"I congratulate both you and myself on your having performed a mission that seemed well nigh hopeless.

But by what miracle did you succeed in passing through the enemy's lines?
All who have tried it before have either died in the attempt or have returned to tell me that it was an absolutely impossible one." "It would have been very difficult, general, had not the weather favoured us.

The snowstorm drove the sentries into shelter, and even had they remained at their posts they could not have seen us five yards away." "No, I can understand that once beyond the wall you might in such a storm make your way unnoticed up to the fortress; but I understood that not only were there guards on the walls and down near the great moat, but that there were also sentries in all the streets leading to the walls, and that none were allowed to pass along those leading to the walls facing the citadel.

Tell me how you managed it." "The story is a long one, sir." "Never mind how long it is; give me all details.

I am not particularly busy at present, and I would fain know exactly how this feat has been accomplished." Hector told his story at length.