"We do not take up arms for our nation alone, but for freedom in general."
"You do wrong. It is all the same to us who our sovereign may be; only let him be just towards us, and raise up our fallen people; but you will destroy your nation—its power, its influence, and privileges—merely that you may live in a country without a head."
A loud uproar interrupted the conversation. A disorderly troop of Wallachians approached the Decurio's house, triumphantly bearing the hussar's csako on a pole before them.
"Had I left you there last night, they would now have exhibited your head instead of your csako."
The crowd halted before the Decurio's window, greeting him with loud vociferations.
The Decurio spoke a few words in the Wallachian language, on which they replied more vehemently than before, at the same time thrusting forward the kalpag on the pole.
The Decurio turned hastily round. "Was your name written on your kalpag?" he asked the young man, in evident embarrassment.
"It was."
"Unhappy youth! The people, furious at not having found you, are determined to attack your father's house."
"And you will permit them?" asked the youth, starting from bed.
"I dare not contradict them, unless I would lose their confidence. I can prevent nothing."
"Give me up—let them wreak their bloody vengeance on my head!"
"I should only betray myself for having concealed you; and it would not save your father's house."
"And if they murder the innocent and unprotected, on whom will the ignominy of their blood fall?"
"On me; but I will give you the means of preventing this disgrace. Do you accept it?"
"Speak!"
"I will give you a disguise; hasten to Kolozsvar and assemble your comrades,—then return and protect your house. I will wait you there, and man to man, in open honorable combat, the strife will no longer be ignominious."
"Thanks, thanks!" murmured the youth, pressing the Decurio's hand.
"There is not a moment to lose; here is a peasant's mantle—if you should be interrogated, you have only to show this paszura,14 and mention my name. Your not knowing the language is of no consequence; my men are accustomed to, see Hungarian gentlemen visit me in disguise, and having only seen you by night, they will not recognize you."
Imre hastily took the dress, while Decurio spoke to the people, made arrangements for the execution of their plans, and pointed out the way to the castle, promising to follow them immediately.
"Accept my horse as a remembrance," said the young man, turning to the Decurio.
"I accept it, as it would only raise suspicion were you to mount it; but you may recover it again in the field. Haste, and lose no time! If you delay you will bring mourning on your own head and disgrace on mine!"
In a few minutes the young man, disguised as a Wallachian peasant, was hastening on foot across the hills of Kolozsvar.
It was past midnight.
The inhabitants of the Bardy castle had all retired to rest.
The iron gate was locked and the windows barred, when suddenly the sound of demoniac cries roused the slumberers from their dreams.
"What is that noise?" cried Jozsef Bardy, springing from his bed, and rushing to the window.
"The Olahok!"15 cried a hussar, who had rushed to his master's apartments on hearing the sounds.
"The Olah! the Olah!" was echoed through the corridors by the terrified servants.
By the light of a few torches, a hideous crowd was seen before the windows, armed with scythes and axes, which they were brandishing with fearful menaces.
"Lock all the doors!" cried Jozsef Bardy, with calm presence of mind. "Barricade the great entrance, and take the ladies and children to the back rooms. You must not lose your heads, but all assemble together in the turret-chamber, from whence the whole building may be protected. And taking down two good rifles from over his bed, he hastened to his elder brother Tamas's apartments, and overlooked the court.
"Have you heard the noise?" asked his brother as he entered.
"I knew it would come," he replied, and coolly continued to pace the room.
"And are you not preparing for defense?"
"To what purpose?—they will kill us all. I am quite prepared for what must inevitably happen."
"But it will not happen if we defend ourselves courageously. We are eight men—the walls of the castle are strong—the besiegers have no guns, and no place to protect them; we may hold out for days until assistance comes from Kolozsvar."
"We shall lose," replied Tamas coldly, and without the slightest change of countenance.
"Then I shall defend the castle myself. I have a wife and children, our old grandmother and our sisters are here, and I shall protect them, if I remain alone."
At that instant Barnabas and old Simon entered with the widowed sister.
Barnabas had a huge twenty-pound iron club in his hand; grinding his teeth, and with eyes darting fire, he seemed capable of meeting single-handed the whole troop.
He was followed by the widow, with two loaded pistols in her hand, and old Simon, who entreated them not to use violence or exasperate the enemy.
"Conduct yourselves bravely!" replied the widow dryly; "let us not die in vain."
"Come with me—we shall send them all to hell!" cried Barnabas, swinging his club in his herculean arm as if it had been a reed.
"Let us not be too hasty," interrupted Jozsef; we will stand here in the tower, from whence we can shoot every one that approaches, and if they break in, we can meet them on the stairs."
"For Heaven's sake!" cried Simon, "what are you going to do? If you kill one of them they will massacre us all. Speak to them peaceably—promise them wine—take them to the cellar—give them money—try to pacify them! Nephew Tamas, you will speak to them?" continued the old man, turning to Tamas, who still paced up and down, without the slightest visible emotion.
"Pacification and resistance are equally vain," he replied coldly; "we are inevitably lost!"
"We have no time for delay," said Jozsef impatiently; "take the arms from the wall, Barnabas, give one to each servant—let them stand at the back windows of the house, we two are enough here. Sister, stand between the windows, that the stones may not hit you; and when you load, do not strike the balls too far in, that our aim may be the more secure!"
"No! no!—I cannot let you fire," exclaimed the old man, endeavoring to drag Jozsef from the window. "You must not fire yet—only remain quiet."
"Go to the hurricane, old man! would you have us use holy water against a shower of stones?"
At that instant several large stones were dashed through the windows, breaking the furniture against which they fell.
"Only wait," said Simon, "until I speak with them. I am sure I shall pacify them. I can speak their language and I know them all—just let me go to them."
"A vain idea! If you sue for mercy they will certainly kill you, but if you show courage, you may bring them to their senses. You had better stay and take a gun."
But the old man was already out of hearing, and hurrying downstairs, he went out of a back door into the court, which the Wallachians had not yet taken possession of.
14
Everything on which a double-headed eagle—the emblem of the Austrian Government—was painted, engraved or sculptured, the Wallachians called paszura.