"It is all so sad!" said Frank. "But ought a man to do so, because he has been once or twice deceived? I have heard my mother say that as we are to others, so they will be to us. If we are generous, that excites them to be generous; and love calls out love." "Your mother says that?" replied Mr. Sinjin in a low voice. "Ah, and she says true! If one is proud and reserved, he will find the world proud and reserved: that I know! Because two or three failed me, I distrusted every body, and was repaid with distrust. O my boy, do not do so! Never let your soul be chilled by any disappointment, if you would not become a solitary and neglected old man. Better trust a thousand times, and be deceived as often, better love a thousand times in vain, than shut up your heart in suspicion and scorn. Your mother is right, Frank,--in that, as in every thing else, she is perfectly right!" "It isn't too late yet--is it?--to have friends such as you like. I am sure you can if you will," said Frank. "You have almost made me think so," answered the old drummer. "You have brought back to my heart more of its youth and freshness than I had felt for years. I want you to know that, my boy." Frank did not understand how it could be, and the old man did not inform him. It was now very late. The rain poured dismally. Frank lay nestled in the old man's bosom, like a child. For a long time he did not speak. Then the veteran bent forward so that he could look in his face. The boy was fast asleep. "How much he looks like his mother! Her brow, her mouth! God bless the lad, God bless him!" And the old man sat and watched whilst the drummer boy slept. XXVII. THE SKIRMISH. The night and the storm passed, and day dawned on Roanoke Island. No reveille roused up the soldiers. Silently from their drenched, cold beds, they arose and prepared for the rough day's work before them. The morning was chill and wet, the rain still dripping from the trees. Far in the cypress swamps the lone birds piped their matin songs--the only sounds in those dim solitudes, so soon to be filled with the roar of battle. Ten thousand men had been landed from the fleet; and now ten thousand hearts were beating high in anticipation of the conflict. The line of advance lay along the road, which run in a northerly direction through the centre of the island. Across this road the rebels had erected their most formidable battery, with seemingly impenetrable swamps on either side, an ample space cleared for the play of their guns in front, and felled trees all around. General Foster's brigade took the advance, having with it a battery of twelve-pounders from the fleet, to operate on the enemy's front. General Reno followed, with orders to penetrate on the left the frightful lagoons and thickets which protected the enemy's flank. A third column, under General Parke, brought up the rear.