m. 
 
 

 m^'" 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY OF 
 
 NORTH CAROLINA 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 THE WILMER COLLECTION 
 
 OF CIVIL WAR NOVELS 
 
 PRESENTED BY 
 
 RICHARD H. WILMER, JR. 
 
 

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 ) —BY A — 
 
 ym 0.\ THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 '^^^'^^i ^^M ^ m ^' 
 
THE GUN-BOAT SERIES. 
 
 FRANK, THE YOUNG NATURALIST, 
 FRANK ON A GUN-BOAT, 
 FRANK IN THE WOODS, 
 FRANK BEFORE VICKSBURO, 
 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPL 
 
 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. 
 
 i\xu\\ 
 
 ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 BY 
 
 HARRY CASTLEMON, 
 
 "THE GIN-BOAT BOT. 
 
 WITH ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 CINCINNATI: 
 R W. CARROLL & CO., Polishers, 
 
 117 West Fourth Street. 
 
 1867. 
 
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year lSo7, by 
 
 R, W. CARROLL & CO., 
 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Conrt of the United States, for the 
 Southern District of Ohio. 
 
(Tontcnts. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 The New Paymaster 9 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 A Night Expedition 28 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 Abchie in a Predicament 43 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 A Mark for the Union 67 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 A Run for Life 73 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Frank turns Detective 90 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 Frank's first Command 106 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 An Unlucky Fight 124 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 Up the Washita 137 
 
 (vii) 
 
 602904 
 
VIU CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 The Promotion 154 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 The Rival Spies 165 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 A Scouting Party 185 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 Tom the Coxswain 197 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 A Rebel Trick 213 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 Honorably Discharged 225 
 
FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 fCc> 
 
 .ICKSBURG had fallen, and the 
 army had marched in and taken 
 possession of the city. How 
 Frank longed to accompany it, that 
 he might see the inside of the rebel 
 stronghold, which had so long with- 
 stood the advance of our fleet and 
 army ! He stood leaning against one of the mon- 
 ster guns, which, at his bidding, had spoken so 
 often and so efi'ectively in favor of the Union, and 
 for two hours watched the long lines of war-worn 
 soldiers as they moved into the works. At length 
 a tremendous cheer arose from the city, and 
 Frank discovered a party of soldiers on the cu- 
 
 (9) 
 
10 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 pola of the court-house, from which, a few mo- 
 ments afterward, floated the Stars and Stripes. 
 Then came faintly to his ears the words of a 
 familiar song, which were caught up by the sol- 
 diers in the city, then by those who were still 
 marching in, and " We '11 rally round the flag, 
 boys," was sung by an immense choir. The reb- 
 els in the streets gazed wonderingly at the men 
 on the spire, and listened to the song, and the 
 triumphant shouts of the conquering army, which 
 proclaimed the beginning of the downfall of their 
 confederacy. 
 
 To Frank, it was one of the proudest moments 
 of his life — a sight he would not have missed to 
 be able to float at the mast-head of his vessel the 
 broad pennant of the admiral. All he had en- 
 dured was forgotten; and when the Old Flag was 
 unfurled in the air which had but a short time 
 before floated the "stars and bars," he pulled ofl" 
 his cap and shouted at the top of his lungs. 
 
 Having thus given vent to his feelings of exul- '^ 
 tation, in obedience to orders, he commenced the 
 removal of his battery on board the Trenton. It 
 was two days' work to accomplish this, but Frank, 
 who was impatient to see the inside of the fortifi- 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 11 
 
 cations, worked with a will, and finally the battery 
 was mounted in its old position. On the following 
 day, the Trenton moved down the river, and came 
 to anchor in front of Vicksburg. Shore liberty 
 was granted, and Frank, in company with several 
 of his brother officers, strolled about the city. On 
 every side the houses bore the marks of Union 
 shot and shell, and the streets were blocked with 
 fortifications, showing that had the city been taken 
 by storm, it was the intention of the rebels to 
 dispute every inch of the ground. Every thing 
 bore evidence to the fact that the fight had been 
 a most desperate one; that the rebels had sur- 
 rendered only when they found that it was impos- 
 sible to hold out longer. 
 
 In some places the streets ran through deep 
 cuts in the bank, and in these banks were the 
 famous " gopher holes." They were caves dug 
 in the ground, into which a person, if he hap- 
 pened to hear a shell coming, might run for safety. 
 Outside the city, the fortifications were most 
 extensive; rifle-pits ran in every direction, flanked 
 by strong forts, whose battered walls attested the 
 fury of the iron hail that had been poured upon 
 them. It was night before Frank was aware of 
 
12 FRA^'K ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 it, SO interested was he in every thing about him, 
 and he returned on board his vessel, weary with 
 his long walk, but amply repaid by seeing the 
 inside of what its rebel occupants had called '' the 
 Gibraltar of America." 
 
 During the next two days, several vessels of 
 the squadron passed the city, on their way to 
 new fields of action further down the river. One 
 of them — the Boxer, a tin-clad, mounting eight 
 guns — had Frank on board. He had been de- 
 tached from the Trenton, and ordered to join this 
 vessel, which had been assigned a station a short 
 distance below Grand Gulf. As usual, he had no 
 difficulty in becoming acquainted with his new 
 messmates, and he soon felt perfectly at home 
 among them. He found, as he had done in every 
 other mess of which he had been a member, that 
 there was the usual amount of wrangling and dis- 
 puting, and it amused him exceedingly. All the 
 mess seemed to be indignant at the caterer, who 
 did not appear to stand very high in their esti- 
 mation. The latter, he learned, had just made 
 an "assessment" upon the mess to the amount 
 of ten dollars for each member ; and as there was 
 no paymaster on board, the officers had but very 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 13 
 
 little ready money, and were anxious to know 
 where all the funds paid into the treasury went 
 to. He also found that the caterer's authority 
 was not as much respected as he had a right to 
 claim, for during the very first meal Frank ate in 
 the mess, a dispute arose which threatened for a 
 time to end in the whole matter being carried be- 
 fore the captain. 
 
 One of the members of the mess, who was tem- 
 porarily attached to the vessel, was a pilot who 
 had been pressed into the service. He was a 
 genuine rebel, and frequently said that he was 
 called a traitor because he was in favor of allow- 
 ing the South to "peaceably withdraw from the 
 Union." The doctor, a little, fat, jolly man, and 
 a thorough Unionist, who believed in handling all 
 rebels without gloves, took up the sword, and the 
 debate that followed was long and stormy. The 
 pilot, as it proved, hardly knew the reasons why 
 the South had attempted to secede, and was con- 
 stantly clinching his arguments by saying, " Men 
 who know more, and who have done more fighting 
 during this war than you, Doctor Brown, say that 
 they have a right to do so." The debate waxed 
 hotter and hotter, until some of the other mem- 
 
14 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 bers of the mess joined in with the doctor against 
 the pilot, and the caterer, thinking that the noise 
 the disputants made was unbecoming the members 
 of a well-regulated mess, at length shouted : 
 
 " Silence ! Gentlemen, hereafter talking politics 
 in this wardroom is strictly prohibited." 
 
 ^'Eh?" ejaculated the doctor, who was thor- 
 oughly aroused. " Do you expect us to sit here 
 and listen to a conscript running down the Govern- 
 ment — a man who never would have entered the 
 service if he had not been compelled to do so? 
 No, sir ! I would n't hold my tongue under such 
 circumstances if all the six-foot-four caterers in 
 the squadron should say so. You are not a little 
 admiral, to come down here and hoist your broad 
 pennant in this mess-room." 
 
 The caterer was astounded when he found his 
 authority thus set at defiance, and without further 
 parley he retired to his room; and in a few mo- 
 ments retui-ned with the books, papers, and the 
 small amount of money that belonged to the mess; 
 laying them on the table, he said: 
 
 *' Gentlemen, you will please elect another ca- 
 terer." 
 
 The debate was instantly hushed, for not one 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 15 
 
 member of the mess, besides the caterer just re- 
 signed, could have been hired to take the respon- 
 sibility of managing affairs. AVhcn the ollicers 
 had finished their dinner, they ^valked carelessly 
 out on deck, as if the question of where the next 
 meal -was to come from did not trouble them in 
 the least. Nothing was done toward an election ; 
 no one took charge of the books or papers, and 
 when the table was cleared away they were 
 thrown unceremoniously under the water-cooler. 
 The money, however, was taken care of by the 
 doctor. Dinner-time came, and when Frank, tired 
 and hungry, was relieved from the deck, he in- 
 quired what was to be had to eat. 
 
 "There's nothing been done about it yet," 
 answered the officer who relieved him. "The 
 steward went to several of the members of the 
 mess, and asked what they wished served up ; but 
 they told him that they had nothing to do with 
 the caterer's business, and the consequence is, if 
 you want any thing to eat, you will have to go 
 into the pantry and help yourself." 
 
 Frank was a good deal amused at the obstinacy 
 displayed by the different members of the mess, 
 and wondered how the affair would end. The 
 
16 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 mess could not long exist without some one to 
 take charge of it ; but for himself he was not at 
 all concerned. He had paid no initiation fee, 
 because no one had asked him for it, and he 
 knew that as long as there were provisions in the 
 paymaster's store-rooms, there was no danger but 
 that he would get plenty to eat. He found three 
 or four officers in the pantry making their dinner 
 on hard-tack, pickles, and raw bacon. They were 
 all grumbling over the hard fare, but not one of 
 them appeared willing to assume the office of 
 caterer. 
 
 Things went on in this way for nearly a week, 
 (during which time they had arrived at their sta- 
 tion,) and the doctor, who was fond of good living, 
 could stand it no longer. He went to the caterer 
 who had resigned, and, after considerable urging, 
 and a solemn promise that politics should not 
 again be discussed in the mess, the latter was 
 persuaded to resume the management of affiiirs. 
 The change from hard crackers and pickles to 
 nice warm meals was a most agreeable one, and 
 the jolly doctor, according to promise, was very 
 careful what questions were brought up before the 
 the mess for discussion. 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 17 
 
 By tills time, as we have before remarked, the 
 Boxer had arrived at her station. Her crew 
 thought they were now about to lead a life of 
 idleness and inactivity, for not a rebel had they 
 seen since leaving Vicksburg. But one morning, 
 while the men were engaged in washing off the 
 forecastle, they were startled by a roar of mus- 
 ketry, and three of the sailors fell dead upon the 
 deck. 
 
 The fight that followed continued for two hours, 
 the rebels finally retiring, not because they had 
 been worsted, but for the reason that they had 
 grown weary of the engagement. This was tlie 
 commencement of a series of attacks which proved 
 to be the source of great annoyance to the crew 
 of the Boxer. The guerrillas would appear when 
 least expected, and the levee afforded them a se- 
 cure hiding-place from which they could not be 
 driven, either with big guns or small arms. They 
 were fatal marksmen, too; and during the week 
 following, the Boxer's crew lost ten men. One 
 rebel in particular attracted their attention, and 
 his reckless courage excited their admiration, 
 lie rode a large white horse, and although ren- 
 dered a prominent mark for the rifles of tho 
 2 
 
18 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 sailors, he always escaped unhurt. He "would 
 ride boldly out in full view of the vessel, patiently 
 wait for some one to expose himself, when the 
 sharp crack of his rifle would be followed by the 
 report made to the captain, '^A man shot, sir." 
 
 Frank had selected this man as a worthy foe- 
 man; and every time he appeared the young offi- 
 cer was on the watch for him. He was very 
 expert with the rifle, and after a few shots, he 
 succeeded in convincing the rebel that the safest 
 place for him was behind the levee. One morn- 
 ing the foe appeared in stronger force than usual, 
 and conspicuous among them was the white horse 
 and his daring rider. The fight that ensued 
 had continued for perhaps half an hour, when 
 the quartermaster reported the dispatch-boat ap- 
 proaching. As soon as she came within range, 
 the guerrillas directed their fire against her, to 
 which the latter replied briskly from two guns 
 mounted on her forecastle. The leader of the 
 rebels was constantly in view, cheering on his 
 men, and discharging his rifle as fast as he could 
 reload. Frank fired several shots at him, and 
 finding that, as usual, they were without efi'ect, 
 he asked the captain s permission to try a how- 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 19 
 
 itzer on him, which was granted. He ran below, 
 trained the gun to his satisfaction, and waited for 
 an opportunity to fire, during which the dispatch- 
 boat came alongside and commenced putting off 
 a supply of stores. 
 
 At length the rebel mounted the levee, and 
 reigning in his horse, sat in his saddle gazing at 
 the vessels, as if not at all concerned. He pre- 
 sented a fair mark, and Frank fired, but the shell 
 went wild and burst in the woods, far beyond the 
 rebel, who, however, beat a hasty retreat behind 
 the levee. 
 
 "Oh, what a shot I" shouted a voice through 
 the trumpet that led from the pilot-house to the 
 main deck. "What a shot — altogether too much 
 elevation." 
 
 "Who's that, I wonder?" soliloquized Frank. 
 "It was a poor shot, but I'd like to see that fel- 
 low, whoever he is, do any better." 
 
 After giving orders to have the gun reloaded 
 and secured, he ran into the wardroom to look 
 after his mail, at the same time inquiring of every 
 one he met, "Who was that making fun of my 
 shootinor?" But no one knew, nor cared to 
 trouble himself about the matter, for the subject 
 
20 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 of conversation was, ^' We 've got a new pay- 
 master." 
 
 Frank was pleased to hear this, but was still 
 determined to find the person who had laughed 
 at his marksmanship, when he saw a pair of feet 
 descending the ladder that led from the cabin to 
 the pilot-house, and a moment afterward, a smart 
 looking young officer, dressed in the uniform of a 
 paymaster, stood in the wardroom, and upon dis- 
 covering Frank, thrust out his hand and greeted 
 him with — 
 
 "What a shot! Been in the service more than 
 two years, and" 
 
 " Why, Archie Winters, is this you ? " exclaimed 
 Frank, joyfully. 
 
 ""Paymaster Winters, if you please," replied 
 Archie, with mock dignity. 
 
 "How came you here? What are you. doing? 
 Got any money?" hurriedly inquired Frank. 
 
 "Got plenty of funds," replied his cousin. 
 "But I say, Frank, how long has this fighting 
 been going on?" 
 
 "Jlvery day for the last week." 
 
 Archie shrugged his shoulders, and looked 
 blank. 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 21 
 
 "I guess I had better go back to Cairo," said 
 he ; " these rebels, I hear, shoot very carelessly. 
 Just before we came alongside here, I was stand- 
 ing on the deck of the dispatch-boat, and some 
 fellow cracked away at me, sending the bullet 
 altogether too close to ray head for comfort." 
 
 "Oh, that's nothing, so long as he didn't hit 
 you. You '11 get used to that before you have 
 been here a week. But, Archie, are you really 
 ordered to this vessel?" 
 
 Archie at once produced his orders, and, sure 
 enough, he was an acting assistant paymaster, 
 and ordered to "report to the commanding officer 
 of the U. S. S. Boxer for duty on board that 
 vessel." 
 
 During the two years that Archie had been in 
 the fleet-paymaster's office he had, by strict at- 
 tention to his duties, worked his way up from 
 "writer" to corresponding clerk. He had had 
 ample opportunity to learn the duties of pay- 
 master, and one day he suddenly took it into his 
 head to make application for the position. He im- 
 mediately wrote to his father, informing him of his 
 intention, procured his letters of recommendation, 
 and a month afterward received the appointment. 
 
22 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Hearing, through Frank, that the Boxer was 
 •without a paymaster, he succeeded in getting 
 ordered to her, and, as he had not written to his 
 cousin of his good fortune, the hitter, as may be 
 supposed, was taken completely by surprise. 
 
 Archie was speedily introduced to the officers 
 of the vessel, who were pleased with his off-hand, 
 easy manners, and delighted with the looks of a 
 small safe which he had brought with him, for 
 they knew, by the very particular orders he gave 
 concerning it, that there was money in it. 
 
 At the end of an hour the rebels seemed to 
 grow weary of the fight, for they drew off their 
 forces; then, as soon as it was safe on deck, the 
 cousins seated themselves on the guard, to "talk 
 over old times." Frank gave descriptions of the 
 fights in which he had engaged since they last 
 met, and also related stories of mess-room life, 
 with which Archie was entirely unacquainted; 
 and to show him how things were conducted, told 
 him of the jokes the officers frequently played 
 upon. each others 
 
 "Speaking of jokes," said Archie, "reminds me 
 of a little affair I had a hand in at Cairo. 
 
 "While the commandant of the station was 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 23 
 
 absent on a leave, his place was supplied by a 
 gentleman whom, for short, I will call Captain 
 Smith. lie was a regular officer, had grown gray 
 in the service, and was one of the most eccentric 
 men I ever saw. He was extremely nervous, too, 
 and if a steamer happened to whistle while pass- 
 ing the wharf-boat, it would make him almost 
 wild. 
 
 "One day, a man who lived off somewhere in 
 the woods, came down to Cairo to get an appoint- 
 ment for his son as master's mate. Our office, 
 you know, was just to the right of the door, and, 
 if there was any thing that bothered me, it was for 
 some body to stick his head over the railing when 
 I was busy, and ask, *Is the commandant of the 
 station in?' There was an orderly on watch day 
 and night, always ready to answer such questions, 
 and besides, there was an abundance of notices on 
 the w^alls pointing out the different offices; but in 
 spite of this, every stranger that came in must 
 stop and make inquiries of me. 
 
 "Well, this man came into the office, and as he 
 had evidently never been there before, judging by 
 the way he gaped at every thing, I told him that 
 it was after office hours, and that he must call 
 
24 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 again the next morning about nine o'clock. He 
 took a turn or two across the floor (by-the-way, 
 he wore squeaking boots, that made a noise like a 
 Bteam-whistle), and finally went out. 
 
 "The next evening, just as I was locking up 
 my desk, he came in again, and I repeated what 
 I had told him the night before, that he must 
 come at nine o'clock in the morning — not at 
 night — if he wished to see the captain, and he 
 went out, after making noise enough with his 
 squeaking boots to set a nervous man's teeth on 
 edge. Now, would you believe it, that evening, 
 after I had finished my york, and was starting 
 out for supper, I saw this man coming up the 
 stairs. He met me Avith the usual question, ' Is 
 the captain in?' and I suddenly hit upon a plan 
 to get rid of him, for I had made up my mind 
 that the man didn't know what he was about; 
 so I replied: 
 
 "'What do you want? Why don't you come 
 here during our office hours, if you want to see 
 me?' 
 
 "I spoke in a gruff voice, and I was so bundled 
 up— for the night was very cold — that I knew he 
 wouldn't recognize me. 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 25 
 
 "^I've been busy all day, cap'in,' said he; *but 
 the fact is' • 
 
 "I was afraid that I would be obliged to stand 
 there in the cold and listen to a long, uninterest- 
 ing yarn, so I interrupted him. 
 
 "'Speak quick, and don't keep me waiting.' 
 
 "'Wal, cap'in,' said he, *I heerd you are in 
 want of officers, an' I come to get a place for my 
 son ; I hear the wages are purty good.' 
 
 "'Yes,' I replied, 'we do want officers; but 
 does your son know any thing about a ship?' 
 
 '"Oh, yes? He's run the river as deck-hand 
 for aroin' nidi on to three vear.' 
 
 "'Then he ought to know something, certainly. 
 Come around to-morrow morning, at nine o'clock 
 exactly, and I'll see what can be done for you. 
 Now, mind, I say nine o'clock in the morning.' 
 
 " Well, the next morning, at the appointed time, 
 to my oitter astonishment, the man was on hand, 
 and, as usual, commenced walking up and down 
 the floor with his squeaking boots. The noise 
 disturbed every one within hearing, and presently 
 the captain, who was in his office, and so busy 
 that he hardly knew what he was about, spoke in 
 a sharp tone : 
 
26 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "^Orderly, pull off those squeaking boots! ' 
 
 "'It isn't me, sir,' said the orderly; 'it's a 
 gentleman out here availing to see you, sir.' 
 
 "'Then send him in — send him in at once, so 
 that I can get rid of that noise.' 
 
 "The man was accordingly shown into the 
 presence of the captain, while I listened with both 
 ears to hear what was said. 
 
 "'Mornin', cap'in,' he began; 'I reckon I'm 
 here on time.' 
 
 "'Time! what time? "What do you want?' in- 
 quired the captain, who always spoke very fast, 
 as though he were in a hurry to get through with 
 what he had to say. 'AVhat do you want, my 
 good man. Be lively now.' 
 
 " ' Why, cap'in, I come here to get that appoint- 
 ment for my son in this ere navy.' 
 
 "'Appointment! For your son!' repeated the 
 captain. 'AVho is he? I never heard of him.' 
 
 "'Wal, really now, cap'in, I'll be shot if you 
 didn't tell me last night that you would make my 
 son an officer. The wages are good, I hear, an' 
 as I've a debt to pay off on the farm' 
 
 "'Don't bother me!' interrupted the captain, 
 beginning to get impatient. 
 
THE NEW PAYMASTER. 27 
 
 "^But, cap'in,' urged the man, 'you can't bluff 
 me off this 'ere way. You tohl me last night that 
 you wanted officers ; you know I met you on the 
 stairs, and you promised, honor bright.' 
 
 "'Eh!' ejaculated the captain, in surprise, 'my 
 good man, allow me to know what I'm about, will 
 you? Will you allow me to know myself? Or- 
 derly,' he continued, turning to that individual, 
 who had stood by, convulsed with laughter, which 
 he was vainly endeavoring to conceal, 'orderly, do 
 you think this man is in his right mind?' 
 
 " The orderly said he did n't know ; but, taking 
 the man by the arm, showed him out of the office, 
 telling him to come again, when the captain was 
 not quite so busy. 
 
 "The conversation had been carried on in a 
 loud tone, and all the occupants of the different 
 offices had heard it, and were highly amused, for 
 they knew that somebody had been playing a joke 
 on the countryman ; but it was a long time before 
 I told any one of the share I had had in the 
 affair." 
 
28 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 p^^^^^^HE captain wishes to see you, gentle- 
 ff^^H^/i:^ men!" said the orderly, stepping 
 >^ up and saluting. 
 
 The cousins repaired to the cabin,, 
 and after Archie had been introduced 
 to the captain (for being utterly igno- 
 rant of the manner in which things 
 were conducted on shipboard, he had not yet 
 reported his arrival), his orders were indorsed, 
 and the captain, turning to his desk, ran his eye 
 hastily over an official document, and said: 
 
 "Mr. Nelson, I have received instructions from 
 the admiral to make you the executive officer of 
 this vessel. Mr. Kearney's resignation has been 
 accepted, and you will take his place. I am cer- 
 tain, from what I know and have heard of your 
 
A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 29 
 
 past history, that I shall have no cause to regret 
 the change." 
 
 After a few moments' conversation with the 
 captain upon unimportant matters, the cousins 
 returned to the wardroom. 
 
 Frank's constant attention to his duties had 
 a^-ain been rewarded, and he was now the second 
 in authority on board the vessel. All orders from 
 the captain must pass through him, and in the 
 absence of that gentleman he became commander. 
 To say that Frank was delighted would but feebly 
 express his feelings ; he was proud of the honor, 
 and determined that he would prove himself 
 worthy of it. In fact, he had now reached the 
 height of his ambition, although he had little 
 dreamed that it would come so soon. He asked 
 nothinor more. He had worked hard and faith- 
 
 o 
 
 fully ever since he had entered the service, but 
 in receiving the appointment of executive officer 
 he felt amply rewarded. 
 
 He was young in years for so responsible a 
 position, but he had no fears of his ability to per- 
 form all the duties required of him, for the rou- 
 tine of ship life had become as familiar to him as 
 "was the road from Lawrence to his quiet little 
 
30 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 home on the banks of Glen's Creek. But his 
 promotion did not affect him as it does a great 
 many who suddenly find themselves possessed of 
 power. He did not " stand upon his rank," and 
 in his intercourse Avith his messmates endeavored 
 to keep constantly before their minds the fiict 
 that he was the second in command. Those who 
 have been in the service — especially in the navy — 
 will recall to mind incidents of this character ; but 
 our hero never forgot the respect he owed to his 
 superiors, and his conduct toward those under 
 him was marked by the same kindness he had 
 always shown them. 
 
 Frank knew that he had something of a task 
 before him. Although he could now turn into 
 his bunk at night without being called upon to 
 stand his regular watch, he had more difficult 
 duties to perform. He was responsible for the 
 manner in which affairs were conducted about 
 decks, for the neat appearance of the vessel and 
 of the men; and as the former executive officer 
 had been rather careless in this respect, Frank 
 knew that his first move must be made in that 
 direction. 
 
 For the next two days, as the rebels did not 
 
A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 31 
 
 trouble them, Frank worked early and late, and 
 the results of his labor were soon made apparent. 
 Every one remarked the improved appearance of 
 the men, who, at the Sunday morning muster, 
 appeared on deck in spotless uniforms and well- 
 blacked shoes. After the roll had been called, 
 and the captain, in company with Frank, pro- 
 ceeded to inspect the vessel, the young oflScer 
 knew that his improvements had been appreciated 
 when the former, who was an old sailor, said, 
 with a smile of satisfiiction : 
 
 *' Mr. Nelson, this begins to look something like 
 a ship, sir. This really looks like business. The 
 admiral may come here now and inspect the ves- 
 sel as soon as he pleases." 
 
 The next morning, as Frank sat at the table in 
 the wardroom, engaged in answering the letters 
 he had received by the dispatch-boat, and Archie 
 was in his office straightening out his books and 
 papers, a bullet came suddenly crashing through 
 the cabin — a sifijnal that the rebels had af]rain 
 made their appearance. Frank, who had become 
 accustomed to such interruptions, deliberately 
 wiped his pen, corked his ink-stand, and was care- 
 fully putting away his letters, when there was a 
 
32 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 hurrying of feet in the office ; the door flew open, 
 and Archie, divested of his coat, bounded into the 
 cabin, exclaiming : 
 
 " A fellow can't tell when he 's safe in this 
 country. I wish I was back in the fleet-paymas- 
 ter's office. I would n't mind a good fair fight, 
 but this thing of being shot at when you least 
 expect it is n't pleasant." 
 
 As Archie spoke, he hurriedly seized a gun 
 from the rack, which had been put up in the 
 cabin in order to have weapons close at hand, 
 and sprang up the ladder that led into the pilot- 
 house. Frank, although he laughed heartily at 
 his cousin's rapid movements, was a good deal 
 surprised, for he had always believed him to be 
 possessed of a good share of courage. It would, 
 however, have tried stronger nerves than Archie's; 
 but men who had become familiar with such 
 scenes, who had learned to regard them merely 
 as something disagreeable which could not be 
 avoided, could not sympathize with one in his 
 situation, and many a wink was exchanged, and 
 many a laugh indulged in, at the expense of the 
 "green paymaster." 
 
 When Frank had put away his writing mate- 
 
A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 33 
 
 rials, he ran below to see that the ports were all 
 closed; after which he returned to the wardroom, 
 and, securing a rifle, went into the pilot-house, 
 where he found Archie engaged in reloading his 
 gun, while the officers were complimenting him on 
 a fine shot he had just made. 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," exclaimed the doctor, as Frank 
 made his appearance, " I guess your white horse- 
 man is done for now. The paymaster lifted him 
 out of his saddle as clean as a whistle." 
 
 Frank looked out at one of the ports, and, sure 
 enough, there was the white horse running rider- 
 less about, and his wounded master was being 
 carried behind the levee. The officers continued 
 to fire as often as a rebel showed himself, but the 
 latter seemed to have lost all desire for fiditino', 
 for they retreated to the plantation-house which 
 stood back from the river, out of range of the 
 rifles, where they gathered in a body as if in 
 consultation, now and then setting up defiant 
 yells, which came faintly to the ears of those in 
 the pilot-house. 
 
 "They are saucy enough now that they are 
 out of harm's way," said Archie, turning to his 
 cousin, But the latter made no reply. He stqod 
 3 
 
34 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 leaning on his rifle, gazing at the guerrillas, as if 
 busily engaged with his own thoughts, and finally 
 left the pilot-house and sought an interview with 
 the captain. 
 
 " I have been thinking, sir," said he, as he en- 
 tered the cabin and took the chair ojQTered him, 
 "that if that house out there had been burned 
 long ago, we should not have had ten men killed 
 by those guerrillas. They seem to use that build- 
 ing as their head-quarters, and if it could be de- 
 stroyed they would cease to trouble us." 
 
 " That 's my opinion," replied the captain. 
 "But who is to undertake the job? Who's to 
 go out there, in the face of three or four hundred 
 rebels, and do it? / can't, with a crew of only 
 fifty men." 
 
 "I didn't suppose it could be done openly, 
 sir ; but could n't it be accomplished by stratagem 
 in the night, for instance?" 
 
 The captain shook his head; but Frank, who 
 was not yet discouraged, continued: 
 
 "I have not made this proposition, captain, 
 without thinkinor it all over — without takino^ into 
 consideration all the chances for and against it — • 
 and I still think it could be accomplished." 
 
A Nir.IIT EXPEDITION. 85 
 
 "Well, how would you go to work?" asked the 
 captain, settling back in his chair with the air of 
 a man who had made his decision, from which he 
 was not to be turned. 
 
 Frank then proceeded to recount the plans he 
 had laid for the accomplishment of his object, to 
 which the captain listened attentively, and when 
 Frank had ce'ased, he rose to his feet and paced 
 the cabin. He knew that the young officer had 
 before engaged in expeditions similar to the one 
 he now proposed, when, in carrying out his de- 
 signs, he had exhibited the skill and judgment of 
 a veteran. In the present instance, his plans 
 were so well laid, that there appeared to be but 
 little chance for failure. After a few moments' 
 consideration, the captain again seated himself, 
 and said: 
 
 " "VV.ell, Mr. Nelson, it shall be as you propose. 
 If you succeed, I am certain that this guerrilla 
 station will be broken up; if you fail, it will 
 only be what many a good officer has done before 
 
 you." 
 
 "I assure you, sir, I shall leave no plan un- 
 tried to insure my success," replied Frank, as he 
 left the cabin. 
 
36 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 " What 's the matter now ? " inquired Archie, as 
 his cousin entered the wardroom. "Been getting 
 a blowing up ah'eady ? " 
 
 "Oh, no!" replied Frank. "Come in here, and 
 I '11 tell you all about it ; " and he drew Archie 
 into the office, where he proceeded to tell him all 
 that had been determined upon. When he had 
 finished, the latter exclaimed : 
 
 "I want to go with you. Will you take 
 me?" 
 
 Frank thought of Archie's behavior but a few 
 moments before, and wondered what use he could 
 posssibly be in an expedition like the one pro- 
 posed. 
 
 "If you do go," he answered, at length, 
 " you '11 be sorry for it. It requires those who 
 are accustomed to such business; and you have 
 never been in an action in your life. The under- 
 taking is dangerous." 
 
 " I do n't care if it is," answered Archie. 
 " That 's just the reason why I want to go — to 
 be with you ; and I warrant you I '11 stick to you 
 as long as any body." 
 
 " Besides," began Frank, " if any thing should 
 happen to you" 
 
A NIC.IIT EXPEDITION. 37 
 
 "I'm just as likely to get back as you are," 
 replied Archie, excitedly, "and I want to go/' 
 
 After considerable urging, Frank finally asked 
 and obtained permission for Archie to accompany 
 the expedition, at which the latter was over- 
 joyed. He was very far from reahzing the dan- 
 ger there was in the undertaking, and had as 
 little idea of what would be required of him as he 
 had of the moon. 
 
 The cousins passed the afternoon in the pilot- 
 house, watching the movements of the guerrillas 
 through spy-glasses, studying the " lay of the 
 land," the directions in which the different roads 
 ran — in short, nothing was omitted which they 
 thought mifirht be useful for them to know. Just 
 before night a storm set in ; the wind blew, and 
 the rain fell in torrents; and, although Frank re- 
 garded it as something in their favor, under any 
 other circumstances he would have preferred 
 tumbling into bed to venturing out in it. The 
 hammocks were not piped as usual, but all hands 
 were to remain on deck during the night, to be 
 ready to lend assistance in case it was required. 
 At ten o'clock the cutter lay alongside the ves- 
 sel, the crew were in their places, and Frank and 
 
38 FRAXK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 his cousin, surrounded by the officers who had 
 assembled to see them off, stood on the guards 
 ready to start. 
 
 "Paymaster," said Frank, turning to his cousin, 
 "hadn't you better remain on board?" (He ad- 
 dressed him as paymaster, for, of course, it would 
 have been contrary to naval rules to call him by 
 his given name in the presence of the captain.) 
 
 "No, sir," answered Archie, quickly buttoning 
 up his pea-jacket with a resolute air. " Do you 
 suppose I 'm going to back out now ? If you do, 
 you are mistaken. I 'm not afraid of a little 
 rain." 
 
 Frank made no reply, but, after shaking hands 
 with the captain and officers, followed his cousin 
 into the cutter, which floated off into the darkness 
 amid the whispered wishes for "good luck" from 
 all the ship's company who had witnessed its de- 
 parture. Frank took the helm, and turned the 
 boat down the river. Not an oar was used, for 
 the young officer did not know but the rebels had 
 posted sentries along the bank, whom the least 
 splashing in the water would alarm. Archie sat 
 beside his cousin, with his collar pulled up over 
 his ears, and his hands thrust into the pockets of 
 
A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 39 
 
 his pea-jacket, heartily wishing that Frank had 
 chosen a pleasanter night for their expedition. 
 For half an hour they floated along with the cur- 
 rent in silence, until Frank, satisfied that he had 
 gone far enough down the river to get below the 
 sentries, if any were posted on the bank, gave the 
 order to use the oars, and turned the cutter's head 
 toward the shore, which they reached in a few 
 moments. 
 
 The crew quietly disembarked, and as the sail- 
 ors gathered about him, Frank said, 
 
 "Now, men, I'm going to leave you here until 
 the paymaster and myself can go up to the house, 
 and accomplish what we have come for. Tom," 
 he added, turning to the coxswain of the cutter, 
 " you will have charge of the boat, and remember 
 you are in no case to leave her. We may be dis- 
 covered, and get into a fight. If we do, and are 
 cut off from the river and unable to get back, I '11 
 •whistle, and you will at once answer me, so that 
 I may know that you hear me, and pull off to the 
 vessel. We '11 take care of ourselves. - Do you 
 understand ? " 
 
 The crew of the cutter were old sailors — men 
 who had followed the sea through storm and sun- 
 
40 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 shine all their lives. They had been in more than 
 one action, too, during the rebellion, and had 
 gladly volunteered for the expedition, supposing 
 that they were to accompany Frank "wherever he 
 ■VN-ent. During the short time the latter had been 
 on board the Boxer, they had become very much 
 attached to him. Although he was a very strict 
 officer, and always expected every man to do his 
 duty promptly, he always treated them with the 
 greatest kindness, and never spoke harshly to 
 them. This was so different from the treatment 
 they had usually received at the hands of their 
 officers, that it won their hearts; and, although 
 they admired his courage, they would have felt 
 much better pleased had they received orders to 
 accompany him. 
 
 " Do n't you understand, Tom ? " again asked 
 Frank, seeing that the coxswain hesitated. 
 
 "Oh, yes, sir," replied the sailor, touching his 
 hat; "I understand, sir. But, Mr. Nelson, may 
 I be so bold as to ask one question — one favor, 
 I may say ? " 
 
 " Certainly ; speak it out," answered Frank, who 
 little imagined what thoughts were passing through 
 the minds of his men. "What is it? Do you 
 
A NIGHT EXPEDITION. 41 
 
 wish to go^ back to the ship, and leave us here 
 alone?" 
 
 "No, sir," answered all the men in a breath. 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," said the coxswain, "I never jet 
 refused duty because there w^as danger in it, and 
 I 'm too old a man to begin now. You have here, 
 sir, twelve as good men as ever trod a ship's deck, 
 and you know, sir, that when you passed the word 
 for volunteers for this expedition, you did n't have 
 to call twice. But we all thought that we should 
 go with you to the end ; and, to tell the truth, sir, 
 we do n't like the idea of you and the paymaster 
 going off alone among them rebels. You are 
 sure to get into trouble, and we want to go with 
 
 you." 
 
 On more than one occasion had Frank been 
 made aware of the affection his men cherished for 
 him, and he felt as proud of it as he did of the 
 uniform he wore; but he had never been more 
 affected than he was on the present occasion. 
 
 "Men," he answered, in a voice that was none 
 of the steadiest, " I assure you I appreciate the 
 interest you take in my welfare, and were I going 
 to fight, I should certainly take you with me; but 
 Bometimes two can accomplish more than a dozen. 
 
42 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Besides, I promised the captain that I would leave 
 you here, and I must do so. Now, remember and 
 pull off to the vessel if you hear me whistle." 
 
 "Yes, sir," replied the coxswain; "but it'll be 
 the first time I ever deserted an officer in trouble." 
 
 The sailors were evidently far from being 
 pleased with this arrangement, but they were 
 allowed no opportunity to oppose it, even had 
 they felt inclined to do so, for Frank and his 
 cousin speedih" disappeared in the darkness. 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 43 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 j^^^^^^S soon as the young officers had 
 m\i^ reached the top of the bank, they 
 paused to take their bearings, and 
 to select some landmark that would 
 enable them to easily find the boat 
 again. A^vay oflf in the darkness 
 they saw the twinkling of a light, 
 which they knew was in the house which the 
 guerrillas were using as their head-quarters. 
 
 "Now, Archie," said Frank, "take a good look 
 at this big tree here" (pointing to the object in 
 question) "so that you will know it again. The 
 boat lies in the river exactly in a line with that 
 tree. Now, if you should be separated from me 
 and discovered, make straight for the cutter. But 
 if you arc cut off from it, run up the river until 
 
44 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 you get a little above where the vessel lies, and 
 then jump in and swim out to her. Do you un- 
 derstand?" 
 
 "Yes," replied Archie. 
 
 "Be careful of your weapons," continued his 
 cousin, "and keep them dry and ready for in- 
 stant use. Do n't be captured — whatever you do, 
 do n't be captured!" 
 
 " I '11 look out for that," answered Archie. 
 "But, Frank," he continued, "why did you tell 
 the men to pull back to the vessel if we should 
 be cut off from the river? I should think that 
 would be just the time you would want them to 
 remain." 
 
 "Why," replied Frank, "the very first thing 
 the rebels would think of, if we were discovered, 
 would be to capture our boat, and while part of 
 them were after us, the others would run to the 
 river and gobble up boat, crew, and all. Then 
 they would know that we were still on shore, and 
 would scour the country to find us. But if the 
 boat s:oes off to the vessel, the rebels will be more 
 than half inclined to believe that we have gone off 
 too, and, consequently, will not take the pains to 
 hunt us which they would do if they knew we 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 45 
 
 Tvcre still on shore. But let us be moving; we've 
 no time to waste." 
 
 Frank started toward the house, carefully pick- 
 ing his way over the wet, slippery ground, now 
 and then pausing to listen, and to reconnoiter as 
 well as the darkness would permit, and finally 
 stopped scarcely a stone's throw from the build- 
 ing. Not a guerrilla had they seen. Not dream- 
 ing that the "yankee gun-boatmen" would have 
 the audacity to attack them when they knew the 
 rebels were so far superior in numbers, the latter 
 had neglected to post sentries, and Frank was sat- 
 isfied that their approach had not been discovered. 
 
 ''Now, Archie," said he, as they drew up be- 
 hind a tree for concealment, '' you stay here, and 
 I'll see if I can set fire to that house." 
 
 "There are people in it," said his cousin; "I 
 just saw a man pass by that window where the 
 light is." 
 
 " Then they must look out for themselves," an- 
 swered Frank. "That's what we have to do 
 when they shoot into our cabin. Now, you stay 
 here, and if you hear any shooting, run for the 
 boat." 
 
 "What will you do?" asked Archie. 
 
46 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "Oh, I'll take care of myself. Good-bye." 
 
 As Frank spoke he moved silently toward the 
 house, and was soon out of sight. 
 
 " Now," soliloquized Archie, " I am to stay 
 here, am I? That's what I was ordered to do, 
 but I don't know whether I'll obey or not. It 
 is evident Frank left me here to keep me out of 
 harm's way. Perhaps he thinks that because I 
 have never smelt powder, I am a coward; but I'll 
 show him that I am not.'' 
 
 So saying, Archie stepped out from behind his 
 tree, and walked slowly toward the house. "When 
 he arrived opposite the window from which the 
 light shone, he stopped and looked in. He did 
 not, however, go up close to the window, or he 
 certainly would have been seen; but he remained 
 standing at a respectful distance, so that he would 
 have some chance for escape, in case he should 
 be discovered. 
 
 The sight that met his gaze would have been 
 sufficient to deter most men from attempting to 
 burn the house. The room was filled with men, 
 some of whom were lying on the floor on their 
 blankets, others sitting around the table, and one 
 or two were walking about the apartment. In the 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 47 
 
 corner stood tlieir arms, ready to be seized at a 
 moment's warning. And this was but one of the 
 rooms; perhaps the whole house was filled with 
 guerrillas. 
 
 "My eye!" said Archie to himself, "what a 
 hornet's nest would be raised about our ears, if 
 we should be discovered." 
 
 Ilis heart beat faster than usual, as he moved 
 back from the window, and walked silently around 
 to the other side of the house. Here also was a 
 window, from which a light shone, and as, like the 
 other, it was destitute of a curtain, every thing 
 that went on within could be plainly seen by 
 Archie, who took his station behind some bushes 
 that stood at a little distance from the house. 
 The room had three occupants, whom Archie at 
 once set down as ofiicers. One of them carried 
 his arm in a sling. lie was a tall, powerful- 
 looking man, and Archie recognized in him the 
 darins rider of the white horse — the chief of the 
 guerrillas. 
 
 "I wonder what the old chap would say if he 
 knew I was about," thought Archie — "I, who 
 gave him that wound. I'd be booked for Shreve- 
 port, certain." 
 
48 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 He was interrupted in his meditations by the 
 movements of the officers, who arose and ap- 
 proached the door, bringing their chairs with 
 them. The storm had ceased, and as there was 
 no longer any necessity of remaining in the 
 house, the rebels were, no doubt, moving to 
 cooler quarters. Archie at once thought of re- 
 treating; but the thought had scarcely passed 
 through his mind, when the door opened, the 
 rebels walked out on the portico, and seating 
 themselves in their chairs, deposited their feet on 
 the railing; -while the young officer stretched him- 
 self out behind the bush, heartily wishing that he 
 could sink into the ground out of sight. 
 
 "A very warm evening, colonel," said one of 
 the rebels, fanning himself with his hat. 
 
 ^'Yery," answered the guerrilla chief, gently 
 moving his wounded arm, little dreaming that the 
 one who gave him that wound was at that very 
 moment lying behind the bushes into which he 
 had just thrown the stump of his cigar. "It's 
 very warm. I wish I had that rascally Yank that 
 shot me," he added; " this wound is very painful.'' 
 
 Archie upon hearing this was almost afraid that 
 the beating of his heart, which thumped against 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 49 
 
 his ribs Avitli a noise that frightened him, would 
 certainly reveal to the rebels the fact that the 
 "rascally Yank" was then in their immediate vi- 
 cinity. 
 
 "But, if our plans work," continued the colo- 
 nel, "in less than a week from this time they will 
 all be on the way to Shreveport." 
 
 "^lay I ask, colonel," said the one who had 
 not yet spoken, "how soon those boats will be 
 ready?" 
 
 "Major Jackson reports that they will be fin- 
 ished by to-morrow night, and it will take all of 
 one day to run them down the creek to the river." 
 
 " Then by Thursday evening," said the one who 
 had first spoken, "we may be ready to make the 
 attempt." 
 
 "Yes, if the night is favorable." 
 
 "But, colonel, all these gun-boats are supplied 
 with hot water, and that, you know, is the \7orst 
 kind of an enemy to fight. Men will run from 
 that who wouldn't flinch before cold steel." 
 
 "Oh, we must take the Yanks by surprise, of 
 course. The boats will hold fifty men each, and 
 we nmst drop down the river so that we will land 
 one on each side of the vessel. If the ni^ht is 
 
50 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 dark — and we shall not make the attempt unless 
 it is — we can get within pistol-shot of her before 
 we are discovered, and by the time their men get 
 fairly out of bed she 's ours. Hark ! Avhat noise 
 was that ? " 
 
 The rebels listened for a moment, and one of 
 them replied: 
 
 "I didn't hear any thing." 
 
 *'Well, I did," returned the colonel, "and it 
 sounded very much like some one shouting for 
 help. I'm certain I heard it." 
 
 Archie, who lay in his conc,ealment, trembling 
 like a leaf, was also confident that lie had heard 
 something that sounded like a call for assistance. 
 "What if it was Frank in danger, and shouting to 
 the cutter's crew for help ? The thought to Archie 
 was a terrible one, and he forgot the dangers of 
 his own situation, and thought only of his cousin. 
 But if Frank was in trouble, why did he not 
 give the signal to the cutter's crew? Archie 
 waited and listened for it, but did not hear it 
 given. 
 
 While these thoughts were passing through his 
 mind, the rebels sat on the portico listening, and 
 at length the colonel said: 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 5l 
 
 *'I know I hear something now, but it is the 
 tramping of a horse. I suppose it is Tibbs, 
 coming with the mail." 
 
 The colonel's surmise proved to be correct, for 
 in a few moments a man rode up, and dismount- 
 ing so close to Archie that the latter could have 
 touched him, tied his horse to the very busji 
 which formed his concealment; then, throwing a 
 pair of well-filled saddle-bags across his shoulder, 
 he ran up the steps, sa^'ing: 
 
 " Good evening, gentlemen. "What ! colonel, are 
 you wounded?" he added, on seeing the rebel's 
 bandaged arm. 
 
 *' Yes ; this makes four times I have been shot 
 while in the service. But how is the mail ? " 
 
 "Rather heavy," answered the man. "If you 
 have any letters to go, you will have to furnish 
 another bag — these are full." 
 
 "All right," said the colonel; then raising his 
 voice, he called out, "Bob! Bob! Where is that 
 black rascal?" 
 
 "Ileyar, sar," answered a voice, and presently 
 a negro came around the corner of the house, 
 and removing his tattered hat, stood waiting for 
 orders. 
 
52 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "Bob," said the colonel, "tell Stiles that the 
 mail is all ready to go across the river." 
 
 Stiles! How Frank would have started could 
 he have heard that name ! He would have known 
 then, had he not before been aware of the fact, 
 that he was again among Colonel Harrison'' s Lou- 
 isiana Wild-cats. 
 
 The negro, in obedience to his orders, disap- 
 peared, but soon returned, with the intelligence 
 that Stiles was not to be found. 
 
 "Not to be found," echoed the colonel ; "that's 
 twice he has failed me. But this mail must not 
 be delayed. Tell Damon I want to see him." 
 
 The negro again disappeared, and in a few 
 moments came back with a soldier, to whom the 
 colonel said: 
 
 "Damon, here 's a mail that must go across the 
 river to-night. Can you pull an oar?" 
 
 "Yas," rephed the man. 
 
 "Then get some one to go with you, and 
 start at once. The skiff, you know, is in the 
 creek, just above where that Yankee gun-boat 
 lies." 
 
 "Yas," answered the man again, as he took the 
 mail-bags which the colonel handed him. 
 
ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT. 53 
 
 "This ono," continued the rebel, pointing to a 
 small canvas bag which one of his officers had 
 just brought out of tho house — "this one con- 
 tains my mail — all ollicial documents, to go to 
 Richmond. Be car^^ful of it. Do n't let the Yan- 
 kees get hold of you." 
 
 " No," replied the soldier, as he shouldered the 
 mail and disappeared. 
 
 The conversation that followed, of which Archie 
 heard every word, served to convince him that, 
 although the rebels kept up a bold front, and ap- 
 peared sanguine of success in their attempts to 
 destroy the Government, yet among themselves 
 they acknowledged their cause to be utterly hope- 
 less unless some bold stroke could be made to 
 "dishearten the Yankees." 
 
 In spite of Archie's dangerous situation, which 
 had tried his nerves severely, he listened to every 
 w^ord that was uttered, and even became inter- 
 ested in what the rebels were saying. Now and 
 then he was called to a sense of his situation by 
 the movements of the horse, which, being restive, 
 came very near stepping on him as he pranced 
 about. 
 
 Damon had been gone about half an hour, and 
 
54 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPT. 
 
 the colonel had just commenced explaining to the 
 man who had brought the mail the manner in 
 which the capture of the Boxer was to be effected, 
 when suddenly the report of a pistol startled 
 every one on the portico. A moment afterward 
 came another, which was followed by a yell of 
 agony. 
 
 ""What's that?" exclaimed the colonel, spring- 
 ing- from his chair in alarm. "Are we attacked? 
 Get out there, every mother's son of you ! " he 
 continued, as the men, having been aroused by 
 the noise, came pouring out of the rooms in which 
 they were quartered. "Every man able to draw 
 a saber get out there ! Run for the river ! That 's 
 where the reports sounded, and if there are any 
 boats there capture them. That will keep the 
 Yankees on shore, and we can hunt them up at 
 our leisure!" 
 
 The men ran out of the house and started for 
 the river at the top of their speed, at the same 
 time yelling with all the strength of their lungs, 
 while the colonel and his officers ran into their 
 room, and hastily seizing such weapons as came 
 first to their hands, followed after. To describe 
 Archie's feelings, as he lay there behind that bush 
 
ARCHIE IX A PREDICAMENT. 55 
 
 and listened to the sounds of pursuit, were im- 
 possible. The noise the rebels made seemed to 
 bewilder him completely, for he lay on the ground 
 several moments, it seemed to him, without the 
 power to move hand or foot. 
 
 Suddenly the thought struck him that now was 
 the time to accomplish the object of the expedi- 
 tion. The house was deserted, and the yells, 
 which grew fainter and fainter, told him that the 
 rebels were getting further away. Yes, it was 
 now or never. In an instant, Archie's courage 
 and power of action returned. Springing to his 
 feet, he ran to the end of the portico, on w^hich 
 were piled several bales of hay and bundles of 
 fodder, which the rebels no doubt intended for 
 their horses. But Archie determined that they 
 should be put to a different use, for he quickly 
 drew from his pocket two large bottles filled with 
 coal oil, which he threw over the hay. He then 
 applied a match, and in an instant it was in 
 a blaze. He waited a moment to see it fairly 
 started, and then sprang off the portico. As he 
 passed the door, he heard an ejaculation of sur- 
 prise, followed by the report of a pistol, and the 
 noise of a bullet as it whizzed past his head. It 
 
56 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 frightened him, and at the same time acted upon 
 him as the crack of a whip does upon a spirited 
 horse; for when the rebel who fired the shot had 
 reached the portico, Archie had disappeared in 
 the darkness. 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 
 
 57 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Mnxi for ih %iwn, 
 
 ET us now return to Frank, whom we 
 left setting out for the house, after 
 having given Archie emphatic in- 
 structions to remain behind the tree 
 until his return. He did not feel at 
 all at his ease after he had left his 
 cousin, for he might have stationed 
 him in the most dangerous place that could have 
 been found; and what if Archie should be dis- 
 covered and captured? He was well enough 
 acquainted with his cousin's disposition to know 
 that he would not surrender without a fight ; but 
 -what could he do when opposed by a regiment 
 of veteran rebels? Frank thought not of his own 
 peril, for that was something he had fully ex- 
 pected to encounter before he started. This was 
 not the first time he had voluntarily placed him- 
 
58 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 self in danger ; but with Archie the case was 
 different; and Frank was several times on the 
 point of returning to his cousin and making use 
 of his authority, as commander of the expedition, 
 to send him back to the boat. By the time these 
 thoughts had passed through his mind, he had 
 reached a log-cabin which stood at a little dis- 
 tance from the house; and as he halted behind 
 it, to shelter himself from the storm, still debating 
 upon the course he ought to pursue in regard to 
 Archie, some one inside the cabin commenced 
 
 "I'll lay ten dollars down, 
 And chuck 'em up one by one!" 
 
 If there was any more of the song, the rebel 
 evidently did not know it, for he kept singing 
 these two lines over and over, now and then vary- 
 ing the monotony of the performance by whist- 
 ling. Frank stood for some moments listening to 
 him, and finally began moving cautiously around 
 the cabin, to find some opening through which he 
 could look and see what was going on inside. He 
 presently discovered a hole between the logs, 
 and, upon looking in, saw a man seated on the 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 59 
 
 floor before a fire-place, in which burned some 
 pine knots, engaged in whittling out an oar with 
 his bowie-knife. On the floor near him lay one 
 evidently just finished. At the opposite side of 
 the room stood a bag, from the mouth of which 
 peeped several letters. 
 
 A thought struck Frank — which would be of 
 the most benefit, to burn the house or to capture 
 the mail, which might contain information of the 
 greatest importance? Undoubtedly the latter 
 would be of the most consequence. Then he de- 
 bated long and earnestly upon the chances of 
 escaping with the mail, should he attempt its 
 capture. The man who had charge of it was a 
 most powerful-looking fellow, who knowing the 
 importance of his trust, and the certainty of re- 
 ceiving prompt and eff*ective assistance from his 
 comrades, would, no doubt, fight most desperately, 
 unless he could be taken at disadvantage and se- 
 cured before he had time to think of resistance. 
 Besides, the cabin was scarcely fifty feet distant 
 from the house, which Frank knew was filled with 
 men, for he could hear them walking about the 
 rooms and talking to each other. The least un- 
 usual noise would certainly alarm them, in which 
 
60 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 case escape "would be entirely out of the question. 
 Frank, we snj, thought over all these things, and 
 finally coming to the conclusion that it would be 
 worse than useless to attempt the capture of the 
 mail, turned his attention to the house. How 
 was he to set fire to it? 
 
 Frank, we know, was not wanting in courage, 
 but he had learned, by experience, that there are 
 times when "discretion is the better part of valor." 
 When he proposed the expedition, he had not ex- 
 pected to find the entire regiment quartered in 
 the house. He had supposed that the men would 
 find sleeping-rooms in the negro quarters, which 
 were nearly a half mile back, while the house 
 would be reserved for the officers. But the rebels 
 surely would not remain up all night, and when 
 they had all gone to bed would be the time to 
 execute his purpose. He would not abandon his 
 project until he had given it a trial, or fully satis- 
 fied himself that the undertaking was utterly im- 
 practicable. For the present, he would remain 
 where he was; something might "turn up" which 
 would be to his advantage. 
 
 At this moment a man entered the cabin, the- 
 door of which stood open, and inquired : 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 61 
 
 "Going over to-night, Stiles?" 
 
 Frank was thunderstruck, and he now saw the 
 necessity of attempting nothing unless it promised 
 complete success. As the reader has already 
 learned, he was among his old enemies, the Wild- 
 cats. Upon making this discovery he was both 
 astonished and alarmed — astonished, for it seemed 
 to him that he could scarcely make a move in any 
 direction without being confronted by the redoubt- 
 able Wild-cats. This was the second time he had 
 found himself among them before he was aware of 
 it. He was alarmed, because he knew, by experi- 
 ence, the treatment he would receive if he should 
 fall into their hands without the prospect of an 
 immediate excha-nge. 
 
 But his attention was again drawn to the men 
 in the cabin. 
 
 "Yes," replied Stiles, in answer to his compan- 
 ion's question, "I'm going over to-night — allers 
 makin' due 'lowance for beine ketched by the 
 Yanks." 
 
 "Here's some mail, then," continued the man, 
 thrusting several letters into the bag. "How soon 
 do you start?" 
 
 "Jest as soon as Tibbs comes with the up- 
 
62 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 country mail, an' I get the kernel's letters. AVas 
 you takin' a chaw of tobaker, Bob?" 
 
 "No, I wasn't," replied the other, quickly 
 thrusting his hand into his pocket, as if to pro- 
 tect the precious article. /' Tobacco is scarce." 
 
 "Now, Bob," said Stiles, "I know you've got 
 some. Me an' you's allers been good friends." 
 
 The rebel could not withstand this appeal, al- 
 though he produced his "plug" very reluctantly, 
 and as he handed it to his companion, said: 
 
 "Stiles, you're a dead beat. Go easy on that, 
 now, if you please, because it's all there is in the 
 regiment." 
 
 The rebel cut off a huge piece of the weed, and, 
 thrusting it into his cheek, went on with his work, 
 while Bob returned to his quarters. He had 
 scarcely quitted the cabin before Frank had all 
 his plans laid. He would go back after Archie, 
 and together they would lie in wait on the bank 
 of the river, and, if possible, capture that mail. 
 AYith this determination, he was moving slowly 
 away from the cabin, when a door, which he had 
 not before noticed, suddenly opened, and Stiles 
 came out, and turning the corner, stood face to 
 face with Frank, and scarcely an arm's length from 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 63 
 
 him. With the hitter, retreat without discovery 
 was, of course, impossible. There -was but one 
 course he couhl pursue, and that presented but a 
 small chance for success. He was, however, 
 allowed no time for deliberation, for the rebel, 
 quickly recovering from his surprise, turned to 
 run; but with one bound Frank overtook him, 
 and throwing him to the ground, caught him by 
 the throat, stifling a cry for help that arose to his 
 lips. This it was that had alarmed the colonel 
 and Archie; and had the former investigated the 
 matter, Frank would again have been a prisoner 
 in the hands of the Wild-cats. 
 
 Stiles struggled desperately to free himself 
 from the strong grasp that held him, until Frank 
 pulled one of his revolvers from the pocket of his 
 pea-jacket and presented it at his head. 
 
 " Do you surrender ? " he asked, releasing his 
 hold of the rebel's throat. 
 
 "Yes," replied Stiles, faintly. "Don't shoot, 
 Yank!" 
 
 " You shall not be harmed if you behave your- 
 self. Have you any weapons?" 
 
 " No ! They are all in the shanty ! " 
 
 Frank, after searching the rebel's pockets and 
 
64 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 satisfying himself of the truth of this statement, 
 continued : 
 
 " Get up ! Now, I know you have friends all 
 around you, but if you have the least desire to 
 live, you'll not make any noise; although you 
 may alarm the camp, it will not save you. Do 
 ■you understand?" 
 
 " Have I got a pair of ears ? " asked the rebel. 
 
 " "Well, if you have, you hear what I say," re- 
 turned Frank. "Now go this way," he added, 
 pointing toward the river. 
 
 The rebel, who had a wholesome fear of the 
 revolver which Frank held in his hand, ready 
 cocked, obeyed, without the slightest hesitation, 
 and they reached the bank of the river, where the 
 cutter lay, without being discovered. 
 
 "Now," said Frank, "I want to ask you a few 
 questions. Where do you keep the boat in which 
 you were going to carry that mail ? " 
 
 "In the creek, jest above where that ar' gun- 
 boat lies, replied Stiles." 
 
 "How many of you were to go?" 
 
 "Two — me an' another feller." 
 
 " Well, now, the colonel wont find you when he 
 wants you. What will he do?" 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 65 
 
 *' Oh) he '11 send some body else. The mail must 
 go, an' it makes no odds who takes it, so long as 
 he don't get ketched." 
 
 "That's all I want to know," said Frank. 
 Then, going to the top of the bank, he called out: 
 
 " Tom, come up here ! " 
 
 The coxswain soon made his appearance, and 
 Frank said : 
 
 " Now, Stiles, you 're a prisoner." 
 
 "Dog gone ef I keer," he replied, "so long as 
 I get plenty of grub an' tobaker." 
 
 The rebel was marched down the bank, and 
 Frank again bent his steps toward the house, in- 
 tending to find his cousin, and, with his assistance, 
 to capture the mail. When he arrived at the tree 
 where he had left Archie, the latter was not to be 
 seen. This, however, did not give him any un- 
 easiness, for Archie, he thought, had doubtless 
 gone back to the cutter. Frank had already 
 made up his mind to go back after him, when he 
 saw a man walk up to the cabin in which he had 
 first discovered the man who was now his pris- 
 oner, and heard him call out : 
 
 "Massa Stiles! de mail all ready, sar!" 
 
 Receiving no answer, the negro walked into the 
 5 
 
66 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 cabin, but finding it vacant, went out to make the 
 report to the colonel that Stiles "was not to be 
 found. From this Frank knew that he had no 
 time to lose. Stiles had told him that some one 
 else would be sent with the mail, and as it was all 
 ready, a man would soon be found to take his 
 place. If he went back after Archie, he might 
 be too late. He must attempt it alone, and un- 
 aided. Walking out frotQ behind the tree, he 
 started toward the creek, where lay the boat in 
 which the mail was to be carried. 
 
 The creek he found without difficulty; but the 
 boat was evidently hidden away, for he searched 
 up and down the bank for it without success. If 
 he found it, it was his intention to cut it loose, 
 and allow it to drift out into the river, thus de- 
 priving the rebels of the means of carrying their 
 mail. But failing in this, he ran up the bank, and 
 awaited the coming of the rebels. It was a haz- 
 ardous undertaking to attempt the capture of two 
 men, both of whom were, no doubt, well armed; 
 but Frank had great confidence in the looks of his 
 revolvers, and hoped to accomplish his object 
 without alarming the rebels in the house. 
 
 He had waited perhaps a quarter of an hour, 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 67 
 
 "when he heard footsteps approaching, and pres- 
 ently he discovered the two men for whom he 
 had been watching. One carried the mail-bags, 
 and the other a pair of oars, the same, no doubt, 
 which Stiles had but a sliort time before com- 
 pleted. Frank waited until they were almost 
 upon him, and then sprang up with a revolver in 
 each hand, which he pointed straight at the heads 
 of the men, exclaimi'ng : 
 
 "You're my prisoners. Don't make any re- 
 sistance." 
 
 The rebels were astonished, and the man who 
 carried the mail-bags threw them down and held 
 his arms above his head, in token of surrender. 
 But the other, after regarding the officer for a 
 moment, as if to make sure that it was a human 
 being with whom he had to deal, dropped his oars, 
 and before his captor was aware of his intention, 
 drew a pistol and fired. Frank felt a sharp pain 
 in his left shoulder, and the revolver which he 
 held in that hand fell from his grasp. He had 
 received his first wound, but although thoroughly 
 frightened, he did not lose his presence of mind. 
 If he had, he Avould soon have been recalled to a 
 sense of his dangerous situation, for the rebel 
 
68 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 af^ain cocked liis revolver; but this time Frank 
 fired first, and the rebel sank to the ground with 
 a loud yell. In an instant Frank turned upon 
 the other; but he appeared to be too much under 
 the influence of fear to lend his comrade any 
 assistance. 
 
 All thought of concealment was now out of the 
 question. The rebels in the house had, of course, 
 been alarmed, and Frank's only chance for escape 
 with his prisoner and the mail was to reach the 
 cutter as soon as possible, and pull ofi" to the ves- 
 sel. Hastily relieving the prisoner of his weapons, 
 he du-ected him to pick up the mail and follow the 
 course he pointed out. 
 
 The prisoner did as he was ordered ; but they 
 had not gone far when a loud yelling announced 
 that the rebels in the house had been alarmed, and 
 were in pursuit. Frank kept close behind his 
 prisoner, who, through fear of the revolver, ran at 
 a rapid rate, but they had further to run to reach 
 the cutter than the guerrillas, and the latter gained 
 rapidly. The prisoner, who was not long in dis- 
 covering this, slackened his pace considerably, 
 although he appeared to be doing his utmost. 
 Frank, however, was not deceived. Thrusting his 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 69 
 
 revolver into his pocket, he seized the rebel by 
 the nape of the neck, and helped him over the 
 ground in a manner more rapid than agreeable. 
 Had the man been aware of the fact that his cap- 
 tor had but one arm that he could use, he might 
 not have submitted so quietly as he did. Frank, 
 "whose whole mind was wrapped up in the idea of 
 saving his prisoner and the mail, did not stop to 
 think of this, but pushed his man ahead to such 
 good advantage that they succeeded in reaching 
 the cutter before their pursuers. He marched 
 the rebel down the bank in the most lively man- 
 ner, and tumbled him into the boat, where he was 
 instantly seized and secured. 
 
 The sailors, who had heard the noise of the 
 pursuit, and waited impatiently for the appear- 
 ance of their officer, were all in their places, and 
 as Frank sprang in, he shouted : 
 
 " Shove off — lively now, lads !" 
 
 The cutter was speedily pushed from the shore, 
 and the oars got out and handled by twelve strong 
 fellows, all good oarsmen. 
 
 "Let fall — give away together," again com- 
 manded Frank, who, in spite of the pain of his 
 wound, began to chuckle over his good luck in 
 
70 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 securing the mail. " The rebs will give us a vol- 
 ley," he continued, " unless we get out of sight in 
 the darkness before they reach the bank. So, 
 pick her up, lads, and" walk right away with 
 her." 
 
 The sailors, understanding the order, and re- 
 joicing in the escape of their young officer, whose 
 safety and well-being they regarded as . infinitely 
 of more importance than their own, gave way 
 manfully on the muffled oars, which made no 
 sound as they bent beneath the sturdy strokes, 
 and the cutter flew noiselessly through the water. 
 The rebels reached the bank but a few moments 
 after the cutter had left, but neither seeing nor 
 hearing any thing of her, they contented them- 
 selves with uttering their yells, and firing a volley 
 into the darkness in the direction they supposed 
 the boat had gone. 
 
 But their attention was soon called to another 
 quarter, for a bright flame shot up from the house. 
 The boat's crew saw it, and could scarcely refrain 
 hurrahing ; but knowing that they were not yet out 
 of range of the guerrillas' rifles, they gave vent to 
 their jubilant feelings by redoubling their efi'orts 
 p-t the oars. 
 
A MARK FOR THE UNION. 71 
 
 " Mr. Nelson," whispered the coxswain, " may 
 I be allowed to say that was well done, sir!" 
 
 " I did n't do that, Tom," answered Frank, in a 
 faint voice, as he gazed in surprise at the burning 
 house, and thought of his cousin. "Is Paymaster 
 Winters in the cutter?" 
 
 Frank hardly dared to ask the question, for 
 if his cousin had been in the boat he would have 
 known it before that time. 
 
 " The paymaster ! " repeated the coxswain ; 
 " no, sir. He went away with you, sir, and I 
 have n't seen him since. He 's missing, that 's a 
 fact." 
 
 Frank felt ready to faint on hearing this, and 
 very bitterly did he censure himself for allowing 
 his cousin to accompany him ! But regrets were 
 useless ; the mischief had been done, and could 
 not be undone. He had one hope, however, to 
 which he still clung — that Archie might be on 
 board the vessel. Perhaps, not daring to attempt 
 to find his way back to the cutter, through fear 
 of capture, he had swam on board and was now 
 safe. He would soon know. 
 
 In a few moments they had reached the Boxer, 
 3,nd as the cutter came along side, Frank seized 
 
72 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 the mail-bags and sprang out. After giving the 
 officer of the deck, who met him at the gangway, 
 instructions in regard to the prisoners, he ran up 
 the stairs that led to the wardroom. Here he 
 met the captain, who, taking him familiarly by 
 the arm, led him into the cabin, exclaiming : 
 
 "Mr. Nelson, I congratulate you, sir; it was 
 well done, sir ! The house is all in a blaze." 
 
 " Captain," said Frank, " I did n't do that, sir. 
 Is the pa^^master on board ? 
 
 "Why, no, sir; not unless he came with you." 
 
 "I haven't seen him, captain, since I left him 
 within a short distance of that house. If he is 
 not on board, sir, he 's out there yet, and he has 
 fired the building." 
 
 "Why, Mr. Nelson," exclaimed the captain, for 
 the first time noticing Frank's pale face and use- 
 less hand, from which the blood was dripping, 
 "you are wounded, sir. Orderly, orderly, send 
 the doctor here at once." 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 
 
 73 
 
 CHxiPTER Y. 
 
 ^4 
 
 RCIIIE was as light of foot as an 
 antelope, and fear lent him wings. 
 In obedience to his cousin's instruc- 
 tions, he ran up the river, directing 
 his course through a thick woods, 
 jumping over logs and making his 
 way through the bushes with a rapid- 
 ity that surprised himself. The rebel who had 
 discovered him followed for a short distance, but 
 finding that he was losing ground, he stopped and 
 fired his revolver in the direction he supposed 
 Archie had gone; but the bullets went wide of 
 the mark, and the latter, who now regarded his 
 escape as a thing beyond a doubt, laughed when 
 he thought how cleverly he had accomplished the 
 object of the expedition. 
 
74 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Havincr reached a safe distance from the house, 
 he stopped and listened. He distinctly heard the 
 crackling of flames, and presently a bright light 
 shone over the trees. The building was fairly in 
 a blaze. He was, however, allowed scarcely a 
 moment to congratulate himself, for the yells of 
 the guerrillas plainly told him that they had dis- 
 covered the fire, and were commencing pursuit. 
 Archie again set out, intent on reaching clear 
 ground as soon as possible, for he knew that no 
 plan would be left untried to capture him. His 
 situation Avas still any thing but a pleasant one, 
 but he was sanguine of reaching the vessel in 
 safety, until a long-drawn-out bay came echoing 
 through the woods, and drove the blood back upon 
 his heart. The rebels were following him with a 
 blood-hound! 
 
 For a moment Archie staggered as though he 
 had been struck a severe blow by some unseen 
 hand, but quickly realizing the fact that his safety 
 depended upon his own exertions and the use he 
 made of the next few moments, he speedily recov- 
 ered his presence of mind, and hastily securing 
 his revolvers,. which, up to this time, he had car- 
 ried in the pockets of his pea-jacket, he pulled off 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 75 
 
 that garment, and throwing it on the ground, 
 started oft' at the top of his speed. 
 
 Being thus relieved of a great incumbrance, he 
 made headway rapidly, but, fast as he ran, he 
 heard that dreadful sound coming nearer, mingled 
 with loud yells of triumph from the pursuing rebels. 
 He had, with surprise and indignation, listened to 
 Frank's description of his run from Shreveport, 
 when he and his companions had been pursued 
 with blood-hounds, little imagining that he would 
 ever be placed in a similar situation. 
 
 And how did it happen that he had not aroused 
 the hound while he was about the house? Had 
 he moved so silently that the animal had not 
 , heard him, or had he been in the building with 
 the men? This question Archie could not an- 
 swer. But one thing w^as certain, and that was 
 that the hound was, at that very moment, on his 
 trail, and unless he soon reached the river his 
 capture was beyond a doubt. He, however, had 
 no fears of being overpowered by the hound. 
 He fully realized the fact that he would soon be 
 overtaken, and had resolved to shoot the animal 
 the moment he made his appearance. 
 
 The yells of the rebels grew fainter, and Archie 
 
76 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 knew ke was gaining on them. This gave him 
 encouragement. In fact, since the hound had 
 opened on his trail, after the first momentary 
 feeling of terror had vanished, he had retained 
 his coolness in a remarkable degree, and had 
 counted over his chances for capture and escape 
 with surprising deliberation for one who had never 
 before been placed in so exciting and dangerous a 
 situation. We have seen that he felt fear. Had it 
 been otherwise he must have possessed nerves of 
 steel, or have been utterly destitute of the power 
 of reasoning; but that fear did not so completely 
 overpower him as it had but a short time before, 
 when he lay behind the bush, and listened to the 
 guerrilla's plan for the capture of the Boxer and- 
 her crew. On the contrary, it nerved him to 
 make the greatest exertions to effect his escape. 
 
 In a few moments, to his great joy, he emerged 
 from the woods and entered an open field, across 
 which he ran with redoubled speed. Directly in 
 front of him was another belt of timber, and be- 
 yond that lay the river, which, if he could reach, 
 he would be safe. The baying of the hound had 
 continued to grow louder and louder, and, when 
 Archie had accomplished perhaps half the dis- 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 77 
 
 tance across the field, a crasliing in the buslies 
 and an impatient bark announced, in language too 
 plain to be misunderstood, that the hound had 
 discovered him. 
 
 In an instant he stopped, faced about, and drew 
 one of his revolvers. Stooping down close to the 
 ground, he finally discovered the hound, which 
 approached with loud yelps, that were answered 
 by triumphant cheers from the pursuing rebels. 
 Waiting until the animal was so close to him that 
 he presented a fair mark, Archie raised his re- 
 volver and fired. The hound bounded into the 
 air, and, after a few struggles, lay motionless on 
 the ground. Scarcely waiting to witness the 
 effect of the shot, the young officer sprang to his 
 feet, and again started for the river. The yells 
 of the rebels — who had heard the shot, and knew, 
 from the silence that followed, that the hound was 
 dead — again arose fierce and loud; but Archie, 
 knowing that his pursuers had now lost the power 
 of following him with certainty, considered the 
 w^orst part of the danger as past. 
 
 But he had to deal with those who could not 
 be easily deceived. Colonel Harrison, knowing 
 that the only chance for escape was by the river, 
 
78 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 had lined the banks with men, and, as Archie 
 neared the woods, a voice directly in front of him 
 called out: , 
 
 ''It's all up now, Yank! Drop that shootin'- 
 iron, or you 're a gone sucker ! " 
 
 Archie's heart fairly -came up into his mouth. 
 He had little expected to find an enemy in that 
 quarter, but, without waiting an instant, he turned 
 and ran up the river again, hoping that he might 
 soon be able to get above the sentinels. The 
 rebel, hearing the sound of his footsteps, and 
 knowing that he was retreating, shouted: 
 
 "Halt, Yank! halt! or I'll shoot— blamed if I 
 don't!" 
 
 And he did shoot, and Archie heard the bullet 
 as it sung through the air behind him. 
 
 The rebel, without stopping to load his gun, 
 started in pursuit; but Archie, who was running 
 for his life, soon left him behind. As the latter 
 ran he heard shots fired on all sides of him, show- 
 ing that he was completely surrounded. 
 
 Escape seemed utterly impossible; and fearing 
 that he might run into the very midst of the 
 guerrillas when he least expected it, he threw 
 himself behind a log in the edge of the woods, 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 79 
 
 and a-svaited tlie issue of events with feelings that 
 can not be described. He now had little hope 
 of being able to elude his })ursuers, who, he was 
 certain, would keep the river closely guarded 
 until daylight, when they would soon discover his 
 hiding-place. He could net go on without fear 
 of running against some of his enemies, in the 
 dark, and to remain where he was, appeared 
 equally dangerous. But of one thing he was cer- 
 tain — and as the thought passed through his mind, 
 he clutched his revolvers desperately — and that 
 was, if he was captured, it would require more 
 than one man to do it. 
 
 Presently he heard footsteps approaching, and 
 two rebels came up. One of them he knew, by 
 his voice, was the very man who had just fired at 
 him. 
 
 "I know he went this yere way," said he. 
 
 "Wal, hold on a minit," said the other, panting 
 loudly; "let's rest a leetle — I'm nigh gin out;" 
 and he seated himself so close to Archie that, had 
 it been daylight, he would certainly have been 
 discovered. 
 
 "I'll be dooj-^one," said the one who had first 
 spoken, " ef this 'ere night's work don't beat all 
 
80 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 natur'. Them ar Yanks ain't no fools, dog ef 
 they ar!" 
 
 "Who'd a thought it?" returned his compan- 
 ion. "Them ar two fellers come out here an' 
 burn a house with more'n three hundred men in 
 it? Dog-gone! But how did that other feller get 
 away ? " 
 
 " Oh, he had a boat," answered the other, " an' 
 he got thar afore we could ketch him. He 's on 
 board his gun-boat afore this time. I jest ketched 
 a glimpse of him as he Avas goin' down the bank. 
 He had Damon by the neck, an' he was makin' 
 him walk turkey, now I tell yer." 
 
 "Damon ketched!" ejaculated his companion 
 "An' what's come on the kernel's mail?" 
 
 "Gone up — the hul on it! Damon's got the 
 bracelets on by this time. But come, let's go 
 on." 
 
 All this while the rebels had been coming up, 
 and Archie could hear them in the woods, on all 
 sides of him, yelling and swearing, like demons. 
 He had one source of consolation, however — his 
 cousin was safe ; and, judging by the rebels' con- 
 versation, he had not gone back to the vessel 
 empty-handed. 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 81 
 
 Archie lay for some time listening to the move- 
 ments of the rebels, almost afraid to breathe lest 
 it should be overheard, Avhen he was suddenly 
 startled by a stunning report, which was followed 
 by a hissing and shrieking in the air; a bright 
 light shone in his eyes for an instant, and the 
 next, the woods echoed with the bursting of a 
 shell. The guerrillas had scarcely time to recover 
 from their astonishment when there came another, 
 and another, each one followed by groans and 
 cries of anguish that made the young officer 
 shudder. 
 
 Frank Nelson had gained the Boxer in safety, 
 and although surprised and alarmed at the ab- 
 sence of Archie — who, he thought, would make the 
 best of his w^ay back to the vessel when left to 
 himself — he kncAV by the yelling of the rebels, 
 and the pistol-shots that were occasionally heard, 
 that they had not yet captured him. The noise of 
 the chase plainly told the Boxer's crew that the 
 fugitive was making the best of his way up the 
 river, and Frank had opened fire on the rebels to 
 create, if possible, a diversion in his cousin's favor. 
 His shells were thrown with fatal accuracy, and 
 the guerrillas, taken completely by surprise, and 
 6 
 
82 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 having no levee to protect them, beat a hasty 
 retreat. 
 
 Although threatened by a new clanger, Arcliie 
 was so overjoyed that he could scarcely refrain 
 from shouting, and as soon as he was satisfied 
 that his pursuers were out of hearing, he crawled 
 from his concealment and ran toward the river. 
 The shells still kept dropping into the woods at 
 regular intervals, making music most pleasant to 
 Archie's ears, for he knew that as long as the fire 
 was continued, his chances for escape were in- 
 creased. But in his eagerness he never thought 
 of the men who had been posted on the bank, and 
 as he dashed through the woods, several shots 
 were fired at him by the rebels concealed in the 
 bushes. But he reached the water in safety, and 
 struck out for the vessel. A few random shots 
 were fired at him, which Archie heard as they 
 whistled past him ; but his good fortune had not 
 deserted him, and he again escaped unhurt. The 
 reports of the guns on board the Boxer pointed 
 out the direction in which he was to go, and in 
 a quarter of an hour he was within hailing-dis- 
 tance of the vessel. The splashing he made in 
 the water soon attracted the attention of the sentry 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 83 
 
 on the forecastle, who, having been instructed by 
 Frank, had kept a good look-out; A rope was 
 thrown to Archie, who was pulled on board the 
 vessel in a state of complete exhaustion. 
 
 Frank was soon informed of the safe return of 
 his cousin, and Archie, almost too weak to speak 
 plainly, was carried to his room, where, after being 
 divested of his wet clothes, he was put to bed, and 
 left in a sound sleep. The next morning, how- 
 ever, he appeared in the mess-room, as lively as 
 ever, and none the worse for his long run ; while 
 Frank, who began to suffer from his wound, was 
 confined to his bed. 
 
 The latter listened to his cousin's narration of 
 the part he had borne in the expedition, and in 
 admiration of Archie's bravery, forgot the lecture 
 he had intended to administer. The ofiicers, who 
 had not expected such an exhibition of courage in 
 one whose cheek had blanched at the whistle of a 
 rebel bullet, were astonished, and it is needless to 
 say that no more jokes were indulged in at the 
 expense of the " green paymaster." 
 
 For two months Frank held his position as ex- 
 ecutive officer of the Boxer, during which time the 
 vessel was twice inspected by the admiral. He 
 
84 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 now had little to do beyond the regular routine 
 of ship duties, for the guerrilla-station had been 
 broken up by the burning of the plantation-house, 
 and vessels were seldom fired into on the Boxer's 
 beat. But this was not to continue long, for, one 
 day, the dispatch-boat brought orders for him to 
 report on board the Michigan — which lay at the 
 mouth of Red River — as executive ofiicer of that 
 vessel. 
 
 This Tvas still another advancement, for the 
 Michigan was an iron-clad, mounted fourteen guns, 
 and had a crew of one hundred and seventy men. 
 But Frank would have preferred to remain in his 
 present position. After considerable hard work, 
 he had brought the Boxer's crew into an admir- 
 able state of discipline; every thing about decks 
 went off as smoothly as could be desired, and be- 
 sides, Archie was on board, and he did not wish 
 to leave him. But he never hesitated to obey his 
 orders, and as soon as he had packed his trunk, 
 and taken leave of his messmates, he went on 
 board the dispatch-boat, and in a few days arrived 
 at his new vessel. 
 
 The captain of the Michigan had written to the 
 admiral, requesting that a " first-class, experienced 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 85 
 
 officer" might be sent liiiii for an executive; Lut 
 Avhen Frank presented himself and produced his 
 orders, that gentleman was astonished. After re- 
 garding the young officer sharply for a moment, 
 he said: 
 
 "The admiral, no doubt, knows his o,wn busi- 
 ness, but let m.e tell you, young man, that you 
 have no easy task before you." 
 
 He no doubt thought that a person of Frank's 
 years was utterly incapable of filling so responsi- 
 ble a position. The latter, with his usual modesty, 
 replied that he would endeavor to do his duty, and 
 after he had seen his baggage taken care of,, he 
 went into the wardroom, where he found a young 
 officer seated at the table reading. He arose as 
 Frank entered, and thrusting out his hand,^ greeted 
 him with — 
 
 "I'm glad to meet you again, Mr. Nelson, and 
 among friends, too." 
 
 It was George Le Dell, the escaped prisoner, 
 whom he had met during his memorable flight from 
 Shreveport. Frank had not seen him, nor even 
 heard of him^ since he had left him on board the 
 Ticonderoga; but here he was, "among the de- 
 fenders of the Old Flag" again, in fulfillment of the 
 
86 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 promise he had made his rebel father, in the letter 
 which Frank had read to his fellow fugitives in the 
 woods, where they had halted for the day. He 
 was not changed — his face still wore that sorrowful 
 expression — and Frank found that he rarely took 
 part in the conversation around the mess-table. 
 He was an excellent officer, the especial favorite 
 of the captain, and beloved by all his messmates, 
 who, very far from suspecting the cause of his 
 quiet demeanor, called him " Silence," 
 
 Frank heartily returned his cordial greeting, 
 and the two friends talked for a long time of 
 scenes through which they had passed together — 
 subjects still fresh in their memories — until the 
 entrance of an officer put a stop to the conversa- 
 tion. Frank understood, by this, that he w^as the 
 only one of the ship's company who knew any 
 thing of George's past history. 
 
 The change from the cool, comfortable quarters 
 of the Boxer to the hot wardroom of the iron- 
 clad was not an agreeable one; but Frank was 
 not the one to complain, and he entered upon his 
 duties with his accustomed cheerfulness and alac- 
 rity. He was allowed vei-y little rest. The cap- 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 87 
 
 tain of the Michigan — which was the flag-ship of 
 the third district of the squadron — was a reguhir 
 officer, who believed in always keeping the men 
 busy at something, and Frank was obliged to be 
 on his feet from morning until night. The decks 
 were scrubbed every day, the bright work about 
 the guns and engines cleaned, the small boats 
 washed out, and then came quarters, and drilling 
 with muskets or broad-swords. After this, if 
 there was nothing else to be done, the outside of 
 the vessel was scrubbed, or the chimneys repainted. 
 In short, the Michigan was the pattern of neat- 
 ness, and her crew, being constantly drilled, knew 
 exactly what was required of them, and were 
 ready for any emergency. 
 
 For several months little occurred to relieve 
 the monotony of ship-life beyond making regular 
 trips from one end of their beat to the other; but 
 when spring opened, gun-boats and transports, 
 loaded with soldiers, began to assemble, and prep- 
 arations were made for the Red River expedition. 
 At length every thing was ready, and one pleas- 
 ant morning the gun-boats weighed their auchora 
 and led the way up the river. 
 
88 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Frank stood on deck as tlie vessels steamed 
 along, and could not help drawing a contrast be- 
 tween his present position and the one in which 
 he was placed when he first saw Red River. 
 Then, he and his companions were fugitives from 
 a rebel prison; they had been tracked by blood- 
 hounds, and followed by men at whose hands, if 
 retaken, they could expect nothing but death. 
 He remembered how his heart bounded with joy 
 on the morning when he and his associates, in 
 their leaky dug-out, had arrived in sight of the 
 Mississippi. Then, he was ragged, hatless, and 
 almost shoeless, weary with watching, and living 
 in constant fear of recapture. Now, he was among 
 friends, the Old Flag waved above him, and he 
 was the second in command of one of the finest 
 vessels in the squadron. 
 
 The passage up the river w^as without incident 
 worthy of note, and in a short time they arrived at 
 the obstructions which the rebels had placed in 
 the river nine miles below Fort De Russy. A 
 vast amount of time and labor had been expended 
 upon these obstructions, but they were speedily 
 cleared away, and the fleet passed on. They had 
 
A RUN FOR LIFE. 89 
 
 expected a stubborn resistance at the fort, but it 
 had been captured by the arpiy after a sliort 
 engagement, and the gun-boats kept on to Alex- 
 andria. 
 
90 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 xumh imriB Bdtdiht. 
 
 DAY or two after the arrival of 
 "^^^^^^^ the fleet at Alexandi'ia, it became 
 ^ ^■^ V ,«- l^nown that several persons belong- 
 ing to the rebel secret service were 
 hovering about in the vicinity of the 
 village, with the intention of destroy- 
 ing some of the vessels by torpedoes — 
 contrivances made to resemble pieces of coal- 
 which were to be placed in those barges out of 
 which the boats were supplied with fuel. By 
 some means the names of these persons became 
 known to the admiral, who issued a general order, 
 calling on all the officers of the squadron to kill 
 or capture them wherever found. 
 
 The same day the order was issued Frank ob- 
 tained shore liberty, and while roaming about the 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 91 
 
 town, espied a iiume on a si«^n that immediately 
 attracted his attention. It was one of the names 
 borne in the general order. 
 
 " There 's one of the rascals, now," soliloquized 
 Frank, " or, rather, where he has been. I wonder 
 where he is. I'll see if I can't find out some- 
 thing about him. If he could be caught, he would 
 be put in a place where he wouldn't lay any 
 more plans to blow up Union gun-boats." 
 
 The sign wliich had attracted his attention bore 
 the name and occupation of the individual in 
 question—" S. W. Abbott, Chemist." 
 
 The store had been closed on the approach of 
 the Union forces, and was now in the possession 
 of several army surgeons and their assistants, who 
 were overhauling its contents, and appropriating 
 whatever they thought might be of service to 
 them. A negro was leaning against the counter, 
 and of him Frank inquired — 
 "Boy, do you belong here?" 
 "No, sar," he answered, indignantly; "I 'longs 
 nowhar. I 'se a free man, I is. I 'se a soger." 
 "Never been in this town before?" 
 " No, sar." 
 Frank left the store, and walked slowly up the 
 
92 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 street toward the hotel, wondering where he could 
 go to make inquiries concerning the man whom he 
 "wished to find. It was evident that this was the 
 hardest task he had yet undertaken. He knew 
 the rebel's name, and that was all. He had no 
 idea how he looked, and, although the admiral's 
 order stated that he was loitering about the village, 
 he might, at that moment, be fifty miles away, or 
 Frank might have already passed him on the 
 street. 
 
 There were several men dressed in butternut 
 clothes hanging about the hotel, and Frank de- 
 termined to enter into conversation with one of 
 them, and, if possible, learn something about Ab- 
 bott. An opportunity was soon ofi'ered, for one 
 of the butternuts approached him, and inquired — 
 
 "Got any Northern money — greenbacks?" 
 
 "Some," replied Frank. 
 
 " Wal," continued the man, " I '11 give you five 
 dollars in Confederate money fur one dollar in 
 greenbacks. Is it a bargain ? " 
 
 " Confederate money ! " repeated Frank. " Of 
 what use would it be to me? And I am greatly 
 mistaken if it will be of use to you much longer." 
 
 "Wal, I want your money fur a keepsake," re- 
 
FlRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 93 
 
 plied the man. I know you-uns do n't like our 
 money, but we-uns hev got to use it or go without 
 any." 
 
 "Well, I'll trade," said Frank. "Your paper 
 will no doubt be a curiosity to the folks at home." 
 As he spoke, he produced the dollar, and the but- 
 ternut drew out of his capacious pocket a huge roll 
 of bills — tens, twenties, and fifties, enough to have 
 
 made him independent if it had been good money 
 
 and selecting a five-dollar bill, handed it to Frank, 
 who thrust it carelessly into his pocket. 
 
 "I'll allow that you-uns don't seem to be a 
 bad lot of fellers," said the butternut; "but I 
 do n't see what you-uns want to come doAvn hvar 
 to fight we-uns for. We-uns never done nothing 
 to you-uns." 
 
 * "Every rebel I meet says the same thing," said 
 Frank. "But who were the richest men in this 
 place before the war broke out?" 
 
 The man mentioned several names, among 
 which was that of Abbott, the chemist. 
 
 "Abbott, Abbott," repeated Frank, as if trying 
 to recall the man to mind; "I 've heard that name 
 before. Is he a Northern man?" 
 
 "No; he's allers lived at the South. His 
 
94 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 house is right back of the hotel, third door from 
 the corner, on the right-hand side as you go up 
 the street." 
 
 Frank had learned something, but he did not 
 think it safe to question the man further, for fear 
 of exciting his suspicions; so, after a few unim- 
 portant remarks, he turned on his heel and 
 "walked into the hotel, which was used as the army 
 head-quarters. Here he remained for nearly half 
 an hour, to give the man of whom he had received 
 his information time to leave the place, and then 
 directed his steps toward Mr. Abbott's dwelling. 
 He had no difiBculty in finding it, for he followed 
 the butternut's directions, and the rebel's name 
 was borne on the door-plate. The house, how- 
 ever, was deserted; the blinds were- closed, as 
 were those of all the neisfhborinor houses. Mr. 
 Abbott, with his family, if he had any, had doubt- 
 less removed out of reach of the Union forces. 
 Did he ever visit his home when in town? or did 
 he make his head-quarters somewhere else? were 
 questions that suggested themselves to Frank, but 
 which, of course, he could not answer; neither 
 did he dare to question any of the citizens, for 
 they might be Mr. Abbott's friends, who would 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 95 
 
 not fail to inform him tliiit particular inquiries 
 were being made, which would lead him to act 
 more cautiously. Frank did not know Avhat plan 
 to adopt, but walked listlessly about the streets 
 until he heard the Michigan's bell strike half-past 
 three o'clock. lie must be on board by four, as 
 the admiral was to be there to inspect the vessel. 
 He was reluctant to leave without havinjx accom- 
 plished any thing more than the discovery of the 
 rebel's dwelling; but there was no help for it, and 
 he walked slowly toward the landing, where he 
 found a boat waiting for him. 
 
 That night, although he retired early, he slept 
 but little, but tossed restlessly about in his bunk, 
 endeavoring to conjure up some plan by which he 
 might capture the rebel ; and when he fell asleep, 
 he dreamed about the subject uppermost in his 
 mind. lie thought that, after several days' patient 
 watching, he finally discovered his man; but all 
 attempts to capture him were unavailing. When 
 he pursued, the rebel would disappear in a magical 
 way, that was perfectly bewildering. Finally, he 
 dreamed that the rebel assumed the offensive, and 
 one day he met him in the street, carrying in his 
 hand something that looked like a lump of coal, 
 
96 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 ■which he threw at Frank. It proved, however, to 
 be a torpedo, for it exploded with a loud report, 
 and as Frank sprang over a fence that ran close 
 by the sidewalk, to escape, he came violently 
 in contact with the walls of a house. At this 
 stage of his dream he was suddenly awakened. 
 To his no small amazement, he found himself 
 stretched on the floor of his room, his head 
 jammed against the door, through which one of 
 the wardroom boys, a very small specimen of a 
 contraband, was endeavoring to escape, while the 
 look of terror depicted on his face, and the energy 
 with which he strove to open the door, showed that 
 he had sustained something of a fright. On the 
 opposite side of the room stood the doctor, who 
 gazed at Frank for a moment with open mouth 
 and eyes, and then threw himself on the bed, con- 
 vulsed with laughter. 
 
 Frank rose slowly to his feet, and commenced 
 drawing on his clothes, while the little negro dis- 
 appeared through the door like a flash. 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," said the doctor, as soon as he 
 could speak, "you can't make that jump again, 
 sir. I came in to awaken you," he continued, 
 "and was just going to put my hand on you, when 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 97 
 
 you sprang out of your bunk upon your trunk, and 
 then back again ; and just as the darkey was com- 
 ing in, you made another jump, and landed against 
 the door, frightening him so that I actually believe 
 he turned pale. Were you dreaming ? " 
 
 *' Yes," answered Frank, with a laugh ; " I was 
 getting out of the way of a torpedo." 
 
 *' Well, you certainly jumped far enough to get 
 out of the way of almost any thing," replied the 
 doctor, after he had indulged in another hearty fit 
 of laughter. " Hurry up ; breakfast is nearly 
 ready." 
 
 Frank, felt the effects of his agility in the shape 
 of a severe pain over his left eye, which had been 
 occasioned by his head coming in contact with the 
 door-knob; and his "big jump" was the source of 
 a good deal of merriment at the breakfast-table. 
 
 Frank went ashore in the ten-o'clock boat, and, 
 after strolling about with his companions for a 
 short time, invented a satisfactory excuse for his 
 absence, and started toward Mr. Abbott's house, 
 which, to his joy, he found open, with a negro en- 
 gaged in sweeping the steps. 
 
 " Boy, who lives here ? " he inquired. 
 
 The negro gave the desired information, adding: 
 7 
 
98 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 " He ain't hyar though, but missus will be home dis 
 arternoon." 
 
 "Where 's your master ? " 
 
 " Oh, he done gone off somewhar. I 'spects he 
 do n't like for to see you Yankee sogers hyar.'* 
 
 As the negro ceased speaking, having finished 
 his work, he turned and went into the house, 
 while Frank was about to move away, wondering 
 what was the next thing to be done, when a boy 
 approached and opened the gate. 
 
 " What do you want ? " asked Frank. 
 
 The boy held up a letter which he carried in 
 his hand, and Frank, seeing that it was addressed 
 to Mrs. Abbott, at once concluded that it con- 
 tained information which might be of the greatest 
 value to him. 
 
 "It is all right,'' said he; "I'll attend to it;" 
 at the same time taking the note and handing 
 some money to the boy, who departed well satis- 
 fied. Frank then walked down the street, and, as 
 soon as he was out of sight of the house, opened 
 the letter and read as follows: 
 
 Hey ward's Plantation, March 20, 1864. 
 " Will be at home at eight o'clock this evening. Have my 
 baggage ready to start for Shreveport early in the morning.' 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 99 
 
 No name was signed to the note, but Frank 
 was certain that he now had the matter in his 
 own hands, and that any preparations Mrs. Ab- 
 bott might make for her husband's journey to 
 Shreveport wouhl only be thrown away. He at 
 once directed his steps toward the landing, hailed 
 his vessel for a boat, and when he had arrived on 
 board and reported to the captain, showed that 
 gentleman the note, at the same time requesting 
 permission to remain on shore after dark, in order 
 to capture the rebel. 
 
 " I should be only too happy to allow you to 
 do so, Mr. Nelson," said the captain, "for you 
 seem to be particularly fortunate in every thing 
 of this description you undertake. But, as it is 
 the admiral's order that all officers repair on board 
 their vessels at sundown, he must be consulted in 
 regard to the matter. Orderly, tell the officer of 
 the deck to have the gig called away. We will 
 go up to the flag-ship," he continued, "and talk 
 to the admiral." 
 
 The gig was soon manned, and after Frank had 
 buckled on his sword (for all officers visiting the 
 flag-ship were required to wear their side-arms), 
 he stepped into the boat with the captain, and in 
 
100 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 a short time they were in the presence of the ad- 
 miral. The captain, in a few words, explained the 
 nature of the visit, showed him the note Frank 
 had intercepted, and ended by repeating the 
 young officer's request that he might be allowed 
 to remain on shore after dark. 
 
 ■" Certainly," replied the admiral, "certainly. 
 If you succeed, young man, we shall have one less 
 of these secret-service fellows to fear." Then, 
 turning to one of his clerks, he gave him an order 
 which Frank did not hear, after which he asked: 
 
 "How did you discover the whereabouts of this 
 man Abbott, Mr. Nelson?" 
 
 Frank then proceeded to give the admiral an 
 account of all he had done, how he had seen the 
 rebel's name on the sign, learned his residence, 
 and secured the note. To all of which the latter 
 listened with attention. 
 
 " I hope you will succeed in capturing him," 
 said he. " If you do, bring him here ; I want a 
 look at him. Here," he continued, as his clerk 
 handed him a letter, "is a request that the pro- 
 vost-marshal will furnish you with a pass. Good 
 luck to you, young man." 
 
 Their business being finished, Frank followed 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 101 
 
 tlie captain out of the cabin, and returned on 
 board the Michigan. 
 
 All that afternoon Frank was in a fever of ex- 
 citement. He was impatient for the night to 
 come, that he might know whether or not his at- 
 tempt was to be crowned with success. A hun- 
 dred things might happen to prevent it. The 
 rebel might not come home, or the note might 
 have been written with the intention of having it 
 intercepted, in order to throw the one into whose 
 hands it might fall on the wTong scent; or it 
 might be written in cipher, and mean directly 
 opposite to what Frank had supposed. But he 
 consoled himself with the thought that he had 
 done, and would still continue to do, all in his 
 power to obey the admiral's general order, and 
 if he failed, the blame would not rest with him. 
 
 When the sundown boat was called away, Frank, 
 after exchanging his uniform for a citizen's dress, 
 and his cap for a tattered slouch-hat, thrust a re- 
 volver into his pocket, stepped into the cutter, and 
 was soon set on shore. He walked directly to the 
 office of the provost-marshal, which was in the 
 hotel, and finding that officer at his desk, handed 
 him the admiral's note, which ran as follows : 
 
102 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "U. S. Flag-ship Blackhawk, | 
 "Off Alexandria, La., March 20, 1864. J 
 "Sir: — Please furnish the bearer, Acting Ensign Frank 
 Nelson, with a pass. He has important business to per- 
 form, which may detain him on shore most of the night, 
 and it is absolutely necessaiy, for the successful accom- 
 plishment of his mission, that he should not be interfered 
 with. Very respectfully, your obd't servt., 
 
 David D. Porter, Bear Adyniral^ 
 
 Com'd'g Miss. Squadron. 
 U. S. Provost ^Marshal, 
 
 Alexandria, La. 
 
 ^' Your business must be important indeed, judg- 
 ing by the language of this note," said the mar- 
 shal. "You shall not be troubled." 
 
 While he was speaking he had been writing an 
 order commanding "all guards and- patrols to 
 allow the bearer the freedom of the city, as he 
 was under special orders from the admiral, and 
 must not be detained." 
 
 "There," said he, after he had finished the pass 
 and handed it to Frank. " That will take you 
 through all right. You have my best wishes for 
 your success." 
 
 Frank thanked him, and putting the pass care- 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 103 
 
 fully away in his pocket, walked out of the hotel 
 fully satisfied on one point, and that was, if his 
 success depended upon the good wishes of his 
 friends, failure was impossible. He walked slowly 
 down the street toward the place where the sol- 
 diers were encamped ; for as it lacked fully an 
 hour and a half of the appointed time, he did not 
 wish to be seen loitering about the house, as it 
 might excite the suspicions of its inmates, who 
 would not fail to send word to Mr. Abbott that 
 the house was being watched. Time moved alto- 
 gether too slowly for the impatient young officer, 
 but at length he heard the flag-ship's bell strike 
 half-past seven, and as it had begun to grow dark, 
 he walked toward the house, and took his station 
 in the shadow of some trees on the opposite side 
 of the street. At the end of an hour his patience 
 •was rewarded, for he heard the sound of approach- 
 ing footsteps, and a man passed by the house. 
 Frank knew, from the suspicious manner in which 
 he gazed about, that if it was not the man for 
 whom he was waiting, it was some other guilty 
 fellow who ought to be secured. Presently he 
 returned, and after again looking cautiously about 
 him, ascended the steps and knocked lightly at 
 
104 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 the door, -which ^as almost instantly opened, and 
 a voice exclaimed : 
 
 "Massa Abbott, I'se glad to" 
 
 The rest of the sentence Frank did not hear, for 
 the moment the man entered the hall, the door was 
 closed again. Xow was the time for Frank, who 
 hastily crossed the street, and noiselessly ascended 
 the steps. Here he paused for a moment to draw 
 his revolver, and then suddenly opened the door 
 and sprang into the hall. He was met by the 
 negro, the same, no doubt, whom he had heard 
 welcoming his master, who, not liking the looks 
 of the huge six-shooter which the officer flourished 
 before his eyes, beat a hasty retreat. Frank kept 
 on and entered the parlor, where he found his 
 man standing in the middle of the floor, pale and 
 breathless. No one else was in the room. 
 
 "Mr. Abbott," said Frank, "you're my pris- 
 oner ! " 
 
 The man, who was so terrified that he seemed 
 to have lost even the power of speech, surrendered 
 his weapons and submitted to his captor, who led 
 him out of the house and toward the flag-ship, 
 which they reached in safety. The admiral re- 
 ceived Frank with great cordiality, and after lis- 
 
FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE. 105 
 
 tening to his account of the manner in which the 
 capture of the prisoner had been effected, he 
 ordered the cutter called away, and the young 
 officer, rejoicing over his success, was sent on 
 board his vessel. 
 
106 
 
 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 CHAPTER YII. 
 
 HE next morning, just after quarters, 
 ff^S46t^^^ while the officers were getting 
 ready to go on shore, a boat from 
 the flag-ship came alongside, and the 
 officer in charge of it was shown into 
 the cabin, as he said he had business 
 with the captain. Frank, who thought 
 he had accomplished sufficient to satisfy him to 
 remain on board, sat in the wardroom reading, 
 when the orderly entered and informed him that 
 the captain desired his presence in the cabin. 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," said he, "here's an order from 
 the admiral, directing me to furnish you with a 
 cutter and an armed crew, and to send you to the 
 flag-ship for orders. I am also instructed to ap- 
 point an executive to fill your place during your 
 absence. I expect you will be sent ofi" on some 
 
107 
 
 expedition; so you had better prepare for a long 
 trip." 
 
 The officer who brought the order having re- 
 turned to his vessel, the captain accompanied 
 Frank on deck, and ordered the second cutter to 
 be called away and furnished with a crew well 
 armed. In a short time the boat was ready, and 
 Frank, buckling on his side-arms, took leave of 
 the captain and started toward the flag-ship, won- 
 dering what duty he was now called upon to per- 
 form, and fully determined that whatever orders 
 he might receive, however dangerous or difficult, 
 should be executed, if within the bounds of possi- 
 bility. 
 
 When he arrived on board the Blackhawk, an 
 officer, who appeared to be waiting for him, con- 
 ducted him into the cabin, where the admiral sat 
 "writing at his desk. 
 
 "Good morning, Mr. Nelson," said he; "take a 
 chair, sir." 
 
 Frank took the seat pointed out to him, and 
 the admiral, taking from his desk a bundle of 
 papers, carefully tied up, continued: 
 
 " It has always been my habit, Mr. Nelson, not 
 to let a brave or skilli'ul action pass unrewarded, 
 
108 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 any more than I would allow a bad one to pass 
 unpunished. I am now about to give you a much 
 more important, and perhaps dangerous, commis- 
 sion than has yet been intrusted to you. This 
 package contains official documents of the greatest 
 importance, and I want you to go down the river, 
 and deliver it to the commanding naval officer, 
 whom you will find at Acklen's plantation, oppo- 
 site the mouth of Red River. I know there are 
 rebels all along the banks, but whatever you do, 
 do n't allow these letters to fall into their hands. 
 There are iron weights in the package, and if you 
 should be in danger of capture, throw it over- 
 board. You will take passage on the army trans- 
 port that now lies at the stern of this vessel, all 
 ready to start. I send the cutter and armed crew 
 with you, for the reason that the rebels may sink 
 the transport, in which case you can escape in 
 your boat; for those letters must go through, if 
 possible; perhaps the success of this expedition 
 depends upon them. The transport, you will find, 
 is in command of a second-lieutenant. I should 
 feel much safer if I could put one of my own 
 officers in charge, but, as the boat belongs to the 
 army, I have no authority in the matter. After 
 
Frank's first command. 109 
 
 you have executed your orders, return, by first 
 opportunity, to your vessel, and report to me by 
 letter. Now, sir, you may go, for they are wait- 
 ing for you. Remember, I say the success or fail- 
 ure of this entire expedition may depend upon 
 you ; and do n't forget that you are the young 
 man that saved the Milwaukee." 
 
 Frank bowed himself out of the cabin, sprang 
 into the cutter, and started toward the transport 
 that lay alongside of the bank, a short distance 
 below the flag-ship. As he stepped on board, he 
 was met by a flashy-looking young lieutenant, 
 dressed in a brand-new uniformj who greeted him 
 with the inquiry: 
 
 "Are you ready at last? I have been waiting 
 an hour for you. Business is business, you know, 
 and when I command a ship, I do n't like to be 
 detained." 
 
 The lieutenant said this, probably, to impress 
 upon Frank's mind the important fact that he was 
 the captain of the steamer, and must be respected 
 and obeyed accordingly. Frank, who knew that 
 he was not subject to the orders of the lieutenant 
 only so far as the safety of the vessel was con- 
 cerned, replied that he had come as soon as he 
 
110 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 could after he had received his orders, and turning 
 to his men, directed part of them to make the 
 cutter fast to the stern of the steamer, and the 
 others to carry their arms to the boiler-deck, 
 where they could be readily seized in case of 
 emergency. The transport was a small side- 
 wheel boat belonging to the quarter-master's de- 
 partment. The deck-hands were all soldiers — 
 perhaps half a dozen of them in all — the only 
 steamboatmen on board being one pilot, four en- 
 gineers, and as many firemen. The steamer was 
 armed with two howitzers, mounted on the boiler- 
 deck, and the muskets of the soldiers were stacked 
 in the cabin. The boilers were protected by bales 
 of cotton, which were piled on the guards, and the 
 pilot-house was defended in the same manner. A 
 few bales were also placed on the boiler-deck to 
 serve as a breastwork. The whole was under the 
 command of the lieutenant, who, judging by the 
 orders he issued, knew nothing whatever of the 
 management of a boat. 
 
 Frank had been on board but a few moments, 
 w^hen the engineer's bell rang, to inform the pilot 
 that all was ready for the start. The boat was 
 made fast by a single line, which ran from the 
 
Ill 
 
 forecastle to a tree on the bank, and the gang- 
 phmk was out. The lieutenant's first order was, 
 " Haul in that plank." The soldiers obeyed, and 
 then came the command for *' somebody to run 
 out there and untie that line." 
 
 One of the soldiers sprang ashore and began 
 trying to cast ofi" the line, which was drawn as 
 taut as a four-mile current could make it. He 
 worked for several moments, but, of course with- 
 out success (for the line should first have been 
 slackened up on board), and then called out : 
 
 "Loosen up that other end, there!" 
 
 "No, no!" replied the lieutenant, "that would 
 allow the boat to swing away from the bank, and 
 then how would you get on board? It must be 
 untied from that tree first." 
 
 What difference it could possibly make in re- 
 gard to the boat's swinging away from the bank, 
 whether the line was first slackened up on shore 
 or on board, Frank could not determine. 
 
 He was astonished at the lieutenant's ignorance, 
 and amused at his novel mode of casting off a line, 
 while the sailors, who had gathered in a group on 
 the forecastle, watched the operation with a smile, 
 wondering how the affair would end, as they knew 
 
112 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 that the hne could not be " untied " from the tree 
 unless first slackened up on board. But the lieu- 
 tenant seemed to have his own idea of the manner 
 in which it ought to be accomplished, and was con- 
 stantly ordering the man to " Hurry up, there ! " 
 The soldiers worked and pulled, but all to no 
 purpose, and the lieutenant, becoming impatient, 
 ordered two more of the men to his assistance. 
 But the knot, which had been awkwardly made, 
 was jammed, and resisted their utmost efforts. 
 
 "I never did see such a clumsy set of fellows," 
 said the lieutenant, at length, turning to Frank, 
 who stood beside him, making use of his handker- 
 chief to conceal his laughter. " We ought to have 
 been two miles down the river by this time." 
 
 It was evident that he was fast becoming dis- 
 gusted with his first attempt at " steamboating," 
 but was too proud to ask advice. At length he 
 turned and walked into the cabin, muttering, "I 
 guess they will get it untied before night." But 
 Frank was unwilling to wait so long. The delay 
 was entirely unnecessary, and he had begun to 
 get impatient. 
 
 "Men," said he, addressing himself to the cut- 
 ter's crew, who were convulsed with laughter, 
 
Frank's first command. 113 
 
 "some of you run out that gang-plank, and an- 
 otlier slack up that line." 
 
 These orders were promptly obeyed, and the 
 difficulty was easily overcome. 
 
 "All gone, sir," shouted Frank to the pilot, 
 meaning that the line was cast off, and in a few 
 moments the transport swung off from the bank, 
 and was plowing her way down the river. Frank 
 leaned over the railing, and wondered how a 
 man so utterly ignorant of the management of 
 a steamer, as was the lieutenant, came to be put 
 in command, and at a time, too, when they might 
 be placed in situations that would call into re- 
 quisition all the skill and judgment of experi- 
 enced men. He did not at all like the appearance 
 of the young commander, for he was of the type 
 of officers known as "upstarts," who like to 
 show their authority, but are without the ability 
 to successfully fill even the post of corporal. 
 What if the transport should be fired upon and 
 disabled? It was evident that in such an emer- 
 gency nothing could be expected of a man who 
 could not cast off a line. Frank's commission 
 was too important to be intrusted to the care of 
 such a man, and the young officer felt that he 
 8 
 
114 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 would much rather step into the cutter, and trust 
 to the skill and courage of his twelve sailors, than 
 to remain on board the transport. Calling the 
 coxswain on deck, he directed that if they were 
 attacked, the cutter should be kept ready for in- 
 stant use, and in case the vessel was disabled, 
 they would attempt to finish their journey in her. 
 After giving these orders, Frank went up into the 
 pilot-house, where he found the man at the wheel 
 in no enviable state of mind. 
 
 "I'm glad to see you," said he, as Frank en- 
 tered, " for I want to talk to you. I "m not at all 
 pleased with the looks of our skipper," he went on 
 to say, "and how he came to be placed in com- 
 mand is a mystery to me. Perhaps the quarter- 
 master thinks, like a good many men who see the 
 Mississippi River for the first time, that any body 
 can take charge of a steamboat; but suppose we 
 should run aground — ^Yhat does that lieutenant 
 know about sparring ofi"? or what if something 
 about the engine should let down? why, we might 
 go forty miles do^Yn the river before he could get 
 us tied up to the bank. Besides, if we are fired 
 upon, he '11 surrender. Now, mark my words, 
 
115 
 
 he '11 surrender before he -Nvill fight, and I 'm op- 
 posed to that, for I was a prisoner once." 
 
 " So was I," said Frank, " and I do n't mean to 
 fall into the rebels' hands again, if I can help it. 
 I'll never be surrendered. That lieutenant may 
 not fight, but I think his men will, and I have 
 twelve good fellows, all well armed, on whom I 
 know I can depend." 
 
 "Then I feel better," said the pilot. "That's 
 talk I like to hear ; for if we are not disabled, we '11 
 go through all right. There goes the bell! Go 
 down and get your dinner." 
 
 Frank deposited his weapons on a bench in the 
 pilot-house and ran down into the cabin, where 
 he found the lieutenant and two engineers seated 
 at the table. The former seemed to have forgot- 
 ten his failure of the morning, for he talked a 
 good deal in a condescending manner, as if ad- 
 dressing his inferiors; and to Frank's inquiry if 
 he expected trouble from the rebels, replied that 
 he had not given the matter a moment's thought; 
 that if they did attack the vessel, it would not be 
 the first time he had smelt powder, and if the 
 engineers and pilot could be depended upon, he 
 had no fears but that he should be able to take 
 
116 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 the boat safely through. Frank replied that he 
 trusted the officers would not be found wanting in 
 courage; and when he had finished his meal, he 
 went on deck again, and surprised the pilot, by 
 offerinof to relieve him while he went down to his 
 dinner. In his spare moments Frank, who wisely 
 regarded it as the duty of every officer to acquaint 
 himself with every part of the management of a 
 vessel, had learned to handle the wheel, and he 
 was an excellent steersman. He could make a 
 landing or get a boat under way, as well as the 
 most experienced pilot ; and in the present in- 
 stance he was fully capable of steering the boat, 
 for as the water in the river was high, there was 
 no danger of getting out of the channel. 
 
 The pilot gave him his place, and after watch- 
 ing the movements of the young officer, who 
 handled the wheel with all the confidence of an 
 old river man, he went below to his dinner, satis- 
 isfied that he had left the boat in safe hands. 
 Frank remained at the wheel most of the after- 
 noon, for the pilot, who would be on watch all 
 night, had gone to bed to obtain a few hours' rest. 
 About four o'clock, however, he made his appear- 
 ance, and Frank went down into the cabin, and 
 
FRANKS FIRST COMMAND. Il7 
 
 was engaged in reading a newspaper, when he 
 heard the pilot shout through the trumpet to the 
 engineers : 
 
 " Here they are ! Now, push her ahead strong. 
 There 's a battery just below." 
 
 At the same moment there was a rush of feet 
 on deck, and the lieutenant entered the cabin pale 
 and breathless. 
 
 " We 're captured," said he, in a faint voice. 
 "We 're surrounded. The bank is black with reb- 
 els — ten thousand of them at least ! It 's no use 
 to think of fiorhtinor." 
 
 o o 
 
 As he ceased speaking, he ran on deck again, 
 followed by Frank, who found his men drawn up 
 behind the cotton-bales, with their weapons in their 
 hands, waiting for orders. The soldiers had cast 
 loose the howitzers, and stood at their posts. 
 The lieutenant stopped a moment, just long 
 enough to say, "Boys, we're all captured!" and 
 then ran into the pilot-house. As Frank stood 
 talking to his men, and encouraging them with 
 the famous words that never fail to nerve an 
 
 American seaman — " Do n't give up the ship ! " 
 
 a rebel rode out on the bank, in full view of the 
 steamer, and shouted: 
 
118 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "Come ashore here, or we '11 sink you." 
 
 Frank looked toward the pilot-house, where the 
 lieutenant had taken refuge, and waited to hear 
 his answer. To his surprise and horror, he saw 
 a hand extended waving a white handkerchief, and 
 the coxswain exclaimed : 
 
 "Mr. Nelson, he's surrendering us, sir!" 
 
 With one bound Frank sprang up the steps 
 that led to the pilot-house, caught the handker- 
 chief and threw it overboard; and at the same 
 moment the lieutenant was seized from behind 
 and thrown to the deck. He instantly recovered 
 his feet, and turning fiercely upon Frank and the 
 pilot, exclaimed 
 
 "What are you about? Do you know that you 
 have rendered yourselves liable to a court-mar- 
 tial ? I 'm commander of this vessel, and I '11 
 shoot the first man that resists my authority ! " 
 
 "You shall never surrender us," said Frank, 
 firmly, not the least intimidated by the other's 
 threat. " If you will give orders for your men to 
 prepare for action, no one will oppose you. We '11 
 stick to you as long as a plank of this vessel re- 
 mains above water." 
 
 " I know my own business," replied the lieuten- 
 
119 
 
 ant. " Resistance is useless. We never could get 
 by that battery, and I 'm going to surrender to 
 save our lives. Turn her toward the shore, pilot!" 
 
 As he spoke, he Avalked out on deck, and call- 
 ing out to the rebel, who had continued to follow 
 the vessel : 
 
 " I '11 surrender ! Pilot, I tell you to turn her 
 in toward the shore." 
 
 The pilot gave a glance at Frank, and reading 
 in his face a firm determination to go through if 
 possible, held the boat's head down the stream, 
 while a murmur of indignation arose from the 
 men on the lower deck, and the coxswain said, 
 turning to his companions : 
 
 " Sink my tarry wig, if that ar' chap ain't going 
 to give us up without our having the least bit of a 
 fight." 
 
 Frank stood for a moment irresolute. Ought 
 he to oppose the lieutenant, the lawful commander 
 of the vessel? Was it his duty to stand by and 
 allow himself and his men to be surrendered with- 
 out even a show of resistance ? And his dis- 
 patches, the importance of which the admiral had 
 stated in such emphatic language, should he throw 
 them overboard, instead of delivering them, as he 
 
120 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 had hoped to do, to the officer to whom they were 
 addressed? No! Sooner than do that, he would 
 put the cowardly lieutenant under arrest, and give 
 the command to the pilot, a man whom he knew 
 understood his business, and would not think of 
 surrender until it had been clearly proved that 
 successful resistance was entirely out of the ques- 
 tion. 
 
 While these thoughts were passing through 
 Frank's mind, the boat, under an increased head 
 of steam, had been rapidly nearing the battery, 
 which could be distinctly seen about half a mile 
 below, planted on the bank of the river. 
 
 "Come ashore, if you surrender," shouted the 
 rebel. 
 
 "Pilot," said the lieutenant, in a weak voice, "I 
 order you" 
 
 He never finished that order, for Frank seized 
 him, and pulling him into the pilot-house, closed 
 the door. He made an attempt to draw a re- 
 volver, but the pilot threw him to the deck, when 
 Frank wrested the weapon from him and retained 
 it in his possession. 
 
 " All ready forward there ? " he shouted to the 
 men on the boiler-deck. 
 
Frank's first command. 121 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," answered the coxswain. ^'Mr. 
 Nelson 's in command," he added, turning to his 
 companions. "Douse my to'-gallant top-hghts 
 but we '11 have a skirmish now sure." 
 
 "Do you surrender?" shouted the man on the 
 bank. 
 
 The reply he received was a shot from the pi- 
 lot's revolver, which made him beat a hasty retreat. 
 He had scarcely disappeared when a cloud of men 
 arose from behind the levee, and a volley of bul- 
 lets rattled into the boat. It was answered by a 
 shout of defiance from the men behind the cotton- 
 bales; but the pilot, who stood just in front of 
 Frank, staggered for a moment, and sank heavily 
 to the deck. Frank was horrified. With that 
 man at the wheel, he had entertained no fears of 
 their ability to run by the battery ; but now that 
 he was left alone, with the duties of both com- 
 mander and pilot devolving upon him, his hopes 
 fell again. But he could not remain long inactive, 
 for the boat, being without a guide, began to swing 
 toward the shore. Hastily seizing the wheel, he 
 turned her head down the river again, when the 
 battery opened upon them, and a storm of shells 
 plunged into the water and whistled through the 
 
122 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 air about the boat. Only one struck her, and 
 tnat passed through one of the smoke-stacks, and 
 bursting, demolished part of the roof of the pilot- 
 house. Then, as fast a» the guns could be loaded, 
 the battery played upon the transport, and Frank 
 heard the shells crashing through the cabin and 
 exploding in the air above him. But He stood 
 bravely at his post, his only fears being of his 
 inability to turn the point on vrhich the battery 
 was planted, or that one of the shells might pene- 
 trate the cotton-bales and strike the boilers or 
 some part of the machinery. But as he neared 
 the battery, he discovered that the boat was 
 struck less frequently; that the rebels, in their 
 excitement, were firing wildly. His own men, cool 
 and collected, encouraged by the example of their 
 ofiicer, had not yet fired a shot; but when the 
 boat arrived opposite the battery, they opened 
 upon it with the howitzers and small arms with 
 terrible efi*ect. The point, which extended into 
 the bend where the battery stood, was long and 
 sharp, a bad place for one unaccustomed to hand- 
 ling a boat; but Frank passed it in safety, under 
 a full head of steam, and cheers of triumph arose 
 from his men, which the rebels answered with 
 
123 
 
 yells of rage, and continued to follow the trans- 
 port, sending bullets and shells after her as fast 
 as they could reload. But they were speedily 
 left behind, and their yells died away in the dis- 
 tance. 
 
 Frank's dispatches were safe. 
 
124 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 H femlajjelkg M^S^^- 
 
 S soon as Frank was certain that 
 the rebels had given up the pur- 
 suit, he called two of his men on 
 deck, and directed them to carry the 
 pilot, who now began to show signs 
 of returning consciousness, into the 
 cabin- 
 
 During the fight the lieutenant had remained 
 behind one of the cotton-bales, where the pilot 
 had thrown him, so completely overcome with fear 
 that he did not think of renewing his attempts to 
 enforce his authority. But now that the danger 
 was over, he arose to his feet and walked out of 
 the pilot-house. As the sailors came up, in obedi- 
 ence to Frank's order, they passed the lieutenant 
 without giving the customary salute, and acted as 
 though they considered him beneath their notice. 
 
AN UNLUCKY FIGHT. 125 
 
 They lifted the pilot tenderly in their arms, carried 
 him down stairs, and laid him on his bed. 
 
 There was no surgeon on board, and Frank was 
 anxious to reach a gun-boat as soon as possible, 
 in order to place the pilot, who was the only one 
 injured, under the care of a medical man. He 
 kept his place at the wheel, his supper being 
 brought up to him by one of his men, and shortly 
 after dark came within sight of the lights of a 
 vessel which was lying at anchor in the stream. 
 He blew the whistle, to let her know that he was 
 approaching, to which the steamer, which proved 
 to be a gun-boat, replied by hoisting her signal- 
 lights. Frank having no signals, whistled again, 
 and rang the bells for the engineer to run slowly. 
 As soon as he came within hailing distance, a 
 voice called out: 
 
 "Steamer ahoy!" 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir!" shouted Frank, in reply. 
 
 "What steamer is that?" 
 
 " Army transport Key-West, bound for the mouth 
 of the river, with dispatches from the admiral." 
 
 "Come alongside, here," shouted the voice. 
 
 "Ay, ay, sir," replied Frank, and he commenced 
 turning the boat's head toward the vessel, while a 
 
126 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 hurrying of feet and a noise of dropping hand- 
 spikes on the gun-deck, told him in plain language 
 that the captain of the gun-boat was not at all 
 satisfied with the report he had made, and had 
 called his crew to quarters, to be in readiness to 
 sink the transport if she should attempt to run by. 
 It was an uncommon thing during the expedition 
 for boats to run in Red River after night, unless 
 supplied with the necessary signals, and the young 
 officer was not at all surprised at the precautions 
 taken by the gun-boat. 
 
 Frank by this time had turned the transport 
 around, and was coming up at the stern of the 
 gun-boat, when the lieutenant came on deck, and 
 entering the pilot-house, inquired: 
 
 " Are you the captain of this ship ? " 
 
 "I have had no orders to act as such," replied 
 Frank. 
 
 "Then why do you answer hails, and land here 
 without my permission? I'll have you court- 
 martialed." 
 
 "I answered the hails because you were not on 
 deck ; and I land here because I have been ordered 
 to do so by the captain of that gun-boat." 
 
 "Well, I am not under his orders; he has no 
 
AN UNLUCKY FIGHT. 127 
 
 authority over me, and I order you to turn around 
 at once, and start down the river again." 
 
 "If I shoukl undertake that," replied Frank, 
 with a laugli, " tliis vessel wouldn't last long. 
 Every cannon on this side of that gun-boat points 
 straight at us, and if we should turn around, they 
 would blow us out of water." 
 
 " They would, eh ? " said the lieutenant, angrily. 
 "I'll have the Avhole lot of them up before a court- 
 martial. I'm a second-lieutenant, sir, and must 
 not be detained, as I am on important business. 
 Turn around at once." 
 
 Frank made no reply, and at that moment the 
 bow of the transport touched the gun-boat, and 
 one of the sailors sprang out with a line. As 
 soon as the boat was made fast, he put on his 
 side-arms, and taking his dispatches, walked out 
 of the pilot-house, leaving the lieutenant almost 
 beside himself with rage. As soon as he stepped 
 on board the gun-boat, he was shown into the 
 presence of Captain Wilson, the same who had 
 commanded the Ticonderoga when Frank was at- 
 tached to her. 
 
 " Oh, is it you, Mr. Nelson? " he exclaimed, 
 seizing the young officer's hand and shaking it 
 
128 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 heartily. "Then it's all right. I did not know 
 but you were a rebel, and were going to run by; 
 so I got my guns all ready to sink you. Sit 
 down. Are you in command?" 
 
 Frank replied that he was not, and then pro- 
 ceeded to repeat the orders he had received from 
 the admiral, telling the captain of the fight with 
 the battery, but carefully omitting any thing that 
 related to the conduct of the lieutenant. He ended 
 by saying that the pilot was wounded, and request- 
 ing that the doctor miojht be sent on board to at- 
 tend to him, which was done at once, the captain 
 oiFering to send another pilot to take his place. 
 
 The transport lay alongside nearly two hours, 
 during which time the pilot's wound, which was 
 not dangerous, was dressed. The doctor then de- 
 clared that he was able to go on to the mouth of 
 the river, where he could be placed under the care 
 of an army surgeon. Frank then took his leave 
 of the captain, and stepped on board the transport, 
 accompanied by one of the gun-boat pilots, who 
 was well-known to the young officer, and he was 
 confident that the lieutenant, if he should again 
 take it into his head to give any unnecessary 
 orders, would hear the truth plainly told. He 
 
AN UNLUCKY FIGHT. 129 
 
 \ras an old acquaintance of the wounded pilot, 
 from whom he had heard the whole history of 
 the trip from Alexandria; but as he had said 
 nothing about the matter to Frank, the latter was 
 not aware that he knew it. 
 
 The pilot took his station at the wheel, while 
 Frank seated himself on the boiler-deck railinsr. 
 The lieutenant stood close by, and, without wait- 
 ing to hear whether or not the engineers were 
 ready to start, shouted: 
 
 "Untie that line." 
 
 "Hold on!" shouted the pilot. "Do you want 
 to send us adrift without any steam? Wait till I 
 tell you we 're all ready." 
 
 The engineers of the transport, taking advan- 
 tage of the landing, had allowed the steam to go 
 down, in order to repair some part of the ma- 
 chinery that was out of order, and had the line 
 been cast off just then, the boat would have been 
 at the mercy of the current, and in danger of sink- 
 ing, for a short distance below lay an iron-clad 
 ram, anchored in the river. The lieutenant had 
 given his command in a loud tone, in order to be 
 heard by the crew of the gun-boat, and the rebuff 
 he had met from the pilot did not tend to quiet 
 
130 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 his feelings, which were considerably agitated by 
 the thought that he was not in reality the com- 
 mander of the vessel. He was astonished at the 
 pertinacity with which his subordinates (as he 
 considered them) countermanded his orders, and 
 wondered what was the use of being captain of a 
 vessel if he was not to be obeyed. But perhaps 
 the new pilot did not know who he was. He 
 would inform him. With this determination, he 
 walked up to the pilot-house, and inquired: 
 
 ''Do you know, sir, that I command this boat?" 
 "Yes," replied the pilot, "I know all about that. 
 But you had better go and turn in; you are only 
 in the way here. All ready, Mr. Nelson," he con- 
 tinued, as the engineer's bell rang at this monrent. 
 Frank gave the necessary orders, and in a few 
 moments they were again on their way down the 
 river, while the lieutenant walked into the cabin 
 and threw himself on a lounge, heartily wishing 
 there were no gun-boat men in existence. As 
 soon as they were fairly under way, Frank, seeing 
 that the lieutenant took no further notice of what 
 was going on, ran below to set the watch; then, 
 after satisfying himself that every thing was right 
 g.bout decks, and that their weapons were ready 
 
AN UNLUCKY FKJIIT. 131 
 
 for instant use, he stretched himself on a blanket 
 in the cabin, and with his precious dispatches 
 (which he had carried with him wherever he went) 
 for a pillow, was soon fast asleep. 
 
 About midnight he was suddenly awakened by 
 a terrific crash, and sprang to his feet to find the 
 cabin shrouded in darkness and filled with smoke. 
 Hastily thrusting his dispatches into his pocket, 
 he commenced groping for his side-arms, which, 
 on retiring, he had placed by his side, while a 
 commotion on deck told him that the crew were 
 hurrying to their stations. When he had found 
 his sword, he ran out of the cabin, and saw his 
 men drawn up behind the cotton-bales, under 
 charge of the coxswain, who ran up to his officer 
 and hurriedly asked for orders. The latter did 
 not lonoj remain icrnorant of the nature of the at- 
 tack, for a shell plunged into the cabin which he 
 had just left, and, exploding with a deafening 
 report, filled the air with fragments of furniture, 
 and tore a large hole in the deck above the boil- 
 ers. The night was very dark, but still there was 
 light enough for Frank to see that the boat, no 
 longer obeying her helm, was drifting broadside 
 toward the battery, the position of which could be 
 
132 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 easily determined by the flash of its guns ; and it 
 was evident that unless those guns could be speed- 
 ily silenced, the transport would be altogether de- 
 molished, or disabled so that she would fall into 
 the hands of the rebels. Turning to the coxswain, 
 Frank inquired: 
 
 ''Is that cutter ready for immediate use?" 
 
 " All ready, sir," was the answer. 
 
 "Let loose those guns, then. Fire I" 
 
 The two howitzers belched forth their contents, 
 but while they were being reloaded, another broad- 
 side from the battery plunged into the boat, fol- 
 lowed by the hissing and shrieking of steam. A 
 shot had struck the boilers! The thought had 
 scarcely passed through Frank's mind, when the 
 pilot sprang down the steps, exclaiming : 
 
 "Mr. Kelson, the tiller-rope is shot away, sir, 
 and the boat is on fire ! " 
 
 In short, much sooner than Frank had expected, 
 the transport was a complete wreck. 
 
 The cotton-bales on the guards had been set on 
 fire by a bursting shell; the tiller-rope shot away, 
 rendering it impossible to steer the boat; the boil- 
 ers penetrated, and the engine-room filled with hot 
 steam, which now began to rise and envelop the 
 
AN UNLUCKY FIGHT 133 
 
 men on the boiler-deck. Soldiers and Bailors at 
 once deserted their quarters and ran about in con- 
 fusion, while Frank, with his handkerchief in his 
 mouth, to prevent his inhaling the steam, stood 
 wondering, where so many things were to be done, 
 which ought to be done' first. He was quickly 
 called to action by the pilot, who, as he ran down 
 the steps that led to the forecastle, exclaimed : 
 "Let every man take care of himself!" 
 When that man, who had been in nearly all the 
 battles fought on the Mississippi River — who had 
 run the batteries at Vicksburg, and had twice, in 
 the heat of action, swam from a sinking vessel — 
 when he deserted his post, it was useless for any 
 one to remain. The transport could be of no fur- 
 ther use to them, and to stay on board was to court 
 either death from the hot, blinding steam, or the 
 shells that all the while came crashing into the 
 boat, or capture and hard treatment at the hands 
 of the rebels. So thought Frank, as he followed 
 his men to the forecastle, intending to enter the 
 cutter, and, if possible, run by the battery and 
 reach the Mississippi. 
 
 The steam rolled over the lower deck in thick 
 clouds, rendering it impossible for him to go aft. 
 
134 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 There was now but one way to reach the cutter, 
 and that was to jump overboard and swim to her. 
 This order was promptly given, and as promptly 
 obeyed by the men, who sprang into the water, 
 one after another, followed by Frank, who, how- 
 ever, had lingered a moment to pull off his side- 
 arms and coat, which would only impede his prog- 
 ress, and to secure his dispatches, which he tied 
 to his waist with a strong cord he happened to 
 have in his pocket. 
 
 But when he reached the stern of the boat, he 
 found that this means of escape had been de- 
 stroyed. A shell from the battery had struck the 
 cutter, and her wreck, still held by the rope with 
 which she had been made fast, floated along with 
 the steamer, which was slowly drifting toward the 
 bank. Only one of his men was to be seen, and 
 that was the coxswain, who was holding on to the 
 wreck, awaiting the appearance of his ojfficer. 
 The others, giving up all hopes of escape, had 
 doubtless turned toward the shore. 
 
 "Now, here's a job, sir," said the coxswain, 
 apparently as unconcerned as if there had not 
 been a rebel within a hundred miles. "Here is 
 a job. What's to be done now, sii'?" 
 
AN UNLUCKY FIGHT. 135 
 
 Frank had just asked himself the same question. 
 He could easily reach the shore, which was but a 
 few yards distant, but there he would certainly be 
 captured by the rebels, who were running along 
 the bank, yelling like demons. 
 
 There was but one course he could pursue and 
 save himself and dispatches, and that was to swim 
 down the river and endeavor to pass the battery. 
 In the darkness he might escape undiscovered. 
 
 "Bob, are you a good swimmer?" he asked, 
 turning to the coxswain. 
 
 " Yes sir ! can swim all day," was the reply. 
 
 " Then follow me as silently as possible, and we 
 may yet escape." 
 
 As Frank spoke, he swam down the river with 
 swift, noiseless strokes, anxious to get as far as 
 possible from the boat before the fire, which now 
 began to make rapid headway, should light up the 
 river and discover them to the rebels. The latter 
 had ceased firing, and were scattered along the 
 bank, making prisoners of the transport's crew as 
 fast as they touched the shore. When Frank had 
 reached the place where the battery was stationed, 
 he turned upon his back, and allowed himself to 
 float along with the current, and, aided by the 
 
136 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 darkness and the smoke of the burning transport, 
 ■which blew down the river, he and his companion 
 passed the dangerous point undiscovered. Here 
 Frank again struck out, his every movement fol- 
 lowed by the coxswain, who was close behind him, 
 and who floated through the water like a cork. 
 
 For nearly an hour they remained in the river, 
 and it was not until the shouts of the rebels could 
 be no longer heard, that Frank, feeling for the 
 present safe from pursuit, swam to the shore and 
 sat down to rest, and to determine upon their 
 future movements. 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 
 
 137 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LL noise of pursuit, if any had been 
 made, had died away, and not a 
 sound disturbed the stillness of the 
 woods. But Frank had learned, by 
 experience, that silence was not in- 
 dicative of safety, for it might, at 
 any moment, be broken by the report 
 of muskets, or a sudden demand for surrender 
 from enemies who had followed them so silently 
 that their approach had not been discovered. He 
 bent suspicious glances upon the woods on all sides 
 of him, and was ready to plunge into the water 
 again upon hearing the least sounds of pursuit. 
 
 What had become of the wounded pilot, the 
 lieutenant, and the rest of the cutter's crew? All 
 who had succeeded in reaching the shore, were, 
 beyond a doubt, prisoners. 
 
138 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Frank shuddered when he thought of the hard 
 fare and harder treatment that awaited the poor 
 fellows, recalling to mind incidents of his own cap- 
 ture and escape, which made him doubly anxious 
 to reach the Mississippi as soon as possible, where 
 he would be safe among friends. 
 
 After resting nearly an hour, for their long 
 swim had wearied them, they continued their flight 
 down the river, being careful to keep close to the 
 bank, so that in case of emergency they could 
 ao^ain take to the water. The shore was covered 
 with logs and bushes, and their progress was slow 
 and laborious. But daylight came at length, and 
 shortly afterward they discovered a transport com- 
 ing up the river. When she arrived opposite to 
 them, Frank hailed her, and the boat landed and 
 took them on board. Frank gave the information 
 that there was a battery above, and the captain, 
 not liking the idea of trusting his unarmed vessel 
 within range of its guns, ordered the pilot to round- 
 to and start down the river again. The order was 
 obeyed at once, and Frank and the coxswain, who 
 now began to breathe more freely, went below 
 and stood before the fire-doors to dry their cloth- 
 ing. About noon they arrived at the Mississippi 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 139 
 
 "Rivor, the tr.insport landing alongside the vessel 
 of the commanding naval officer, to whom Frank 
 delivered his dispatches in triumph, at the same 
 time apologizing for his appearance, for he was 
 without coat, hat, or side-arms. 
 
 Among these dispatches of the admiral were 
 orders for two tin-clads to report at Alexandria. 
 These vessels were to be used to keep the banks 
 clear of rebels, to carry dispatches, and to convoy 
 unarmed steamers up and down the river. The 
 necessary orders were promptly issued, and in a 
 short time the tin-clads came alongside ; their com- 
 manders received their instructions, after which the 
 vessels steamed up Red River, one of them having 
 Frank and the coxswain on board. The former 
 had in his possession several official documents 
 addressed to the admiral. If he could have seen 
 the inside of one of them, he would have found 
 (greatly to his surprise) that it contained a com- 
 plete history of the run from Alexandria, that it 
 spoke in ihe highest terms of his skill and bravery, 
 and ended with a recommendation for a master's 
 appointment. This letter had been written by the 
 captain to whom Frank had delivered his dis- 
 patches, he having learned the full particulars 
 
140 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 from the coxswain, whom he had summoned into 
 his presence while Frank was in the wardroom 
 eating his dinner. The sailor described all that 
 had happened in glowing language^ dwelling with 
 a good deal of emphasis upon the "pluck" dis- 
 played by his young officer, and the ignorance and 
 cowardice of the lieutenant, and ended with say- 
 ing, "He didn't think of nothing, sir, but them 
 dispatches; and it an't every man that could have 
 saved 'em, sir." The captain fully agreed with 
 the coxswain, and when the latter was dismissed, 
 he gave his pants a vigorous hitch, and said to 
 himself, "If Mr. Nelson don't get another stripe 
 around his arm now, may I be keelhauled." And 
 one, to have seen him, would have thought that he 
 was as much pleased at the prospect as though he 
 was about to receive the appointment himself. 
 Frank, of course, knew nothing of this, and little 
 imagining that he was carrying a recommenda- 
 tion for his promotion, he put the letters carefully 
 away in his pocket, thinking, no doubt, they were 
 all-important official documents. 
 
 A short time before dark they arrived at the 
 junction of the Black and Washita Rivers, where 
 Frank found the Michigan anchored, in company 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 141 
 
 with four or five other gun-boats. He reported his 
 safe return to his captain, and then went into the 
 wardroom and sat down to report to the admiral 
 by letter, according to his instructions. After all 
 he had passed through, one would suppose that 
 his report would have been a long one; but he 
 wisely thought that all the admiral cared to know 
 was that his dispatches had been safely delivered. 
 He therefore wrote, in the briefest manner — 
 
 " I have the honor to report that, in obedience to your 
 orders of the 20th inst., I took passage on board the 
 United J^tates army transport "Kej'-West," for the mouth 
 of lied Iviver, with dispatches, which were delivered into 
 the hands of the commanding naval officer there. I have 
 to-day returned on board my vessel." 
 
 This was all. No glowing description of the 
 gallant manner in which he had taken the trans- 
 port by the battery, no mention of the ever- 
 watchful eye he had kept upon his dispatches, or 
 of his long swim from the burning wreck, but a 
 few simple lines, that told the admiral all he 
 wished to know; namely, that his letters had 
 reached their destination. This report Frank 
 placed before the captain, who wrote upon it 
 *' approved and respectfully forwarded," (for all 
 
142 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 letters from subordinate officers to the admiral 
 had to pass through the captain's hands,) and the 
 letter was put into the general mail. Frank then, 
 in obedience to the captain's order, proceeded to 
 give that gentleman a minute account of the 
 manner in which he had executed his orders, 
 together with the names of the men belonging to 
 the cutter's crew who w^ere missing, and wound 
 up with the request that "something might be 
 done for the coxswain," for he was a brave man, 
 and a good sailor. As the Michigan had but one 
 boatswain's mate, (she was entitled to two,) the 
 captain determined to promote the man, who was 
 at once summoned into the cabin and presented 
 with the boatswain's whistle. He retired, proud 
 of his promotion, and firm in his belief that "the 
 captain and Mr. Kelson were the best men 
 afloat." 
 
 Frank, so weary that he could scarcely walk, 
 was glad to get to bed; but the captain sat for a 
 long time at his desk, writing a letter to the 
 admiral, which contained the "statement that, in 
 his opinion, "Acting Ensign Frank Xelson, by 
 the gallant manner in which he had executed the 
 important business intrusted to him, had nobly 
 
UP THE WASniTA. 143 
 
 earned his promotion, and, by the skill and judg- 
 ment he had exhibited in handling the transport, 
 had shown that he was fully capable of taking 
 charge of a vessel of his own, and that his past 
 history, taken in connection with his recent ex- 
 ploit, was sufficient guarantee that the honor of 
 the flag would never suffer in his hands." 
 
 Frank, all unconscious of the admiration his 
 gallant behavior had excited in the mind of the 
 captain, slept soundly until daylight, when he was 
 called up to get the vessel under way. The ex- 
 pedition was composed of five gun-boats, and its 
 destination was Monroe, a small town about two 
 hundred miles up "Washita Eiver. Its object was 
 to capture cotton, and to destroy any fortifications 
 that mi^jjht" be found alon^ the banks. The re- 
 mainder of the fleet, which was at Alexandria 
 when Frank left, had gone up Red River, toward 
 Shreveport. Had he been allowed his choice in 
 the matter, Frank would have preferred to ac- 
 company the latter expedition, as he then would 
 have been able, after Shreveport had been cap- 
 tured, to visit the prison in which he had been 
 confined, and from which he had escaped in so 
 remarkable a manner. He thouorht over all the 
 
144 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 scenes through which he had passed — his capture, 
 the march to Shreveport, his flight from the 
 prison, the bayonet-fight in the woods, the chase 
 by blood-hounds — and they seemed to him like a 
 dream. 
 
 George Le Dell, who was the ofiicer of the 
 deck, stood close beside Frank, gazing about as 
 if every object that met his eye was a familiar 
 one. Every turn of the paddle-wheels was bring- 
 ing him nearer to the home of his childhood, from 
 ■which he was now excluded by the stern mandate 
 of his rebel father. Ever since he had been 
 attached to the Michigan, he and Frank had been 
 bosom friends. The dangers through which they 
 had passed while fugitives from a rebel prison — 
 their hair-breadth escapes from recapture — could 
 never be forgotten. No one on board besides Frank 
 knew any thing of George's past history. In 
 accordance with the latter's desire, the secret was 
 closely kept, and no one imagined that the pale, 
 quiet young officer was any relation to the rebel 
 general whose house it had been ordered should 
 be burned. Ever since the receipt of that order, 
 every one remarked that George Le Dell had been 
 unusually thoughtful, but no one knew the cause. 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 145 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," said he, at length, "I wish I 
 could have gone up Red River. I want to see 
 home once more, but I do n't want to stand by 
 and see the old house burned over the heads of 
 my mother and sisters. I do n't deny that the 
 order is a just one, but I don't want to see it 
 executed. I begin to believe that I am a good 
 prophet," he continued, after a moment's pause. 
 "I told father, in the last letter I ever wrote to 
 him, that this war would bring him nothing but 
 suffering and disgrace, and I think he will find 
 that I told the truth." 
 
 As George ceased speaking, he turned and 
 walked to another part of the deck, to meet the 
 captain, who at that moment came out of his cabin. 
 
 Among all the ship's company, there was but 
 one that could sympathize with George, and that 
 one was Frank. The young officer cherished an 
 honest enmity toward the traitors whose bloody 
 hands were stretched out to pull down the Old 
 Flag under which his ancestors had fought and 
 died, but when Frank looked upon the pale face 
 of his messmate, and listened to his oft-repeated 
 sentiments of loyalty, and heard him, in his quiet 
 way, expressing his firm belief in the final tri- 
 10 
 
146 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 umph of the Government and the total overthrow 
 of the rebellion, ^nd -when he witnessed his quiet 
 submission to his cruel fate, knowing that he was 
 cut oif from all further intercourse with his rela- 
 tives, he could not help pitying both him and 
 his rebel parents. But he knew, from those let- 
 ters he had read, and which George still pre- 
 served, and from what he had witnessed on that 
 memorable night when he and his companions had 
 stopped at the plantation and asked for food, that 
 the general and his family had taken part with 
 the rebellion, not to secure any rights which they 
 imagined had been denied them, but to assist in 
 *' establishing a confederacy of their own, whose 
 corner-stone should be slavery," and to destroy 
 " every vestige of the old Union." Like George, 
 he knew that the order to burn the house was a 
 just one; but he would have been much better 
 pleased had some other boat been selected to exe- 
 cute it. He did not pity the rebels so much, but 
 he did not want to witness the sorrow his mess- 
 mate would experience when he saw the home 
 of his boyhood enveloped in flames. 
 
 The next day, as the two friends stood together 
 on deck, George suddenly said — 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 147 
 
 " "We 're almost there. I know these woods 
 well. I 've caught many a string of fish ofi" that 
 log that lies in the water just ahead." 
 
 About half a mile further on, the Michigan 
 came round a sharp bend in the river, and they 
 saw the plantation before them. Every thing 
 looked just as it did on that long-to-be-remem- 
 bered night when George had suddenly presented 
 himself before his relatives, who thought him safe 
 in the prison at Tyler. There were the broad 
 stone steps that led up to the portico on which the 
 major had stood while making known his wants, 
 and just in front of them were the posts to which 
 the general and his sons had fastened their horses 
 before entering the house. 
 
 The fleet did not stop, as they had expected, 
 but kept on up the river, and in a few moments 
 more the plantation was out of sight. Ko doubt 
 the burning of the house was to be put off until 
 their return. 
 
 The expedition reached Monroe without mishap, 
 and without seeing a single armed rebel, only 
 stopping now and then to pick up cotton, which 
 was scattered all along the bank. The vessels 
 remained at anchor in front of the town for two 
 
148 FRAXK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 days, and after burning the public buildings, and 
 picking up some escaped Union prisoners, started 
 down the river again. The Michigan led the way, 
 and on the afternoon of the second day came to 
 anchor in front of General Le Dell's plantation. 
 
 "Mr. Nelson," said the captain, as he stepped 
 down out of the pilot-house, "order two compa- 
 nies of small-armed men to be called away, and 
 you and Mr. Le Dell get ready to go on shore 
 with me. By the way," he added, turning to 
 George, "I have orders to burn out this rebel 
 namesake of yours." 
 
 "So I have heard, sir," replied George, while 
 not a muscle of his face quivered to show the 
 surprise and sorrow he felt at being obliged to ac- 
 company the expedition ashore. He had hoped 
 that some other officer would be chosen to accom- 
 pany the captain, but he could not ask to be ex- 
 cused from duty without exciting suspicions. The 
 reason why he did not wish to go could be easily 
 guessed, and if the truth became known, it would 
 be followed by what he particularly desired to 
 avoid — the sympathy of all his messmates. He 
 would accompany the expedition, but he would nei- 
 ther enter the house or go into the presence of his 
 
VV THE WASHITA. 149 
 
 mother and sisters, and lie might return without 
 being recoiinized. Bv the time he had buckled on 
 his sword and returned to the deck the men were 
 ready, when, in obe<lience to Frank's order, he 
 marched them on board the tug, which Lay at the 
 stern of the Michigan. When they reached the 
 shore, Frank instructed George to post sentries 
 all around the house, both to guard against sur- 
 prise, and also to prevent the escape of any rebel 
 soldiers who might chance to be in the building, 
 after which he accompanied the captain to the 
 door, where they were met by Mrs. Le Pell and 
 her daughters, who coldly received their saluta- 
 tions, and waited for them to make known the 
 object of their visit. 
 
 "Madam," said the captain, addressing himself 
 to Mrs. Le Dell, "I am ordered to burn your 
 house.'*' 
 
 " I have been expecting it for a long time," was 
 the reply. 
 
 " I will give you a reasonable time," continued 
 the captain, "to remove your valuables." 
 
 The lady then requested that an hour might be 
 allowed her to send for a neighbor, who lived sev- 
 eral miles distant, to come with his team to remove 
 
150 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 the furniture to a place of safety, as all the wagons 
 about the plantation had been given up to the 
 rebel army. This was granted, and a note, which 
 w^as first presented for the inspection of the cap- 
 tain, was at once dispatched to summon the neigh- 
 bor. 
 
 In the meantime, Frank and George were stroll- 
 ing about the plantation, the latter feasting his 
 eyes on every familiar object, and recalling to 
 mind incidents of the '^good old times," as he ex- 
 pressed it. Frank also recognized two objects; 
 one was the barn where he and his fellow-fugi- 
 tives had halted to hold a consultation before going 
 up to the house; and the other was the fence be- 
 hind which the captain had left their prisoner, 
 bound hand and foot. While thus engaged, a lit- 
 tle boy, who had approached them without being 
 discovered, suddenly called out, 
 
 " George ! " 
 
 The latter turned, as the familiar voice reached 
 his ear, and held out his hands to his brother, who 
 sprang toward him, threw his arms around his 
 neck, and burst into tears. There was one among 
 George's relatives who still remembered and loved 
 him. 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 151 
 
 ^'George," sobbed the little fellow, "are you a 
 Yankee 'bolitionist?" 
 
 Tears choked George's utterance, and the boy, 
 suddenly breaking from his arms, ran toward the 
 house, and scrambling up the steps, burst into the 
 room where the captain and ladies were seated, 
 and astonished them all with : 
 
 " Mother, mother ! George is here ! He 's come 
 
 back!" 
 
 Both mother and daughter appeared to be con- 
 siderably agitated upon receiving this news, and 
 the captain noticing it, the suspicion flashed across 
 his mind that it was one of their rebel friends. 
 He glanced out at the door, and saw his two offi- 
 cers standing quietly together, the sentinels walk- 
 in cr their beats, and felt satisfied that the rebel, 
 whoever he was, might consider himself a prisoner. 
 
 "Who do you mean, my little man?" he asked, 
 putting his hand on the boy's head. "What is his 
 other name?" 
 
 " George Le Dell," replied the boy, promptly. 
 "He's my brother. He's out there," and he 
 pointed toward the place where George and Frank 
 were standing. 
 
 "Is that your brother?" asked the captain in 
 
152 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 surprise, as he turned toward Mrs. Le Dell for an 
 explanation. 
 
 "I have a son in the Federal navy," replied the 
 lady. 
 
 "Then, madam," said the captain, "if that 
 young man out there is your son, allow me to say 
 that you have every reason to be proud of him." 
 
 At this moment the neighbor for whom they had 
 sent arrived, and he and the captain held a long 
 conversation; after which, to his surprise, Frank 
 was ordered to collect the men and march them 
 on board the tug. The Michigan remained at her 
 anchorage until the flag-ship of the expedition 
 came down, when the two captains had a short 
 consultation, and both vessels got under way and 
 steamed down the river. The reason given why 
 the order to burn the house was not executed was 
 this: Unlike the majority of rebel commanders, 
 General Le Dell had always treated Union prison- 
 ers who had fallen into his hands with the greatest 
 humanity. Although he seemed to be particularly 
 spiteful toward George, whom he called a "young 
 traitor," he always endeavored to make the con- 
 dition of other prisoners as tolerable as possible. 
 The truth of this was attested by the soldiers they 
 
UP THE WASHITA. 153 
 
 had picked up at ^lonroe, all of whom were offi- 
 cers, and they had done much toward saving the 
 property. The captain of the Michigan had de- 
 layed to fulfill his orders until the arrival of his 
 superior, in order to communicate some news he 
 had received from the man who had been sent 
 to remove the furniture, and when the flag-ship 
 arrived, the order had been countermanded. 
 
 " Perhaps every thing will come out right after 
 the war," said George, as the two friends stood 
 "watching the plantation as long as it remained in 
 sight. " If it does, we '11 have the old house to 
 live in." 
 
 On the way down the river, large quantities of 
 cotton were captured, which made both officers and 
 men look forward to a good share of prize-money, 
 and one afternoon — about a week after leaving 
 Monroe — they reached Black River in safety. 
 
154 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 CHAPTER X 
 
 HE next day, in obedience to orders 
 M 1 from the admiral, the Michigan 
 '^ steamed up Red River, and came 
 to an anchor in front of fort De Russy. 
 A few rebel soldiers had taken posses- 
 sion of the fortifications, and the vessel 
 had scarcely dropped her anchor when 
 they opened upon her with muskets. All hands 
 were ordered under cover, and for two days were 
 kept closely confined below. The bullets, which 
 constantly whistled over the deck, did no damage 
 beyond cutting down the flag — which, however 
 was promptly hoisted again — and battering up the 
 officers' rooms on the quarter-deck, which were 
 not ii'on-clad. Several attempts were made to 
 dislodge the rebels, but, as usual, without success. 
 On the third day, however, a heavy firing up the 
 
THE PROMOTION. 155 
 
 river, in tlie direction of Alexandria, announced 
 that the expedition ^vas returning, and the rebels, 
 fearing capture, hastily withdrew. Toward eve- 
 ning the fleet came in sight, some of the trans- 
 ports having gun-boats alongside of them for 
 protection. The entire fleet bore marks of the 
 handiwork of the rebels, in the shape of battered 
 casemates, broken chimneys, and shattered upper- 
 "works. Little had been accomplished beyond the 
 capture of cotton, and both officers and men 
 seemed delighted to find themselves once more on 
 the way to the Mississippi River. 
 
 In about an hour after the first boats of the 
 fleet had made their appearance, a tin-clad came 
 down, bearing the admiral's flag, and rounded-to 
 and. landed a short distance below the Michigan. 
 Close behind her came another of the mosquito 
 fleet, towed by a transport. Both vessels were 
 badly cut up, especially the gun-boat, which was 
 almost a wreck. Both chimneys had either been 
 broken off" by branches of trees or shattered by a 
 shell, and her casemates were pierced in a hundred 
 places. Her engines had also been disabled, and 
 her wheel hung motionless in the water. Still she 
 retained enough of her former appearance for 
 
156 FRAXK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Frank to recognize in her his old vessel, the 
 Boxer; besides, he saw his cousin on the guards 
 waving his handkerchief to him. "While Frank 
 stood watching the vessel, wondering how any of 
 her crew could have escaped, and how Archie had 
 conducted himself durinor the fi(2;hts throucrh which 
 he had passed, the captain came up out of his 
 cabin and exclaimed: 
 
 "Mr. Nelson, you're wanted on board the flag- 
 ship ! Do n't wait to get your side-arms, but go 
 at once. The admiral is in a great hurry to see 
 
 you!" 
 
 Frank, wondering what new orders he was about 
 to receive, ran down the ladder that led to the 
 afterguard, reached the shore on a plank that ex- 
 tended from the stern of tlie vessel to the bank, 
 and in a short time was in the presence of the 
 admiral. 
 
 That gentleman was so busy that he did not 
 notice Frank, until one of his clerks exclaimed : 
 
 "Admiral! here's Captain Nelson, sir." 
 
 "Ah, yes," said the admiral, scarcely looking 
 up from his work. " Sit down, captain ; I 'm very 
 busy just at present." 
 
 Captai7i! Frank knew that neither the admiral 
 
THE PROMOTION. 157 
 
 nor his clerks "were in the habit of making mis- 
 takes, but he thought they were certainly mistaken 
 this time. Perhaps they were so busy they had 
 not taken time to see who he was. But he was 
 not kept long in suspense, for the admiral, after 
 signing his name to several documents, turned in 
 his chair, and picking up some letters that lay on 
 his desk, handed them to Frank, saying: 
 
 " Captain, there are your orders. I only wanted 
 to see you to say that I wish them obeyed with 
 the least possible delay. Have the Boxer back 
 here as soon as you can, for I want to use her. 
 Get your baggage on board and start at once." 
 
 Frank, so bewildered that he scarcely knew 
 what the admiral was saying, took the letters and 
 hurried back to the Michigan. The captain met 
 him at the gangway, and extending his hand, said, 
 with a smile: 
 
 "I'm sorry to have you leave us, Mr. Xelson. 
 I suppose you have got it ? " 
 
 "I have something, sir," replied Frank, "but 
 I don't know what it is." 
 
 As he spoke, he tore open one of the envelopes, 
 and hastily running his eye over the letter it con- 
 tained, found, to his astonishment, that he was an 
 
158 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 acting master. The next one he opened was an 
 order for him to report " to the commanding offi- 
 cer of the U. S. S. Boxer for duty and command 
 of that vessel." The other contained instructions 
 for him to "proceed to Cairo without delay, and 
 place his vessel under repairs, and as soon as she 
 was put in condition for service, to return and re- 
 port to the admiral." 
 
 "Just as I expected," said the captain, who 
 seemed to be as highly elated as Frank himself. 
 "Just as I expected, sir. You deserve it, and I 
 congratulate you." 
 
 Frank made some reply, in his excitement he 
 hardly knew what, and hurried off to pack his 
 trunk and bed-clothes. This being accomplished, 
 his baggage was carried to the cutter, which lay 
 alongside, and after taking leave of the captain 
 and his messmates, he stepped into the boat and 
 started for his vessel, which still lay at the bank, 
 below the flagship, with the transport, which was 
 to tow her to Cairo. As he stepped on board the 
 Boxer, he was met by Archie, and several of his 
 old messmates, who greeted him cordially. The 
 executive officer was in command, and to him 
 Frank showed his orders, and requested that his 
 
THE PROMOTION. 159 
 
 baggage might be conveyed into the cabin. He 
 then went on deck, and after ascertaining that the 
 transport was ready to start, ordered the line cast 
 off, and both vessels were soon on their course 
 down the river. 
 
 After finding they were fairly under way, Frank, 
 accompanied by Archie, went into the cabin, and 
 sat down to collect his thoughts, for, in the ex- 
 citement of his unexpected promotion, he moved 
 like one in a dream. The cabin steward had 
 already taken his trunk into his state-room, and 
 was engaged in making his bed. Captain Nelson ! 
 How strangely it sounded ; and Frank repeated it 
 several times, and gazed about the cabin as if he 
 could scarcely believe that he was awake. He 
 read his appointment and orders over and over 
 again, both to fully understand what was required 
 of him, and to convince himself that he was in 
 reality the commander of a vessel. When he was 
 made the executive officer of the very boat he now 
 commanded, he had reached the height of his am- 
 bition, and his present position was a step higher 
 than he had dared to look. 
 
 The captain of a gun-boat generally lives in a 
 little world of his own. He has a cabin all to him- 
 
160 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 self, messes alone, and rarely has intercourse with 
 his officers, except upon business. If he has a 
 messmate, it is either a clerk, or the paymaster or 
 doctor of the vessel. Frank was not entitled to a 
 clerk, but he had a paymaster, and, at his request, 
 Archie at once commenced the removal of his 
 baggage into one of the vacant state-rooms in the 
 cabin. "While thus engaged, the orderly an- 
 nounced the executive officer, who entered to 
 inquire if Frank had any orders to give. The 
 latter replied that he had not, and for nearly an 
 hour he remained in conversation with the execu- 
 tive, during which he learned the exact state of 
 affairs about decks. Every thing appeared to be 
 going on smoothly, and Frank had no desire to 
 show his authority by issuing unnecessary orders. 
 One by one the wardroom and steerage officers 
 came in to congratulate the young commander, 
 and when bed-time came they returned to their 
 quarters, saying among themselves that " Captain 
 Nelson did n't feel any bigger in his new position 
 than he would if he were nothing but a Johnny 
 master's mate." 
 
 One afternoon, after they had reached the Mis- 
 sissippi River, as Frank sat at his desk, writing a 
 
THE PROMOTION. 161 
 
 letter to his mother, and Archie lay on the sofa 
 close bj, engaged in reading, there was a commo- 
 tion on deck, and the orderly burst into the cabin, 
 exclaiming — 
 
 " Rebels, cap'n ! A battery just ahead, sir ! " 
 And he had scarcely spoken, when there was a roar 
 of cannon, and the shells burst over and about the 
 vessels. 
 
 " Call to quarters," said Frank, as he sprang to 
 his feet and ran into his room after his side-arms 
 and the keys to the magazine. 
 
 The orderly disappeared, followed by Archie, 
 who, throwing his book into the furthest corner of 
 the cabin, ran on deck, without even waiting to get 
 his hat. 
 
 After ordering the executive, who met hiin at the 
 door, to have the lamps in the magazine lighted, 
 and to prepare for action, Frank ran into the pilot- 
 house, and looking up the river, discovered a 
 smoke arising from a point half a mile in advance 
 of them. 
 
 "Captain," shouted the commander of the trans- 
 port, who stood in his pilot-house, "what do you 
 want me tu doV" 
 11 
 
162 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 " Take us up the river as fast as you can," 
 shouted Frank, in reply. 
 
 The captain had evidently seen some stirring 
 times while up Ked River. He was not accustomed 
 to the noise and confusion of battle, and his ac- 
 tions indicated that he did not like the idea of 
 attempting to run by the battery. But his orders 
 from the admiral were to take the Boxer to Cairo 
 as soon as possible, and he dared- not disobey 
 them. 
 
 "All ready below, sir," was the word at this 
 moment passed up through the trumpet. 
 
 All the guns on board the Boxer were pointed 
 at the battery, and the crew impatiently waited 
 for the order to fire. Frank stood at his post, 
 watching the battery through a spy-glass, and 
 waiting until they should come to close quarters, 
 so that he could make every shot count. All this 
 -while the shells had been di'opping into the water, 
 and shrieking through the air about the vessels, 
 and one or two had found a lodgement in the 
 wheel-house of the transport. They kept on in 
 silence until they arrived almost opposite the bat- 
 tery, which stood out in plain view, unprotected 
 by levee or other breastwork, and Frank then 
 
THE PROMOTION. 163 
 
 gave the order to open upon them. The crash 
 that followed the order, as every gun that could 
 be brought to bear upon the battery belched forth 
 its contents, was terrific. Shells and canister rat- 
 tled over the bank, cutting down the rebel gun- 
 ners, and disabling one of their cannon. As 
 quickly as possible, the guns were reloaded, and 
 almost before the rebels had recovered from their 
 panic, another broadside was poured into them, 
 and when the smoke cleared away, the battery 
 was standing deserted. Here was an opportunity 
 that, to Frank, had he possessed men enough to 
 back him up, would not have been lost; he would 
 have landed, and captured the battery. But he 
 -was ignorant of the force of the rebels. There 
 might be a regiment of them hidden away in the 
 "woods — enough to have captured the vessels the 
 moment they touched the bank — and to have lost 
 the Boxer scarcely a week after he had been 
 placed in command of her would have been a mis- 
 fortune indeed. He kept on up the river, shelling 
 the woods as long as he could bring a gun to bear 
 upon them. 
 
 In a few days they arrived at Cairo, where 
 Frank reported to the commandant of the station, 
 
164 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 and his vessel was at once placed in the hands 
 of the workmen at the navy-yard. The work was 
 rapidly pushed forward, and at the end of a month 
 she was declared ready for service, and after she 
 had been furnished with a full crew from the re- 
 ceiving ship, and Archie had laid in a stock of 
 paymaster's stores, the Boxer, in obedience to or- 
 ders, started down the river to report to the ad- 
 miral. 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 
 
 165 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 E\^ Mihnl §yuB. 
 
 HEY found the admiral at Natchez, and 
 J when Frank had reported his ar- 
 rival, he was ordered to take his 
 station at Gaines' Landing — a place 
 noted for guerrillas — which they reach- 
 ed in safety. For two or three days, 
 nothing worthy of note transpired, the 
 rebels, if there were any about, being careful not 
 to show themselves. 
 
 One night, while Frank was walking the deck, 
 arm-in-arm with his cousin, the oflficer on watch 
 approached, and said, in a low voice : 
 
 "Look there, sir! What kind of a craft is 
 that?" 
 
 Frank looked in the direction indicated, and an 
 object about the size of a man's head could be 
 dimly seen in the water, silently but rapidly ap- 
 
166 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 preaching the vessel. It came from toward the 
 nearest shore, and the thought that it was a tor- 
 pedo instantly flashed through his mind. Taking 
 the spj-glass from the quarter-master, he leveled it 
 at the object, and could distinctly see that it was 
 a human head, and that it belonged to some one 
 who was an excellent swimmer, for he was mak- 
 ing rapid progress through the water. 
 
 "I don't see any torpedo there," said he, at 
 length, handing the glass to his cousin, "for the 
 fellow, whoever he is, is using both hands." Then 
 raising his voice, he called out, "Who comes 
 there?" 
 
 "A friend," was the scarcely audible reply. 
 
 "Come on board here." 
 
 ^^ That 's just what I want to do," answered the 
 man, who, with a few more strokes, was near 
 enough to be seized by the quarter-master — who 
 had ran below with a lantern — and lifted upon the 
 guards. 
 
 "AYho are you, and what are you doing here at 
 this time of night?" asked Frank, as soon as the 
 man had come on deck. 
 
 "My name is William Striker," was the answer, 
 ^^^pd I am an escaped Union scout." 
 
THE RR^AL SPIES. 1G7 
 
 Frank took the lantern from the quarter-master's 
 Land and held it up, so that he could obtain a good 
 view of the man's face. He was certain he had 
 seen it before, but could not remember where. 
 
 "I have a better memory than you, sir," said 
 the man at length. " I have seen you before. I 
 met you in the trenches at Vicksburg." 
 
 As the man spoke, he produced a bundle of wet 
 papers, from which he selected one that he handed 
 to Frank. It was the appointment of major, and 
 addressed to William Striker, United States Scout. 
 But this was no proof that the man was in reality 
 what he professed to be, for Frank remembered 
 that he had once passed himself off as Lieutenant 
 Somers, of the rebel army, and had shown his ap- 
 pointment and orders to prove it. It was true 
 that he wore the dress of a Union major, but that 
 might have been obtained in the same manner that 
 Frank once got his rebel uniform. There was 
 something suspicious in a man's presenting him- 
 self on board the vessel at that time of night, and 
 in so uncommon a manner. 
 
 "Well," said Frank, "if you were in the trenches 
 at Vicksburg, tell me something that happened 
 there." 
 
168 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 The soldier then told Frank of the experiment 
 of which the latter had made use to see "how far 
 off the rebels were," during which he lost his cap, 
 the rebel who captured it offering to "trade" for 
 it a tattered slouch-hat with a bullet-hole in it, 
 and informed him that he was the scout who had 
 told him the story of his "partner'' Sam, and their 
 raid into the rebel camp, which resulted in the cap- 
 ture of Colonel Peckham. He also related other 
 little incidents which Frank had not forgotten, and 
 which proved that he was in reality the scout 
 whom he had met in the trenches, and not a rebel 
 spy, as he had at first feared. Being fully satis- 
 fied on this point, the major was conducted into 
 the cabin, and while he was exchanging his wet 
 clothes for some that Frank and Archie had pro- 
 vided for him, the former ordered his steward to 
 prepare supper for their guest, for he knew, by 
 experience, that a man who had been a prisoner 
 among the rebels was hungry. The major sat 
 down to the table with a most ravenous appetite, 
 and the good things the steward had prepared 
 rapidly disappeared. When he had finished his 
 meal, in answer to Frank's inquiry how he came 
 to be a prisoner, he gave the following account of 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 169 
 
 his adventures, which he remarked were a "httle 
 ahead of any thing he had ever gone through." 
 
 "In the first phice," said he, "I must tell you 
 what became of my comrade, Sam, as it was in 
 endeavoring to assist him that I was captured. 
 His career as a scout, although an exciting one, 
 full of stirring adventures and hair-breadth es- 
 capes, was brought to a close soon after the cap- 
 ture of Yicksburg. 
 
 "When the army again took up its line of 
 march, we made several excursions into the rebel 
 lines, and one night we stopped at a plantation- 
 house to shelter ourselves from the rain, for it 
 was storming violently, and also to see if we could 
 not pick up some information that might be of use 
 to us. The only inmate of the house was an old 
 woman, who, believing us to be rebels, talked freely 
 with us on all subjects; and during the conversa- 
 tion, which finally turned upon scouting, informed 
 us that there was a scout in the rebel army who 
 was far ahead of any "Yank" that ever lived. He 
 was described as a daring, quick-witted fellow, and 
 many a disaster that had befallen us was owing to 
 him. As I listened to the stories told of him, I 
 came to the conclusion that there was a good deal 
 
170 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 of truth in them, and that some spy must indeed 
 have been in our camp, for the woman was ac- 
 quainted with several moves we had made, and 
 which had been defeated, the particulars of which, 
 I thought, were known only to the general and his 
 staff. This led me to believe that the scout, who- 
 ever he was, staid about head-quarters, else how 
 could he obtain so much information. 
 
 "The woman seemed to be well acquainted with 
 him and his movements, and told us of several of 
 his exploits, which, if true, showed the spy to be 
 a man admirably fitted for his position. I listened 
 attentively to all she said, in hopes I should learn 
 something of his personal appearance, for I had 
 made up my mind that as soon as I could find out 
 his movements, he and I would have a meeting. 
 But all I could learn was that his name was Bob 
 Cole. 
 
 "^Well,' said I, 'do you know that as long as 
 I have been in the army, I have never seen this 
 man?'" 
 
 " ' Have n't yer ! ' exclaimed the woman, in sur- 
 prise. 'Wal, come to think, I don't know as that 
 is so funny, arter all, 'cause he's in the Yankee 
 camp most of the time, an', as they think he is 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 171 
 
 one of them, lie goes an' comes when he pleases. 
 He 's a smart one, I tell yer. Some of the boys 
 told me that he is a goin' to bring in a prisoner 
 this week, in the shape of a Yankee scout an' spy. 
 Bill Striker is his name, I believe. Do yer know 
 him?' 
 
 " I could n't help starting when I found that I 
 was known to this noted rebel; but the woman 
 didn't notice it, and I replied: 
 
 *'^0h, yes! I've heard of him.' 
 
 "''Cordin' to all accounts,' continued the wo- 
 man, ' this Yankee an't much behind Bob, for he 
 has often been in our camp, an' he don't allers 
 go back empty-handed. If he ketches a feller in 
 an out-of-the-way place, he is sartin to gobble him 
 up. But his time is most up now, 'kase Bob never 
 fails in any thing when he onct gets his mind sot 
 on it, an' when I heerd that he was a goin' to 
 ketch this Yank, I believed he would do it. 
 
 " It was very encouraging to sit there and listen 
 to a person talk so confidently of my speedy cap- 
 ture ; but, as it happened, I had been put on my 
 guard, and another thing, I didn't have quite as 
 much faith in Bob Cole as his rebel friends had, 
 and was in no way concerned about his being able 
 
172 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 to fulfill his promise. It set me to thinking, how- 
 ever, and I determined I would not sleep sound 
 until I had found him, and then there would be 
 a prisoner taken, sure; but it wouldn't be Bill 
 Striker. 
 
 "'What kind of a looking man is he?' I asked, 
 at length. 
 
 '"Oh, he's a' 
 
 "Just at this moment we heard several horse- 
 men going by the house, and Sam exclaimed: 
 
 "'There are some of our boys now. Perhaps 
 we are wanted.' 
 
 "I knew well enough what he meant. Although 
 we had frequently met rebels while scouting about 
 through their lines, we were not at all fond of 
 them, and did not want to be in their company if 
 we could help it. 
 
 "Those who had just gone by might at any 
 moment return and enter the house; and besides, 
 it occurred to me that if I was so well known to 
 the rebel spy, I was not safe except in our own 
 camp. I might, at any time, run into a trap he 
 had laid for me. At any rate, we thought it best 
 to get within our lines as soon as possible; so, 
 
THE RtVAL SPIES. 173 
 
 TNithout waiting to hear the woman's description 
 of Bob Cole, we bid her good night. 
 
 ''We reached our camp in safety, reported our 
 return, and the next morning I walked up to head- 
 quarters, where I remained until dark, talking with 
 the general's hostler, and keeping an ear open for 
 news, but was obliged to go away without hearing 
 any. The next day I was kept busy carrying dis- 
 patches, and when I returned at night, I learned 
 that Sam had gone into the rebel camp, as they 
 were making some movement, the particulars of 
 which the general was anxious to learn. I thought 
 nothing of it at the time, but when night came and 
 he did not return, I began to fear that he had been 
 captured or killed. It then occurred to me that 
 if I could get back to the house where lived the 
 woman who had told us of Bob Cole, I might learn 
 something that would be to my advantage; so I 
 put on my rebel uniform, and in a few moments 
 was out of the lines. I reached the house in 
 safety, and was delighted to find there were no 
 rebels about. The woman seemed glad to see me, 
 brought me a cup of water to drink, and after a 
 few minutes' conversation exclaimed : 
 
 " ' Wal, they 've gobbled up one of them fellers ! ' 
 
174 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "'Which one?' I asked. 
 
 "'I don't know his name. Bob done it. He 
 seed him leave the Yankee camp, an' follered him, 
 an' while they were ridin' along together, he tuk 
 out his pistol an' told the Yank to give up his 
 we'pons ; but the feller would n't do it, an' Bob had 
 to shoot him. But he didn't kill him; he only 
 shot him through the shoulder. He 's sartin to be 
 hung.' 
 
 "You can easily imagine my feelings as I sat 
 there and listened to this. It required a strong 
 eflfort to subdue my feelings. 
 
 "'How does Bob Cole disguise himself?' I asked, 
 in as firm a voice as I could command. 'What 
 does he do in the Yankee camp?' 
 
 "'That's what nobody, 'sides Bob an' the gen- 
 eral, knows,' answered the woman. 'Didn't you 
 never see him? He's a little man, has black hair 
 and eyes, wears no whiskers, and allers rides a 
 little gray horse. He 's smart, I tell yer.' 
 
 "After talkincr awhile lono^er with the woman 
 without learning any thing further, I mounted my 
 horse and returned to camp. While I was eating 
 my supper, I called to mind all the scouts with 
 whom I was acquainted, but not one of them an- 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 175 
 
 swcrcd to the description of Bob Cole. There was 
 one man in camp, however, who did answer the 
 description, and that was the general's hostler. 
 Could it be possible that he was the spy? 
 
 "At this moment an orderly entered to tell me 
 that I was wanted at head-quarters. I followed 
 him to the general's tent, received my orders, and 
 began to get ready for the journey. As I came 
 out of the tent I met the hostler, who inquired: 
 "'Are you off again to-night, Bill?' 
 " I replied in the aflfirmative, and he continued : 
 "'Well, good luck to you. Don't let the rebs 
 get hold of you.' 
 
 " I mounted my horse and rode out of the camp, 
 fully satisfied that if he was the spy I would soon 
 know it. 
 
 "The night was very dark, but I had traveled 
 the road often enough to be well acquainted with 
 it, and in an hour after I left our camp, I had 
 passed the rebel sentries, and was fairly within 
 their lines. As I was riding quietly along, keep- 
 ing a good look-out on all sides, and pausing now 
 and then to listen, I suddenly heard the clatter of 
 hol-ses' hoofs behind me, and some one called out, 
 in a low voice : 
 
■4. 
 
 176 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "^Bill! Bill Striker!' 
 
 "I instantly stopped, and a moment afterward 
 up galloped the hostler. 
 
 "'Don't make so much noise, Jim,' said I, 
 hastily. 'But what on earth brings you here? 
 Where are you going?' 
 
 '"I'm after you,' he replied. 'The general 
 told me to overtake you, and say that he had neg- 
 lected to give you some very important orders.' 
 
 " All this while he had been coming nearer and 
 nearer to me, and having now got within reach, he 
 suddenly seized my bridle, and presenting a re- 
 volver, exclaimed: 
 
 " ' Bill Striker, your scouting is up now ! You 're 
 my prisoner!' 
 
 "If he imagined that he had taken me by sur- 
 prise he was very much mistaken. In an instant 
 I had knocked aside the revolver, which exploded, 
 sending the ball harmlessly past my head, and in 
 a moment more I had wrested the weapon from 
 him. Then, almost before he had time to think 
 twice, I lifted him off his horse and laid him 
 across my saddle, in front of me, as if he had been 
 a bag of corn. He was very strong, as wiry as 
 an eel, and struggled most desperately ; but I had 
 
TUE RIVAL SPIES. 177 
 
 him at disadvantage, and wlien I thought of Sam, 
 who was now a prisoner through the treachery of 
 this fellow, I felt as if I had the strength of ten 
 men. By the time I had fairly got hold of him, 
 I was tearing down the road toward our lines, 
 while his own horse had gone on toward the rebel 
 camp. My only danger was in being cut oflf by 
 the pickets. These passed, I would be safe, for I 
 had no fears of being overtaken. There was no 
 time to avoid them in jumping over fences and 
 running through fields, for I knew that the report 
 of the revolver had been heard, and that, unless I 
 could reach our lines in a very few moments, Bob 
 Cole Avould again be a free man and I would be 
 the prisoner. I used my spurs freely, and my 
 horse, which seemed to understand that he was 
 called upon to make use of his best speed, carried 
 us over the ground at a tremendous rate. In a 
 short time I came within sight of a fire burning 
 by the side of the road. I heard a loud command 
 to halt, followed by the noise of a bulkt as it 
 whistled by my head, and the pickets were passed 
 in safety. Half an hour afterward I dismounted 
 in front of the general's tent, and delivered up my 
 prisoner. You can't imagine how surprised our 
 12 
 
178 FRANK OX THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 boys were to learn that we had had a rebel spy in 
 our camp so long without knowing it. Bob Cole 
 had played his cards remarkably well, and if Sam 
 and I had not stopped at that house to get out of 
 the rain, there 's no knowing how much longer he 
 would have been at liberty. But he was safe in 
 the guard-house at last, and I must confess that I 
 breathed more freely. If he was the only rebel 
 who knew me, there was now no danger of run- 
 ning into a trap laid for my capture. My first 
 hard work must be to attempt Sam's retease. I 
 knew it would be worse than useless to return to 
 the rebel camp that night, for it had been aroused, 
 and my own chances of escape would be none of 
 the surest; so I let two days pass before setting 
 out, and then I did not follow my usual course, 
 but took a roundabout way to get behind their 
 camp, where I would not run so much risk of 
 meeting the pickets. 
 
 " I reached the lines in safety, and as I was rid- 
 ing along by the side of the road, keeping my 
 horse on the grass, to make as little noise as pos- 
 sible, I heard horsemen approaching, and presently 
 up galloped a party of rebels. I thought they 
 would pass without discovering me, but was mis- 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 179 
 
 taken, for one of them drew in his horse and ex- 
 claimed — 
 
 " * Wal, ef here an't another,' and I was speed- 
 ily surrounded, and commanded to ' hand over my 
 we'pons.' 
 
 "'Look here, boys,' said I, 'I've got a pass,' 
 and I made a motion to produce it. 
 
 " ' Oh, we do n't want to see your pass,' said the 
 corporal who had charge of the squad; 'we've 
 seed a dozen to-night that was n't no 'count. You 
 must go to the guard-house, 'cause you know it 's 
 the general's orders that nobody goes out o' camp-.' 
 
 " This showed me that I was not suspected of be- 
 ing a Federal, but was arrested as one of their 
 own men who was endeavoring to get out of the 
 lines. 
 
 " ' I know it 's mighty hard,' continued the cor- 
 poral, ' not to let a feller go home, when p'rhaps 
 it an't five miles off; but orders is orders, you 
 know. Howsomever, you wont hev no trouble to 
 get out o' the guard-house, 'cause — by gum! ef 
 here an't some more,' and, as he spoke, he left 
 me, and rode up to three men who were crouching 
 in the fence-corner by the roadside. These were 
 speedily secured, and we went on our way toward 
 
180 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 the guard-house. The rebel army, it appeared, 
 was encamped in a part of the country where a 
 number of regiments had been raised, and the 
 men, anxious to see home and friends once more, 
 were deserting by hundreds — 'taking French,' as 
 we call it. As we rode along, I learned something, 
 from the conversation of my captors, that made me 
 wish I had never taken Bob Cole prisoner, and 
 that was, that Sam had died from the eflfects of 
 the wound he had received while resisting the 
 rebel. This was, perhaps, better than being hung, 
 but how I wished I had known it before taking the 
 spy to camp. I had put myself in danger without 
 being able to be of any assistance to Sam, and I 
 now set my wits to work to conjure up some plan 
 for escape. 
 
 "Finally, after capturing one more rebel who was 
 about to 'take French,' we reached the guard- 
 house, which was a rickety old barn. As we en- 
 tered the door, the rebels, with whom the house 
 was filled, greeted us with loud yells, and slapped 
 us on our backs, as though they looked upon our 
 capture a-s a most excellent joke. The majority of 
 our fellow-prisoners were confined far attempting to 
 leave the camp to visit theii' friends; but putting 
 
THE RIVAL SPIES. 181 
 
 them in the guard-house was only a farce, for I had 
 not been in the room fifteen minutes before I saw- 
 three men make their escape through a window. 
 I determined to try the same thing; so, after 
 waiting a few moments, to see that they were not 
 brought back, I walked up" to the window and 
 looked out. A sentinel was standing at the cor- 
 ner of the building, but as soon as he saw me he 
 shouldered his gun and walked off, whistling. It 
 was plain that he had no objections to my making 
 my escape if I wished to do so, and, as soon as 
 he was out of sight, I crawled out of the window, 
 dropped to the ground, and walked off with an 
 appearance of unconcern I was very far from feel- 
 ing. 
 
 "I had lost my horse, but that did not trouble 
 me, for the camp was not far off, and I had no 
 fears of pursuit. I had scarcely got safely out of 
 their lines, however, before I became aware that I 
 was followed. I turned and saw a party of men, 
 who, keeping their horses on the grass at the side 
 of the road, had succeeded in getting within pistol- 
 shot before I heard them. As I sprang over a 
 fence I heard my name pronounced, f )llowed by 
 the report of several revolvers and carbines, that 
 
182 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 sent the bullets about me altogether too close for 
 comfort. 
 
 "Well, to make a long story short, I laid 
 about in the woods for a month, making a raid 
 now and then on a chicken-roost, to supply my 
 commissary department; but all this while the reb- 
 els followed me like blood-hounds. I had gone 
 miles out of my way — in fact, I did not know 
 where I was, until one day I fell in with a party 
 of guerrillas. I told them I was a reb on French 
 leave, and on my way to visit my friends, who 
 lived on the opposite side of the river. From 
 them I learned that the IVIississippi was sixty 
 miles distant, and was also informed that there 
 was a gun-boat at Gaines's Landings and was ad- 
 vised to keep out of her way. This was the best 
 news I had heard in a long time, and I determined 
 to make the best of my way here. I came oft' to 
 the vessel in the night, because I did not know 
 but there might be rebels on the watch, and as I 
 was entirely unarmed, I did not want to run any 
 risks. Since leaving our camp, I have traveled 
 nearly two hundred miles without a weapon of any 
 kind, not even a pocket-knife ; and if either of you 
 
• THE RIVAL SPIES. 183 
 
 has ever been a prisoner, you can easily imagine 
 that I am overjoyed to find myself safe among 
 friends once more. And now, captain," continued 
 the scout, "I have a proposition to make you. 
 The leader of these guerrillas whom I met back in 
 the country makes his head-quarters in a deserted 
 plantation-house about forty miles from the river. 
 He never has more than two or three men with 
 him, the others being scattered over the country, 
 stealing horses from both rebels and Union peo- 
 ple. Now, I would like to help capture him and 
 break up his band of guerrillas, for he 's a perfect 
 demon, and never takes any prisoners. There is 
 a house about ten miles from here where we can 
 get all the horses we need, and three or four 
 men could do the job nicely. This guerrilla's 
 brother was formerly the captain of the band, 
 but he was killed by a party of rebels, just 
 as he was about to hang a couple of Union 
 prisoners he had taken — gun-boat men, I believe. 
 His name is Thorne, and — what 's the matter, cap- 
 tain ? " 
 
 Frank had started upon hearing the name of 
 the guerrilla chief at whose hands he and the mate 
 
184 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 had so nearly suffered death, and from which they 
 "were rescued by the Wild-cats, and just as he fin- 
 ished relating the story of the " Close Shave," the 
 orderly entered the cabin and announced the dis- 
 patch-boat "General Lyon" approaching 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 
 
 185 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 or 
 
 EANK, of course, could not agree to 
 the scout's proposition -without 
 first obtaining permission of either the 
 admiral or Captain "Wilson — the com- 
 mander of the division to which the 
 Boxer belonged. He did not know 
 where to go to find the former, and be- 
 sides, the latter had given him strict orders not to 
 leave his station until relieved by some other ves- 
 sel, and to allow no one to go ashore. The very 
 nature of these orders put it out of his power to 
 obtain liberty to carry out the proposed expedi- 
 tion. He went to bed pondering upon what the 
 major had told him, and fell asleep without being 
 able to conjure up any plan by which the capture 
 of tlie rebel might be effected. 
 
 The next morning, while at breakfast, the or- 
 
186 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 derly entered the cabin and reported a gun-boat 
 approaching. Frank at once went on deck, and 
 when he had made out her signals, he found, to 
 his dehght, that it was the Manhattan, the flag- 
 ship of the division to which the Boxer belonged. 
 After ordering the officer of the deck to have the 
 gig called away, Frank ran into the cabin, put 
 on his side-arms, and, in company with the major, 
 put off to the iron-clad. 
 
 Captain Wilson received them cordially, listened 
 with a good deal of interest to the scout's plan for 
 the capture of the guerrilla, and finally gave Frank 
 permission to ^'do as he pleased in the matter,'' 
 adding, " You have never yet failed in an under- 
 taking of this kind, and I shall fully expect you 
 to succeed in the present instance. I will be here 
 again in about a week, and you can turn the pris- 
 oner over to me." The confident manner in which 
 the captain spoke of his success, made Frank more 
 determined than ever to capture the guerrilla, if 
 within the bounds of possibihty. After giving a 
 short report of the state of affairs on his station, 
 he returned to the Boxer, highly delighted with 
 the result of the interview. Archie was no less 
 pleased, for, although he had not said a word about 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 187 
 
 accompanying his cousin, he looked upon it as a 
 settled thing that he was to be one of the expe- 
 dition. Frank, who knew the danger of the un- 
 dertaking, and was anxious to keep Archie out of 
 harm's way, would have preferred to leave him 
 behind; but, as the latter had shown, in a remark- 
 able manner, that he was equal to any emergency, 
 the young commander could not deny him on the 
 ground that he had never " smelt powder." 
 
 The major advised Frank to take at least one 
 more man; and this one was soon forthcoming in 
 the shape of Tom, the coxswain of the first cutter, 
 the same who had been left in charge of the boat 
 on the night that Frank and Archie had broken 
 up the head-quarters of the "Louisiana Wild- 
 cats." He was at once summoned into the cabin, 
 and after the object of the proposed expedition 
 had been explained to him, Frank inquired: 
 "Now, Tom, do you want to go with us?" 
 "Douse my to'-gallant top-lights! yes sir," he 
 replied, eagerly. "But, Cap'n Nelson, I wouldn't 
 like to be left behind, sir, when it comes to the 
 dangerous part of the business, like I was on the 
 night when the paymaster burned that house. I 
 want to go with you to the end, sir, an' if I ever 
 
188 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 show the white feather, then may I be keel- 
 hauled!" 
 
 Frank assured him that he would be allowed to 
 accompany them wherever they went, and the cox- 
 swain departed satisfied. 
 
 When night came, the gig was called away, and 
 Frank, accompanied by the major, Archie, and the 
 coxswain, was set on shore. When the boat had 
 returned to the vessel, which was now in command 
 of the executive officer, the major led his compan- 
 ions through the woods toward the place where the 
 horses were to be obtained. They traveled in 
 silence, following the motions of their guide, who 
 walked along as if he well understood what he was 
 about. The expedition certainly promised better 
 than any in which Frank had before engaged. It 
 was led by a man accustomed to scenes of danger, 
 and was altogether composed of those whose cour- 
 age and determination had, more than once, been 
 thoroughly tested. They were all well armed, and, 
 in addition to a brace of revolvers, the coxswain 
 carried a heavy saber; for, as he remarked, he 
 might be called upon to "repel boarders," and he 
 wanted some weapon that he knew how to use. 
 
 After three or four houi's' walk thi'ough the 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 189 
 
 woods they came to a fence, where the major 
 paused. Before them was a wide field, in which 
 stood a plantation-house. Bright lights gleamed 
 in the windows, and the major turned to his com- 
 panions and said : 
 
 " There are more people in the house than there 
 were last night." 
 
 They all listened intently, and could hear an in- 
 distinct murmur of voices, and now and then the 
 tramping of horses in the road that ran in front 
 of the house. 
 
 "There are some rebel soldiers in there," con- 
 tinued the major, and we can now get our horses 
 without any difficulty, already saddled and bridled." 
 
 As he spoke, he led the way along the fence to- 
 ward the road, and they presently came in sight 
 of half a dozen horses which were tied in front of 
 the house. No orders were necessary, for each 
 one knew what was required of him. In a few 
 moments they had quietly secured their horses, 
 and were riding noiselessly down the road. As 
 soon as they were out of sight of the house, they 
 began to make an examination of their prizes, and 
 found that the rebels, who, no doubt, had little 
 dreamed that any one would disturb them there, 
 
190 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 had left their sabers attached to their saddles, and 
 their pistols in then* holsters. Frank and Archie 
 also found themselves possessed, the former of a 
 fine double-barrel shot-gun, loaded with buck-shot, 
 and the latter of a heavy carbine ; and the ammu- 
 nition for each of these weapons had been left on 
 the saddles. The horses were splendid animals, 
 evidently the fruits of a raid upon some well- 
 stocked barn-yard, for they appeared fresh and 
 vigorous, and had undoubtedly been accustomed 
 to the best of care. As soon as they were out of 
 hearing of the people in the house, they put their 
 horses into a gallop, and as the road was excellent, 
 they made rapid headway. For hour after hour 
 they kept on, stopping only now and then to water 
 their horses. Just before daylight the major, 
 who had scarcely spoken during the whole ride, 
 suddenly came to a halt. As his companions 
 gathered about him, he said, almost in a whisper: 
 "Now, boys, we are at our journey's end. 
 There 's the house ! " and as he spoke, he pointed 
 to a large building just ahead of them. "My ad- 
 vice, captain," he continued, turning to Frank, 
 *' would be to ride carefully up in front of the 
 house, hitch our horses — for, of course, we must 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 101 
 
 not lose them — and then burst open the door and 
 gobble up the guerrilla before he has time to get 
 out of bed." 
 
 This plan was adopted. Riding noiselessly up 
 to the gate, they dismounted, and after tying their 
 horses, they drew their sabers (as it was their in- 
 tention to rely entirely upon the sigltt of these 
 weapons to bring the guerrilla to terms). Then 
 they entered the yard, and ascended the steps that 
 led on to a wide portico. Here the major, who 
 was in advance, paused a moment, to see that his 
 companions were close behind him, and then, plac- 
 ing his shoulder against the door, with one strong 
 push, forced it open. They all sprang into the 
 house, Frank and Archie being close beside the 
 major, and found themselves, to their utter aston- 
 ishment, in the presence of a dozen guerrillas, who 
 started from their blankets in alarm. So great 
 was their surprise, that both parties for an instant 
 stood gazing at each other, as if suddenly deprived 
 of the power of action. 
 
 "Sink my tarry wig, Cap'n Nelson, but here's 
 a scrape for honest men to be in ! " exclaimed the 
 coxswain, who had kept as close to his ofEcer as 
 possible. "Here Z6* a scrape!" 
 
192 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Their position was not an enviable one. There 
 they were, forty miles from their vessel, almost in 
 the heart of an enemy's country, and confronted 
 by three times their number of armed rebels, who, 
 no doubt, could be speedily reinforced. It was 
 too late to retreat, even had they felt disposed 
 to do so. But the idea never once entered their 
 heads. So intent were they upon the capture of 
 the guerrilla chief, that they thought of nothing 
 else, and they were perfectly well aware that the 
 only way to get out of the house was to fight their 
 way through their enemies. 
 
 The period of inaction lasted only for an in- 
 stant; then a few of the rebels, springing to 
 their feet, retreated precipitately through the back 
 door; but the others, recovering from their sur- 
 prise, and comprehending the nature of the attack, 
 bravely stood their ground, and one tall fellow 
 sprang forward and struck savagely at the major 
 with his sword. But the scout was on the alert, 
 receiving the blow upon his own saber, and before 
 the rebel had time to renew his attack, a shot 
 from a revolver stretched him lifeless on the floor. 
 
 This opened the fight. The example of the rebel 
 was quickly followed by his comrades, who, de- 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 193 
 
 pending wholly upon their sabers, rushed upon 
 the officers with the utmost fury. But they were 
 bravely met. The latter stubbornly held their 
 ground, and parrying the blows directed at them, 
 used their revolvers with deadly effect. At this 
 moment a door at the further end of the hall sud- 
 denly opened, and a man sprang out, carrying a 
 short, heavy sword. 
 
 "Give it to 'em, lads!" he shouted, hurrying 
 forward to join in the fight. "Give it to 'em. 
 No quarter to the Yankees!" 
 
 This was the guerrilla chief, and the order he 
 had just given told Frank and his companions, in 
 plain language, that if overpowered, no mercy 
 would be shown them. 
 
 The rebels, encouraged by the voice of their 
 
 leader, redoubled the fury of their attacks, and 
 
 the officers were driven to the wall. The coxswain, 
 
 on entering, had closed the door to prevent the 
 
 escape of the guerrilla, and thus their retreat was 
 
 cut off; but they had the advantage of position, 
 
 for the rebels, unable to get behind them, must 
 
 make their attacks in front. Already had their 
 
 ranks been thinned by the fire of the revolvers, 
 
 but those who had at first retreated now began 
 13 
 
194 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 to return and take the places of those who had 
 been shot down. At last Frank's revolver was 
 empty. He had another in his pocket, but could 
 not get an opportunity to draw it. He must now 
 depend upon his saber. Grasping it with both 
 hands, he bravely met the attack of the leader 
 of the guerrillas, who had succeeded in working 
 his way in front of him. The latter's heavy 
 sword descended with terrible force. Frank's 
 guard was broken down, and he was sent reeling 
 to the floor. The rebel again raised his sword, 
 and, as Frank was entirely unarmed, he gave 
 himself up for lost. One thought of home, of 
 his mother and sister, flashed through his mind, 
 and then he saw the bright blade swiftly descend- 
 ing. It was met, however, by the coxswain, who 
 seeing the danger of his officer, interposed his own 
 sword, and turned the rebel's weapon aside. Frank 
 was on his feet again in an instant, and seeing a 
 musket, with a bayonet attached, standing in the 
 corner, he seized it with a shout of joy. If there 
 was any thing he thoroughly understood, it was 
 the bayonet-exercise. He remembered that the 
 knowledge of it had once saved his life, and he 
 
A SCOUTING PARTY. 195 
 
 had never let an opportunity to perfect himself in 
 it pass unimproved. He now felt safe ; and see- 
 ing the coxswain gradually retreating before the 
 furious attacks of the guerrilla chief, he sprang 
 forward, and with one blow sent the sword flying 
 from his hand and bore him to the floor. This 
 move was seconded by Archie, who sprang to his 
 cousin's side with a revolver in each hand, firing 
 right and left among the rebels, who, dismayed at 
 the fall of their leader, began to retreat. But so 
 closely were they followed, that escape was im- 
 possible. The chief, after trying in vain to regain 
 his feet, and seeing the bayonet pointed straight 
 at his breast, shouted most lustily for quarter. 
 
 *' Surrender!" shouted the major. "Throw 
 down your arms ! " 
 
 The rebels having lost more than half of their 
 number, and knowing the deadly effects of the re- 
 volvers which were aimed at their heads, gladly 
 complied, and the fight was at an end. 
 
 Although Frank and his companions had heard 
 the order, "No quarter to the Yankees!" the 
 thought of taking vengeance upon those who, had 
 they been the victors, would have shown no mercy, 
 
196 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 never once entered their heads — they were more 
 humane. 
 
 With the surrender of the rebels the object of 
 the expedition had been accomplished — the guer*- 
 rilla chief was their prisoner ! 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 
 
 197 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 OW that the excitement was over, 
 and Frank began to think more 
 cahnly, he found that he was wounded* 
 The blow which had broken down his 
 guard had spent its force on his head, 
 which was bleeding profusely from a 
 lonor, raor^ed cut. His face and cloth- 
 infT were covered with blood, but the wound had 
 caused him no inconvenience. After Archie had 
 bandaged it with his handkerchief, Frank began to 
 look about him. The force of the rebels had orig- 
 inally consisted of fifteen men, of whom eight 
 were lying, either dead or wounded, upon the 
 floor. He could scarcely believe his eyes, and 
 wondered how he and his companions had ever 
 secured a victory against such heavy odds. Had 
 the rebels, instead of relying upon their sabers 
 
198 ^RANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 and the superiority of their numbers, made use of 
 the firearms that during the fight had become 
 scattered about the hall, the result would have 
 been far difi'erent. The fight, although a most 
 severe one while it lasted, was not of more than 
 five minutes' duration, and during that time eight 
 rebels had been disabled, and six captured bj 
 four determined men ; one only had escaped. As 
 Archie afterward said, in a letter to his father, 
 *'It was the biggest little fight" he was ever en- 
 gaged in. 
 
 "Now, boys," said the major, as soon as he had 
 satisfied himself that the remaining rebels were 
 disarmed, " we 've no time to lose. Paymaster, 
 you and the coxswain station yourselves in those 
 doors, and keep a good look-out, to prevent sur- 
 prise. Captain, we will secure these prisoners." 
 
 One of the blankets that lay on the floor was 
 speedily cut into strips, and with these the rebels, 
 one after the other, were bound hand and foot. 
 While this was going on, the leader of the guer- 
 rillas stood leaning against the wall, no doubt look- 
 ing into the future, and pondering upon the pun- 
 ishment which, according to his own barbarous 
 mode of warfare, he was certain would be meted 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 199 
 
 out to him. He well knew what course he would 
 have pursued, had he been the victor instead of 
 the prisoner, and, judging his captors by himself, 
 he fully expected a speedy and terrible vengeance 
 to be taken upon him. As these thoughts passed 
 through his mind, he determined to make one bold 
 effort at escape. Hastily glancing toward the 
 door, where Archie stood looking up and down 
 the road, he suddenly sprang forward, and giving 
 him a violent push, that sent him headlong upon 
 the portico, he jumped down the steps, and started 
 for the gate at the top of his speed; but before 
 he had gone half the distance, he was overtaken 
 by the coxswain and thrown to the ground. The 
 sailor, instead of standing in the door, in his 
 eagerness, as he expressed it, to "ketch the first 
 glimpse of any guerrilla craft that might be sailin' 
 about," had come round to the front of the house 
 just as the rebel had made his attempt to escape. 
 Archie sprang to his feet and ran to the assist- 
 ance of the coxswain, and by the time Frank and 
 the major arrived, the rebel, who struggled most 
 desperately, had been overpowered, and his hands 
 bound behind his back. In a few moments more 
 the prisoners were all secured, and, after a horse 
 
200 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 had been caught and saddled, the guerrilla was 
 placed upon it, his hands still bound, and the cox- 
 swain was ordered to take charge of him. The 
 dead and wounded, together with the other pris- 
 oners, were left in the house, the doors of which 
 were closed and fastened. They would, no doubt, 
 soon be relieved by their friends, for the rebel 
 who had escaped would, of course, procure assist- 
 ance as soon as possible. 
 
 As soon as the major had satisfied himself that 
 every thing was ready for the start, he mounted 
 his horse and led the way down the road. It was 
 now broad daylight, and their first thought was to 
 place a safe distance between themselves and the 
 scene of the fight, and then halt in the woods 
 until night, when they would return to the vessel. 
 But if this plan was adopted, it would give the 
 guerrillas, who, of course, would hasten to the 
 rescue of their leader, time to get between them 
 and the river, in which case their capture was cer- 
 tain. Frank, who believed that every instant of 
 time was valuable, and who delighted in dashing 
 exploits, was in favor of returning at once to the 
 vessel. Their horses were comparatively fresh, 
 and, if they rode rapidly, they could make good 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 201 
 
 their retreat before a sufficient force could be col- 
 lected to pursue them. The major and Frank 
 talked over these different plans as they rode 
 along side by side, and the latter course was 
 finally adopted. It was at once communicated to 
 the others, and they pushed forward with all pos- 
 sible speed. Frank and the major rode in front, 
 followed by the coxswain, who held fast to the 
 horse which their prisoner rode, and Archie 
 brought up the rear. In this manner they dashed 
 along, passing several plantation-houses, whose in- 
 mates ran to the doors and gazed at them in as- 
 tonishment. Half a dozen miles were passed over 
 in this way without stopping, except to water 
 their horses, and without seeing a single armed 
 rebel, and Frank began to hope that the danger- 
 ous part of the undertaking was passed. If at- 
 tacked by a superior force, the chances were that 
 they would not only lose their prisoner, whose 
 capture had been effected in so gallant a manner, 
 but also their own liberty, and the thought of the 
 treatment they would receive^ judging by the or- 
 der the guerrilla chief had given his men at the 
 commencement of the fight, was enough to nerve 
 them to make the greatest exertions to effect their 
 
202 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 escape. They had reloaded their pistols, the ef- 
 fective use of which had gained them a victory 
 over almost four times their number, and Frank 
 and Archie carried the shot-gun and carbine which 
 they had found attached to the saddles of their 
 horses, ready for instant use. 
 
 The rapid pace at which they were traveling 
 had, at the end of an hour, put half a dozen miles 
 more between them and the house where the fight 
 had taken place, and they began to hope that, if 
 they were followed at all, they were leaving the 
 enemy behind. At length they came to a place 
 where the road ran through a deep ravine, the 
 sides of which were thickly covered with trees 
 and bushes. They dashed along, their horses 
 hoofs ringing loud and clear on the hard road, 
 but as they came suddenly around a bend, almost 
 before they were aware of it, they had run into 
 the very midst of a small band of rebels, who 
 were traveling as rapidly as themselves. They 
 were not entirely unprepared for this encounter. 
 Although they had hoped that they might be able 
 to avoid it, they had held themselves in readiness 
 for it, while the rebels, being taken by surprise, 
 scattered in every direction, as if fully expecting 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 203 
 
 to see a ^shole army of Federals close at their 
 heels. As they dashed by, Frank fired both bar- 
 rels of his gun, which emptied more than one sad- 
 dle, and the others had just time to follow with 
 a volley from their revolvers, when another bend 
 in the road hid them from sight. It was quickly 
 done. Before the rebels had time to think twice, 
 the danger was over. The enemy had met tbem, 
 sent three of their number to the ground, and dis- 
 appeared as rapidly as they had come. But the 
 rebels did not remain long inactive. They quickly 
 satisfied themselves that those who had just passed 
 were not the advance-guard of an army, as they 
 had at first supposed, and presently the officers 
 heard the clatter of hoofs behind them, accompa- 
 nied with loud yells, and knew that the guerrillas 
 had commenced the pursuit. Although, as we 
 have said, the rebels had but a small force, they 
 still greatly outnumbered Frank's party, and noth- 
 ing but the most rapid flight could save them. 
 Frank's only fear was that their pursuers would 
 come in sight of them, and begin to pick them 
 off at long raAge with their carbines, a proceeding 
 which nothing but the numerous windings in the 
 road prevented. 
 
204 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 "If we do not get into a scrimmage^ boys," said 
 the major, speaking as calmly as though he was at 
 that very moment safe in the cabin of the Boxer, 
 " we must stick together, if possible ; but if they 
 come on us in a heavy force, we must separate 
 and every man take care of himself." 
 
 "Oh, you needn't look so mighty pleased, 
 Johnny ! " exclaimed the coxswain, addressing 
 himself to his prisoner, who now looking upon his 
 rescue as beyond a doubt, could not repress a 
 smile of triumph. " Shiver my tim'ers ! you're not 
 loose yet. You're just as safe here as though you 
 were in the brig* and in double irons. Look as 
 mad as you please, Johnny," he continued, as the 
 guerrilla scowled savagely upon him, " a man who 
 has smelt powder in a'most every battle fought on 
 the Mississippi River an't often skeered by looks." 
 
 The major had, several times during the retreat, 
 cautioned the coxswain to keep a fast hold of his 
 prisoner, and not to allow him to escape under 
 any circumstances. But Frank, who knew his 
 man, had never thought the caution necessary. 
 
 * The brig is a small dark apartment in the hold of a 
 vessel, in which culprits are confined. 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 205 
 
 He had often seen the sailor in action on board 
 ship, and the galhint manner in which he had 
 saved his officer's life during the fight at the house, 
 Lad fully satisfied the young commander that the 
 coxswain was not the man to shrink from his duty 
 because it was dangerous. His reply to the major 
 had been: 
 
 "If this Johnny rebel an't safe in the brig to- 
 night, sir, then Captain Xelson will have to make 
 a new cox'son for the first cutter, an' another cap'n 
 for that number two gun. I'll either take him 
 safe through, or I'll never hear the bo'son pipe to 
 dinner ag'in." 
 
 All this while they had been tearing along the 
 road as fast as their horses could carry them, but 
 rapidly as they went, the sounds of pursuit grew 
 louder, and the yells fiercer and more distinct, 
 showing that the guerrillas were gaining on them. 
 Suddenly they emerged from the woods, and found 
 before them a long, straight road, with broad fields 
 on each side. Before they could pass this, the 
 rebels would certainly come in sight, and, if they 
 did not overtake them, they would at least open 
 fire on them with their carbines. 
 
 Frank gradually drew in his horse and fell back 
 
206 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 beside his cousin. Archie was deadly pale, but he 
 sat firmly on his horse and handled his carbine 
 with a steady hand. 
 
 "Archie," said he, "you and I must cover the 
 retreat of the others. Don't waste your ammu- 
 nition now." 
 
 They had accomplished perhaps a quarter of 
 the distance across the road when the foremost of 
 their pursuers came in sight. In an instant Ar- 
 chie turned in his saddle, and leaving his horse to 
 pick out his own road, he raised his gun to his 
 shoulder and fired. A moment afterward a rider- 
 less horse was rearing and plunging about among 
 the rebels, throwing them into confusion. This 
 was the time for Frank, and he discharged both 
 barrels of his gun in quick succession. The buck- 
 shot must have done terrible execution, for when 
 the smoke cleared away, they saw the rebels re- 
 treating to the cover of the bushes. One, more 
 daring than the rest, lingered a moment, to fire his 
 carbine, and the fugitives heard the bullet sing 
 through the air above their heads. 
 
 Although they were not more than five minutes 
 crossmg the road and entering the woods on the 
 opposite side, it seemed an age to them, and they 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 
 
 207 
 
 had scarcely reached the cover of the trees, when 
 the rebels again coming in sight, fired a scattering 
 volley after them, "which rattled through the trees 
 and sent a shower of leaves and twigs about them. 
 The guerrillas then continued the pursuit as 
 fiercely as ever, every time they came in sight 
 firing their carbines, which Archie answered with 
 effec°; but they wisely kept out of range of the 
 buck-shot in Frank's double-barrel. 
 
 Hour after hour the chase continued, the guer- 
 rillas every time they appeared having their ranks 
 thinned by Archie's unerring ritie, until finally 
 the fugitives heard a sound that told them in plain 
 language that their danger was yet by no means 
 passed. A whole chorus of hoarse yells arose 
 from the depths of the woods, showing that their 
 pursuers had received heavy reinforcements, and 
 were urging forward their horses to overtake them. 
 But the river was not more than two miles distant, 
 and as the rebels were fully a quarter of a mile be- 
 hind, they were confident they would yet escape, if 
 their horses could hold out fifteen minutes longer. 
 For some time, past this had been their only fear. 
 The rapid pace was telling on the animals severely, 
 and Frank's horse especially tegan to show signs 
 
208 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 of distress, the young commander having several 
 times been obliged to use the point of his saber 
 to compel him to keep pace with the others. The 
 rebels gained rapidly, and presently, just as the 
 fugitives emerged from the woods, in full view of 
 the river, they could hear the tramping of their 
 horses behind them. Before them was a clear 
 space of fully a mile in extent, that must be 
 crossed before they reached the river, and their 
 pursuers might overtake and capture them within 
 sight of their vessel. Presently several men were 
 seen running about on the deck of the Boxer, and 
 then a puff of smoke arose from one of the ports, 
 and a shell went shrieking over their heads and 
 burst in the woods. 
 
 The crew of the vessel, in obedience to Frank's 
 orders, had kept a good look-out for them, and 
 hearing the yells of the pursuing rebels, had at 
 once opened fire. When the smoke cleared away, 
 Frank saw the crew of the gig hurrying to their 
 places. The boat was lowered into the water, 
 and pulled rapidly toward the shore. If they 
 could but reach the bank of the river they would 
 be safe. At this moment the rebels appeared in 
 sight, and a volley^ from their carbines sent the 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 209 
 
 bullets about the fugitives like hail-stones. Frank 
 turned in his saddle and fired one barrel of his 
 gun among them, and was about to give them the 
 contents of the other, when his horse stumbled and 
 fell, throwing him at full length on the ground. 
 Frank had been expecting this, and for the last 
 half hour had ridden with his feet out of the stir- 
 rups, so that in case the accident did happen, he 
 would not be entangled in the saddle. As it was, 
 he was thrown some distance in advance of the 
 horse, which, too exhausted to rise, lay panting 
 on the ground. Frank, however, instantly re- 
 covered his feet, and was about to start after his 
 companions, when he saw the coxswain, w^ith a knife 
 in his hand, working desperately to free himself 
 from the saddle of his own fallen horse. Frank 
 at once sprang to his assistance, and catching the 
 knife from his hand, severed the strap that con- 
 fined him, and set him at liberty. The coxswain, 
 as soon as he had regained his feet, ran up to the 
 horse which the prisoner rode, and which had stop- 
 ped the moment the sailor fell, and pulling the 
 guerrilla from the saddle, lifted him in his arms 
 as though he had been an infant, and ran toward 
 the boat. The rebels by this time were within 
 14 
 
210 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 easy rifle-range, and in spite of the shells that 
 burst about them, seemed determined to effect the 
 release of their leader, until one more accurately 
 aimed than the others, exploded in their very 
 midst, cutting down horses and riders with terrible 
 slaughter; another and another followed, and when 
 Frank and his companions stepped into the gig, 
 the rebels were in full retreat. When they ar- 
 rived on board the vessel, the coxswain delivered 
 his prisoner to the master-at-arms, who ironed him, 
 and lodged him safely in the brig. 
 
 Their long ride had taxed their endurance to 
 the utmost; but, by the next day, they had fully 
 recovered from their fatigue, and shortly after din- 
 ner Frank ordered the officer of the deck to have 
 -all hands mustered. The crew speedily assembled 
 on the quarter-deck, and among them stood the 
 coxswain, who, at a motion from Frank, stepped 
 out from among his companions, holding his cap 
 in his hand, and looking altogether like a man who 
 expected "a good blowing up" for some grievous 
 offense. But he soon found that he was not to be 
 reprimanded, for, to his utter astonishment, Frank 
 proceeded to give the officers and crew a full ac- 
 count of the fight at the house, speaking in the 
 
TOM THE COXSWAIN. 211 
 
 highest terms of the old sailor's bravery. He then 
 addressed the coxswain, saying: 
 
 "Now, Tom, what can I do for you? What do 
 you want? Would you like a leave of absence, to 
 go home and visit your friends?" 
 
 "Avast heavin' there, Cap'n Nelson, if you 
 please! " answered the coxswain, hastily. " I was 
 brought up on board a man-o'-war, sir," he con- 
 tinued, whirling his cap in his hand, "an' have 
 follered the sea for goin' nigh on to thirty-five 
 year, but this is the first time I ever had my cap'n 
 say, * Thank ye, Tom,' to mc for doin' my duty. 
 I an't the only chap, sir, that wouldn't see harm 
 come to you. There's many a man in this crew 
 that would have done the same thing, at the risk 
 of his own life. As for home an' friends, sir, I 
 have none. But, cap'n, there's one favor I have 
 thought of askin' you for. There's no gunner's- 
 mate on board this vessel, an' I think I can take 
 charge of the magazine — don't you, sir?" 
 
 This was a small reward for a man to ask of 
 the captain, who would gladly have granted him 
 any favor in his power; but promotion on board 
 ship, among the men, is given only to the most 
 deserving, and the old sailor made this request 
 
212 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 with a timidity he had never shown before an en- 
 emy; and even after he had made it, he regarded 
 his officer as though he fully expected a refusal. 
 But Frank, who could scarcely refrain from smil- 
 ing at the man's earnest manner, turned to Archie 
 and said: 
 
 " Paymaster, please rate Thomas WilHs on your 
 books as gunner's-mate from the time the other 
 mate was discharged." 
 
 This was something more than the coxswain had 
 expected. The former gunner's-mate had been 
 discharged from the service nearly two months 
 before, and this gave the old sailor a considerable 
 amount of back pay. Frank had delayed the ap- 
 pointment of a gunner's-mate, not because he did 
 not need one, but because there were many good 
 men among his crew, and he wished to give the 
 appointment to the most deserving, and thus make 
 promotion something worth working for. Frank 
 then dismissed the men, who returned to the lower 
 deck, fully satisfied in their own minds that " Cap'n 
 Nelson was the best man any crew ever sailed 
 under." 
 
A REBEL THICK. 213 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 HE next day Frank and the major 
 I made out their reports of the ex- 
 f^^^ pedition. The former's, as usual, 
 was short and to the point, conveying, 
 in a few lines, the information that their 
 object had been accomplished. He de- 
 scribed the fight in the house as a " short 
 skirmish," and made it appear that their success 
 was owing to the gallant behavior of the major, 
 Archie, and the coxswain. In fact, one, to have 
 read the report, would have supposed that Frank 
 had been merely a looker-on, instead of one of 
 the principal actors. But the major went more 
 into details, and the part Frank had taken in the 
 fight was described in glowing language, and his 
 bravery highly complimented. While thus en- 
 gaged, the orderly entered the cabin and re- 
 
 
214 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 ported a small party of rebels approaching T\'ith 
 a flag of truce. Frank went on deck, and saw 
 several men galloping toward the vessel, waving a 
 white flag, to attract their attention. When they 
 reached the top of the bank, they dismounted 
 from their horses, and appeared to be waiting for 
 some one to come ashore. 
 
 For some moments, Frank was undecided how 
 to act. He remembered that he had once been 
 sent on shore with a flag of truce which had not 
 been respected, he having been detained a pris- 
 oner, and he did not like the idea of receiving a 
 white flag from men whom he knew would not re- 
 spect it themselves; besides, he had received no 
 orders in regard to communicating with the rebels, 
 and he did not know whether he had a right to do 
 so or not. 
 
 "Well, major, what do you think of this, sir?" 
 he asked, turning toward the scout, who stood 
 close at his side. 
 
 "It's a trick of some kind, captain," replied 
 the latter. "Depend upon it, it's a trick." 
 
 "If that is so," said Frank, "I will try and 
 find out what it is." Then, raising his voice, he 
 called out, "What do you want out there?" 
 
A REBEL TRICK. 215 
 
 " I want to come on board," shouted one of the 
 rebels, in reply. *'I want to see the captain." 
 
 *'Well, speak out; you can't come on board. 
 What do you want?" 
 
 The rebels consulted together for a few mo- 
 ments, and then one of them replied: 
 
 " We have a Yankee prisoner, and want to ex- 
 change him for Captain Thorne. If you will let 
 one of us come on board, perhaps we can make 
 some arrangements with you." 
 
 " You can't come on board," shouted Frank ; 
 " that 's settled. But where 's your prisoner ? " 
 
 *' Out in the woods, under guard." 
 
 "They've got no prisoner, captain," said the 
 major. "All they w^ant is to see the inside of 
 your vessel, and find out how^ many men and guns 
 you have." 
 
 "Well, they'll have to go away without accom- 
 plishing their object," said Frank. "I can't make 
 any arrangements for an exchange," he shouted, 
 "until I see your prisoner." 
 
 The rebels lingered a moment, as if in consulta- 
 tion, and then mounted their horses and rode 
 away. Every one who had heard the conversation 
 laughed at the idea of attempting to deceive Cap- 
 
216 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 tain Nelson with so shallow a trick, and the cir- 
 cumstance was soon forgotten by all except Frank, 
 who knew that the guerrillas would not abandon 
 their project simply because their first attempt 
 had failed. Although he made no remark, he re- 
 solved to be doubly vigilant, and to be ready for 
 any emergency. 
 
 Two days afterward the dispatch-boat came 
 alongside, on her way up the river, and the major 
 took passage on her for Cairo. 
 
 "I'm sorry to be obliged to leave you, captain," 
 said he, as he stood ready to start, '^for, if I am 
 not very much mistaken, you '11 have lively times 
 here before long. The rebels are up to something, 
 depend upon it. Do n't let them catch you off 
 your guard. Good luck to you ! " 
 
 It was lonesome in the cabin after the major 
 left, for he was a good companion, and both Frank 
 and Archie had become very much attached to 
 him. 
 
 The dispatch-boat had scarcely left the Boxer, 
 when the officer of the deck reported a canoe ap- 
 proaching. It came from up the river, and, by the 
 aid of the sp3^-glass, they discovered that it con- 
 tained two men, and was loaded with vegetables. 
 
A REBEL TRICK. 217 
 
 It was customary for gun-boats to purchase such 
 provisions as they needed from the people who 
 lived along the banks, and in some places market- 
 boats were received regularly every day. The 
 men were paid, either in money, or, as they gener- 
 ally preferred, in coffee, flour, or sugar, from the 
 paymaster's store-rooms ; but this was the first time 
 the Boxer had ever been visited, and this circum- 
 stance, taken in connection with the flag of truce, 
 made Frank suspicious. 
 
 "Shall we allow them to come alongside, sir?" 
 asked the oflBcer of the deck. 
 
 "Yes," replied Frank, who had already de- 
 termined upon his plans, " allow them to come on 
 board, if they wish to do so;" and here he gave 
 the oflBcer a few rapid orders, which the latter hur- 
 ried below to execute. The Boxer had a full crew 
 of sixty-five men, who were in an admirable state 
 of discipline; but Frank had sent the oflBcer below 
 to order the most of the men into the hold, out 
 of sight, and to remove the small arms about the 
 deck. The major's warning was still ringing in his 
 ears, and the young commander could not rid him- 
 self of the impression that the market men who 
 were now approaching were in some way con- 
 
218 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 nected with guerrillas. If it was a trick, he re- 
 solved to help it along. As the boat approached, 
 it was hailed by the sentinel on the fore-castle, who 
 asked the men their business, and was informed 
 that they had "garden truck" which they wanted 
 to "swap for sugar, flour, an' sich like." 
 
 The men were then permitted to come along- 
 side, and one of them was at once conducted into 
 the cabin, where a bargain was soon concluded, 
 Frank agreeing to take the whole boatload of veg- 
 etables, and to give the man two pounds of flour, 
 three pounds of sugar, and six pounds of cofi'ee. 
 The young commander was now fully satisfied that 
 the only object of the men in visiting the vessel 
 was not to dispose of their vegetables, for the 
 man rather overdid his part. He gazed with open 
 mouth at every thing he saw, in regular country 
 style, but it was not natural, most of his wonder, 
 as Archie expressed it, being "put on." The lat- 
 ter went below to order his steward to procure 
 the provisions, and the man inquired — 
 
 "Will yer let a feller look about a leetle? 
 This is the fust time I was ever on a gun-boat." 
 
 "Certainly," replied Archie, who had received 
 his instructions from Frank ; " look about all you 
 
A REBEL TRICK. 219 
 
 please;" and while the steward was weighing the 
 coffee and sugar, he accompanied the man about 
 the vessel. There were not more than a dozen 
 sailors on deck, and most of these appeared to be 
 asleep. 
 
 "Be these all the fellers you-uns hev got?" 
 asked the man. 
 
 "What's the use of having any more?" replied 
 Archie. "There's no danger here." 
 
 "That's so," was the answer; "I haint seed a 
 rebel round for more 'n six months, door-orone if I 
 hev." 
 
 The man walked slowly about the deck, care- 
 fully examining every thing he saw, and acting 
 altogether like a backwoodsman who had never 
 seen a gun-boat before. Finally, he said 
 
 "I've heered as how all these 'ere boats ^hev 
 got hot water; has yourn?" 
 
 " Oh, yes, we 've got plenty of hot water, but 
 it takes an hour to screw the hose on, so that we 
 can use it." 
 
 By this time the provisions were ready, and the 
 market men took their departure, expressing them- 
 selves fully satisfied that it would n't be a " healthy 
 job" for any rebels to attempt the capture of the 
 
220 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 Boxer, and promising to be on hand the next day 
 but one with more "garden truck." 
 
 As soon as their boat was out of sight, the 
 hatches were raised, the crew poured up out of 
 the hold, and in a short time the Boxer's deck 
 presented its usual appearance of neatness and 
 order. Frank's object had been accomplished, for 
 the market men had gone away satisfied that 
 twenty determined men could easily effect the cap- 
 ture of the gun-boat, and they seemed determined 
 to make the most of what they had. seen. Gaines's 
 Landing had been a regular mail station, and the 
 rebels had only been deterred from sending it 
 across the river by the presence of the Boxer. 
 The market men, however, had discovered, as they 
 supposed, that the vessel was but poorly manned, 
 and this being communicated to their leader, (for, 
 as Frank had suspected, they belonged to a regu- 
 larly-organized band of guerrillas,) the latter de- 
 termined to dispatch his mail at once. 
 
 That night, about ten o'clock, as Frank and 
 Archie sat in the cabin reading, the orderly re- 
 ported that lights were seen moving about on shore. 
 This was something unusual, and when Frank had 
 watched the light for a moment, he came to the 
 
A REBEL THICK. 221 
 
 conclusion that the rebels were making some move- 
 ments, the nature of -which he was, of course, un- 
 able to determine ; but he resolved, if possible, to 
 find out what was going on, and turning to the 
 officer of the deck, ordered the cutter to be called 
 away and furnished with an armed crew. This 
 order was speedily and quietly executed, and when 
 the boat was ready, Frank and his cousin stepped 
 into it, and were pulled noiselessly up the river. 
 The place where the light shone was about half 
 a mile from the vessel, and when they came op- 
 posite to it, the crew rested on their oars, giv- 
 ing only an occasional stroke to keep the cutter 
 from floating down the stream, and waited impa- 
 tiently for the rebels to show themselves. 
 
 The light, which gleamed from the shore oppo- 
 site to the town, seemed to come from a dark lan- 
 tern, for it w^ould blaze up brightly for a moment, 
 and then disappear. Presently an answering light 
 was shown from the shore nearest to them, when 
 Archie whispered — 
 
 " There 's a boat coming ! " 
 
 Frank listened, and could hear the slow, meas- 
 ured strokes of oars, which grew louder and 
 louder as the boat approached. It seemed to be 
 
222 FR.\NK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 heading directly toward them, and in a few mo- 
 ments more it could be dimly seen, moving through 
 the darkness. 
 
 "Give way together!" commanded Frank, and 
 the cutter, propelled by twelve oars, shot along- 
 side the approaching boat, and the sailors seized 
 the gunwale and held her fast. Resistance was 
 useless. Three rebels quietly delivered up their 
 ■weapons, and one large, well-filled mail-bag was 
 stowed away under the stern sheets of the cutter. 
 The prisoners were taken on board the Boxer, 
 and delivered into the charge of the master-at- 
 arms, while their boat, a leaky affair, requiring 
 constant bailing to keep it afloat, was unceremo- 
 niously allowed to sink. The light on the oppo- 
 site shore was still shown, now at shorter intervals, 
 as if the persons who were managing it had be- 
 gun to grow impatient. This was the source of 
 much merriment among the sailors, who hoped the 
 "rebels would not grow tired of waiting for their 
 mail." 
 
 The next day the Manhattan again came up the 
 river, and, as she approached, made signals for 
 Frank to go on board of her. The gig was called 
 away, and taking the reports of the expedition, 
 
A REBEL TRICK. 223 
 
 the young officer and his prisoners shortly stood in 
 the presence of Captain Wilson, "who, as soon as 
 be had secured the prisoners, conducted Frank 
 into the cabin. . The latter, after presenting his 
 reports, proceeded to give the captain a history of 
 the expedition which had resulted in the capture 
 of the guerrilla chief, of the interview with the 
 flag of truce, and of the manner in which he had 
 deceived the market men and captured the mail, 
 upon hearing which the captain sprang from his 
 chair, and giving Frank a hearty slap on the back, 
 exclaimed : 
 
 " Well done, sir ! well done ! Then you are not 
 entirely unprepared to hear what I have to tell 
 you. I picked up a runaway darkey yesterday, 
 who informs me that the rebels are making prep- 
 arations to capture the Boxer!" 
 
 "I knew something was going on, sir," replied 
 Frank, "and if that is what they are up to, they 
 will not find me unprepared." 
 
 "Well, that is what they intend to do. They 
 have been building two large boats, into which 
 they are going to put a sufficient force to over- 
 power you. The attempt is to be made on 
 Wednesday night. Of course, they hope to be able 
 
224 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 to take you by surprise. This contraband I picked 
 up says he worked on the boats, and that they will 
 hold about forty men each. I shall not be far oflf 
 when the fight takes place, although I do not sup- 
 pose you will need any assistance." 
 
 The two officers then began an examination of 
 the mail, in hopes it would throw some further 
 light upon the movements of the guerrillas; but 
 most of the letters were unofficial, and not a word 
 was said about the proposed attempt to capture 
 the Boxer. 
 
 At the end of an hour, Frank returned on board 
 his vessel, and the Manhattan steamed down the 
 river toward her station. 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 
 
 225 
 
 CHAPTER XV 
 
 i^H^irulbfo SiBic|pirgieir. 
 
 ^^ ^ HEN Frank reached the Boxer, h^ 
 sent for the executive officer, told 
 him of what he had heard, and also 
 laid before him the plans he had 
 adopted to defeat the rebels, which 
 met the hearty approval of that 
 gentleman. Frank did not think it 
 best to delay putting the vessel in a state of de- 
 fense, for the rebels might make the attempt at 
 any time ; so he instructed the executive officer to 
 see that the men were kept under cover, so that 
 the rebels, if any were on the watch, might not be 
 able to judge of their numbers. When hammocks 
 were piped that night, not more than a dozen men 
 answered the call, and when bedtime came, the 
 sailors stretched themselves out on deck, ready to 
 take their posts at a moment's warning. The 
 15 
 
226 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 guns were all carefully loaded, the hot-water hose 
 got ready for use, and the anchor fixed so that it 
 could be slipped in an instant. Outside, the ap- 
 pearance of the vessel was not changed, the only 
 thing noticeable being the quantity of smoke that 
 came out of her chimneys. At eight o'clock 
 Frank inspected the boat, and after seeing that 
 every man was in his place, he lay down on the 
 sofa in the cabin, without removing his clothes, and 
 fell asleep. When he awoke, he arose and went on 
 deck, just as the ship's bell was striking midnight. 
 It was very dark, and the only sound that broke 
 the stillness was the splashing of the wheels of a 
 steamer as she went on her way up the river. 
 For an hour he remained on deck, listening, but 
 without hearing any thing suspicious until just as 
 he was about to return to the cabin. He had 
 started down the stairs, when he heard a slight 
 splashing ahead of the vessel, like a heavy oar 
 dipped carefully into the water. He listened a 
 moment, and the sound was repeated. 
 
 " There they are ! They 're coming, sure ! " said 
 Archie, who stood at his cousin's side. 
 
 "Yes, sir," said Tom, the gunner's-mate, who, 
 in his eagerness to be the first to announce the 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 227 
 
 approach of the rebels, had remained on deck 
 during the whole night. *' That's them, sir!" 
 
 " Tell the officer of the deck to call all hands to 
 quarters as quietly as possible," said Frank. 
 
 The officer ran below, and the young com- 
 mander heard the sound again, still faint, but 
 nearer and more distinct than the others. It was 
 well that he had not put off his preparations to 
 receive the rebels, for they were certainly ap- 
 proaching. Presently the pilots came up and took 
 their stations at the wheel, and a moment after- 
 ward the executive officer came up and reported 
 the crew ready for action. So quietly had the 
 men been aroused, that Frank had not heard them 
 as they moved to their stations. Nearer and 
 nearer came the sound of oars, and suddenly a 
 large flatboat, crowded with men, loomed up 
 through the darkness. 
 
 "On deck, there!" whispered Frank, leaning 
 over the rail and speaking to a sailor on the fore- 
 castle. "Slip that anchor." 
 
 There was the rattling of a chain as this order 
 was executed, and as the man sprang through one 
 of the ports, a sheet of flame covered the fore- 
 
228 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 castle, and two twenty-four pound sliells went 
 crashing and shrieking among the rebels. 
 
 The pilots rang the bell for the engineers to 
 " come ahead," and as the Boxer turned out into 
 the river, thus bringing her broadside guns to bear 
 on the boat, two more shells completed the ruin. 
 The rebels were caught in their own trap. Their 
 boat was sinking, half their number either dead or 
 wounded, and all who were able to swim were 
 springing into the water and making for the near- 
 est shore. 
 
 It was so dark Frank could not see the havoc 
 that had been made among the guerrillas, and he 
 was about to give them another broadside, when he 
 heard loud cries for quarter. That boat was dis- 
 posed of, and he turned to look for the other, (for 
 Captain Wilson had said there were two of them,) 
 but it was not to be seen. As he afterward learned, 
 tiie guerrillas, having been completely deceived as 
 to the force of the Boxer, had crowded sixty men 
 into one boat, thinking that force sufficient to in- 
 sure an easy victory. After running up the river 
 nearly a mile without seeing any signs of the boat, 
 the Boxer returned to her station, and found the 
 rebel craft hard and fast aground. Her deck was 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 229 
 
 covered ^vith dead and wounded, and Frank at 
 once turned his attention to taking care of the lat- 
 ter. Twenty-three wounded guerrillas were con- 
 veyed on board the vessel, and delivered into the 
 charge of the doctor and his steward, together 
 with nearly a dozen prisoners, who, being unable 
 to swim, had not dared to leave the boat. The 
 dead were left where they had fallen. The Boxer 
 then returned to her anchorage, and Frank, feel- 
 ing safe for the remainder of the night, ordered 
 hammocks to be piped, a command which the sail- 
 ors gladly obeyed, for their soft mattresses were 
 much more comfortable than the hard deck. By 
 the time every thing had been restored to order, 
 the quarter-master reported the Manhattan ap- 
 proaching. Frank answered her signals, and as 
 she came alonside, Captain Wilson sprang on board. 
 
 "How is it, captain?" he inquired, as Frank met 
 him at the gangway. "Mercy!" he exclaimed, as 
 he entered the door and saw the wounded rebels 
 lying in rows on the deck. "Lively while it 
 lasted, wasn't it? How many men have you 
 lost?" 
 
 "None, sir," replied Frank. "If the rebels 
 fired a shot at us, I don't know it.' 
 
230 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 *'When I heard the firing," continued the cap- 
 tain, "I was afraid you had neglected to make 
 preparations to receive them, and had got yourself 
 into a bad scrape. But I see you are able to take 
 care of yourself." 
 
 The captain then returned on board his vessel, 
 •which moved out into the river and came to an- 
 chor at a short distance from the Boxer, -while 
 Frank retired to his room and fell asleep, well 
 satisfied with his night's work. 
 
 Early the next morning, a single rebel appeared 
 on the bank, with a flag of truce, and a boat being 
 sent out from the Manhattan, he was conveyed on 
 board that vessel. In a short time, however, it 
 returned and set the rebel on board the Boxer. 
 
 "I want permission to bury our dead," said the 
 guerrilla, on being shown into the cabin. 
 
 " You must see Captain Wilson about that," re- 
 plied Frank. "I have no authority while he is 
 here." 
 
 "I have just been to see him," replied the rebel, 
 ''and he sent me to you. He says you command 
 this station." 
 
 This was a compliment seldom paid a young offi* 
 cer ; but the fact was, Captain Wilson was so elated 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 231 
 
 at Frank's success, that he determined to take 
 every opportunity to make his approval known. 
 The young commander, of course, granted the re- 
 quest, and soon after the Manhattan steamed down 
 the river. 
 
 About a week afterward, a tin-clad came up, 
 and her captain came on board the Boxer and 
 presented Frank with written orders to report to 
 Captain Wilson without delay. 
 
 " I expect," said he, " that you will take my old 
 station. If you do, you will have your hands full, 
 for boats are fired into every day; but, somehow, 
 I was always at the wrong end of my beat to meet 
 the rebels," 
 
 When the captain had returned on board his 
 vessel, the Boxer got up steam, and, in obedience 
 to her orders, started down the river. They 
 found Captain Wilson the next day, and Frank 
 was assigned a new station. His beat was about 
 five miles in length, and was a noted place for 
 guerrillas. Steamboat captains dreaded to pass it, 
 for their boats were fired into, and often badly cut 
 up. The rebels had a battery of three guns, with 
 which they were constantly dodging from one point 
 to another, always taking good care, however, to 
 
232 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 keep out of reach of the gun-boats. On the second 
 day Frank arrived at his station, and while run- 
 ning idly about — for his orders from Captain Wil- 
 son were to "keep moving" — a steamer passed 
 them on her way up the river, and Frank ordered 
 the pilot to round-to and follow her. The order 
 was obeyed, but they had not gone more than half 
 a mile, when a battery, mounted on a point which 
 ran for some distance out into the river, opened on 
 the steamer. The Boxer was at that moment be- 
 hind the point and out of sight of the rebels, who, 
 however, were soon made aware of her presence; 
 for they had scarcely fired two rounds before a 
 shell dismounted one of their guns. Their surprise 
 was complete, and abandoning their battery, they 
 ran into the woods for protection. The Boxer 
 rounded the point, all the while shelling the woods, 
 and Frank, seeing the guns deserted, landed with 
 his vessel and secured them. That guerrilla sta- 
 tion was, for the present, broken up. So thought 
 Frank, who ordered the pilot to proceed up the 
 river until he found the Manhattan. The next 
 day the battery was delivered up to Captain "Wil- 
 son, who sent it by the dispatch-boat to Mound 
 City, which was then the naval station. 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 233 
 
 From that time hostilities along the river gradu- 
 ally ceased. The Boxer for nearly a year ran 
 from one end of her beat to the other without en- 
 countering a single armed rebel. Then came the 
 news of the glorious success of the Army of the 
 Potomac, followed by the intelligence of a general 
 surrender of the rebel forces. The Boxer was 
 dressed with flags, salutes fired, and officers and 
 crew looked forward with impatience to the time 
 when they would be permitted to return home. 
 At length came the long expected order to report 
 to the admiral at Mound City, where the reduction 
 of the squadron was rapidly going on. 
 
 Although Frank was impatient to see his quiet 
 little home once more, he was reluctant to part 
 from his crew, whom, upon his arrival at the navy- 
 yard, he had received orders to discharge. One 
 by one the sailors came into the cabin, and the 
 hearty grasp of their hands, and the earnest man- 
 ner in which they wished their commander " plain 
 sailing through life," showed that their feelings 
 were not unlike his own. 
 
 One morning, upon inquiry at the navy-yard 
 post-office, Frank was presented with two official 
 documents, which proved to be leaves of absence 
 
234 FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 for himself and Archie for three months. "At 
 the expiration of that time," so read the docu- 
 ment, "if your services are no longer required, 
 you will be honorably discharged from the navy 
 of the United States. Acknowledge the receipt 
 of this leave, and send your address to the de- 
 partment." 
 
 As soon as this order had been complied with, 
 the cousins began to make preparations to start 
 for home. Their trunks had been packed several 
 days before, in readiness for an immediate depar- 
 ture, and in three hours after the receipt of their 
 leaves they had taken their seats in the train 
 bound for Portland. The ride had never seemed 
 so long, nor had the cars ever moved so slowly; 
 but, in due time, they reached the city in safety. 
 Frank remained but one day in Portland, for he 
 was anxious to reach home. The "Julia Burton" 
 still made her regular trips from Augusta to Law- 
 rence, and on the third day he reached the village. 
 Brave was the first to welcome him as he stepped 
 out of the hack that had conveyed him from the 
 wharf to the 'cottage, and not recognizing his masr 
 ter, muffled up as he was in his heavy overcoat, he 
 stood at the gate, growling savagely, as if to warn 
 
HONORABLY DISCHARGED. 235 
 
 him that he had ventured close enough. But one 
 word was sufficient. The faithful animal had not 
 forgotten the sound of the familiar voice, and 
 bounding over the fence, he nearly overpowered 
 his master with caresses. 
 
 The meeting with his mother and sister we shall 
 not attempt to describe. Those who have passed 
 through similar scenes can easily imagine that joy 
 reigned supreme in that house. 
 
 About a week after his arrival at home, Archie 
 Winters and his parents reached the village, the 
 latter having " taken a holiday " in honor of the 
 young paymaster's safe return. The cousins spent 
 their furlough in visiting their old hunting and 
 fishing-grounds, and in calling upon their friends. 
 George and Harry Butler had returned, the former 
 with an empty sleeve, having lost his arm in the 
 Battle of the Wilderness. But all their compan- 
 ions had not been as fortunate as themselves. 
 More than one had been offered upon the altar 
 of their country, and many a familiar face was 
 missing. 
 
 At the expiration of their three months' leave, 
 Frank and Archie received their honorable dis- 
 charges from the service, the sight of which re- 
 
236 FRANK ON THD LOWER MISSISSIPPI. 
 
 called vmdly to their minds many a thrilling scene 
 through which they had passed. How changed 
 the scene now from that when they had first bid 
 adieu to their homes, to join the ranks of their 
 country's defenders! *'Then a gigantic rebellion 
 was in progress; armed men sentineled each other 
 from Virginia to the Rio Grande; and the land 
 was filled with the crash of contending armies. 
 Kow, the rebel forces are vanquished, their ban- 
 ner in the dust; the slave empire that was to rise 
 upon the ruins of the Republic is itself in ruins; 
 and the soldiers and sailors of the Union, returur 
 ing their weapons to the arsenals, have exchanged 
 their honored blue for the citizen's garb, and re- 
 sumed their peaceful avocations, as modest and 
 unassuming as though they had never performed 
 the deeds of valor that have filled the whole civil- 
 ized world with wonder." 
 
 Frank and Archie are proud of the part they 
 have borne in the war of the Rebellion, and will 
 never forget their varied and eventful experience 
 in the Mississippi Squadron. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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