Part 8 (1/2)

”I am not doing any thing at present,” answered Frank; ”but I am ordered to report on board the Ticonderoga.”

”There she is,” said Archie, pointing to a long, low, black vessel that lay alongside of the wharf boat. ”I am just putting provisions on board of her. I'll come and see you as soon as I get my work done.”

Frank went on board his vessel, where he was received by the officer of the deck, who showed him the way into the cabin. After the captain had indorsed his orders, he strolled leisurely about the s.h.i.+p, examining into every thing, for as yet he knew nothing of gun-boat life.

The Ticonderoga was a queer-looking craft. She was not exactly a Monitor; but she had a turret forward, and mounted two eleven-inch guns and four twelve-pounder howitzers. She had a heavy iron ram on her bow, and the turret was protected by three inches of iron, and the deck with two inches. It did not seem possible that a cannon-ball could make any impression on her thick armor.

The officers' quarters were all below decks; and, although it was then the middle of winter, Frank found it rather uncomfortable in his bunk.

During the two weeks that elapsed before the s.h.i.+p was ready to sail, the time was employed in getting every thing in order-in drilling at the great guns, and with muskets and broad-swords.

Most of the crew were old seamen, who understood their duty; and by the time their sailing orders came, every thing moved like clock-work.

In the mean time Frank had been a.s.signed his station, which-being the youngest officer on board the s.h.i.+p-was to command the magazine. He learned very rapidly, and, as he was always attentive to his duties, he grew in favor with both officers and men.

At length, one afternoon, the anchor was weighed, and the Ticonderoga steamed down the river. Her orders were to report to the Admiral, who had sailed from Cairo about a week previous. They found him at Arkansas Post, where they arrived too late to take part in the fight. In a few days a station was a.s.signed to her in the Mississippi River; and the Ticonderoga immediately set sail, in obedience to orders.

CHAPTER VIII.

The Struggle Between the Lines.

One day, about two weeks after they came out of Arkansas River, the Ticonderoga stopped at Smith's Landing to take on wood, as her supply of coal had run short. The vessel was made fast to the bank, and, while the seamen were bringing in the wood, the paymaster's steward called Frank's attention to some cattle which were feeding on the bank, and remarked: ”I wish we could go out and shoot one of them.” ”So do I,” said Frank; ”I've eaten salt pork until I am tired of it. Let's go and ask the captain.”

”I'm agreed,” said the steward.

The captain was walking on deck at the time and his permission was readily obtained, for he himself had grown tired of s.h.i.+p's pork; Frank, accompanied by the steward, and a seaman who was an expert butcher, started out. They were armed with muskets, and, as they were all good shots, and did not wish to kill more than enough to feed the s.h.i.+p's company once, they took with them no ammunition besides what was in the guns. At the place where the Ticonderoga was lying, the levee-an embankment about six feet high, built to prevent the water from overflowing-ran back into the woods about half a mile, then, making a bend like a horse-shoe, came back to the river again, inclosing perhaps a dozen acres of low, swampy land; and it was in this swamp that the cattle were. They proved to be very wild; but, after a considerable run, Frank succeeded in bringing down one, and the steward and seaman finally killed another. The question now was, how to get the meat on board the vessel. While they were debating on the matter, they were startled by the clatter of horses' hoofs on the levee; and, instead of drawing back into the bushes, out of sight, they very imprudently waited to see who the hors.e.m.e.n were. Presently, a party of guerrillas, to their utter amazement-for they had not dreamed that the rebels were so near them-galloped up.

The rebels discovered them at the same moment, and one of them exclaimed:

”I'll be dog-gone if thar ain't a Yank;” and, not knowing how many there might be of the ”Yanks,” they very prudently drew up their horses. One of them, however, who appeared to be the leader of the band, comprehended their situation at a glance, and exclaimed:

”Throw down your arms, and you shall be treated like men!”

This brought them to their senses, and they turned and ran for their lives. They had scarcely made a dozen steps before the bullets and buckshot began to rattle about their ears; but the trees and bushes were so thick that they escaped unhurt. Frank reached the vessel far in advance of the others; as he came over the side, panting and excited, the captain, who was still on deck, inquired:

”What's the matter, Mr. Nelson?”

”We ran foul of some guerrillas out there in the woods, sir,” replied Frank.

”How many of them did you see?”

”They didn't give us much of a chance to judge of their numbers, sir; but I should say that there were at least a dozen of them, and they were coming this way. I shouldn't wonder if they intended to pick off some of the men who are carrying in wood.”

”Mr. Hurd,” said the captain, turning to the executive officer, ”take thirty men, who are good shots, and go out there and keep those fellows off. Mr. Nelson will go with you.”

Frank accordingly ran below, and armed himself with a revolver and musket, and buckled on a cartridge-box. When the men were ready, he led the way, along the levee, so that, if the guerrillas were advancing, they would be certain to meet them. But they saw no signs of them until they came within sight of a barn which stood in the woods, about a mile from the river. The rebels were gathered before it, as if in consultation, and greeted the approach of the sailors with a scattering volley of musketry, which whistled harmlessly over their heads, or plowed up the ground before them.

”Give 'em a shot, boys,” said the executive officer, ”and then scatter, and let each man take to a tree and fight Indian fas.h.i.+on.”

The sailors wheeled into line with all the promptness and regularity of veteran troops; and before the smoke of their muskets cleared away, they had disappeared, like a flock of young partridges. The rebels had also treed, and the skirmish was continued for half an hour, without any damage being done to either party.