training he has given his son."

"Thank you, sir, in his name," answered Sam, rising and making his
best bow.

"To come back to the business in hand," resumed Jackson. "You'll need
a boat and some camp equipments."

"A boat, yes, but as for camp equipments, I can make out without them
very well. I've camped a good deal and I know how to manage."

"Very well, then, you'll be all the lighter. How many of your boys
will you need?"

"Two or three,--partly to make a show of a camp, but more because it
may be necessary to send some of them back with news. My brother Tom
and my black boy, with one or two others will be enough."

"Very well. Now you must be off as soon as possible. I shall march to
Mobile in a day or two, and organize for defence there. Send your news
there. You had better march directly from this place, so that your
arrival will excite no suspicion. I will provide you with a map of the
country. Have you a compass?"

"Yes sir, I brought one with me from home."

"There are boats enough to be had among the fishermen, I suppose, but
how to provide you with one is the most serious problem I have to
solve in this matter. My army chest is empty, and my personal purse is
equally so."

"I can manage all that, sir, if I may take an axe or two and an adze
from the shop here."

"How?"

"By digging out a canoe. I've done it before, and know how to handle
the tools."

"You certainly do not lack the sort of resources which a commander
needs in such a country as this, where he must first create his army
and then arm and feed it without money. You'll make a general yet, I
fancy."

"At present I am not even a private," replied Sam, "though the boys
call me Captain Sam."

"Do they? Then Captain Sam it shall be, and I wish you a successful
campaign before Pensacola, Captain. Get your forces into marching
order at once. Take all of your boys, unless some of them have
already enlisted,--it won't do to take actual soldiers with you, as
yours must be a citizen's camp,--and march as early as you can. I'll
see that you are properly provided with the tools you need."

CHAPTER VI.

CAPTAIN SAM BEGINS HIS MARCH.

At noon the next day Sam marched away from the camp at the head of his
little company, reduced now to precisely six boys in all, counting the
colored boy Joe, but not counting Captain Sam himself. Jake Elliott
was one of the company, rather against Sam's wish, but he had begged
for permission to g