supply of air, and other boxes were placed upon that containing the
runaway.

Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and demanded his
son. Fred was sent for, but could not be found. Sergeant Porter kept out
of the way, and not another man in the company knew anything about him.
The boys were very willing to assist the indignant father in his search,
but all their efforts were unavailing. The squire examined every casemate,
and every nook and corner upon the island, but without effect.

"I want my son, sir," said the squire, angrily, to the captain. "I require
you to produce him."

"I don't know where he is," replied Captain Benson.

"You have concealed him, sir."

"I have not."

The squire appealed to the colonel, but obtained no satisfaction, and was
obliged to leave without accomplishing his purpose. As soon as he had
gone, Fred appeared, and the boys laughed for a week over the affair.

CHAPTER XI.

IN WASHINGTON.

On the 17th of June, the regiment left Port Warren, and after being
conveyed by steamer to Boston, marched to Camp Cameron. Here the "little
colonel" displayed his energy and military skill to much greater advantage
than when within the narrow confines of the fort. The men were not only
carefully and persistently drilled, but they were educated, as far as the
circumstances would permit, for the arduous duties of a campaign.

Tom Somers had already begun to feel a soldier's pride in his new
situation; and though he found that being a soldier boy was not always the
easiest and the pleasantest thing in the world, he bore his trials with
philosophical patience and fortitude, and made the most of whatever joys
the circumstances placed within his reach.

Others grumbled, but he did not. He declared that he had enlisted for the
war, and meant to take things as they came. It was not exactly agreeable
to stand on guard for two hours, on a cold, rainy night; but grumbling
would not make it any the more agreeable, and only made the grumbler
discontented and unhappy. It did not look like "the pomp and circumstance
of war," and no doubt most of the boys in the Pinchbrook company would
have been better satisfied in their own houses in "the village by the
sea." But most of these men had left their happy homes under the
inspiration of the highest and truest motives. They were going forth to
fight the battles of their imperilled country, and this reflection filled
them with a heroism