“Thank you, sir.”
“Well, Captain Somers, you shall take what force you think necessary. As it will not be prudent for you to go over before dark, you may make up your plan, and I will listen to the details before you go. How many boats shall you want, captain?”
“Only one, sir,” replied Somers promptly; though he was wondering with all his might how the general happened to make so many blunders in regard to his military title, for he had called him captain four or five times.
“Only one? You will need force enough to protect you, captain,” replied the general.
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 embarrassment, 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.”