ht of him the frightened Mamelukes scattered,
dashing over hedges and fences on their horses, riding one another
down.

At the same time the people who were defending the church broke
down the barricades and made a sally on the assailants. At their
head was Madame Vizaknai with drawn sword--behind the clergy as
standard-bearers, with the church banners.

The great army of besiegers, now fallen between two fires, parted and
opened a free course for the scythes of the peasants, and for the
tschakany. This last is a mighty weapon; in the hands of the expert
its blow is almost unfailing. The long pointed blade strikes with such
weight as it falls that there is neither helmet nor shield it cannot
go through, and the sword offers no defence against its crooked steel.

Soon the two armies met. The janissaries who, though half dead still
struck with their hangers at the feet of the horses riding over them,
scattered like chaff.

Madame Vizaknai sprang toward Dionysius Banfy and seized his horse by
the bridle.

"The danger is great, gracious lord. The Turks are twenty times our
number. Come behind the church wall."

"I'll not go a step further," replied Banfy, coldly. "Save yourself
behind the barricades."

"Neither will I," replied Madame Vizaknai.

"I can defend myself," said Banfy, fiercely.

"So can I," replied the woman, proudly.

New forces streamed out from every direction as if they had come down
from the clouds or up from the ground. Foot soldiers and horse, with
long weapons, bows and lances arose from every side with a shout that
reached the heavens:--"Ali, Ali, Allah Akbar!"

The Hungarian force, with backs to the church drew themselves up in
line of battle and waited the attack. From the end of the street a
gleaming troop of horsemen appeared to be advancing. It was a picked
company of spahis on stately Arab horses; the housings gleaming with
emeralds in the firelight. In the middle rode Ali on a slender
snow-white barb; in his hand a crooked sword with diamond-set hilt and
on his head a turbaned helmet. His long beard fell over his silver
armor. When he was within range of Banfy he called a halt and drew up
his men. Until then Banfy had not touched his pistols, the wonderfully
carved ivory handles of which were just in sight above the saddlebags.
Now he drew them and handed them both to Madame Vizaknai.

"Take them," he said, "you ought to have something for self-defence."

Just then Ali Pasha sent