, a place of wonders, but the greatest wonder of all you have
wrought in rescuing your brothers."

This unrestrained outburst of joy opened Blanka's eyes and made her see
that there was far more behind the meeting of these brothers than she
had at first suspected. She knew now that the vague dread which had
oppressed her, and from which she had sought relief in sacred song, had
not been unfounded. Thus it was that she felt all the more impelled to
take up the psalm where she had broken off, and to pour out her gladness
in the concluding lines:

"He hears his saints, he knows their cry,
And by mysterious ways
Redeems the prisoners doomed to die,
And fills their tongues with praise."

Much rejoicing then followed, and the two brothers, whom Manasseh now
presented to Blanka, told her all about the preparations made for
receiving the bridal party at the Borev Bridge. Then all five sat down
and emptied the lunch-basket with which Ciprianu had provided his
guests; for thenceforth they would not need to carry their supplies with
them. Toward noon they mounted their horses, David and Simon taking
Blanka between them, and the other two bringing up the rear.

"Now tell me all about it," began the elder brother, as he rode a little
behind with Manasseh. "You must have had the eloquence of Aaron and the
magician's power of Moses, to prevail on Pharaoh to let your people go."

"I have wrought no miracle and used no eloquence," was the reply. "But I
showed our foes neither fear nor haughtiness. I joined their circle, but
did not spoil their entertainment. They questioned me, and I told them
the truth. I asked them for peace, and offered them a price that I
thought we were able to pay."

"How high a price?" asked Aaron.

"Sixteen oxen and twenty casks of plum brandy," was the matter-of-fact
reply.

"If my arm were only long enough, wouldn't I box your ears!" exclaimed
Aaron, by way of giving vent to his admiration.

"They wished to do something of the sort to me up yonder, too, when they
heard my offer," returned the other. "But then they reconsidered the
matter, and at last came to see that it was a very fair proposal, and
one that needed no lawyer or interpreter to make clear to them. They all
understood it, and finally declared themselves satisfied."

"But where did you get the two horses for our brothers?"

"I bought them, and I gave a price, too, such as is paid only for the
best English thoroughbreds; b