[Illustration: FRANK SAVING THE BOAT] THE GUN-BOAT SERIES. FRANK ON A GUN-BOAT BY HARRY CASTLEMON, AUTHOR OF "THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN SERIES," "THE GO-AHEAD SERIES," ETC. 1892. Contents. CHAPTER I. IN THE NAVY. CHAPTER II. LEARNING THE ROPES. CHAPTER III. SQUARING THE YARDS. CHAPTER IV. A MIDNIGHT ALARM. CHAPTER V. A DISCOMFITED REBEL. CHAPTER VI. FRANK'S FIRST EXPLOIT. CHAPTER VII. ON A GUN-BOAT. CHAPTER VIII. THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE LINES. CHAPTER IX. A UNION FAMILY. CHAPTER X. A SPUNKY REBEL. CHAPTER XI. FRANK A PRISONER. CHAPTER XII. THE ESCAPE. CHAPTER XIII. THE FAITHFUL NEGRO. CHAPTER XIV. CHASED BY BLOOD-HOUNDS. CHAPTER XV. THE RESCUE. CHAPTER XVI. A FRIEND IN NEED. CHAPTER XVII. THE SCENE AT THE PLANTATION. CHAPTER XVIII. ALMOST BETRAYED. CHAPTER XIX. CONCLUSION. FRANK ON A GUN-BOAT. CHAPTER I. In the Navy. "Well, Frank, did you bring home the evening's paper?" inquired Mrs. Nelson, as her son entered the room where she was sitting. "Yes, ma'am. Here it is!" answered Frank, producing it. "But there is no news in it. The Army of the Potomac has not moved yet. I don't see what makes them wait so long. Why don't McClellan go to work and thrash the rebels?" "You must remember that the rebels have about as many men as we have," answered his mother. "Perhaps, if McClellan should undertake to 'thrash' the rebels, as you say, he would get whipped himself" "That makes no difference," answered Frank. "If I was in his place, and the rebels _should_ whip me, it wouldn't do any good, for I'd renew the battle every day, as long as I had a man left." It was toward the close of the first year of the war, during the "masterly inactivity" of the Army of the Potomac. For almost eight months McClellan had been lying idle in his encampment, holding in check that splendid army, which, with one blow, could have crushed out the rebellion, and allowing the rebels ample time to encircle their capital with fortifications, before which the blood of loyal men was to be poured out like water. The people of the North were growing impatient; and "On to Richmond!" was the cry from every part of the land. From the time Fort Sumter had fallen, Frank had been deeply interested in what as going on. The insults which had been heaped upon the flag under which his grandfather had fought and died, made the blood boil in his veins, and he often wished that he could enlist with the brave defenders of his country. He grew more excited each day, as the struggle went on, and the news of a triumph or defeat would fire his spirit, and he longed to be standing side by side with the soldiers of the Union, that he might share in their triumphs, or assist in retrieving their disasters.