before her. She had thought that men were always ready to lay down their
lives in a good cause. She had not dreamed that any one would hesitate for
a moment. Her amazed look gave place to one of scorn as the time passed
and no one spoke. Stepping close to the Captain's side she slipped her
little hand into his and said clearly:

"I will go with you, Captain."

CHAPTER VIII

THROUGH SHOT AND SHELL

A ringing cheer went up from the men and they stepped forward with one
accord.

"I'll go with you, Captain," cried one. "With you and the little girl to
the death."

"Ay! to the death," shouted the others in chorus.

The Captain smiled down into Jeanne's face.

"You see what you have done," he said. "They did not care to follow me,
but will go anywhere with you. I believe that we shall have to turn over
the boat to your charge."

"I think they would have gone," said Jeanne, rather abashed at so much
notice. "Perhaps they were just thinking it over."

"True for you, my beauty," cried the first mate. "That's what we were
doing, Captain. We'd a gone all right."

"Now, men," said the Captain seriously, still retaining Jeanne's hand,
"you fully realize what you are doing, do you? Think well, because there
can be no backing out when we have started. Any one who does not wish
to join us may go forward. We have no means of fighting and must take
whatever the 'rebs' choose to give us. You see that I am not mincing
matters with you, boys. Move forward any of you who do not wish to go."

He paused and waited for a few moments, but not a man stirred from his
place.

"Then listen," he went on briskly. "We'll finish giving the Commodore
his supplies, and then barricade the boat with bales of cotton. Under
the protection of one of Davis's gunboats we will try to run the batteries
under cover of the darkness. Now fall to, my hearties. There is much to
be done."

There was another cheer and the men sprang to their tasks. The Captain
looked down at the girl by his side. Jeanne's eyes were like stars, and
her cheeks were red as roses. The blood of her Revolutionary ancestors was
up and she showed no sign of fear.

"What will your father say if I do not bring you safely through this?"
asked the Captain.

"It is a risk that we must run," said Jeanne. "There is no more danger
for me than for you and the men."

"True, child; yet we are men, and you are only a girl. I don't know just
where you ought to stay through th