After again studying the map he took it to the general.

"We have our disguises, sir, and shall be ready to start tomorrow
morning."

"You have lost no time," the general said approvingly. "You will,
of course, ride to Chivasso. I will give you an order to the
governor there, to take charge of your horses and clothes, telling
him that you are about to proceed on a mission in disguise, and
requesting him to send an officer to pass you through the outposts
beyond the bridge across the Po, that is if the other side is
not guarded by the Spanish troops. I should advise you to make
straight south so as to strike the road from Casale two miles west
of Turin. I do not like letting you go, lad, and yet I feel it is
of such importance that the garrison should know that aid will be
at hand before long, that I feel I ought not to prevent you from
carrying out your enterprise. When do you think of starting?"

"At eight in the morning, sir. If we do so we shall easily reach
Chivasso before dark, and may be near Turin by morning."

"I will have my note for the commandant ready by the time your
horses are at the door. I will make it as small as possible, and
you had better before you start sew it up in the lining of your
coat, so that if you are searched -- which I own I do not think
to be likely, unless in some other way you excite the suspicions
of the Spaniards -- it may not be found upon you."

"I think, sir, that I would rather make it into a little pellet
which I can swallow. I fancy that if they were suspicious enough