a volley, my lads!"

But this time Manasseh shook his head, whereupon the whole battalion
grounded arms.

"What do you mean?" exclaimed the major, astounded.

Manasseh raised his hand to heaven. "_Egy az Isten!_" he cried, and all
his comrades followed his example.

"What do you say?" asked the bewildered officer.

"We swear by the God who has said 'Thou shalt not kill!'" was Manasseh's
reply.

"But you are soldiers, and on the battle-field."

"We do our duty, we go whither we are ordered, and we can die if we
must; but we will not take human life except in defence of our homes
and our fatherland."

"But, man, the enemy will kill you."

"So be it."

The commander threatened, begged, wept--all in vain. The only reply was,
"_Egy az Isten!_" The men were willing to discharge their pieces if
necessary, but it would only be a waste of ammunition: they would fire
into the air.

Troops were now rapidly moving on the threatened position from two
directions, one party to assault, the other to defend. Fearful slaughter
seemed imminent, and nothing was left for those who had so gallantly
carried the terrace but to die where they stood. Suddenly, however, a
third power took a hand in the fray, and smote both assailants and
defenders with equal fury. The black clouds that had been gathering over
the battle-field opened and began such a cannonade as neither side could
withstand. Wind, hail, lightning, and thunder, accompanied by an ominous
darkness in which friend was indistinguishable from foe, played such
havoc with the puny combatants and their mimic artillery, that all were
forced to seek shelter and safety from the angry elements. Thus neither
side was left in possession of the field, but a third and a mightier
power than either claimed the victory in that day's fight.

Manasseh and his comrades fled with the rest before the fury of the
storm. They succeeded in gaining a sheltered position where they found
campfires burning, and thought themselves among friends. But they were
mistaken. They had stumbled in the darkness upon the enemy's camp.

CHAPTER XXVII.

AN HOUR OF TRIAL.

Manasseh and those with him were taken prisoners and sent to Bresci.
What befell them there is matter of history. Adorjan was surprised one
morning by the receipt of the following: a coffee-coloured uniform,
trimmed with red cord and its collar adorned with gold lace; a handsome
sword in a gold-mounted scabbard; and an official