Year: 1868

low, SAID the 0mcer, turning 10 VlclOr Witn
quiet smile. "If you still have an appetite for it
after what you have seen, you can pass the car
tridges up 49,.


'Thank you, SIR said Victor with blush, 'I'l
try to do my duty" The firing still continued
briskly for several minutes before the boats mani
tested any disposition to retire The officer whe
commanded the thirty-two FOUNDER, stood with hi
glass in hand and aimed the gun each time it wa
brought to bear. Cold, calculating, and intrepic
in appearance, he fought his gun as coolly as he
would have played game Of billiards. He wa
very youthful in appearance, seeming scarcely
more than twenty-one or two years Of age, some
what above the medium height, but slender ano
almost feminine in appearance; but from his sterr
blue eye the soul of hero famed out From the
black felt hat which shaded his brow, to his finely
polished boots, he was neatness personifed. Hll
linen was fine and spotless, and on the finger o.
his right hand, from which he had just withdrawn
his glove, plain gold ring glistened. Yet there
was nothing foppish in his dress or appearance
One who but glanced casually at his face, would
have pronounced him somewhat efeminate ; bu
one who regarded him more closely, would have
beheld in him stern and intrepid soldier, with
the gentleness and purity of woman written upoE
every feature of his expressive face.


The first cartridge which Victor handed up was
rammed home and the gun aimed, but the Lieu
tenant stood gravey with the lanyard in his hand
watching the largest of the boats as she rounded
to deliver broadside, needless of the shot and
shell that were flying around him. After severa
seconds, he stepped quietly back, and pulling the
lanyard, sprang suddenly upon the parapet, witt
his glass to his eye His quick glance discovered
that his shot had been successfully delivered, ane
had raked his antagonist from stem to stern.


By the time his gun was reloaded he was agar
al his post and, aiming as deliberately as before
saw the smoke stack of another one Of the steam
ers come down. The last two shots from this gur
put an end to the fight The damage to the boat
was such that they fell down the stream at once
and disappeared beyond the bend as fast as steam
could carry them, receiving farewell shot from
every gun of the battery. The crew of each gul
claimed the result as due chiefly to its own gun
but the young Lieutenant returning his glass to it
case, and quietly drawing on his glove, was abou
to depart without word, when his glance fell up
on Victor.


II see, from your dress, said he, ''you do no
belong to the artillery; what regiment are yor
of?'


'I intend joining the -th," replied Victor, "a
soon as can find it. ....


'This, then, is your first day among the 'dogs
of war;" said the Lieutenant, with surprise
"How do you like it?''


ut was too hot to be agreeable, I must confess,
said Victor.


'sIt was small affair, as you will think after 1
few weeks" replied the young Lieutenant; "bu
come with me to my quarters, and as soon as VI
can take cup of coffee, will conduct you to you
Regiment. Your Colonel is on old acquaintance
and have an engagement to dine with him to
day."


Victor, much pleased with his new acquain
tance, thankfully accepted the invitation, and &C
companiei him to his tent, which stood about ont
hundred and fifty yards to the real of the breast
work, under magnificent live oak. An hou
passed away pleasantly, and when Victor came
forth with Harvey Haley-whom he had previous
ly sought out and conducted to the tent of th'
young Lieutenant of Artillery-to accompany hi
new acquaintance to that portion of the Islant
where the Regiment he was about to join lay en-
camped, he felt as though parting from an ole
friend. The kindly interest that Lieutenant Nc
Gregor manifested in him, won upon his heart
and when, having reached the quarters Of his reg
iuent, they shook hands at parting, it was with 8
sincerely expressed wish on either part, that thf
fate of war might bring them together again.