Part 28 (1/2)
Captain again!
”I do not intend to fight the whole rebel army, if it is over there. I do not propose to take more than half a dozen men with me.”
”I think that is a sensible view of the enterprise; for the more men you take, the greater your chances of being discovered. Select your own men, Captain Somers.”
Captain Somers! The general had certainly forgotten that he was only a first lieutenant, or else he was amusing himself at his modest subordinate's expense.
”I know of several men in our regiment who are just what I want,” replied Somers, hardly able to speak from embarra.s.sment, on account of the general's often-repeated mistake.
”Very well; you shall have the necessary authority to select whom you please. You may go now, and arrange your plans.”
Somers saluted the general, and was about to retire, when the thought occurred to him that he might at least gratify his friend Captain de Banyan, and perhaps bring him favorably to the general's notice.
”May I be allowed to select an officer to go with me?” he asked.
”Certainly, if you desire; but you will remember that you are a young officer, going out on difficult and dangerous service, and that officers will not be so obedient as privates,” suggested the general. ”Whom do you desire to go with you?”
”Captain de Banyan, of our regiment.”
”Captain! Why, then he will be your equal in rank, and by priority of commission, your superior.”
”We shall agree remarkably well, general, though he is my superior in rank, without regard to dates,” replied Somers, who by this time had come to the conclusion that the general meant something by calling him captain.
”No; you are both captains,” added the general with apparent indifference.
”I beg your pardon, general; you have probably forgotten that the commission which was forwarded to me only about two weeks ago was that of first lieutenant.”
”I remember all about it, Captain Somers; but, by the time you reach your quarters, there will be another commission there for you. By the way, captain, do you remember Senator Guilford?”
”I do, general; I have good reason to remember him; for he takes a deep interest in my affairs,” replied Somers, whose brown face was red with blushes.
”Has a pretty daughter, hasn't he? Fell out of a railroad car and broke her arm, didn't she?”
”That was the only time I ever saw her, general,” stammered Somers; ”and probably I shall never see her again.”
”Why, you are as cold-blooded as a frog! Why don't you write to the damsel, and tell her you are still alive, if you can't think of anything else to say?”
”I don't like to curry favor with great folks.”
”I like that, captain. But you must attend to your duty now. You may have Captain de--what's-his-name--if you like.”
”Captain de Banyan, sir. He is a brave and n.o.ble fellow.”
”Your friend, eh?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Well, I remember him. He is certainly a brave fellow; for I noticed him at Glendale.”
”At Oak Grove he captured the enemy's sharpshooters, who were lodged in the old house.”
”I thought you did that.”