fellow as this.

Private Gray was a man of quick decision, and his mind was made up at
once. He would keep on duty till it was time for the guard to be
changed, and then he would wake up Sim, and see that a responsible man
took his place.

"The lazy, untrustworthy scoundrel!" he muttered, as he shouldered the
rifle and walked up and down for a few minutes along the sentry's post.
But matters were not to be ordered as he intended, for he had not been
on duty very long before he heard a sound from the river that made him
start and listen attentively.

"Nothing!" he said to himself after a few seconds' attention; and he
once more resumed his slow march up and down, the motion seeming to calm
him, for when standing still his thoughts tortured him.

"There it is again," he said to himself suddenly. "It is a boat of some
kind."

Plainly enough now he had heard the peculiar creak given by an oar
rubbing against wood, and this was repeated again and again.

He strained his eyes in the direction from which it came, but could see
nothing for the trees. Feeling, though, that he ought to act, he went
to where Private Sim still lay sleeping heavily and gave him a lusty
kick, with the effect of making him start to his feet.

"I only--oh, it's you Private Gray," he said, huskily. "I thought it
was the sergeant."

"You untrustworthy villain!" whispered Gray. "Silence, this moment.
Take your rifle, and keep watch till I return."

"Who are you talking to like that?" said Sim, in a bullying tone.

"You, sir," replied Gray, in a low, authoritative manner, which made the
man shrink. "Do you wish me to report that I found you sleeping at your
post? Silence! no words. There is a large boat of some kind
approaching; be on the look-out and challenge, and fire if necessary."

Private Sim did not answer, but stood on the alert, while Gray ran back
in the direction of the fort.

Before he was half-way there, though, he heard the challenge of a sentry
on his right, followed by a faint cry and a heavy fall.

The challenge was repeated by another sentry farther away, and this time
there was the report of a sentry's rifle; and directly after came from
behind him, where he had left Private Sim, the report of another piece.

He knew it must be Sim, and as danger was there, his first impulse was
to run back to the help of the ladies and the resident. His second
thought told him that he was unarmed, and such an act would be madnes