"Do you mean that they intend to attack us?"
"I think so. Why else do they come? Yesterday there were none. All last night they were marching; to-morrow, at dawn, they will be here."
"Who commands them?"
"Liprandi. I saw him, and they told me his name."
"This is most important," said Sir Colin; "we must know more. Find out, sergeant-major, whether he can go back safely."
"Back within the Russian lines?"
"Exactly. He might go and return with the latest news."
"You would never see the fellow again, Sir Colin. He is only humbugging us—"
"Put the question as I direct you," interrupted the general, abruptly. "What we want is information; it must be got by any means."
"Yes, I will go," the prisoner promised, joining his hands with a gesture as if taking an oath; "and I would return this very night; you shall have the exact numbers; shall know the road they are coming, when to expect them—all."