Thirteen at Table | Page 7

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 Kolozsv?r.
It was past midnight.
The inhabitants of the B?rdy 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 J��zsef B?rdy, springing from his bed, and rushing to the window.
"The Ol?hok!" cried a hussar, who had rushed to his master's apartments on hearing the sounds.
"The Ol?h! the Ol?h!" 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 J��zsef B?rdy, 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 Tam?s'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 Kolozsv?r."
"We shall lose," replied Tam?s 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 Barnab?s and old Simon entered with the widowed sister.
Barnab?s 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 Barnab?s, swinging his club in his herculean arm as if it had been a reed.
"Let us not be too hasty," interrupted J��zsef; 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 Tam?s, you will speak to them?" continued the old man, turning to Tam?s, 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 J��zsef impatiently; "take the arms from the wall, Barnab?s, 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 J��zsef 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