infinitely of more importance than their own, gave way manfully on the
muffled oars, which made no sound as they bent beneath the sturdy
strokes, and the cutter flew noiselessly through the water, The rebels
reached the bank but a few moments after the cutter had left, but
neither seeing nor hearing any thing of her, they contented themselves
with uttering their yells, and firing a volley into the darkness in the
direction they supposed the boat had gone.

But their attention was soon called to another quarter, for a bright
flame shot up from the house. The boat's crew saw it, and could scarcely
refrain hurrahing; but knowing that they were not yet out of range of
the guerrillas' rifles, they gave vent to their jubilant feelings by
redoubling their efforts at the oars.

"Mr. Nelson," whispered the coxswain, "may I be allowed to say that was
well done, sir!"

"I didn't do that, Tom," answered Frank, in a faint voice, as he gazed
in surprise at the burning house, and thought of his cousin. "Is
Paymaster Winters in the cutter?"

Frank hardly dared to ask the question, for if his cousin had been in
the boat he would have known it before that time.

"The paymaster!" repeated the coxswain; "no, sir. He went away with you,
sir, and I haven't seen him since. He's missing, that's a fact."

Frank felt ready to faint on hearing this, and very bitterly did he
censure himself for allowing his cousin to accompany him! But regrets
were useless; the mischief had been done, and could not be undone. He