Frank sprang up the steps that led on to the porch, and fired both barrels of the gun into the air, and then, drawing a chair to the other end of the porch, 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 bread.  From the house they went into the wood-shed, where they found a quantity of sweet potatoes.  They then returned to the place where they had left Frank.

“Come on, now,” said Woods; “we’ll have a tip-top dinner, in spite of the old secesh.

“Hold on,” said Frank; “where are you going?  I move we cook and eat our dinner here.  There’s a stove in the house, and every thing handy.”

The man was accordingly invited into his own house by the boys, and requested to take a seat, and make himself perfectly at home, but to be careful and not go out of doors.  They deposited their muskets in one corner of the room; and while 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, found the cupboard, and commenced bringing out the dishes Frank superintended the cooking; and, in half an hour, a splendid dinner was smoking on the table.  When the meal was finished, they shouldered their muskets, and Simpson said to the man: 

“Now, sir, we’re very much obliged to you for your kindness; but, before we go, we want to give you a bit of advice.  If you ever see any more 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 who won’t treat you as well as we have.  They might go to work and clean out your shanty.  Good day, sir;” and Simpson led the way toward the boat.

CHAPTER VI.

Frank’s First Exploit.

During the three months following that Frank and Archie were attached to the Illinois, they met with no adventure worthy of notice.  They passed nearly every day in the woods, and, after considerable practice, had become splendid shots with their muskets; and as game was abundant, their table was kept well supplied.

At length, the new magazine-boat, which had for some time been building at Cairo, was towed alongside the Illinois, and a detachment of men from the receiving-ship were set to work to transfer the ammunition.  The crew of the Illinois were not at all pleased with this, for they knew that the easy life they had been leading was soon to be brought to an end.

When the ammunition had all been removed into the new boat, the steamer Champion came alongside, and the Illinois was towed down to Columbus, where she was to undergo repairs, and her crew was transferred to the receiving-ship again.

The day after they arrived on board, while Frank and his cousin were seated on a coil of rope, as usual, talking over old times, and wondering how George and Harry Butler liked the army, and why they had not written, the boatswain’s mate came along, and called out, in a loud voice: