it succeeds, good; if it does
not, you can come back here again."

"The boy speaks boldly. Well, act according to your judgment. I trust
it to you. God sees all. Go."

Zulfikar laid down his arms and followed the defile leading toward
Kalota. As he came to the Hungarian outpost he saw the length of the
street, long rows of trees with Turks hung to the branches; but this
sight did not disturb the composure of the deserter. He walked boldly
into the midst of the enemy and when they stopped him said quietly in
Hungarian, "Take me to Dionysius Banfy, I am his spy!"

"You lie!" they shouted. "Hang him to a tree!"

"I can prove it," continued Zulfikar, firmly, took a folded letter out
of his turban and gave it to the captain.

In the letter were these words. "I, Gregory Soetar, inform the captains
that the bearer of this letter, Zulfikar, is my faithful war spy. He
is to be allowed free pass everywhere." The captain gave back the
letter sullenly and motioned to two soldiers to lead him to Banfy, and
in case the latter did not recognize him, strike him down at once.
Banfy recognized him at the first glance as Pongracz, once servant of
Balassa, and motioned to his servant to leave him alone with him.

"So you have turned Turk?" Banfy asked.

"Do not ask, my lord, I have a great deal to say beside that. Let me
tell my story quietly to the end and I will be brief. Emerich Balassa
turned me out of his house when he learned that I had assisted you in
carrying off Azraele."

"Good," said Banfy, contracting his eyebrows. "The girl has fled from
me too and I do not know where she has gone."

"I do, my lord. But the worst of it is that there are others who know
too. Near Gregyina-Drakuluj there is a hidden dwelling among the rocks
that is her property."

"Still," cried Banfy, frightened. "How do you know that?"

"Balassa entered a complaint to the Prince that his wife had been
stolen. The affair is not so trifling as you think. Azraele is the
Sultan's daughter, who was betrothed to Ali and carried off by Corsar.
Balassa's poison alone saved Corsar from a silken rope, while Balassa
has given up his native land for the sake of the girl. This woman has
brought misfortune to everybody who has rejoiced in the possession of
her. Now it is your turn. After the Prince had promised the disgraced
Ladislaus Csaki everything in his power if he would discover the place
where you had concealed the girl, Csaki craftily commissioned the