Frank on the Lower Mississippi

  CHAPTER IV.

  A Mark for the Union.

  Let us now return to Frank, whom we left setting out for the house,after having given Archie emphatic instructions to remain behind thetree until his return. He did not feel at all at his ease after he hadleft his cousin, for he might have stationed him in the most dangerousplace that could have been found; and what if Archie should bediscovered and captured? He was well enough acquainted with his cousin'sdisposition to know that he would not surrender without a fight; butwhat could he do when opposed by a regiment of veteran rebels? Frankthought not of his own peril, for that was something he had fullyexpected to encounter before he started. This was not the first time hehad voluntarily placed himself in danger; but with Archie the case wasdifferent; and Frank was several times on the point of returning to hiscousin and making use of his authority, as commander of the expedition,to send him back to the boat. By the time these thoughts had passedthrough his mind, he had reached a log-cabin which stood at a littledistance from the house; and as he halted behind it, to shelter himselffrom the storm, still debating upon the course he ought to pursue inregard to Archie, some one inside the cabin commenced singing--

  "I'll lay ten dollars down And chuck 'em up one by one!"