bandages, and of my arm, which +was done up in a sling, and finally the remembrance of the scenes +through which I had passed came back to me like a dream. + +"While I was wondering how the fight had terminated, and who had come +out victorious, a sailor, who had been appointed to act as my nurse, +entered the engine-room, and approached the bed on tip-toe. From him I +learned that the Concord had been under fire for five hours and +thirty-five minutes; that we had been only partially successful, not +having silenced all the batteries; that the fleet, with the exception of +one vessel, which was lying a short distance above the bluff, and +occasionally sending a shell into the batteries to prevent the rebels +from repairing the damage which they had suffered, were at their old +anchorage again; that the Concord had been struck thirty-five times by +heavy shot, but, although quite badly cut up, was not permanently +injured; and that our vessel would soon be ready for action again, the +entire crew being busily engaged in repairing the damages she had +sustained. + +"My head and arm pained me considerably; but, being under the influence +of some powerful medicine which the doctor had administered, I soon fell +asleep, from which I was awakened by the rolling of a drum. Hastily +starting up, I found the engineers at their stations, and I knew, by the +tramping of feet on the deck above me, that the men were hurrying to +their quarters. The 'ruling passion' was strong with me. I had grown so +accustomed to yield prompt obedience to the call to quarters, that I +quite forgot I was wounded. Springing up, I at once pulled on my +clothes--an operation which I found rather difficult on account of my +wounded arm--seized my sword, which lay at the head of the bed, sprang +up the stairs that led to the main-deck, and ran forward to take command +of my division. As I passed the door of the dispensatory, I was +confronted by the surgeon, who, holding up his hands in dismay, +exclaimed: + +"'Mr. Morton! Do you know what you are about? Where are you going?' + +"'Going to quarters, doctor. Didn't you hear that drum?' + +"'Get below, sir, instantly,' was the doctor's answer. 'Get below! and +don't let me catch you on deck again until I give you permission. Get +below, I tell you, sir!' he continued, in a louder tone, seeing that I +hesitated. 'Haven't you got sense enough to know that you are +dangerously wounded? I am surgeon of this ship, and have authority to +enforce my commands.' + +"Of this I was well aware, and I was obliged to retrace my steps to the +engine-room, where I lay down upon the bed. + +"The morning's fight having convinced the admiral that, although the +batteries had been partially silenced, they could not be completely +reduced, without the co-operation of the land forces, he returned to his +old anchorage, for the purpose of convoying the transports which were to +run by the batteries and ferry the troops across the river below. The +latter followed close in the wake of the gun-boats, on which the +batteries opened quite as briskly as in the morning. The iron-clads +replied, and under cover of their fire the transports passed the +batteries in safety, after which the gun-boats also ran by, and assisted +in carrying the troops across the river. In this fight the Concord was +struck but twice, and no one was injured. As soon as she had been +brought to an anchor, the doctor entered the engine-room, and, after +regarding me for a moment with an expression that I could not +understand, said: + +"'You're a nice one, ain't you?' + +"'Why, doctor, what's the matter?' I asked. + +"'You don't wish to get well, I guess.' + +"'O, yes, I do! But I am not badly hurt; there was nothing to hinder me +from taking my station.' + +"'You will allow me to be the judge of that, if you please,' returned +the doctor. 'But I have got a room fixed up for you on deck. Do you feel +able to walk up there?' + +"'Certainly. I am not hurt, I tell you, doctor,' I repeated. 'I can +outrun, outjump, or outlift you; and yet you take as much care of me as +though I was badly wounded.' + +"'Well, you've got a big hole in your head anyhow,' said the doctor, as +he took my arm, and assisted me up the stairs, in spite of my assertions +that I was 'able to walk alone.' 'It's an ugly-looking wound. Just take +my advice now; let me put you on the sick-list for a day or two, and you +will be all right.' + +"'Well, don't keep me on the list any longer than is necessary,' I +answered, knowing that I would be compelled to submit to the doctor's +requirements, whether I wanted to or not. 'I do detest a life of +inactivity. I want to be doing something.' + +"I was furnished with a bed in the ward-room, for my own quarters had +been almost demolished during the late fights, and during the two days +that followed, I passed the time miserably enough. Every able-bodied man +on board the ship was engaged in repairing damages, while I, being +closely watched by the doctor, was obliged to remain quiet. My wounds +troubled me very little. On the third day after the fight, to my immense +relief, my name was taken off the sick-list, and I was allowed to return +to duty. + +"The next morning after this, signal was made from the flag-ship to get +under way, and resume the attack upon the batteries at Grand Gulf. As we +approached the heights, a column of smoke, which was seen arising over +the trees, told us that the rebels had abandoned their fortifications. +The gun-boats touched the bank at the foot of the hill at about the same +moment; and, as the Concord's bows touched the shore, the captain thrust +his head from the pilot-house, and shouted: + +"'Get ashore there, you sea-cooks! Get ashore there, and hoist the +Concord's flag over that fort on the top of the hill! Off you go--run +like quarter horses!' + +"The sailors did not need a second bidding, but, leaving their quarters, +they made a general rush for the place where the boat-ensigns were +stowed, and if one of the men succeeded in securing a flag, he was +instantly seized by half a dozen others, who desperately struggled to +wrest it from him, that they might have the honor of planting it upon +the rebel heights, while he struggled as furiously to retain it. All +discipline was at an end. The sailors, wild with excitement, were +struggling and shouting below, while the captain stood on the +quarter-deck, almost beside himself, for fear that his men would be +behind, for the crews of each vessel were jumping ashore, bearing in +their hands the flags which they had determined to plant upon the +deserted fortifications. + +"I stood at the hatchway, looking down upon the struggling crew beneath, +regretting that my wounded arm--which still continued to pain me at +intervals--prevented me from entering as a competitor, when I was +aroused by: + +"'Mr. Morton! I know you want this, sir.' + +"I turned, and found one of the quarter-masters holding out a flag to +me. + +"'Certainly I want it,' I answered. 'Thank you;' and seizing the flag, I +sprang upon the hammock-nettings. At this moment the doctor discovered +me, and shouted: + +"'Mr. Morton, what are you about, sir? Remember, I only put you on light +duty. It will be the death of you, if you attempt to run up that hill.' + +"But I was excited, and, without waiting to answer, sprang overboard. I +was so anxious to be first, that I could not waste time to go below, and +leave the ship in a proper manner. The moment I touched the water, I +struck out for the shore, and as I clambered up the bank, I found crowds +of men from each vessel running at the top of their speed toward the +hill, all bent on planting the glorious old flag on the pinnacle, for +the possession of which they had fought so long and desperately. But far +in advance of all of them I saw one of the engineers of the Concord. I +was both pleased and annoyed at this--pleased that the ship to which I +belonged should have the honor of hoisting the Stars and Stripes over +the rebel stronghold, and annoyed that I could not be the person who was +to raise it. But it was not my disposition to be discouraged. As I had +few equals in running, I determined to overtake the engineer, and, if +possible, to beat him. + +"As soon as I reached the top of the bank, I commenced running, and was +soon ahead of many of those who were far in advance of me when I +started. The engineer, in the mean time, also proved that he was no mean +runner; and the little flag which he carried over his shoulder moved far +up the mountain, dancing about among the rocks and bushes like a +will-o'-the-wisp, seeming to recede as I advanced. Soon I had passed all +of my competitors with the exception of this one, and the race was now +between us. Up, up we ran. I soon discovered that I was gaining at every +step. Presently I was so close to him that I could hear his quick, heavy +breathing. We were rapidly nearing the fort that crowned the crest of +the hill, and I redoubled my exertions. The engineer did likewise. It +seemed as though the sight of those battered fortifications had infused +new life into him, for he ran at a rate that astonished me; and when I +reached the top of the hill the little banner had been planted on the +breastworks, and my rival lay on the ground, panting and exhausted. +Cheers, long and loud, burst from the gallant band standing at the foot +of the hill, who had been interested spectators of our movements, and +their shouts were answered with redoubled energy by the crew of the +Concord, who, in their joy at seeing their own flag planted on the fort +by one of their own officers, forgot all the sacrifices they had made to +accomplish that end. + +"In a short time the heights were covered with men, who busied +themselves in completing the destruction which the rebels had commenced. +At dark all returned on board their respective vessels, which moved out +into the stream a short distance, and anchored. I paid dearly for my +foolishness in jumping overboard, and then running that distance in the +hot sun; for two days after that I was confined to my bed, and finally, +at the doctor's suggestion, I was dumped into an ambulance and sent by +land to the hospital-ship. I was well again in two weeks, and learning +that a naval battery was to be mounted on shore, volunteered to assist +in working it, received permission, and am ready to face any new dangers +for the sake of the old flag." + +The next day, while Frank and his companion were fighting the battery, +the former was surprised by the appearance of a strange officer, who +brought orders for him to report on board his vessel without delay. He +obeyed the summons, and found that the Trenton had been ordered up the +Yazoo River, and that he had been sent for to take charge of a division +whose commanding officer had been sent to the hospital. As soon as he +arrived on board, the vessel was got under way, and, in company with the +flag-ship and several gun-boats, which they found waiting for them at +the mouth of the Yazoo River, they started toward Haines' Bluff. The +report was, the attack was to be a 'feigned' one, but Frank thought, +from the pounding the Trenton received, that it might as well have been +a _real_ one. + +The fight was continued until dark, when the vessels dropped down out of +range of the batteries and anchored. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + +The Rival Sharp-Shooters. + + +About half-past four o'clock, on the succeeding morning, just after +Frank had come off watch, and was dozing in his berth, he was awakened +by a loud crash. Starting up, he discovered his looking-glass in +fragments, and the pieces scattered about over the floor. While he was +wondering what could have been the cause of the accident, he happened to +discover that the bulk-head behind the looking-glass was splintered, +which looked very much as though it had been done by a musket-shot; and, +at the same instant, he heard a shrill whistle, with which he was +perfectly familiar. He also heard a rustling in the bunk above him, and +Mr. Williams, his room-mate, sprang suddenly upon the floor, +exclaiming: + +"My goodness, Mr. Nelson! the rebels are shooting at _us_." + +"I see they are," answered Frank, coolly, as he slowly arose from his +berth and commenced drawing on his pants; "just see our looking-glass! +But where are you going?" he asked, finding that his room-mate was +frantically gathering up his clothing. + +"I'm going to get below as soon as I can," was the answer. "Don't you +know that this room isn't iron-clad?" + +"Yes, I know that. But what's your hurry?" + +Mr. Williams did not stop to reply, but, having collected all his +clothing, opened the door and sprang out on deck. One bound carried him +to the gangway that led to the main-deck, and in a moment more he had +disappeared. Frank was laughing heartily at the comical figure his timid +room-mate had cut, when another shot came crashing through the +bulk-head, and lodged in the mattress in the berth above him, showing +how narrow had been Mr. Williams's escape. This made him think that he +also had better be getting below. He waited, however, until he was +entirely dressed, and then walked slowly out on the quarter-deck, and +took refuge behind the wheel-house, intending to make himself acquainted +with the nature of the attack before going below. The officer of the +deck and the quarter-master on watch were the only persons in sight, and +they, too, were standing behind the wheel-house for protection. + +"What seems to be the matter, Mr. Martin? Are we likely to have a +brush?" + +"O no," answered the latter; "a few rebels have taken possession of the +battery from which we drove them yesterday, and are trying to pick some +of us off. Did you see 'Nuisance' when he came out of his room? He ran +like a streak, but came very near being winged, for a ball struck the +deck not six inches from him." + +At this moment the captain appeared, and went into the pilot-house, that +he might investigate matters without running the risk of being struck by +the bullets. He had scarcely closed the door, when a ball carried away +the latch. Had he been a moment later, he would certainly have been +killed. + +"A close shave," said he, with a laugh. Then raising one of the windows +of the pilot-house, he shouted, "On deck, there!" + +"Ay, ay, sir," answered Mr. Martin. + +"Get under cover as quickly as possible; and, Mr. Nelson, see if you can +throw a few shells among those fellows, and drive them out of there." + +It was not an easy task to get under cover, for, the moment they showed +themselves, the bullets whistled about them like hail-stones. But, after +dodging from one stanchion to another, using even the sky-lights for +concealment, they succeeded in reaching the main-deck, where they were +safe. Frank ran into the turret, while Mr. Martin and the quarter-master +dived down the hatchway, and ran up into the pilot-house. + +"Turn out, you first division, and cast loose that No. 2 gun," shouted +Frank, as he reached the gun-deck, where the crew were still sleeping +soundly in their hammocks. "Turn out lively, lads." + +The men at once sprang out of their comfortable beds, and, as soon as +the deck was cleared of the hammocks, the gun was cast loose. A moment +afterward, a hundred-pound shot plunged into the battery, raising a +cloud of dust; but the rebels had seen the flash of the gun in time to +throw themselves behind the embankment and escape. + +"On deck, there," shouted the captain, through the trumpet. "That was +very well done. Try them again, and fire a little higher, and a trifle +further to the left." + +"Very good, sir," shouted Frank, in reply; and the gun was again +pointed, and another breach was made in the battery, but a loud, +derisive shout was sent back in reply, showing that the shot had been +without effect. + +For nearly an hour the fight was kept up, Frank using his gun as rapidly +as possible, and the rebels replying with their bullets, which rattled +harmlessly against the Trenton's iron mail, until the captain, finding +that it was impossible to dislodge them, gave the order to cease firing. + +As soon as Frank had seen the gun secured, he left the deck and went +into the ward-room. It was filled with officers, who had been awakened +by the firing, and were engaged in an animated conversation on the +probabilities of having breakfast. + +"If the rebels continue to shoot at us, I don't know what you can do, +gentlemen," said the caterer. "You know that the galley is on deck, and +I can't send the cook up there, where he will be in danger of his life. +When you get hungry you will find plenty of hard-tack and pickles in +the paymaster's store-rooms." + +"O no," said the executive officer, "I am not going without my +breakfast. There's no danger." + +"If you will go on deck, and remain there five minutes," said the +caterer, "I'll agree to cook some breakfast for you." + +The proposition was accepted by the executive officer, and the two men +went on deck, and walked toward the galley. They reached it in safety, +when the executive said, triumphantly: + +"What do you think now? I told you there was no danger." + +A loud crash cut short his words, and a bullet entered the galley, and +glancing from the stove, struck the opposite bulk-head, where it +remained firmly embedded in the wood. + +"That will do, I guess," said the executive, hastily retreating toward +the hatchway. "You needn't mind about sending the boys up here to cook +breakfast." + +The two officers made the best of their way back to the ward-room, where +they enjoyed a very good meal on some provisions that had been brought +up out of the paymaster's store-rooms. They then went into the +pilot-house to watch the movements of the rebels in the battery. The +latter, finding that their fire was no longer returned, took no +precautions to conceal themselves, but arose to their full height when +they fired their muskets, and even stood on the battery, waving their +hats, as if inviting a shot. Frank watched them until he could stand it +no longer, and then ran down below, to ask the captain's permission to +return the fire. + +"Look out there!" exclaimed that gentleman, as Frank entered the cabin. +"The first thing you know"---- + +He was interrupted by the report of a musket, so loud that it seemed +scarcely a stone's throw distant. A bullet came whistling into one of +the ports, barely missing Frank, and lodged in the captain's pantry, +where a crashing among the crockery told that the ball had not been +altogether thrown away. Another shot followed close after it, but Frank +had dodged behind the bulk-head, and was safe. + +The captain was emphatically in a state of siege. His cabin was in the +extreme after-part of the vessel, and in it were two port-holes, which +were open. Two sharp-shooters had taken up a position on the bank, where +they could see into the cabin, and had compelled the captain to leave +the desk where he had been writing, and take refuge behind the +bulk-head. He was taking matters very coolly, however, being stretched +out on a sofa, engaged in reading a newspaper. + +"Mr. Nelson," said he, with a laugh, "if many more of you officers enter +this cabin, I shall be a ruined man. Every shot that comes in here goes +slap into that pantry, and I don't suppose I have a whole piece of +crockery left. What did you wish?" + +"I came, sir, to ask permission to take one of your Spencer rifles," +answered Frank. "I believe I can drive those rascals away from there," +he added, glancing through the port. + +"Very well, you may try. But I don't bother my head about them. They +can't shoot through this bulk head, that's certain. However, it makes me +feel rather uncomfortable to know that I can't get out of here without +running the risk of being shot;" and the captain stretched himself on +the sofa again, and resumed his reading. + +After considerable dodging, during which two more bullets were lodged +in the captain's pantry, to the no small disgust of that gentleman, +Frank succeeded in securing a rifle and cartridge-box from one of the +racks in the cabin, and concealing himself behind the bulk-head, thrust +his gun carefully out of the port, and waited for a shot. + +The bank was scarcely fifty feet distant, but for a long time not a +rebel showed himself, and Frank had about come to the conclusion that +they had given up the fight, when he noticed a small gully, scarcely a +foot wide, that ran down to the water's edge, and in that gully he saw +the top of a head, and afterward discerned a pair of eyes that were +looking straight into the port. It was a small mark to shoot at, but +Frank had killed squirrels at that distance many a time; so, carefully +raising his rifle, he took a quick aim, and fired, confident that there +was one rebel less in the world. The ball landed in the bank, and raised +a cloud of dust that for a moment concealed the effect of the shot; but +it had scarcely cleared away, when a puff of smoke arose from the gully, +and another bullet whizzed past Frank's head, and landed among the +captain's crockery, showing that the rebel still maintained his +position. Frank cautiously looked out, and saw the rebel hastily +reloading his gun; but, before he could give him another shot, the +deadly rifle was thrust over the bank, in readiness for another trial. + +"O, I'm here yet, Yank!" shouted the rebel, as he saw Frank regarding +him as if he could scarcely believe his eyes. "I'm here! and you want to +keep close, or down comes your meat-house. This 'ere rifle shoots right +smart." + +As he ceased speaking, Frank again fired at him, but with no better +success than before, for the rebel answered the shot, and dodged back +into the gully to reload. For two hours this singular contest was +maintained, and Frank was both astonished and provoked at his poor +workmanship; still he would have continued the fight, had not the rebel +coolly announced--"It's grub-time, Yank. We'll try it again this +afternoon." + +The fellow's impudence was a source of a great deal of merriment on the +part of the captain, who laughed heartily at his remarks, and forgot the +loss he had sustained in his crockery. + +"Captain," said Frank, as soon as he was certain that the rebel had +gone, "it's a good time to close those ports now." + +"Don't go near them. I won't trust the villains. Tell the officers that +they are at liberty to return the fire, but that they must not waste too +much ammunition." + +Frank went into the ward-room, and, after delivering the captain's +order, deposited his gun in the corner. While making a hearty dinner on +hard-tack and salt pork, he related the incidents of his fight with the +rebel, which was listened to with interest by all the officers present. +After finishing his meal he went on deck to get a letter which he had +commenced writing to his cousin, intending, as soon as the firing +recommenced, to renew the battle. Not a shot had been fired since the +rebel left the gully, and when Frank walked across the deck and entered +his room, not a rebel was in sight. He took the letter from his trunk, +and was preparing to return below, when a bullet crashed through the +bulk-head, and, striking his wash-bowl, shivered it into fragments. This +seemed to be a signal for a renewal of the fight, for the bullets +whistled over the ship in a perfect shower. Frank sprang to his feet, +and waited rather impatiently for an opportunity to make his way below; +but none offered. As he opened the door of his room, he heard a sharp +report, that he could easily distinguish from the rest, accompanied by a +familiar whistle, and a bullet, which seemed to come from the stern of +the vessel, sped past him, striking the pilot-house, and glancing upward +with a loud shriek; at the same instant several more from the battery +whistled by, too close for comfort. + +It was evident that the rebels had seen him enter his room, and knowing +that his only chance for escape was across the deck, had determined to +keep him a close prisoner. But why did they not fire through the +bulk-head? Perhaps they thought that it, like the rest of the ship, was +iron-clad, and preferred waiting for him to come out, rather than to +waste their lead. But Frank, who knew that the sides of his room were +only thin boards, which could afford him no protection whatever from the +bullets of his enemies, was not blessed with the most comfortable +thoughts. To go out was almost certain death, for, although he might +escape the bullets of the rebels in the battery, there was his rival of +the morning in the gully, who handled his rifle with remarkable skill. +To remain was hardly less dangerous, for a bullet might at any time +enter his room and put an end to his existence. + +"Well, I'm in a nice fix," he soliloquized; "I've often heard of treeing +bears, raccoons, and other animals, but I never before heard of an +officer being treed in his own room, and on board his own ship. I don't +like to go out on deck, and have those bullets whizzing by my head and +calling me 'cousin;' besides, I shall certainly be shot, for there's +that fellow in the gully, and I know he's an excellent marksman. I've +got to stay here for awhile, that's evident. If I ever get out, I'll +make somebody sweat for this. I wish I had my gun; but, as I am here +unarmed, I must find some kind of a protection." So saying, he snatched +the mattresses from the beds, and, lying on the floor, placed one on +each side of him as a barricade. He remained in this position until +almost night, the bullets all the while shrieking over the deck, and +making music most unpleasant to his ears. At length the firing began to +slacken, and Frank determined to make another effort to get below. It +was not a long distance to the gangway that led to the main-deck, but +there was that fellow in the gully who still maintained the fight, as +an occasional crash in the pantry proved, and Frank had a wholesome fear +of him. He resolved, however, to make the attempt, and, waiting until +the rebel had fired his gun, he threw open the door, when a few hasty +steps carried him below. He heard a loud shout as he ran, and knew that +the rebel had seen him. + +At dark the firing ceased altogether; and after supper--the only cooked +meal they had during the day--the officers assembled on deck to +enjoy the cool breeze, for the heat below had been almost intolerable. +It was late when they retired, but it is needless to say that those who +had rooms on the quarter-deck slept in the mess-rooms. + +The next morning, just as every one had expected, the firing was again +renewed by the rebels in the battery, and it was at once answered by +some of the younger officers of the ship, who cracked away, whether an +enemy was in sight or not. Frank had not been able to get the thought of +that rebel sharp-shooter out of his mind. The audacity he had displayed +in taking up a position so close to the vessel, and the skill with which +he handled his rifle, excited his admiration, and he determined that, +should he again take up the same position, he would renew his attempt +to dislodge him. He, however, took no part in the fight until he came +off watch at noon. He then provided himself with a rifle, and, after +considerable trouble, succeeded in getting into the wheel-house, the +lower part of which, being built of thick timbers, would easily resist a +bullet, and here he settled down, determined to fight his enemy as long +as he had a charge of powder left. + +The rebel was in his old position, concealed as usual, and, as the cabin +ports had been closed, he was directing his fire toward the pilot-house. +He was, of course, not aware that Frank had changed his base of +operations; but he did not long remain ignorant of the fact, for the +latter commenced the fight without ceremony. + +As nearly every officer on board the vessel was engaged in fighting the +rebels, the one in question could not determine whence the shot came. He +drew back for a moment, and then thrust his head carefully out, to +reconnoiter. Frank, who could fire seven shots without stopping to +reload, was ready for him, and another bullet sped toward the mark, but, +as usual, with no more effect than throwing up a cloud of dust. This +time, however, the rebel saw where it came from, and a moment afterward +a ball was buried in the thick timbers, scarcely an inch from the place +where Frank was cautiously looking out, watching the motions of his +rival. + +From his new position, Frank found that the rebel, after he had fired +his gun, was obliged to turn over on his back to reload, and he +determined that, if he could not dislodge him, he would at least put it +out of his power to do any further mischief. So, when the rebel exposed +his arm, as he was in the act of ramming down the charge, he fired at +him again. The latter, ignorant of the fact that his opponent had a +seven-shooter, now redoubled his efforts, and made all haste to reload +his gun; but again did a bullet strike in the bank close beside him, and +cover him with a shower of dust. This seemed to puzzle the rebel, for he +raised his head and gazed intently toward the place where his enemy was +concealed. That move was fatal to him. Scarcely three inches of his head +was exposed; but the bullet went straight to the mark--the rebel rolled +down the bank, and the deadly rifle fell from his hands. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + +The Smugglers' Cave--Conclusion. + + +"Tom," said Frank, addressing himself to the quarter-master, as the two +were standing their watch that evening, "how came you to go to sea?" + +"I was born a sailor, sir," answered the man. "My father, and my +grandfather before him, followed the sea for a livelihood. They were +smugglers, living among the rocks and crags on the southern coast of +England. + +"My home was not such a one as would have suited you, sir; but it was a +pleasant place to me, and I often look back to the days of my boyhood, +although passed amid scenes of danger, as the happiest ones of my life. +Our house, as we called it, was a cave in the side of a high mountain, +at the foot of which was a long, narrow, and rocky passage, that led to +the ocean. At the end of this passage, next to the mountain, was a small +but deep bay, where a vessel could ride at anchor in safety without +being seen by any one outside. In front of the cave was a small grass +plot, which overlooked a vast extent of sea and land, and from which the +distant shores of France could be seen. This was my post, where I sat +many a night, watching for the return of my father, who was the captain +of the smugglers. It was my business to watch for revenue-cutters, and +to give the signal of danger in case any appeared off the coast at the +time father was expected to return. + +"It would have been a lonely watch in that cave for one who was not +accustomed to it, for I never had a companion; but, having been brought +up to that kind of a life, I was never at a loss to know how to pass +away the time. The fishing in the basin was excellent, and I had a small +boat, the exact model of my father's little schooner, with which I +sometimes amused myself for hours together in running in and out of the +channel, which, owing to its rocky nature, was very difficult of +passage. It was here that the cutters were always given the slip. +Father never approached the coast except during the night, and many a +time have I seen the swift little schooner come bounding over the waves, +with every stitch of her canvas stretched, followed close in her wake by +a cutter. The latter would be certain of his prize when he saw the +schooner heading straight toward the rocks; but, the first thing he +knew, the smuggler would be out of sight in the channel. No light was +necessary, for father knew every inch of the ground, and before the +man-o'-war could lower his boats and discover the place where his prize +had so mysteriously disappeared, father would have his goods landed, +and, ere the cutter was aware of it, he would run out of the channel +under his very nose, and make all sail for France. No one outside of the +band was ever known to enter the channel; for, even in broad daylight, a +person would have declined making the trial, as the waves dashed and +roared among the rocks in a manner that seemed to threaten destruction +to any thing that came within their reach. + +"The schooner was several times overhauled and boarded while at sea, but +father never lost a cargo. He always succeeded in fooling the revenue +chaps in some manner. I remember one time in particular, when I made a +trip on board the schooner as mate. We made the run in our usual time, +easily eluding the cutters that were watching us, and arrived off the +coast of France with every thing in order. One dark night we landed our +goods, and, after receiving our money, we ran down to a little town, to +purchase some necessary articles, and to take in our return supply. A +lot of jabbering French policemen sprang on board of us, almost before +we had touched the wharf, and commenced rummaging the hold; but they, of +course, went away disappointed in their hopes of finding something to +condemn us. We lay in port alongside of a little Dutch trading vessel, +that was our exact model and build in every particular, until night, +when we received our goods, ran by the police, and stood out to sea. We +got along nicely until just before daylight, when an 'Irish-man's +hurricane,' as we call a calm, set in, accompanied by a heavy fog, and +we lay motionless on the water, with the sails flapping idly against the +masts. It was provoking, and a more uneasy set of men than that +schooner's crew I never saw. We remained becalmed for nearly an hour, +anxiously waiting for the wind to spring up, when I happened to step +for'ard, and heard a noise like the washing of the waves against the +side of a vessel. I hastily ran aft and reported the matter to father, +who silently stationed his men, and walked for'ard, with his +speaking-trumpet in his hand, while we stood at our posts, almost +fearing to breathe, lest it should be heard on board of the strange +vessel, which was still concealed from our view by the thick fog. + +"At length, to our inexpressible relief, we felt a puff of wind; then +came another and another, each one increasing in force, until the sails +began to draw, and the schooner commenced moving slowly through the +water. We stood off on the starboard tack, intending to give our +invisible neighbor a wide berth; but he had also caught the wind, and we +could hear him moving along almost in front of us. At length the fog +lifted a little, and we saw a large revenue-cutter standing directly +across our bows, scarcely a cable's length distant. We luffed, to allow +him to pass, when a hail came from his deck: + +"'Schooner ahoy!' + +"'Yah,' shouted father through his trumpet. + +"'What schooner is that?' + +"'Dis? Dis is my schooner. You know it.' + +"We all held our breath in suspense, wondering what would be the result +of this strange answer, when we distinctly heard the voice say: + +"'It's that rascally Dutchman again.' Then, in a louder tone, came the +question, 'Did you keep a good look-out for that smuggler, as we +requested?' + +"'Yah! But I haven't saw him.' + +"'O, shiver your ugly figure-head,' was the answer. 'I've a good notion +to put a six-pound shot into you, you wooden-headed sour-krout eater. +This makes twice that we have been fooled by you. Now off you go, and +don't you cross our hawse again.' + +"Father made no reply, and the cutter put her helm down, and started +off. We passed under her stern, and in a few moments she disappeared in +the fog. The next night we entered the channel, and landed our goods in +safety. We afterward learned that the cutter, which had been closely +watching our movements, had boarded the Dutch schooner, (which I have +before mentioned, and which sailed about two hours in advance of us,) +and so certain were they that they had at last gobbled the smuggler, +that they seized the vessel, and unceremoniously slapped the captain and +his crew in double irons. The skipper was so terrified that he forgot +his English, and jabbered away in Dutch; and it was not until the ship's +papers had been overhauled, that the cutter discovered her mistake. When +the revenue fellows ran foul of us, they were again deceived by the +resemblance between the two vessels, and the manner in which father had +imitated the Dutch skipper's language. About a year after that we had a +stopper put on our operations, by one of our own men. + +"The cave had two entrances--one by a rope ladder from the basin below, +which we could draw up in times of danger, and the other by a path +through the mountains, which was known only to a few of the band whom +father thought he could trust. But his confidence was abused. There is a +black sheep in every flock, and we had one among us--a man who, tempted +by the offer of reward that was held out for our apprehension, betrayed +us, and broke up our harboring-place. + +"It was this man's business to go to Bath, a small town about two miles +from the cave, to dispose of our goods to the merchants in that place, +and receive the funds. Young as I was, I almost knew that the fellow +would one day get us into trouble. He was a short, powerfully-built man, +with a most villainous countenance. He was always silent and morose; +could not bear to have you look him in the eye; in short, he was just +the man that I would have picked out from among a hundred as a traitor. +Father seemed to repose entire confidence in him, and always asked his +advice in times of danger; but, as much as I respected his judgment, I +could not conquer the feeling with which I had always regarded the man, +and I was constantly on the watch. + +"One night the schooner sailed as usual, but this man, under pretense of +sickness, remained behind, with instructions from father, in case he got +better, to go to the village and collect some money due him for goods. + +"'All right,' answered the mate; 'I'll attend to it.' Then, as soon as +father had got out of hearing, he muttered, 'I'll collect something for +you that you won't expect.' + +"As soon as the schooner had cleared the channel, and was fairly out to +sea, the rapidity with which that man got well was astonishing. He staid +about the cave all day, scarcely saying a word to me, and at night +departed by the secret path for the village. I was very uneasy, for a +dread of impending evil constantly pressed upon me, and I determined to +watch the path, and be ready for any emergency. + +"On the cliff, at the entrance of the channel that led to the bay, was a +pile of dry wood, that was to be lighted in case of danger. This I +replenished, placing materials for striking a light close at hand, and +then returned to the cave to keep watch of the path. + +"Two days passed without the occurrence of any thing unusual, and the +night came on which the schooner was expected to return. I divided my +attention between the secret path and the offing, and at length a blue +light, moving up and down in the darkness, told me that the schooner was +approaching. I answered the signal, and stood peering through the +darkness to get a glimpse of the approaching vessel, when I heard a +rustling behind me, and looking down the path I discovered, to my +dismay, a party of armed men approaching, headed by the traitor, who +said, in a low voice: + +"'It's all right now. Catch that brat before he has time to light the +signal of danger, and let the schooner once get into the channel, and we +have got them fast.' + +"The person spoken of as 'that brat' was myself, and I knew that the +salvation of the schooner depended upon my exertions. In an instant I +had determined upon my course, and, springing from the cave, I ran +toward the rope ladder that led to the basin below, and commenced +descending. A moment afterward the mouth of the cave was filled by the +burly form of the traitor, who exclaimed: + +"'There he is--shoot him!' and, suiting the action to the word, he +leveled his pistol and fired. I felt a sharp pain shoot through my +shoulder; a faintness seized upon me, and, being unable longer to retain +my hold upon the ladder, I disappeared in the basin. My sudden immersion +in the cold water revived me, and, being an excellent swimmer, I struck +out, intending to climb the cliff on the opposite side, and fire the +pile. I exerted myself to the utmost, for I could see by the lights in +the mouth of the cave that the traitor and his men were preparing to +follow me; but, it seemed, in my hurry and excitement, that I scarcely +moved through the water. At length, however, I reached the opposite +shore, and after climbing the cliff, (which I did with the utmost +difficulty, for my wounded arm was hanging almost useless at my side, +and I had not stopped to look for the path,) I ran at the top of my +speed toward the pile. The schooner having seen my signal, and +supposing, of course, that all was right, was still standing toward the +mouth of the channel. A moment more, and I would have been too late. + +"I had considerable difficulty in finding my flint, and then it seemed +impossible to strike a light; but, just as the foremost of my pursuers +reached the top of the cliff, I succeeded in catching a spark; in a +moment more, the whole pile was in a blaze. I could not refrain from +giving a shout of triumph as I saw the flames shooting upward toward the +sky, lighting up the whole face of the rocks, until every object was as +clearly defined as in broad daylight. I heard an exclamation of surprise +on board the schooner, followed by a few hastily-spoken orders; then I +knew that I had succeeded, and the schooner was safe. But I was not a +moment too soon, for the little vessel was rapidly nearing the mouth of +the channel, and once enclosed by those rocky walls, once under the +influence of those waves that dashed so madly over the rocks, retreat +would have been impossible. + +"I was allowed scarcely a moment to congratulate myself upon my success, +for my pursuers, finding themselves foiled, determined to wreak their +vengeance upon me. They could plainly see me by the light of the burning +pile, and the quick discharge of half a dozen pistols sent the bullets +thickly around me. It was death to remain where I was, so, taking a last +look at the cave, I threw myself over the cliff, and struck out for the +schooner. + +"My father, having seen me when I took the leap, laid the schooner to, +and lowered a boat to pick me up. I tell you, sir, I was a proud +youngster when I stood on that deck, receiving the thanks and the +congratulations of those I had saved. I forgot the pain of my wound, and +the dangers from which I had escaped, in the joy I experienced at +finding myself once more safe among my friends." + +Their watch ending with Tom's interesting reminiscence, they then turned +in for the night. + +The next morning the attack upon the bluffs was renewed, without +resulting to the advantage of either side, and at night the vessels +again withdrew, and retreated down the river. The Trenton returned to +her old landing, and Frank, at his request, was again placed in command +of one of the guns of the battery. But he was not destined to hold the +position long, for, now that the "beauties" had dismounted that +troublesome gun, General Sherman had advanced his works until he could +go no further without getting into the enemy's line. At length, one +morning, a flag of truce was raised within their fortifications, and +hostilities were at once suspended. Then came that celebrated interview +between the generals, during which the soldiers on both sides clambered +out of the rifle-pits, and conversed face to face with the men with whom +they had so long been engaged in deadly conflict. + +"How are you now, Johnny?" inquired Frank, seating himself on one of the +guns, and waving his hat to a rebel officer who stood in the rifle-pits, +gazing at the battery with great interest. "What does that flag of +truce mean? Are you going to surrender?" + +"Don't know," replied the rebel; "but, I say, Yank, will you let a +fellow come over there?" + +"Certainly. Come on." + +The rebel accordingly laid aside his weapons, and walked over to the +battery, where, after examining the guns very curiously, he entered into +conversation with Frank, in the course of which he informed him that +they were a "played-out concern," and could not possibly hold out more +than a week longer. + +But they did not "hold out" so long; for, on the next day, the fourth of +July, the victorious army entered the city, and raised the STARS AND +STRIPES over the "SEBASTOPOL OF THE REBELS." + +Here we leave our hero, reposing before Vicksburg on his well-earned +reputation as a gallant young officer, waiting to be ordered to new +scenes of excitement and danger further down the Mississippi and up her +tributary streams. Through these scenes we shall conduct our readers in +a concluding volume, which will close Frank's career on our Western +waters. + + + THE END. + + + + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., + + Publishers, Booksellers, and Stationers, + + 73 WEST FOURTH STREET, + + OPERA-HOUSE BUILDING, + + CINCINNATI, OHIO + +Call attention to their List of Standard, Useful, and Interesting Works: + + +=The Works of Shakespeare.= Complete. 8vo., shp. $4.50 Turkey antique, +$10. + +=Vagaries of Van Dyke Browne.= An Autobiography in Verse. By Wm. P. +Brannan. 1 vol., 16mo., $1.75. + +=Lights and Shadows of Army Life=; or, Pen Pictures from the Camp, the +Battlefield, and the Hospital, By Rev. W. W. Lyle, Chaplain U. S. A. 1 +vol., 12mo., $1.75. + +=Discourses from the Pulpit.= By Rev. Wm. M. Daily, A. M., LL.D., late +President Indiana University. With portrait. 1 vol., 12mo., $1.50. + +=The Mystic Circle and American Hand-book of Free-=MASONRY. By George H. +Gray. 1 vol., 12mo., illus. _New Edition._ $2. + +=The Illustrated Book of Manners=; A Manual of Good Behavior and Polite +Accomplishments. By Robert De Valcourt. Illustrated, 16mo., $1.75. + +=The Odd-Fellows' Minstrel=; A Collection of Odes for All Occasions, for +the Use of the Fraternity. By J. Fletcher Williams, P. G. S. of Grand +Lodge of Minnesota. 1 vol., flexible cloth, 75 cents. + +=The Heroes of the War for the Union=, and their Achievements. With a +portrait of General Grant. By Rev. P. V. Ferree, M. D. 1 vol., 12mo., +$2. + +=The Gun-Boat Series.= By H. C. Castlemon, "The Gun-boat Boy." Comprising: + + FRANK, THE YOUNG NATURALIST. Illustrated, $1.25. + FRANK IN THE WOODS. Illustrated, $1.25. + FRANK ON A GUN-BOAT. Illustrated, $1.25. + FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURG. Illustrated, $1.25. + FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. Illustrated, $1.25. + +=Incidents of the War=: Humorous, Pathetic, and Descriptive. By Alf. +Burnett, Comic Delineator, Army Correspondent, etc. 1 vol., 12mo., +illustrated. Cloth, $1.25. + +=The Sioux Massacre in Minnesota=: A History of the Great Massacre by the +Sioux Indians in Minnesota; including the personal narratives of many +who escaped. By Charles S. Bryant, A. M., and A. B. Murch. 1 vol., 12 +mo., 504 pages, cloth, $1.75. + +=Trial of Clement L. Vallandigham= by a Military Commission, and the +Proceedings in _Habeas Corpus_. 1 vol., 8 vo. Paper, 75 cents; law +sheep, $2. + +=Internal Rules and Regulations= for Vessels of the Mississippi Fleet. +Issued by order of Rear-Admiral David D. Porter. 8 vo., stitched, 25 +cents. + +=Thrilling Adventures of Pauline Cushman=, the Famous Federal Spy. 1 vol., +12 mo., stitched, 25 cents. + +=Poems.= By Alice McClure Griffin. From the Riverside Press. 1 vol., +12mo., cloth, gilt tops, $1. + +=Lawson on Consumption.= A Practical Treatise on Phthisis Pulmonalis. By +L. M. Lawson. M. D., Professor of the Theory and Practice of Medicine in +the Medical College of Ohio, etc. 1 vol., 8 vo., sheep, $3.50. + +=A History of the Discovery of the Circulation of the= BLOOD. By P. +Flourens, Sec. of the Academy of Sciences, Paris. Translated from the +French by J. C. Reeve, M. D. 1 vol., 16 mo., cl., $1. + +=A Popular Manual of Practical Microscopy.= By John King, M. D. +Illustrated with 114 cuts. 8 vo., $2.50. + +=The Eclectic Practice of Medicine.= By William Byrd Powell, M. D., and R. +S. Newton, M. D. 1 vol., 8 vo., sheep, $4. + +=The Concordia.= By A. D. Fillmore. A splendid Book of Church Music, with +ample Lessons for Schools, in round notes, containing over 400 pages. +$1.50 per copy; $12 per dozen. + +=The Polyphonic=; or, Juvenile Choralist. By A. D. and C. L. Fillmore, +containing a great variety of Music and Hymns, new and old, designed for +Schools and Youth generally, and adapted to use in Religious Meetings +and in the Home Circle. Three Parts, in 1 vol., 128 pages. Paper covers, +30 cents per copy; $3 per dozen. Stiff covers, 35 cents per copy; $3.60 +per dozen. + +Teachers and Sabbath-Schools supplied by the dozen or hundred, at a +liberal discount. + +=Nelson's Mercantile Arithmetic=, for Commercial Schools and Colleges. By +Richard Nelson. 1 vol., cloth, $1.25. + +=The Little Speaker.= By J. C. Zachos. 60 cents. + +=The High School Speaker.= By J. C. Zachos. $1. + +[Symbol: hand] Liberal discounts to the Trade. Any Work on our List +sent, post-paid, on receipt of price. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., + + _73 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati._ + + + + + TO PHYSICIANS AND MEDICAL STUDENTS. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO. + + KEEP AT ALL TIMES + + A COMPLETE STOCK. + + -OF- + + MEDICAL BOOKS, + + TO WHICH THE ATTENTION OF + + PHYSICIANS AND STUDENTS + + IS DIRECTED. + + AMONG THEM WILL BE FOUND THE LATEST EDITIONS OF ALL + THE LEADING AUTHORS IN THE USE AS TEXT-BOOKS + IN THE COLLEGES, COMPRISING + + Works on Materia Medica and Pathology, + Works on Surgery, + Works on Mechanical and Operative Dentistry, + Anatomical Books, Domestic Medicine, + etc., etc., etc., + + + RECENTLY ISSUED: + + A NEW AND COMPLETE MEDICAL CATALOGUE, + + (PRICES ATTACHED,) + + Which will be sent on receipt of a Postage Stamp. + + The Trade Supplied on Liberal Terms. + + + R. W CARROLL & CO., Publishers, + _73 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati._ + + + + + A NEW AND STIRRING SET OF + + JUVENILES + + EACH VOLUME HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED. + + These are the only works published relating to Adventures in the + Gun-boat Service on our Western waters. The Author speaks + from actual experience. + + Frank, the Young Naturalist, + Frank in the Woods, + Frank on a Gun-boat, + Frank before Vicksburg, + Frank on the Lower Mississippi. + + By H. C. CASTLEMON, + THE "GUN-BOAT BOY." + + These works are the productions of a young officer, who has been serving + his country in the gun-boat service on our Western waters. They are + written in a chaste style, filled with stirring adventures, and are + admirably adapted to interest and improve the rising generation. The + tone of the entire series is healthy, while it takes a wide range, + detailing the adventures, amusements, and exploits of Frank and his + Cousin Archie, from early boyhood to the end of the Rebellion, against + which they both fought. + + 5 volumes, elegantly printed and bound, in a neat box, $6.25. + Any volume sold separately, price $1.25. + + Sent by mail, post paid, on receipt of price. + + For sale by all Booksellers in the United States. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., Publishers, + 73 West Fourth St., (Opera-House Building,) + CINCINNATI, O. + + + + + SHAKESPEARE + + R. W. CARROLL & CO. + + CALL ATTENTION TO THEIR EDITION OF THE + + Complete Works of Wm. Shakespeare. + + One Vol., Large Octavo, Elegantly Illustrated. + + Sheep, $4 50; Turkey antique, $10. + + This is the handsomest one-volume edition published. It is printed from + clear, bold type, illustrated with steel engravings, and comprises the + complete Dramatic and Poetical Works, from the text of the late George + Steevens, with a Glossary and Notes, and a Memoir by Alexander Chalmers. + + [Symbol: hand] Sent by mail, postage paid, + on receipt of price. [Symbol: hand] + + + A STANDARD WORK ON FREEMASONRY. + + JUST READY, A NEW EDITION OF + + THE MYSTIC CIRCLE, + + AND + + American Hand-Book of Masonry + + By George H. Gray, Sr. + + This excellent work contains a brief History of Freemasonry in Europe + and America--Symbolic Chart--Ancient Constitution of the Grand Lodge of + England--Abiman Rezon--Constitutional Rules--Resolutions, Decisions, and + Opinions of Grand Lodges and Enlightened Masons, on Questions liable to + arise in Subordinate Lodges, and a Code of By-Laws for Subordinate + Lodges--Instructions, Suggestions, and Forms for Secretaries of Lodges. + + One vol., illustrated, handsomely bound, $2.00. Sent by mail, post-paid. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., Publishers, + 73 West Fourth Street. + + + + + NEW POEMS BY WM. P. BRANNAN. + + Vagaries of Vandyke Browne, + + AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY IN VERSE. + + BY WM. P. BRANNAN, + + AUTHOR OF "THE HARP OF A THOUSAND STRINGS" + + 1 Vol., elegantly Printed on Laid Paper, and exquisitely Bound in New + Style Cloth, $1.75. + + _Sent by Mail, Postage Paid, on Receipt of Price_. + + MR. BRANNAN is well known, to the people of the West especially, as an + artist, and an occasional contributor of poetry to the Press. His "HARP + OF A THOUSAND STRINGS," a burlesque sermon, has been long recognized as + the best of its class. The present volume is one of superior merit for + the wit and humor of the Autobiography, the pathos, imagination and + smooth versification of the Occasional Pieces scattered in profusion + throughout. This work is destined to place Mr. BRANNAN high in the rank + of American Poets, and to give him position as a leader among the Bards + of the West. + + _NOTICES OF THE PRESS_. + + "The breezy freshness of the prairie pervades his thought, and breathes + in many of his lines."--_Portland Daily Press._ + + "The collection of Poems does honor to the author, whose name is so + familiar to Western people, that the mere announcement of the work will + be sufficient to secure a host of readers."--_Cincinnati Gazette._ + + "This autobiographic verse is made to link together a number of fugitive + poems which have the true gold of poetry, without alloy."--_Cincinnati + Commercial._ + + "The Poems display a tender and refined sensibility, and the book is one + to buy."--_Boston Saturday Evening Gazette._ + + "The author manifests more than ordinary skill in + versification."--_Salem Register._ + + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., Publishers, + 73 West Fourth St., Opera-House Building, Cincinnati. + + + + + MUSICAL WORKS OF A. D. FILLMORE. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO. + + Call attention to the following list of Mr. FILLMORE'S WORKS, which + are published by them: + + _HARP OF ZION_: + + A large Book of Church Music, in Figure-faced Notation on the + Staff. The work contains a concise course of lessons, and a series + of Practical Exercises for Schools; also, a number of fine secular + pieces, designed for Social and School Practice. $1.25 per copy; + $12 per dozen. (In preparation--entirely new.) + + _CONCORDIA_: + + A Splendid Book of Church Music, with ample lessons for Schools, in + round notes, containing over _four hundred pages_. $1.50 per copy; + $15 per dozen. + + _POLYPHONIC_: + + Designed for Sunday-Schools. Bound in boards, 35 cents per copy; + $3.60 per dozen. Paper covers, 30 cents per copy; $3 per dozen. + +Liberal discounts, on the above works, to Sunday-Schools, Teachers, and +the Trade. Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. + + + A Pleasant Volume for the Fireside. + + HUMOROUS, PATHETIC, AND DESCRIPTIVE + + INCIDENTS OF THE WAR. + + BY ALF. BURNETT, + HUMORIST AND ARMY CORRESPONDENT. + + With a Sketch of his Life; and Humorous Illustrations, from Original + Designs, by THEE. JONES. 1 vol., 12 mo., cloth. $1.25. + + Mr. Burnett has a reputation, throughout the entire country, as a + first-class Humorist. In this volume he has gathered incidents both + grave and gay, to convulse with laughter, and to subdue with tears. It + is a book which will be readily welcomed by a large class of readers, + and contains much worthy of preservation. + + Sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of price. + + R. W CARROLL & CO., Publishers, + _73 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati_. + + + + + OPERA-HOUSE BOOKSTORE, + CINCINNATI, O. + + WHOLESALE DEPARTMENT. + + R. W. CARROLL & CO., + + WHOLESALE + + Booksellers and Stationers, + + KEEP CONSTANTLY ON HAND + THE LARGEST AND BEST ASSORTED STOCK OF + BOOKS AND STATIONERY, + OF EVERY IMAGINABLE KIND, + + To be found in any one House in the Mississippi Valley. They offer + these at + + REDUCED PRICES, + + And will always sell on as favorable terms as the market will permit, + or as any other House can give. Among the great variety + of articles sold by + + R. W. CARROLL & CO. + + are the following: + + SCHOOL BOOKS OF EVERY KIND, USED IN THE WEST, + Law Books, Medical Books, + Scientific Books, Theological + Books, Agricultural Books, and all + Varieties of Miscellaneous Books, including + Histories, Biographies, Travels, + Novels, and Illustrated Works; Photograph + Albums and Cards, Plain and Fancy Letter and + Note Paper, Foreign and Domestic Stationery, Foolscap + and Flatcap Paper, Gold Pens, Inkstands, Steel + and Quill Pens, Lead Pencils, Chess Boards, + Cribbage Boards, Paper Weights, Paper + Cutters, Card Cases, Pocket Books, + Portfolios, Writing Desks, Pocket + Cutlery, Diaries, Memorandum, + Scrap and Blank Books. + + In fact their stock includes every variety of Books and Stationery, + which they invite Dealers to examine before purchasing, as they are + confident they offer the greatest facilities, and can give satisfaction. + + _R. W. CARROLL & CO._, + 73 West Fourth. St., Cincinnati. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Frank Before Vicksburg, by Harry Castlemon + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 42099 *** |