rnful procession to an
open field in which the execution was to take place. Two Arabs stood
up with gleaming swords prepared to cut off Marko's head.

"Hold on, brothers," cried Milos. "I will give you a sharper sword
with which to cut off the malicious head of the noble Piam. See, with
this sword did the good-for-nothing treacherously slay my father.
Cursed be his hand!"

With these words he rushed to Marko's side; then with one swift stroke
he cut off the head of one Arab, and with another the head of the
other.

With still another stroke he severed the chains that bound Marko, and
Marko, seizing a sword, swung himself into his saddle, and with his
friends began to attack the horde of Turks. Frightened, the Turks fled
before them, and Marko and his companions returned to their own
country.

Marko waited for and soon found the opportunity of showing his
gratitude to his friend, for Milos and two of his brothers were thrown
into prison in Varadin. Milos wrote with his own blood a letter to
Marko, asking for help.

Then the king's son sprang to his horse Saria and rode to Varadin.
Outside of the city he dismounted, stuck his spear in the earth, tied
Saria and began drinking the black wine which he had brought with him.
He poured it into huge beakers, half of which he drank himself, and
half of which he gave to Saria.

At the same time a beautiful maiden, the daughter-in-law of the
general, passed by. When she saw the king's son she was frightened and
ran and told her father-in-law.

Then the general sent out his son Velimir with three hundred men to
take Marko prisoner. The knights encircled Kralewitz Marko, but he
continued drinking his wine and paid no attention to them. But Saria
noticed them, and drawing near her master began beating the ground
with her hoofs.

At this Marko looked up and saw himself surrounded. He emptied his
beaker, threw it to the ground, and sprang to his horse.

[Illustration: THEY GAGGED MARKO AND BOUND HIM TO HIS HORSE]

Like a falcon among doves Marko charged against the enemy. He cut off
the heads of some and drove the rest before him into the Danube.
Velimir tried to flee, but Marko threw him from his horse, tied his
hands and feet and bound him to Saria. Then again he began to drink
his wine.

All this the maiden watched and reported to her father. He gathered
together three thousand knights and rode forth against the stranger.
They surrounded Marko, but he was undismayed.