Gen. A. watched her face closely and critically as he said this. Mildred did not appear to be amazed at this information, but she quietly said:
“Will that be easy to do?”
“I do not know; it depends upon the tact of the person that tries it,” answered Gen. A.
“I infer, then,” she said, “that I would have to avoid the pickets and sentinels?”
“Not so much that as other things which I will explain to you. But I shall not conceal the fact from you, that if you are detected, the consequences will be enough to terrify not only a lady, but a desperate man.”
“Death, would it be?” she asked in a firm, but gentle tone which convinced Gen. A. that Gen. B. was not mistaken in his estimate of her character.
“Death, and ‘death by hanging’,” answered Gen. A. with an emphasis designed to test her nerves.
“O, General!” exclaimed the Doctor in some alarm, “that is asking too much of my child. She is too delicate and timid to take such a risk.”
“I shall not insist upon anyone’s undertaking it,” replied Gen. A. with a disappointed look. “Gen. B. here suggested that your daughter would be the kind of person we need, but if you object we will say no more about it.”