"We'd much rather help you get inside Vienna," replied the colonel.
The general's smile vanished.
"Too late!" he said shortly. "That should have been done a month ago. Take my word for it, old comrade, the game is lost; but we'll play it right out all the same, and only give in when we must.--Botskay, can you ride?"
"Fairly well," I answered, not wishing to boast.
"Would you like to come with me?"
"The general means on his staff," explained Rakoczy, smiling.
Now, I should have liked this very much indeed, but for leaving Rakoczy, and this made me hesitate.
The colonel, seeing my difficulty, laughed, and said,--
"I'll answer for him, general. The berth will suit him capitally. The campaign has made him pretty hardy, and he'll soon learn to do without sleep."
"Well," said the general kindly, laying his hand on my shoulder, "I shall be glad to have you. I was very fond of your brother, and miss him more than you would think. So just pack up anything you may want. I'm leaving by the steamer in an hour."