Torda Gap? There is nothing like
it in all the world; you'll remember it as long as you live. It is a
splendid garden of wild flowers, and there you will see the cave of the
famous Balyika,--he was Francis Rakoczy's general. Thence it is only a
step to the Szekler Stone, and we are at home. Do you like to walk in
the woods?"

"Nothing better!"

Here Manasseh pulled his brother's sleeve. "Do you really mean to take
us by the way of Torda Gap?" he whispered.

"Yes," returned the other, likewise in an undertone; "there is no other
way."

A blare of trumpets interrupted this conversation, and presently a squad
of hussars came riding down the street, every man of them a raw recruit.

"Look, see how proud he is on his high horse!" interjected Aaron. "He
never even looks at a poor foot-passenger like me. Halloa there,
brother! What kind of a cavalryman do you call yourself, with no eyes
for a pretty girl? Oh, you toad!"

With this salutation Aaron called to his side the young lieutenant who
rode at the head of the hussars. He bore a striking resemblance to
Manasseh,--the same face, the same form, the same eyes. Indeed, the two
had often been mistaken for each other. There was only a year's
difference in their ages. The young hussar gave his hand to Manasseh,
and while they exchanged cordial greetings they looked each other
steadfastly in the eye.

"Whither away, brother?" asked the elder.

"I am going to avenge my two brothers," was the reply.

"And I am going to rescue them," declared Manasseh.

"I am going forth to fight for my country," was the other's rejoinder.

Then the rider bent low over his horse's neck, and the two brothers
kissed each other.

"But aren't you going to ask your new sister for a kiss, you young
scapegrace?" cried Aaron.

The youthful soldier blushed like a bashful girl. "When I come
back--when I have earned a kiss--then I will ask for it. And you will
give me one, won't you, dear sister-in-law, even if they bring me back
dead?"

Blanka gave him her hand, while a nameless dread showed itself in her
face.

"Never fear!" cried the young man. As he gave Blanka a radiant look he
saw tears glistening in her eyes. "I shall not die. _Egy az Isten!_"[1]

[Footnote 1: See preface.]

"_Egy az Isten!_" repeated the elder brother.

Then the young hussar put spurs to his horse and galloped to the head of
his little company.

"Come, let us be going," said Aaron, and he led the way toward th