sion of the spoil. This girl is our booty; she belongs to us after
the victory."

"I know our laws better than you do, churl! Due division of spoil is
just and fair; but we cast lots for what cannot be divided."

"True, leader: a horse or an ox cannot be divided, and for them we
cast lots, but in this case--"

"I have said it cannot, and I should like to know who dares to say it
can!"

Lupey knew the Decurio too well to proffer another syllable, and the
rest turned silently from the girl; one voice alone was heard to
exclaim, "It can!"

"Who dares to say that?" cried the Decurio; "let him come forward!"

A young Wallachian, with long plaited hair, confronted the Decurio. He
was evidently intoxicated, and replied, striking his breast with his
fist: "I said so."

Scarcely had the words escaped his lips, than the Decurio, raising his
left hand, severed the contradictor's head at one stroke from his
body; and as it fell back, the lifeless trunk dropped on its knees
before the Decurio, with its arms around him, as if in supplication.

"Dare anyone still say it can?" asked Numa, with merciless rigor.

The Wallachians turned silently away.

"Put the horses immediately to the carriage; the girl must be placed
in it, and brought to Topanfalvo. Whoever has the good fortune of
winning her, has a right to receive her as I confide her to you; but
if anyone of you should dare to offend her in the slightest degree,
even by a look or a smile, remember this and take example from it,"
continued the Decurio, pointing with his sword to the headless body of
the young man. "And now you may go--destroy and pillage."

At these words the band scattered right and left, the Decurio with the
fainting girl, whom he lifted into the carriage and confided to some
faithful retainers cf the family, pointing out the road across the
hills.

In half an hour the castle was in flames and the Wallachians,
descending into the cellars, had knocked out the bottoms of the casks,
and bathed in the sea of flowing wine and brandy, singing wild songs,
while the fire burst from every window enveloping the blackened walls;
after which the revelers departed, leaving their dead, and those who
were too helplessly intoxicated to follow them.

Meanwhile they brought the young girl to the Decurio's house, and as
each man considered that he had an equal right to the prize, they kept
a vigilant eye upon her, and none dared offend her so much as by a
look.

W