Frank on the Lower Mississippi

for

ugh the bushes with a rapidity 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 suppo

te himself, for the yells of the guerrillas plainly told him that they had discovered 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 hi

his own exertions and the use he made of the next few moments, he speedily recovered his presence of mind, and hastily securing his revolvers, which, up to

with loud yells of triumph from the pursuing rebels He had, with surprise and indignation, listened to Frank's description of his run from S

question Archie could not answer. But one thing was 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 dou

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

ber, and beyond 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

that he presented a fair mark, Archie raised his revolver 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. T

knowing that the only chance for escape was by the river, had lined the banks with

Drop that shootin'-iron,

ithout waiting an instant, he turned and ran up the river again, hoping that he might soon be able to get abo

! or I'll shoot-b

heard the bullet as it sung

who was running for his life, soon left him behind. As the latter ran he hear

He now had little hope of being able to elude his pursuers, who, he was certain, would keep the river closely guarded until daylight, when they would soon discover his hiding-place. He could not go on without fear of running against some of his enemies, in

o rebels came up. One of them he knew, by his vo

nt this yere

a leetle-I'm nigh gin out;" and he seated himself so close to Archie

ken, "ef this 'ere night's work don't beat all nat

llers come out here an' burn a house with more'n three hundre

n board his gun-boat afore this time. I jest ketched a glimpse of him as he was goin' dow

his companion. "An' what's

s got the bracelets on by this

s of him, yelling and swearing, like demons. He had one source of consolation, however-his cousin

h 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 guerrilla

s, 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 f

ere increased. 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

after being divested of his wet clothes, he was put to bed, and left in a sound sleep. The next morning, however, he appeared in the mes

ture he had intended to administer. The officers, who had not expected such an exhibition of courage in one whose cheek had blanched at the whi

r 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

considerable hard work, he had brought the Boxer's crew into an admirable state of discipline; every thing about decks went off as smoothly as could be desired, and besides, Archie was on board, and he did not wis

officer" might be sent him for an executive, but when Frank presented himself and produced his ord

usiness, but let me tell you, young man

ual 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

again, Mr. Nelson, a

again, in fulfillment of the 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 foun

d passed together-subjects still fresh in their memories-until the entrance of an officer put a stop to the conversation

of the third division of the squadron-was a regular 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,

er; but when spring opened, gun-boats and transports, loaded with soldiers, began to assemble, and preparations were made for the Red Riv

en tracked by bloodhounds, 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 Miss

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