ight; I'm goin' to wait right here and watch you. Go ahead."

The boys looked at the guns to see if they were all right, and marched
up the road keeping their eyes on the enemy. It was agreed that Frank
was to do the talking and give the orders.

They said not a word until they reached the gate. They could see a
young woman moving about in the house, setting a table. At the gate
they stopped, so as to prevent the man from getting to his horse.

The soldier eyed them curiously. "I wonder whose boys they is?" he
said to himself. "They's certainly actin' comical! Playin' soldiers, I
reckon."

"Cock your gun--easy," said Frank, in a low tone, suiting his own
action to the word.

Willy obeyed.

"Come out here, if you please," Frank called to the man. He could not
keep his voice from shaking a little, but the man rose and lounged out
toward them. His prompt compliance reassured them.

They stood, gripping their guns and watching him as he advanced.

"Come outside the gate!" He did as Frank said.

"What do you want?" he asked impatiently.

"You are our prisoner," said Frank, sternly, dropping down his gun
with the muzzle toward the captive, and giving a glance at Willy to
see that he was supported.

"Your _what_? What do you mean?"

"We arrest you as a deserter."

How proud Willy was of Frank!

"Go 'way from here; I ain't no deserter. I'm a-huntin' for deserters,
myself," the man replied, laughing.

Frank smiled at Willy with a nod, as much as to say, "You see,--just
what Tim told us!"

"Ain't your name Mr. Billy Johnson?"

"Yes; that's my name."

"You are the man we're looking for. March down that road. But don't
run,--if you do, we'll shoot you!"

As the boys seemed perfectly serious and the muzzles of both guns were
pointing directly at him, the man began to think that they were in
earnest. But he could hardly credit his senses. A suspicion flashed
into his mind.

"Look here, boys," he said, rather angrily, "I don't want any of your
foolin' with me. I'm too old to play with children. If you all don't
go 'long home and stop giving me impudence, I'll slap you over!" He
started angrily toward Frank. As he did so, Frank brought the gun to
his shoulder.

"Stand back!" he said, looking along the barrel, right into the man's
eyes. "If you move a step, I'll blow your head off!"

The soldier's jaw fell. He stopped and threw up his arm before his
eyes.

"Hold on!" he called, "don't shoot! Boys, ain't y