Among them came many of the people of Pinchbrook, and Tom was delighted by a visit from his whole family.

His mother found him so comfortable and contented that she returned with half the heavy burden on her soul removed.
While the Pinchbrook boys were generally rejoiced to see their friends from home, there was one in the company who was in constant dread lest he should recognize a too familiar face in the crowds which the steamers daily poured into the fort.

Fred Pemberton did not wish to see his nearest friends; but after he had been in the company some ten days, just as the boys had been dismissed from the forenoon drill, he discovered at a distance the patriarchal form of his father.
"My pipe's out, Tom," said Fred, as he rushed into the casemate where a group of his companions were resting from the fatigues of the morning.
"What's the matter now, Fred ?" "The old man has just come into the fort." "Has he ?" "Yes--what shall I do ?" "Keep a stiff upper lip, Fred, and we will put you through all right," said Sergeant Porter.
"What shall I do ?" demanded Fred, who, whatever his views in regard to the justice or injustice of coercion, did not wish to be taken from the company.
"Come with me," said the sergeant, as he led the way into an adjoining casemate.

"No; nobody else will come," added he, motioning back other members of the mess who was disposed to follow.
In the casemate to which Sergeant Porter conducted Fred, there was a pile of boxes, in which the muskets of one of the regiments had been packed.
The fugitive from his father's anxious search was directed to get into one of these boxes, from which the sergeant removed the gun rests.

He obeyed; his confederate put on the lid so as to permit him to receive a plentiful supply of air, and other boxes were placed upon that containing the runaway.
Squire Pemberton presented himself before Captain Benson, and demanded his son.