Veer," he shouted to his men. "And do you tell me, as soon as you have
your breath, just what has happened."

"I must be quick, my lord, I have come out of the midst of the fight.
A troop of Kurdish raiders came to Banfy-Hunyad yesterday. Your
Grace's captain, Gregory Soetar, suspecting that they had come to
plunder, marched against them with the hussars of the castle, engaged
in conflict with them and after a short struggle drove them from the
walls. Not content with that, however, he gave the signal for an
attack and pursued the retreating troops in the direction of Zeutelke.
While the Kurds were fleeing before us we saw ourselves suddenly
attacked on the flank. In a trice the entire open space was covered
with Turkish riders, who crowded upon us like a heap of ants. I cannot
give their number definitely but this much I know;--three horse tails
were visible in their midst, and that means that there is a Pasha in
the army. Soetar could no longer make his retreat to Hunyad."

"The Devil!" interrupted Banfy.

"Every one of us had to encounter two or three. Soetar himself took his
spiked club in one hand and his sword in the other and shouted to me
as I came near: 'My son, leave the battlefield, force your way
through, hurry to Bonczida and tell the news.' What more he said I did
not hear, for the struggling masses separated us. With that I threw my
shield over my back, laid my head on my horse's neck, used my spurs
and galloped off the battlefield. A hundred horsemen hurried after to
catch me; the arrows fell like hailstones on my shield; but my clever
horse took in the danger, doubled his speed and so the pursuers lost
me."

"You come straight from Bonczida?"

"I could not resist, gracious lord, making a detour to Banfy-Hunyad
to inform the people there of their peril so they might flee to the
mountains in time."

"That was wise on your part. So the inhabitants have taken to flight."

"Far from it. Directly in front of Madame Vizaknai's gate I told the
people the frightful news. Their faces turned pale, then suddenly the
lady of the house came out with drawn sword and stood in the midst of
the people with flashing eyes, as if she had the spirit of a hundred
men, and she said to them: 'Are you men! If you are, seize your
weapons. Go upon the walls and know how to defend the place where your
children live and your fathers are buried. But if you are cowards,
then take to flight. The women will stay behind with me a