CHAPTER VI.
Frank's First Exploit.
During the three months following that Frank and Archie were attached to the Illinois, they met with no adventure worthy of notice.

They passed nearly every day in the woods, and, after considerable practice, had become splendid shots with their muskets; and as game was abundant, their table was kept well supplied.
At length, the new magazine-boat, which had for some time been building at Cairo, was towed alongside the Illinois, and a detachment of men from the receiving-ship were set to work to transfer the ammunition.

The crew of the Illinois were not at all pleased with this, for they knew that the easy life they had been leading was soon to be brought to an end.
When the ammunition had all been removed into the new boat, the steamer Champion came alongside, and the Illinois was towed down to Columbus, where she was to undergo repairs, and her crew was transferred to the receiving-ship again.
The day after they arrived on board, while Frank and his cousin were seated on a coil of rope, as usual, talking over old times, and wondering how George and Harry Butler liked the army, and why they had not written, the boatswain's mate came along, and called out, in a loud voice: "Archie Winters!" "Here I am," said Archie.
"Well, go up on deck," said the mate; "the captain wants to see you." "The captain wants to see me!" repeated Archie, in surprise.
"Yes; and you had better bear a hand, too, for the captain isn't the man to wait long when he sends after any one." Archie accordingly went on deck, trying all the while to think what he had done that was wrong, and expecting a good blowing up for some unintentional offense.

Perhaps the captain had by some means learned who it was that had made the descent on the cook's galley, and had called him up for the purpose of punishing him.
Finding the captain on deck, talking with the executive officer, he very politely remained out of hearing, holding his hat in his hand, and waited for a chance to speak to him.

At length the captain inquired: "Hasn't Winters come up yet ?" "Yes, sir," answered Archie, stepping up with his best salute.
"Is this your writing ?" inquired the captain, holding out to Archie a letter addressed, in a splendid business hand, to James Winters, Esq., Boston.
"Yes, sir," answered Archie; "that's a letter I wrote to my father." "Well," continued the captain, "I have got a splendid position for you, as second clerk in the fleet paymaster's office.