"Well?"
"If it were possible in spite of everything, to send the despatches by the mountain path—a good rider could get to R——— by to-morrow morning; to be sure he'd have to ride for life or death—dash right through the enemy."
"What folly! You are a soldier and should know that such a course would be madness. The boldest rider would be shot down before he had been gone an hour."
"But if one could find the man who would make the attempt? I know a man who would do it."
The general scowled at the young man.
"Do you mean that you would venture upon this useless exposure? I forbid it, once for all, Prince Adelsberg. I pride myself upon my officers' bravery, but I cannot permit any such senseless experiments."
"I do not mean myself, your excellency," said Egon, earnestly. "The man whom I mean is in the seventh regiment, and is at this moment on outpost duty on Chapel mountain. It was he who brought me word of the prisoner."
The general shook his head thoughtfully.
"I tell you it's impossible, but—who is the man?"
"Joseph Tanner."