the man who was now his prisoner, and heard him call out:

"Massa Stiles! de mail all ready, sar!"

Receiving no answer, the negro walked into the cabin, but finding it
vacant, went out to make the report to the colonel that Stiles was not
to be found. From this Frank knew that he had no time to lose. Stiles
had told him that some one else would be sent with the mail, and as it
was all ready, a man would soon be found to take his place. If he went
back after Archie, he might be too late. He must attempt it alone, and
unaided. Walking out from behind the tree, he started toward the creek,
where lay the boat in which the mail was to be carried.

The creek he found without difficulty; but the boat was evidently hidden
away, for he searched up and down the bank for it without success. If he
found it, it was his intention to cut it loose, and allow it to drift
out into the river, thus depriving the rebels of the means of carrying
their mail. But failing in this, he ran up the bank, and awaited the
coming of the rebels. It was a hazardous undertaking to attempt the
capture of two men, both of whom were, no doubt, well armed; but Frank
had great confidence in the _looks_ of his revolvers, and hoped to
accomplish his object without alarming the rebels in the house.

He had waited perhaps a quarter of an hour, when he heard footsteps
approaching, and presently he discovered the two men for whom he had
been watching. One carried the mail-bags, and the other a pair of oars,
the same, no doubt, which Stiles had but a short time before completed.
Frank waited until they were almost upon him, and then sprang up with a
revolver in each hand, which he pointed straight at the heads of the
men, exclaiming: