who hastily crossed the street, and noiselessly ascended the steps. Here
he paused for a moment to draw his revolver, and then suddenly opened
the door and sprang into the hall. He was met by the negro, the same, no
doubt, whom he had heard welcoming his master, who, not liking the looks
of the huge six-shooter which the officer flourished before his eyes,
beat a hasty retreat. Frank kept on and entered the parlor, where he
found his man standing in the middle of the floor, pale and breathless.
No one else was in the room.

"Mr. Abbott," said Frank, "you're my prisoner!"

The man, who was so terrified that he seemed to have lost even the power
of speech, surrendered his weapons and submitted to his captor, who led
him out of the house and toward the flag-ship, which they reached in
safety. The admiral received Frank with great cordiality, and after
listening to his account of the manner in which the capture of the
prisoner had been effected, he ordered the cutter called away, and the
young officer, rejoicing over his success, was sent on board his vessel.




CHAPTER VII.

Frank's First Command.


The next morning, just after quarters, while the officers were getting
ready to go on shore, a boat from the flag-ship came alongside, and the
officer in charge of it was shown into the cabin, as he said he had