But as long as I am your captain I hope you will appreciate your
privileges."
Sam's speech was followed by a chorus of laughter, in which he
joined heartily himself.
As for John's defection, nobody seemed to regret it much. It was
generally felt that the company would have no difficulty in
getting along without him.
CHAPTER XXVI. THE REBEL TRAP
ON the first of April Frank received the following letter from
his father. It was the more welcome because nearly a month had
elapsed since anything had been received, and the whole family
had become quite anxious:
"Dear Frank," the letter commenced, "you are no doubt feeling
anxious on account of my long silence. You will understand the
cause of it when I tell you that since the date of my last letter
I have been for a fortnight in the enemy's hands as a prisoner.
Fortunately, I have succeeded in effecting my escape. You will
naturally be interested to learn the particulars.
"Three weeks since, a lady occupying an estate about five miles
distant from our camp waited on our commanding officer and made
an urgent request to have a few soldiers detailed as a guard to
protect her and her property from molestation and loss.
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