CHAPTER XXIV
THE ATTACK
It was true enough of course that we had missed
a glorious chance in not surprising and overcoming
General Kolfort's party and making him a prisoner;
but with our end in view it would have been madness
to risk an encounter when we had absolutely no knowledge
of the strength opposed to us. A defeat at such
a moment would have overthrown all our plans and
have involved the abandonment of Christina to whatever
fate might be in store for her.
It was true, too, that in allowing the General to pass and his men to get in touch with the others who were guarding the Princess, we had increased our difficulties; and the result of a hurried consultation with Zoiloff as we rode forward was a decision to seek and overtake the General's party and try conclusions with them.
For this purpose, however, we had wasted valuable time, and the now rapidly lightening dawn greatly lessened the chance of catching them unawares, and vastly increased the risk. But we were in no mood to count the chances too gingerly and we dashed along at as rapid a pace as our horses could travel.
The road was execrable—rough and uneven beyond description, with large loose stones scattered about in it in a way that made the going exceedingly difficult, and in parts galloping was impossible.
We had ridden in this way about half an hour, con-
