Frank on a Gun-Boat

omfite

oposed excursion. This was easily accomplished, and while they were filling their pockets with musket-cartridges, Frank proposed that they should go out and see what it was that had occasioned the alarm during the night; so they leaned their muskets up in one corner of the cabin, and ran out on the bank, an

he exclaimed. "I shouldn't want y

?" inqui

tell the difference betw

t, for he expected to be made the laughing-stock of his companions. But he consoled himself with the thought that he was not to blame. The corporal had said that he had

ticed that Frank looked a little crest

oor consolation. I killed the mule, an

many a better man than you laughed at. But le

stern of the Illinois, was hauled alongside, and, in a few moments, they reached the opposite shore. Our four hunters sprang out, and, bidding the corporal good-by, shouldered their m

ead with his coat-sleeve. "There are plenty of squirrels around here. But

ur sportsmen. They were scattered all over the country, engaged in the work of sustaining the integrity of the best government on earth. Would they ever all meet again? It was not at all likely. Perhaps some had already been offered up on the altar of their country; and if he should ever live to return home, there would be some familiar faces missing. In short, Frank was homesick. Finding himself once more in his favorite element had made him think of old times. He wandered slowly along, recalling many a fishing frolic and boat-race he had engaged in, until a loud chatter above his head roused hi

wn to the river,

you do there

in. It don't shoot worth a row of pins. If I was standing twenty feet fr

around to the side of the tree where the squirrel had taken refuge, he fired again, but with no better success.

said Archie; "you can't hit

t have that squirrel, if I have to shoot a

kill as many squirrels by throwing the mu

y-the ammunition does

Archie raised his gun and blazed away. This time there was no mistake; the squirrel was torn almost to pieces by the ball; and whe

ed the squir

e; "but I hurt myself

misfortune. He tried to keep on a sober face, but the corners of his mouth would draw

good joke,

your shoulder," said Frank, "it wouldn't hu

gh the woods. The squirrels were very plenty; but it required two or t

o they concluded to give up shooting, and start in search of Woods and Simpson, who had gone off together. About noon

as Frank and Archie came up; "it'

we go down to that house and hire s

the fence, and led the way toward the house spoken of by Frank, wh

oticed that a man, who sat on the porch in front of th

who, with his cousin, was a little in a

Frank, as he approached the p

ant here?" he g

n't hire some one to cook a good

, an' I never will. I'd like to see yer all drove from the country. Get out o' here, I tell

chie; "he's the first one I ever saw. He loo

man, between his clenched teeth; "I'll be dog-gone if I don't shoot some o' yer

o stand still and be shot down, like turkeys on Thanksgivin' morning, do you? No, sir, that would be like the handle of a jug, all on one side. Shootin' is a gam

king the way Simpson eyed him, he leaned his gun up in the corner a

ment on you. Now, Frank," he continued, "you just jump up there, and shoot off the old rascal's gun; and then keep an eye on

coolly seated himself, and deposited his feet on the railing; while the others went into the house, where they secured a pail of fresh milk and a loaf of b

"we'll have a tip-top dinner

move we cook and eat our dinner here. There's

Archie started a fire in the store, Frank dressed the squirrels, and washed some of the sweet potatoes, and placed them in the oven to bake. Woods drew the table out into the middle of the room; and Simpson, after a diligent search, foun

Yankee sailors out this way, don't try to bully them by talking treason to them. If you do, just as likely as not you'll get hold of some wh