The excitement which filled the camp helped him forget his disappointment. The regiment was in fine spirits. It was impatient to be on the march. Its destination was not known; some said it was to be moved directly to Washington; others, that it was to rendezvous at Annapolis, and form a part of some formidable expedition about to be launched against the rebellion; but all agreed that what every soldier ardently desired was now before them--active service, and an enemy to be conquered. The two days in which time the regiment was to prepare to move, became three days--four days--a week; unavoidable obstacles still delayed its departure, to the infinite vexation of Frank, who saw what a long furlough he might have enjoyed, and who repeatedly sent to his friends directions when and where to meet him, which he found himself obliged, each time, to write in haste and countermand the next morning. Such are some of the annoyances of a soldier's life. But at length the long-delayed orders came. They were received with tumultuous joy by the impatient troops. It was necessary to send the ponderous baggage train forward a day in advance; and the tents were struck at once. All was bustle, animation, and hilarity in the camp; and a night of jubilee followed. The drummer boy never forgot that night, amid all his subsequent adventures. While his companions were singing, shouting, and kindling fires, he could not help thinking, as he watched their animated figures lighted up by the flames, that this was, probably, the last night many of them would ever pass in their native states; that many would fall in battle, and find their graves in a southern soil; and that, perhaps, he himself was one of those who would never return. "What are you thinking about, my bold soldier boy?" said a familiar voice, while a gentle hand slapped him on the back. He turned and saw the bushy mustache of his friend and master, the old drummer, peering over his shoulder. "O Mr. Sinjin!" said Frank. (The veteran wrote his name _St. John_, but every body called him _Sinjin_.) "I was afraid I should not see you again." "Eh, and why not?" "Because we are off in the morning, you know, and I couldn't find you to-day; and----" "And what, my lad?" said the old man, regarding him with a very tender smile. "I couldn't bear the thought of going without seeing you once more." "And what should a young fellow like you want to see an ugly, battered, miserable old hulk like me, for?" "You have been very kind to me," said Frank, getting hold of the old man's hard, rough hand; "and I shall be sorry to part with you, sir, very sorry." "Well, well." The veteran tried in vain to appear careless and cynical, as he commonly did to other people. "You are young yet. You believe in friendship, do you?" "And don't you?" Frank earnestly inquired.