CHAPTER IV.
A Midnight Alarm.
On the afternoon of the following day, as Frank and his cousin were walking up and down the deck, talking over old times, Simpson hurriedly approached them, exclaiming, "Boys, do you want to leave this ship ?" "Yes," answered Frank; "we're tired of staying here." "Well, it's all right, then.

I volunteered to go, and I had both your names put down.

The executive officer says if you want to go, just get your donnage and go for'ard." "Where are we to go ?" inquired Archie.
"On board of the Illinois," answered Simpson.

"She is a magazine-ship, and is lying half-way between here and Mound City.

No work at all to do, I'm going.' "Then we'll go, of course," said Frank; "for we don't want to lose you." They immediately got down their hammocks and bags, and went forward, where they found the executive officer standing on the forecastle, waiting for them.
"Well, lads, do you volunteer to go on the Illinois ?" he asked.
"Yes, sir." "Jump down into that dingy, then," said the officer, pointing to a small boat that lay alongside.
The boys did as they were ordered, and just as they had finished storing away their bags and hammocks under the thwarts, a man dressed in the uniform of a sailor sprang down into the boat, exclaiming: "Man your oars, lads, and shove off--you've a long pull before you." Archie took one of the oars, Frank the other; Simpson stowed himself away in the bow of the boat, and the sailor took his seat at the helm.
The cousins were both good oarsmen, and they made the little boat dance over the water like a duck.