Frank Before Vicksburg Part 18

Father seemed to repose entire confidence in him, and always asked his advice in times of danger; but, as much as I respected his judgment, I could not conquer the feeling with which I had always regarded the man, and I was constantly on the watch.

"One night the schooner sailed as usual, but this man, under pretense of sickness, remained behind, with instructions from father, in case he got better, to go to the village and collect some money due him for goods.

"'All right,' answered the mate; 'I'll attend to it.' Then, as soon as father had got out of hearing, he muttered, 'I'll collect something for you that you won't expect.'

"As soon as the schooner had cleared the channel, and was fairly out to sea, the rapidity with which that man got well was astonis.h.i.+ng. He staid about the cave all day, scarcely saying a word to me, and at night departed by the secret path for the village. I was very uneasy, for a dread of impending evil constantly pressed upon me, and I determined to watch the path, and be ready for any emergency.

"On the cliff, at the entrance of the channel that led to the bay, was a pile of dry wood, that was to be lighted in case of danger. This I replenished, placing materials for striking a light close at hand, and then returned to the cave to keep watch of the path.

"Two days pa.s.sed without the occurrence of any thing unusual, and the night came on which the schooner was expected to return. I divided my attention between the secret path and the offing, and at length a blue light, moving up and down in the darkness, told me that the schooner was approaching. I answered the signal, and stood peering through the darkness to get a glimpse of the approaching vessel, when I heard a rustling behind me, and looking down the path I discovered, to my dismay, a party of armed men approaching, headed by the traitor, who said, in a low voice:

"'It's all right now. Catch that brat before he has time to light the signal of danger, and let the schooner once get into the channel, and we have got them fast.'

"The person spoken of as 'that brat' was myself, and I knew that the salvation of the schooner depended upon my exertions. In an instant I had determined upon my course, and, springing from the cave, I ran toward the rope ladder that led to the basin below, and commenced descending. A moment afterward the mouth of the cave was filled by the burly form of the traitor, who exclaimed:

"'There he is--shoot him!' and, suiting the action to the word, he leveled his pistol and fired. I felt a sharp pain shoot through my shoulder; a faintness seized upon me, and, being unable longer to retain my hold upon the ladder, I disappeared in the basin. My sudden immersion in the cold water revived me, and, being an excellent swimmer, I struck out, intending to climb the cliff on the opposite side, and fire the pile. I exerted myself to the utmost, for I could see by the lights in the mouth of the cave that the traitor and his men were preparing to follow me; but, it seemed, in my hurry and excitement, that I scarcely moved through the water. At length, however, I reached the opposite sh.o.r.e, and after climbing the cliff, (which I did with the utmost difficulty, for my wounded arm was hanging almost useless at my side, and I had not stopped to look for the path,) I ran at the top of my speed toward the pile. The schooner having seen my signal, and supposing, of course, that all was right, was still standing toward the mouth of the channel. A moment more, and I would have been too late.

"I had considerable difficulty in finding my flint, and then it seemed impossible to strike a light; but, just as the foremost of my pursuers reached the top of the cliff, I succeeded in catching a spark; in a moment more, the whole pile was in a blaze. I could not refrain from giving a shout of triumph as I saw the flames shooting upward toward the sky, lighting up the whole face of the rocks, until every object was as clearly defined as in broad daylight. I heard an exclamation of surprise on board the schooner, followed by a few hastily-spoken orders; then I knew that I had succeeded, and the schooner was safe. But I was not a moment too soon, for the little vessel was rapidly nearing the mouth of the channel, and once enclosed by those rocky walls, once under the influence of those waves that dashed so madly over the rocks, retreat would have been impossible.

"I was allowed scarcely a moment to congratulate myself upon my success, for my pursuers, finding themselves foiled, determined to wreak their vengeance upon me. They could plainly see me by the light of the burning pile, and the quick discharge of half a dozen pistols sent the bullets thickly around me. It was death to remain where I was, so, taking a last look at the cave, I threw myself over the cliff, and struck out for the schooner.

"My father, having seen me when I took the leap, laid the schooner to, and lowered a boat to pick me up. I tell you, sir, I was a proud youngster when I stood on that deck, receiving the thanks and the congratulations of those I had saved. I forgot the pain of my wound, and the dangers from which I had escaped, in the joy I experienced at finding myself once more safe among my friends."

Their watch ending with Tom's interesting reminiscence, they then turned in for the night.

The next morning the attack upon the bluffs was renewed, without resulting to the advantage of either side, and at night the vessels again withdrew, and retreated down the river. The Trenton returned to her old landing, and Frank, at his request, was again placed in command of one of the guns of the battery. But he was not destined to hold the position long, for, now that the "beauties" had dismounted that troublesome gun, General Sherman had advanced his works until he could go no further without getting into the enemy's line. At length, one morning, a flag of truce was raised within their fortifications, and hostilities were at once suspended. Then came that celebrated interview between the generals, during which the soldiers on both sides clambered out of the rifle-pits, and conversed face to face with the men with whom they had so long been engaged in deadly conflict.

"How are you now, Johnny?" inquired Frank, seating himself on one of the guns, and waving his hat to a rebel officer who stood in the rifle-pits, gazing at the battery with great interest. "What does that flag of truce mean? Are you going to surrender?"

"Don't know," replied the rebel; "but, I say, Yank, will you let a fellow come over there?"

"Certainly. Come on."

The rebel accordingly laid aside his weapons, and walked over to the battery, where, after examining the guns very curiously, he entered into conversation with Frank, in the course of which he informed him that they were a "played-out concern," and could not possibly hold out more than a week longer.

But they did not "hold out" so long; for, on the next day, the fourth of July, the victorious army entered the city, and raised the STARS AND STRIPES over the "SEBASTOPOL OF THE REBELS."

Here we leave our hero, reposing before Vicksburg on his well-earned reputation as a gallant young officer, waiting to be ordered to new scenes of excitement and danger further down the Mississippi and up her tributary streams. Through these scenes we shall conduct our readers in a concluding volume, which will close Frank's career on our Western waters.

THE END.