The army of the North had pressed the army of the South back steadily day after day, until the Confederates were encamped less than four miles away from Jack's home. For two days the cannon-firing could be distinctly heard, and the women folks were filled with dread, thinking the invaders from the North were about to swoop down upon their homes and pillage them. "Oh, Jack! do you think they will come here?" was the question Marion asked at least a dozen times. "They had better not," was the sturdy reply. "If they do, they will find that even a boy can fight." "But you could do nothing against an army, Jack." "Perhaps not. But I'll do what I can to protect you and mother." "Old Ben told me that you and Darcy Gilbert were organizing a Home Guard." "Yes; we have organized a company of boys. We have twenty-three members, and I am the captain," answered Jack, with just a bit of pride in his tones. "Then you are Captain Jack!" exclaimed Marion. "Let me congratulate you, captain. But have you any weapons?" "Yes. I have an old sword and also a pistol, and all of the others have pistols or guns. I think, if we were put to it, we might do our enemy some damage." "No doubt, since I know you and Darcy can shoot pretty straight. You ought to ask St. John to join the command." "Not much, Marion! Don't you know that St. John is a coward at heart, even if he is a man?" "Yes, I know it. One of the colored help on his plantation told Old Ben that the cannon-firing so close at hand made him so uneasy he couldn't eat or sleep." "Is it possible! Now the cannon-firing simply makes me crazy to be at the front, to see what is going on, and to take part." "Then you must be a born soldier, Jack." Marion heaved a sigh. "Oh, I wish this war was over! Why must the men of the South and the North kill each other?" "The world has always had wars and always will, I reckon. Do you want to come to town and see us drill?" "Will it be safe?" "I think so, Marion. I don't believe the enemy are coming here very soon." Soon after this Jack and Marion were on their way to Oldville, a sleepy town containing two general stores, a tavern, and a blacksmith shop. In front of the tavern was a large green, and here a number of boys were playing various games. "Hurrah, here comes Captain Jack!" was the cry, when our hero appeared. "Are we to drill to-day?" questioned Darcy Gilbert, as he ran up and nodded to Marion. "If you will," said Jack. His new honors had not made him in the least dictatorial. "All right," returned Darcy. He was first lieutenant of the company, which had styled itself the Oldville Home Guard, and he quickly summoned the young soldiers together. All had uniforms, made of regular home suits with stripes of white sewed down the trouser-legs and around the coat-sleeves. The boys with pistols were placed in the front rank, those with guns in the second rank. One lad had a drum and another a fife.