back, struggle as he might. A large piece of dark paper muslin enveloped his head and body. It was the work of a moment to unwind this and disclose the uniform of the regiment and a well known face.

"Well I'm d-d" said the Sergeant, supremely disgusted.

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"So am I" meekly answered the prisoner, who by this time had recovered his breath.

“Good night and pleasant dreams" added the Sergeant, as the door closed on the luckless private.

It was only about twenty minutes after this that the same sentry heard a quick step approaching the gangway. A private hurried up much out of breath. There was no pause this time.

"Halt there" was the order.

"Oh don't stop me. I have a very important message for the officer of the day and must deliver it at once."

"You can wait a moment I think, until I call the Sergeant. Please do," said the sentry, bringing his bayonet down to within an inch and a quarter of the soldier's buttons. The Sergeant came and was so impressed with the man's earnestness that he took him to the Lieutenant of the Guard. The latter sent him to the cabin of the officer of the day, who had just turned in.

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'What do you want" roared that official from the in

side.

"There is a man here sir, who says he has a message for you-an important message."

"Who is it from?"

"He says from the Mayor, sir."

Of course the officer arose and opened the door, thinking what on earth the Mayor of New Orleans meant by sending a message at that time of night. With a salute the Sergeant explained the matter and the prisoner handed a note. It read as follows:

TO THE OFFICER OF THE DAY,

Seventy-first Regiment.

Please excuse Private

ST. CHARLES HOTEL,
Sunday Night.

of your Regiment, for overstaying his He was with me all evening and I have detained him against his will to assist me in arranging some details of to-morrow's procession.

pass.

Yours truly,

JAMES SHAKESPEARE,

Mayor of New Orleans.

Unfortunately for the messenger, the officer of the day happened to know that, in the first place, the Mayor had nothing to do with arranging the procession, and in the second place, that His Honor's name was Joseph and not James. So the doors of the dungeon opened again and the much humbugged Sergeant took great pleasure in personally attending to the opening. The man was known. afterwards as the "Assistant Mayor."

While the guard house is under consideration there might as well be related another incident. The officers of the battalion took with them to New Orleans several colored servants. Commissary Hess had one named Jep, who worked in the Commissary's car while on the road

and waited on that officer when in the city. Jep was a great, strapping fellow, good natured and obliging. It was on Wednesday evening that he permitted himself to become more or less hilarious. About nine o'clock he came on board and went directly to his master's cabin where, of course, he had access at all times. After staying. in there for some time he went out on the upper deck and watched the twinkling lights of the city. Then he thought of the dusky belles whose eyes twinkled just as brightly. Sinking into a chair he dreamed that, instead of being what he was, he suddenly became transformed into an officer. On his shoulders were the heavy epaulets, at his side the shining sword and from his shako nodded the white plumes of authority. He saw himself among the colored girls-the lion of the evening, petted and feasted and admired above all his comrades. He awoke with a start to find himself chilly in the night air and the same old Jep with the same private's uniform on his back. His dream affected him and, as he went slowly into the cabin, he formed an idea. Of course it took Jep some time to form an idea in its entirety, but with hard work and determination he succeeded. He went into Commissary Hess's cabin and taking out that officer's uniform, laid it on the bed. On the breast of the coat sparkled the decoration of the King, the gold and buttons seemed brighter to Jep than they ever had before. Why could he not be an officer? There were the materials of which officers were made. He had nothing to do but make himself into one,