A bale of cotton lay near him; and the man, as soon as he found that he had attracted their attention, pointed to the cotton, and signified, by signs, that he wished it carried up the river.
The Milwaukee was immediately turned toward the shore, and as soon as they arrived within speaking distance, the captain called out: "What do you want ?" "I would like to have you take this cotton to Cairo for me," answered the man.
"Are you a loyal citizen ?" asked the captain.
"Yes, sir; and here is a permit from Admiral Porter to ship my cotton;" and, as the man spoke, he held up a letter to the view of the captain.
"Bring her into the bank, Mr.Smith," said the captain, addressing the pilot; "and, Mr.O'Brien," he continued, in a lower tone, turning to an officer who stood near, "go down and stand by that howitzer.

Perhaps there is no treachery intended, but it is well to be on the safe side." As soon as the Milwaukee touched the bank, Frank and Simpson, with two others, sprang ashore with a line, and, after making it fast to a tree, returned on board, and commenced pushing out a plank, so that the cotton could be easily rolled on, when, suddenly, several men rose from behind the levee, and the quick discharge of their rifles sent the bullets around those standing on the forecastle, like hailstones; and Simpson, who was standing directly in front of Frank, uttered a sharp cry of pain, and sank heavily to the deck.

The next moment the guerrillas, with loud yells, sprang down the bank in a body, intending to board the boat and capture her.

But they had not taken her so much by surprise as they had imagined, for a shell from the howitzer exploded in their very midst, and one of the rebels was killed, and three disabled.

The others turned and hastily retreated behind the levee.