the others sprang to their feet and started out to pursue me.
I fled down the road. A few shots were fired, but fortunately I was not
hit again.

"At last I came to a small village. I wondered why I had not reached my
camp. But you must remember that I was attached to a small number of men
only, and that we always were many miles ahead or in the rear of the
army, as occasion called for.

"The village was deserted, for it was late at night again. I made myself
comfortable in a sort of stable warehouse, climbing over a number of
bales of cotton, and laid myself down next to the wall, secure from
casual observation.

"When I awoke the next morning, I nearly uttered a cry of pain a sudden
movement had given to my arm. I, however, suppressed it, and it was well
that I did so, for I suddenly heard voices right near me. Darkies were
moving bales of cotton but, being well back, I had little fear of being
discovered.

"The hours passed wearily. I was parched and feverish from pain of my
wound. Yet I was afraid to move. So I sometimes dozed off into snatches
of fitful sleep. Perhaps I moaned, or I was accidentally discovered. At
all events, when I awoke a mammy was bending over me, her voice fully of
pity. And--well, to make a long story short, I had blundered again, for
the village was being occupied by the Federals, and the cotton the
darkies had been taking away was going North. There is no need to add
that I was well fed and well taken care of."

Captain Dennis paused, and thoughtfully smoked his pipe. His little
audience sat very quietly, their eager faces and shining eyes plainly
showing their rapt interest in the modestly told story.

"Well, well," said Captain Dennis, at last breaking the silence, "some
day you, Jack and you Ned will be able to tell very many far more
thrilling stories."

"Yes" replied Jack, "but none of them will be about so great a cause."

"You are right, Jack," Captain Dennis said fervently; "it was a good
cause. But come, you are tired, so let us say 'good night,' my friends."

A half hour later Jack and Ned were fast asleep, dreaming of those
stirring times when the immortal Abraham Lincoln was President of this
glorious nation.

* * * * *

The next week the _Columbia_ sailed again. As she passed out of New York
harbor, and past Sandy Hook, the passengers crowded to the rail to look
at a beautiful sea picture.

The sun was setting, and the radiance turn