w
rent with frequent flashes of lightning, which served to illumine the
scene within. About a dozen men were assembled there, sitting on the
benches that had once been occupied by worshippers, some wearing the
costume of the country, while others were dressed in military uniform.
Before them, with his back to the altar, sat a man of commanding
appearance, attired in a clerical gown with long, flowing sleeves. In
his lap he held a little fair-haired boy, covering the child with one of
his wide sleeves, and giving it the golden crucifix that hung from his
neck to play with. At times his long black beard completely concealed
the child's face. The little one was playing and prattling, giving no
heed to the talk of the men about him and betraying no alarm at the
tumultuous approach of the storm.

The newcomer advanced and addressed the group:

"Gentleman and friends, glorious descendants of Decebalus and Trajan!"

"Never mind ceremony now, Diurbanu," interrupted the wearer of the gown,
in a deep, commanding voice. "What news? Let us hear your errand."

"I am the bearer of instructions."

"Out with them, then!"

"We must prosecute the war with might and main. There is no time to
lose. Bem regards the Transylvanian campaign as ended, and has set out
with his whole army for the Banat, leaving only a few regulars to guard
the passes and to prosecute the siege of Karlsburg. Our part is to check
him in his march on Croatia."

"Or, in other words," interrupted the man in the gown, "to prevent him
from dealing Jellachich a fatal blow, we are to throw ourselves in Bem's
way."

"The victors of Abrudbanya and Brad will not shrink from the
undertaking, I should hope," was Diurbanu's response.

"Let us understand each other," said the other, setting the little boy
on his knee and trotting him up and down as he spoke. "Is it reasonable
to suppose that we could, without cavalry, artillery, or experienced
commanders, attack a fully equipped force with any hope of success,
especially after that force has driven an Austrian army corps out of
the country and shown itself able to repulse the Russian auxiliaries?"

"No one expects that of us. Our operations are to be confined to raids
in the mountains."

"But no enemy is to be found now in the mountains. Don't you know that?
You have just come over the mountains. Did you see any sign of the
enemy?"

"We have foes enough there still. There is Toroczko." Diurbanu's face,
as he said