Frank on the Lower Mississippi | Page 9

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.
"Don'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 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 yet refused duty because
there was 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 didn'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 don'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 sometimes two can
accomplish more than a dozen. 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 speedily
disappeared in the darkness.

CHAPTER III.
Archie in a Predicament.
As soon as the young officers had 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. Away off 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 are cut off from it, run up the river until you get a little above
where the vessel lies, and then jump in and swim out to her. Do you
understand?"
"Yes," replied Archie.
"Be careful of your weapons," continued his cousin, "and keep them
dry and ready for instant use. Don't be captured--whatever you do, don't
be captured!"
"I'll 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 goes 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 were still on shore. But let us be moving;
we've no time to waste."
Frank started toward the house, carefully picking his way over the wet,
slippery ground, now and then pausing to listen, and to reconnoiter as
well as the darkness