greatest importance? Undoubtedly the latter would be of the most
consequence. Then he debated long and earnestly upon the chances of
escaping with the mail, should he attempt its capture. The man who had
charge of it was a most powerful-looking fellow, who knowing the
importance of his trust, and the certainty of receiving prompt and
effective assistance from his comrades, would, no doubt, fight most
desperately, unless he could be taken at disadvantage and secured before
he had time to think of resistance. Besides, the cabin was scarcely
fifty feet distant from the house, which Frank knew was filled with men,
for he could hear them walking about the rooms and talking to each
other. The least unusual noise would certainly alarm them, in which case
escape would be entirely out of the question Frank, we say, thought over
all these things, and finally coming to the conclusion that it would be
worse than useless to attempt the capture of the mail, turned his
attention to the house. How was he to set fire to it?

Frank, we know, was not wanting in courage, but he had learned, by
experience, that there are times when "discretion is the better part of
valor." When he proposed the expedition, he had not expected to find the
entire regiment quartered in the house. He had supposed that the men
would find sleeping-rooms in the negro quarters, which were nearly a
half mile back, while the house would be reserved for the officers. But
the rebels surely would not remain up all night, and when they had all
gone to bed would be the time to execute his purpose. He would not
abandon his project until he had given it a trial, or fully satisfied
himself that the undertaking was utterly impracticable. For the present,
he would remain where he was; something might "turn up" which would be
to his advantage.

At this moment a man entered the cabin, the door of which stood open,