"Do you surrender?" he asked, releasing his hold of the rebel's throat. "Yes," replied Stiles, faintly. "Don't shoot, Yank!" "You shall not be harmed if you behave yourself. Have you any weapons?" "No! They are all in the shanty!" Frank, after searching the rebel's pockets and satisfying himself of the truth of this statement, continued: "Get up! Now, I know you have friends all around you, but if you have the least desire to live, you'll not make any noise; although you may alarm the camp, it will not save you. Do you understand?" "Have I got a pair of ears?" asked the rebel. "Well, if you have, you hear what I say," returned Frank. "Now go this way," he added, pointing toward the river. The rebel, who had a wholesome fear of the revolver which Frank held in his hand, ready cocked, obeyed, without the slightest hesitation, and they reached the bank of the river, where the cutter lay, without being discovered. "Now," said Frank, "I want to ask you a few questions. Where do you keep the boat in which you were going to carry that mail?" "In the creek, jest above where that ar' gunboat lies, replied Stiles." "How many of you were to go?" "Two--me an' another feller." "Well, now, the colonel won't find you when he wants you. What will he do?" "Oh, he'll send some body else. The mail must go, an' it makes no odds who takes it, so long as he don't get ketched." "That's all I want to know," said Frank. Then, going to the top of the bank, he called out: "Tom, come up here!" The coxswain soon made his appearance, and Frank said: "Now, Stiles, you're a prisoner." "Dog gone ef I keer," he replied, "so long as I get plenty of grub an' tobaker." The rebel was marched down the bank, and Frank again bent his steps toward the house, intending to find his cousin, and, with his assistance, to capture the mail. When he arrived at the tree where he had left Archie, the latter was not to be seen. This, however, did not give him any uneasiness, for Archie, he thought, had doubtless gone back to the cutter. Frank had already made up his mind to go back after him, when he saw a man walk up to the cabin in which he had first discovered the man who was now his prisoner, and heard him call out: "Massa Stiles! de mail all ready, sar!" Receiving no answer, the negro walked into the cabin, but finding it vacant, went out to make the report to the colonel that Stiles was not to be found. From this Frank knew that he had no time to lose. Stiles had told him that some one else would be sent with the mail, and as it was all ready, a man would soon be found to take his place. If he went back after Archie, he might be too late. He must attempt it alone, and unaided. Walking out from behind the tree, he started toward the creek, where lay the boat in which the mail was to be carried.