A German cavalry commander would have been brave enough to try to do that, but he would not have tried because he would have known that it was an unsound plan." "I wish Boris knew that his father was safe," said Fred, a little sadly.
"He has been worried, although he has said nothing." "Eh--he might have known it! Yes, he got back safely enough.

As to whether he is safe now, that is another matter.

He is in the thick of the fighting around Gumbinnen, and he is not one of those generals who stay in the rear.

He is like Skobeleff.

Have you heard of him ?" "He commanded at Plevna, against the Turks ?" "And in a good many other battles! Skobeleff, though he was in command of the whole army, would insist always on being in the thick of the fighting himself.