led the old fellow. "Our
guests are come. We must meet them. Where is Czipra? She can load our
weapons while we fire."

"Czipra cannot, for she is wounded."

Topandy then discovered for the first time that Czipra was lying there.

"A shot?" he asked of Lorand.

"A knife thrust."

"Only a knife thrust? That will heal. Czipra can stand that, can't you,
my child? We'll soon repay the wretches. Remain here, Czipra, quietly,
and don't move. We two will manage it. Bring your weapon and ammunition,
Lorand. Bring the lamp out into the corridor. Here they can spy directly
upon us. Luckily the brigands are not used to handle guns; they only
waste powder."

"But can we leave Czipra here alone?" asked Lorand anxiously.

Czipra clasped her hands and looked at him.

"Go," she panted. "Go away: if you don't I shall get up from here and
look out for myself."

"Don't be afraid. They cannot come here," said Topandy; then, lifting
the lamp from the table himself, and taking Lorand's hand, he drew him
out from the room.

In the corridor they halted to decide on a plan of action.

"The villains are still numerous," said Topandy: "yet I've accounted for
two of them already. I have been round the rooms, and see that every
exit is barred. They cannot enter, for the doors have been made just for
such people, and the windows are protected by bolts and shutters. I have
eight charges myself: even if they break in, before anyone can come this
far, there will be no one left.--But something else may happen. If the
wretches see we are defending ourselves well they will set the house on
fire over us and so compel us to rush into the open. Then the advantage
is theirs. So your business is to take a double-barrelled gun and
ascend to the roof. My butler and the cook have hidden themselves away
and I cannot entice them out: if they were here I should send one of
them with you."

The robbers were beating the door angrily with their crowbars.

"In a moment!" exclaimed Topandy jokingly.--"The rogues seem to be
impatient."

"And what shall I do on the roof?" asked Lorand.

"Wait patiently! I shall tell you in good time. No Turk is chasing
you.--You go up and make your exit upon the roof by means of the attic
window: then you crawl round on all fours along the gutter, without
trying to shoot: leave them to pound upon all four doors. I shall join
in the serenade, when necessary. But if you see they are beginning to
strike lights and set stra