"I believe, as Archie used to say," he soliloquized, "that I am the unluckiest dog in existence. Troubles never come singly."
"The captain wishes to see you, sir," said one of the men, stepping up and interrupting his meditations.
"All right," answered Frank, who was so completely absorbed in his reverie that he was entirely unconscious of what was going on around him; "call all hands to quarters immediately."
"Sir—I—I don't mean—sir—the captain wishes to speak with you, sir," repeated the sailor, half inclined to believe that Frank was getting crazy. This aroused the young officer to a sense of his situation; as he approached the quarter-deck, where the captain was standing, the latter said:
"Mr. Nelson, do you intend to go ashore with that flag of truce, sir?"
"I beg your pardon, sir," faltered Frank, "I forgot all about that. Will you have the kindness to call away the first cutter?" he continued, approaching the quarter-master, and saluting him as the officer of the deck.
"Mr. Nelson," shouted the captain, "what are you doing? Are you crazy, sir?"
"I believe I am, captain, or pretty near it," answered Frank. "The charges that have been brought against me have well-nigh upset me. They are false, sir, and I don't deserve the reprimand I have received."
In his next attempt to find the officer of the deck Frank met with more success. While the cutter was being manned, he ran down into the steerage, and seizing a pen, hastily dashed off the following:
United States Steamer Ticonderoga, }
Off Cypress Bend, Oct. 30, 1863. }Sir:
Having been reported, by the officer in command of an expedition—sent ashore this day for the purpose of dislodging a body of rebels posted behind the levee—for cowardice, disrespect to my superior officer, and for recklessly exposing my men to the fire of the rebels, and knowing, sir, that these charges are utterly groundless, I respectfully request that a Court of Inquiry may be convened to examine into my behavior while under the enemy's fire.