The drummers being assembled, the surgeon came to them, and gave each a strip of red flannel to tie on his arm as a token, at the same time informing them that, when the troops landed, they were to go with him and help carry the wounded. "This begins to look like serious business, my boy," said the old drummer, kindly, as he stooped to assist Frank in tying on his badge. His touch was very gentle. Frank's breast began to swell. But before he could speak the old man had disappeared in the crowd. "He don't know yet that I know he gave me the watch," thought the boy, "and he wouldn't look and see that I have it again." Then he regarded the red token on his arm, and remembered that they all had other things to think of now. Picket-boats were out in advance all night, at the entrance to Croatan Sound, in the darkness and fog, keeping watch for the enemy. No enemy appeared. Towards morning, however, the fog lifting, two rebel steamers were seen hastily taking to their heels, having come down in the obscurity to see what they could see. It was Friday, the 7th of February. The morning was beautiful; the sunrise came in clouds of glory; there was as yet no taint of battle in the purity of the air. It was a lovely day for a sea fight. Frank climbed into the rigging to observe. At ten o'clock Goldsborough's gunboats could be seen making their way, one by one, cautiously, through the narrow channel between marshy islands into Croatan Sound. There were nineteen of them. The gunboats of the coast division followed, six in number. The S. R. Spaulding, to which Burnside had transferred his flag, next went in, making signals for the transports to follow. Far off a gun was heard. It was only a signal fired by a rebel steamer to announce the approach of the squadron; but it thrilled the hearts of the troops waiting to go into battle. An hour later another cannon boomed, nearer and louder. It was a shot tossed from the commodore's flag-ship at the rebels, who promptly responded. The flag-ship now hoisted the signal,-- "THIS DAY OUR COUNTRY EXPECTS EVERY MAN TO DO HIS DUTY." From ship to ship, from man to man, from heart to heart, thrilled the electric message. It was greeted by cheers and the thunder of guns. This was at half past eleven o'clock. XXII. THE ATTACK OF THE GUNBOATS. The spars of the transports were beginning to be thronged. Corporal Gray brought up a glass to Frank. "O, good!" cried Frank. "Is it yours?" "No; it belongs to Mr. Sinjin." "Did he send it to me?" "Not he! But he had been casting that sharp eye of his up at you, and I knew what he meant when he said, 'Corporal, there's a good lookout from the masthead, if you'd like to take a glass up there." "Did he really mean it for me, after all my bad treatment of him?" said Frank. "Bless his old heart!"