the command of Somers's company.

"I don't know what it means," replied our lieutenant.

"Don't you, indeed?" added the captain with a smile. "Don't you know what
special duty means? On the night before the battle of Solferino----"

"Excuse me, Captain de Banyan; but I am ordered to report forthwith,"
interrupted Somers, who had no desire to hear another "whopper."

The young lieutenant marched off, with his little force, to report as he
had been directed. He knew his men well enough to enable him to make a
good selection; and he was confident that they would stand by him to the
last.

"Do you know Senator Guilford?" demanded the general, after Somers had
passed through all the forms of reporting.

"I do, general," replied the lieutenant, with a fearful blush, and with a
wish in his heart that the distinguished Senator had minded his own
business.

"He speaks well of you, Lieutenant Somers," added the general.

"I am very much obliged to him for his kindness; but I never saw him but
once in my life."

"He asks a favor for you."

"I am very much obliged to him; but I don't ask any for myself, and I
hope you will not grant it. If any favors are bestowed upon me, I prefer
to earn them myself."

"Good!" exclaimed the general. "But I assure you and Senator Guilford
that no man in this division of the army will get a position he does not
deserve. I assure you, Lieutenant Somers, I should have thrown the
Senator's letter among the waste paper, if I had not known you before. I
remember you at Williamsburg; and you did a pretty thing in the
wheat-field yesterday. You are just the man I want."

"Thank you, sir; I should be very glad to prove that your good opinion is
well founded."

Apart from others, and in a low tone, the general gave his orders to
Lieutenant Somers to undertake a very difficult and dangerous scouting
expedition.

"Before sundown you will be a prisoner in Richmond, or a first
lieutenant," added the general as Somers withdrew.

CHAPTER IX

LIEUTENANT SOMERS CHANGES HIS NAME AND CHARACTER

Like the major-generals in the army, Lieutenant Somers had strong
aspirations in the direction of an independent command. Like those
distinguished worthies, no doubt, he felt competent to perform bigger
things than he had yet been called to achieve in the ordinary routine of
duty. He had the blood of heroes in his veins; and, in spite of all he
could do to keep his thoughts within the limits of mod