rain of stones, as if by
way of confirmation.

"Is Angyal here too?" growled the Turks, starting back in terror and
alarming those in the rear, who feared they were about to be
surrounded. At this information the army of the Turks formed in a
solid mass, rear and van alike harassed by the fear that the Hungarian
forces in possession of the mountain-heights would begin at daybreak
to roll down huge rocks.

Ali Pasha tried to force his way through, now in one place and now in
another, but was beaten back every time with frightful loss, by masses
of rock and trunks of trees rolled down from above. The boldest
rangers, who had fought hand to hand in hundreds of battles, fled
terror-stricken before these thundering rocks which so crushed
everything in their path that horse and rider could not be
distinguished from each other. Ali, seeing that he and his entire host
were all but caught, tore his beard with rage that he must lay down
his arms before an army to which his own was even now superior in
numbers.

"There is nowhere either help or defence except with Almighty God!" he
cried, broke his sword in two in his despair, drew his pistol and
aimed it at his own breast. At that instant a hand tore his weapon
from him and Ali Pasha saw Zulfikar before him.

"What do you want, you madman?" he shouted at him. "You surely would
not have me fall into the hands of these unbelievers alive!"

"I will set you and your army free," said Zulfikar.

"By the soul of Allah, you make great promises, and if you should be
able to fulfil them I would make you second in command."

"That is not necessary. Promise me a thousand ducats and send me to
Banfy as messenger."

"So you can betray my position to him, you dog!"

"I do not need to do that, he can see for himself from the mountain
height, and in any case you are as well done for as if you were dead
already, so you have no choice whether you will believe me or not.
Within ten days you and I and your noblest knights will die of hunger;
in this one respect all are alike and have no advantage over one
another."

"And what will you attempt, miserable slave?"

"Influence Banfy to withdraw his troops from the road leading toward
Kalota and so leave us a way of escape."

"And you think that is possible?"

"Either it is possible, or it is not possible. Where death is certain,
a man is not risking his life. If I can speak with Banfy this evening,
you can think of escape by night. If