Produced by David Garcia, Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. BY HARRY CASTLEMON CONTENTS CHAPTER I.--THE NEW PAYMASTER CHAPTER II.--A NIGHT EXPEDITION CHAPTER III.--ARCHIE IN A PREDICAMENT CHAPTER IV.--A MARK FOR THE UNION CHAPTER V.--A RUN FOR LIFE CHAPTER VI.--FRANK TURNS DETECTIVE CHAPTER VII.--FRANK'S FIRST COMMAND CHAPTER VIII.--AN UNLUCKY FLIGHT CHAPTER IX.--UP THE WASHITA CHAPTER X.--THE PROMOTION CHAPTER XI.--THE RIVAL SPIES CHAPTER XII.--A SCOUTING PARTY CHAPTER XIII.--TOM THE COXSWAIN CHAPTER XIV.--A REBEL TRICK CHAPTER XV.--HONORABLY DISCHARGED FRANK ON THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI. CHAPTER I. The New Paymaster. Vicksburg had fallen, and the army had marched in and taken possession of the city. How Frank longed to accompany it, that he might see the inside of the rebel stronghold, which had so long withstood the advance of our fleet and army! He stood leaning against one of the monster guns, which, at his bidding, had spoken so often and so effectively in favor of the Union, and for two hours watched the long lines of war-worn soldiers as they moved into the works. At length a tremendous cheer arose from the city, and Frank discovered a party of soldiers on the cupola of the court-house, from which, a few moments afterward, floated the Stars and Stripes. Then came faintly to his ears the words of a familiar song, which were caught up by the soldiers in the city, then by those who were still marching in, and "We'll rally round the flag, boys," was sung by an immense choir. The rebels in the streets gazed wonderingly at the men on the spire, and listened to the song, and the triumphant shouts of the conquering army, which proclaimed the beginning of the downfall of their confederacy. To Frank, it was one of the proudest moments of his life--a sight he would not have missed to be able to float at the mast-head of his vessel the broad pennant of the admiral. All he had endured was forgotten; and when the Old Flag was unfurled in the air which had but a short time before floated the "stars and bars," he pulled off his cap and shouted at the top of his lungs.