CHAPTER XI.
"NEXT TIME WE MEET!"
Since her father's departure, Dora had held the reins of government, andheld them, too, with a firmer hand than Master Peter had done.
In a couple of weeks she had made the sleepy governor, if not active, atleast less dilatory; the men-at-arms had been well drilled by himselfand Talabor, and the serving men and women had been bewitched into somedegree of orderliness.
News of her father she neither had nor expected. Probably she would hearnothing until he came or sent for her. She knew nothing positively as towhat was taking place outside, though the servants from time to timepicked up fragments of news in the villages, so contradictory as toconvey little real information. But the air, even in this out-of-the-wayregion, was full of rumour and presentiment, which affected differentcharacters in different ways, but had the general result of making allmore careful than usual.
Without being in the least alarmed, Talabor was one who showed himselfparticularly circumspect at this time; and, as if he had some sort ofinstinct that trouble might be at hand, he gradually got into the way ofhelping the seneschal in all that he had to do. And his assistance,though uncalled for, was most welcome to the poor man, who felt a gooddeal burthened, now that he had to bestir himself to greater speed thanwas his wont.
Some of the servants liked Talabor for his unpresuming ways, resolution,and courage, while the rest sought to curry favour with him because theyoung clerk was evidently in the master's good graces, and they believedhim to be a power in consequence.
By degrees, and without even noticing it, Talabor quite took thegovernor's place. The servants, being accustomed to receive their ordersfrom him, and to go to him in all difficulties, finding moreover thatTalabor was always ready with an answer and never at a loss what to do,while the old seneschal forgot more than he remembered, soon almostoverlooked the latter and put him on one side.
Even Dora, who was perhaps more distant with Talabor now than she hadever been before, came at last to giving her orders to him, instead ofto the governor. And the governor, finding himself thus in the shade,would now and then suddenly awake and become jealous for thepreservation of his authority, and at such times would seize the reinswith ludicrous haste, while Talabor would as quickly take up again thepart of a subordinate.
Such was the state of affairs when the governor and Talabor were sittingtogether one evening in a tolerably large room occupied by the former.
On the table before them were a good sized pewter pot and drinking cupsto match. The two had been talking for some time. The governor waslooking as if he had been annoyed about something, and Talabor could notbe said to look cheerful either, in fact, he had rarely been seen tosmile since Master Peter's departure. He missed him greatly, forlatterly, as long as he was at home, Peter had often had the young manwith him in the evenings, when the candles were lighted, or when ablazing fire supplied the place of tallow and wax, these latter beingstill considered luxuries.
Master Peter possessed a few books which he greatly valued--a copy ofhis favourite Ovid, and a Bible, for which he had given a village and ahalf, besides one or two others. He made Talabor read to him from all inturn; and often by way of variety, he had long conversations with him,and told him stories of his hunting adventures.
Talabor was a good listener, and he not only enjoyed but learnt a gooddeal from the narratives of his younger days, in which Master Peterdelighted. Dora, too, was more often present than not, and sometimesjoined in the conversation, which made it more interesting still, andthen Talabor felt as if he were almost one of the family. Of course,there could be nothing of this sort now. Dora gave her orders, sometimesmade suggestions, but he never saw her except in the presence of othersand on matters of business. He had quite satisfied himself, however,that there had never been anything between her and Libor, and that was asatisfaction. She had not deceived her father, she had never either sentor received a single letter unknown to him, and in fact she was just asupright and honourable as he had always thought her.
As to why Libor had spread the reports which Talabor had traced to him,and why he had enlisted Borka's aid, unless it were to magnify his ownimportance, that, of course, he could not guess; but he had sofrightened the maid that he was satisfied not only that she had told himthe truth so far as she knew it, but that for the future she would keepit to herself, on pain of being denounced as a traitor to her master, ofwhom she stood in great awe.
"This won't do!" cried the governor, as he brought his hand down on thetable with a mighty bang. "This won't do, I say! Here are the woodsswarming with wolves, and one good hunt would drive the whole pack off,and yet you, Talabor, would have us look idly on while the brutes arecarrying off the master's sheep and lambs regularly day after day."
"Not idly, sir, I did not say idly; but they have the shepherd and hisboys to look after them, and they are good shots, especially theshepherd, and then he has four dogs, each as big as a buffalo," Talaborrejoined, rather absently.
"Buffalo!"
"Calf, I mean, of course; but it would certainly not be wise to take thegarrison out hunting just now."
"And why not? You are afraid of the Tartars, I suppose, like the rest!"
"No, sir! but if they do come, I should prefer their being afraid of us!Besides, there is no good in denying it--the wind never blows withoutcause, and there has been more than one report that the Tartars haveactually invaded us."
"Always the Tartars! How in the world should they find their way throughsuch woods as these unless you or I led them here?"
"If once the filthy creatures flood the country, it seems to me from allthat ever I have heard, that not a corner will be safe from them.They'll go even where they have no intention of going, just because oftheir numbers, because those behind will press them forward in any andevery direction."
"Well, it's true, certainly, that the last time I was with the master inPest, I heard they had done I don't know what not in Russia andWallachia. People said that wherever they forced their way they werelike--excuse me--like bugs, and not to be so easily got rid of, evenwith boiling water! And they are foul, disgusting folk, too! they poisonthe very air; and they eat up everything, to the very hog-wash!"
"So, Governor, you agree with me then! It's the man who keeps his eyesopen who controls the market! Who knows whether we mayn't have astruggle with them ourselves to-day or to-morrow!"
"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed the governor. "Our walls are strong, and, if onlythere are not very many of them----"
"Eh, sir, but numbers will make no difference! We are so enclosed herethat the closer they are packed the more of them our arrows will hit."
"True! true!" said the governor, with more animation now that there wasa question of fighting, "but they shoot too, blast them!"
"Let them!" said Talabor confidently, "we are behind our walls, and cansee every man of them without being seen ourselves."
"Clerk!" cried the governor, quite annoyed, "I declare you talk as ifthe Tartars were at the very gate!"
"Heaven forbid! but----"
At that instant the door flew open, and the gate-keeper, one of the mostvigilant fellows of the castle, rushed in.
"Get on with you, you ass!" shouted the governor, "what's the news? Whatdo you mean by leaving the gate and bolting in here as if the wolveswere at your heels?"
The governor might perhaps have gone on scolding, but the gate-keeperinterrupted him.
"Talabor--Mr. Governor, I mean, there are some suspicious-looking men onthe edge of the wood, if my eyes don't deceive me."
"On the edge of the wood? But it is rather dark to see so far," saidTalabor, standing up as he spoke.
"If it were not so dark, I could tell better who the rascals are; but somuch I can say, there they are, and a good lot of them."
"Very well," said Talabor, making a sign to the governor, "you are afaithful fellow to have noticed them; but we mustn't make any fuss, orour young mistress may be frightened."
"I am no
t usually given to fearing danger, Mr. Talabor," said Dora,entering the room at that moment, and speaking with cool dignity. "Ihave just been to the top of the look out myself, and what this honestfellow says is perfectly true. There are some men just inside the wood,and they do look suspicious, because they keep creeping about among theunderwood, and only now and then putting their heads out."
While his mistress spoke, the gate-keeper had stood there motionless.
"Come, go back to the gate," said Dora, turning to him, "and make haste!you heard what Mr. Talabor said; let him know at once if you notice anymovement among these people."
"And, Governor," she continued, "you had better place the guard and allthe men who can shoot at the loopholes, quietly, you know, not as if wewere expecting to be attacked; and then, the stones for the walls----"
"Pardon me, mistress," interposed Talabor, "I had stones, and everythingelse we might need, carried up a week ago."
"I know it, Mr. Talabor, I was not doubting it," Dora said in anunruffled tone, "but for all that, it will be as well to have morestones, I think. I believe myself that they are just brigands, notTartars, but even so, if they attack us at night, and in large numbers,all will depend upon the reception they get, so it seems to me."
Talabor said no more, but in his own mind he was fully persuaded thatthe suspicious-looking folk were the Mongols, and that they wereconcocting some plan for getting into the castle without attacking it.
"Your orders shall be obeyed, my young mistress," answered the governor.
"Talabor," Dora went on, as if to make up for her previous coldness, "Itrust to you to do everything necessary for our defence."
A few moments later Talabor was in the spacious courtyard, collectingthe men who formed the watch or guard, while the old governor hurriedwith some difficulty up the stairs which led to the porter's room, overthe gate.
All preparations were complete within a quarter of an hour.
Dora wrapped herself in a cloak and stationed herself in a wide balconyfacing the woods.
She had been very desirous of following her father and sharing all hisperils and dangers; but it must be confessed that at this moment she wasfilled with fear; so, too, she probably would have been if at herfather's side in battle, but she would have suppressed her fear then asshe was doing now, and would have shown herself as brave and resolute asany.
The doubtful-looking figures had vanished now from the wood, and, aidedby the moon which just then shone out through the clouds, Talabor'ssharp eyes detected three horsemen coming towards the gate. They wereriding confidently, though the path was steep and narrow, with a wall ofrock on one side and a sheer precipice on the other. They seemed to knowthe way.
"Talabor!" cried Dora, as she caught sight of him standing on the walljust opposite her, between the low but massive battlements.
"Directly!" answered Talabor, and with a whisper to JakA cubed the dog-keeper,who was beside him, he hurried down and came and stood below thebalcony, while Dora bent over it, saying in a pleased tone, "Do you see,there are guests arriving? I think they must be friends, or at leastacquaintances, by the way they ride."
"Yes, I do, mistress!" answered Talabor. "They have the appearance ofvisitors certainly, but they have come from those otherquestionable-looking folk, so we will be careful. Trust me, I have mywits about me."
"There are three," said Dora, after a short pause, and as if the answerdid not quite satisfy her. "How can we tell whether they have any evilintentions or not?"
"We shall see; but I must go back to my place."
"Go to the gate tower."
"I am going!" said Talabor, and without waiting for further orders, heran back, first to his former post on the wall, where he spoke to thewild-looking dog-keeper and the two armed men who had joined him, andthen to the tower flanking the gate, from a slit-like opening in whichhe could see the moat, and the space opposite formed by a clearing inthe wood.
The gate-keeper had not noticed the approach of the "guests," as Doracalled them, for the window was too narrow to give any view of thebreakneck path, along which the riders were advancing, now hidden in thehollows, now reappearing among the juniper bushes and wild roses. Theywere within a short distance of the moat now, and were making straightfor the gate.
"Quick!" said Talabor to the porter, "go and fetch the governor! I'lltake your place meantime; and tell him to be on his guard, but not toraise any alarm. It would be as well if he could get our young mistressto leave that open balcony, for some impudent arrow, if not a spear,might find its way there."
The gate-keeper stared for a moment, and then went off without a word.
The governor, finding day after day pass in peace, had cast care to thewinds for his own part, and had fallen into the way of constantlytesting the contents of Master Peter's well-filled cellar, in theprivacy of his own room. He was rather a dainty than greedy drinker, andthe wine, being pure, never affected his head, though it did not makehim more inclined to exert himself. Just now, however, he was carryingout Dora's orders, as he sat on a projection of the wall with his feetdangling down into the court. He would have had his pipe in his mouth,not a doubt of it, if tobacco had been known in those days.
While the gate-keeper was gone the three horsemen arrived.
"Hi! porter!" cried the foremost, whose figure, though not his features,was plainly discernible. He was mounted on a dark, undersized horse, andwas enveloped in a sort of cloak of primitive shape, much like thecoarse garment worn by swine-herds. His head was covered by a smallround helmet, like a half melon.
"Here I am, what do you want?" answered Talabor.
"I come by order of Master Peter Szirmay," answered the man. "TheTartars have broken into the country, and his Honour has sent agarrison, as he does not consider the present one sufficient."
"You are Libor the clerk!" said Talabor, at once recognising the forwardgovernor by his peculiar voice, which reminded him irresistibly of acock's crow.
"And who may you be?"
"Talabor, if his Honour the governor still remembers my poor name."
"Ah! all right, Clerk! just let them be quick with the drawbridge, forit is going to rain, and I have no fancy for getting wet."
"No fear, Mr. Libor. It is not blowing up for rain yet! But in theseperilous times, caution is the order of the day, and so, Mr. Libor, yourHonour will perhaps explain how it happens that Mr. Paul HA(C)dervAiry'sgallant governor has been sent to our assistance by our master. That weare in much need of help I don't deny."
"Why such a heap of questions? Mr. HA(C)dervAiry and some twenty or moreSzirmays are in the King's camp, and Master Peter has sent me with Mr.HA(C)dervAiry's consent, as being a man to be trusted."
"A man to be trusted? And since when have you been a man to be trusted,Governor? Since when have people come to trust a scamp? You take carethat I don't tell Master Peter something about you!"
"Mr. Talabor!" cried Libor haughtily, "have the drawbridge lowered atonce! I have orders to garrison the castle. And pray where is thegovernor? and since when have such pettifoggers as you been allowed tomeddle in Master Peter's affairs?"
"Here is the governor," said old Moses at this moment. Curiosity, andjust a little spice of uneasiness had brought him quickly to the tower,and he had heard Libor's last angry words.
Talabor at once gave up his place to him, but neither he nor the porterleft the room.
"Oh, Mr. Governor," said Libor in a tone of flattery, "I am glad indeedto be able to speak to the real governor at last, instead of to thatwind-bag of a fellow. I know Mr. Moses _deAik_, and how long he has beenin Master Peter's confidence as his right hand."
Then, slightly raising his voice, he went on: "The promised garrison hasarrived. It is here close at hand by Master Peter's orders, and is onlywaiting for the drawbridge to place itself under Mr. Moses' command."
Before making any answer to this, the governor turned to Talabor with alook of inquiry, which seemed to say, "It is all quite correct. MasterPeter himself ha
s sent Governor Libor here, and there is no reason whywe should not admit the reinforcements."
"Mr. Governor," whispered Talabor, with his hand on his sword, "say youwill let Mr. Libor himself in and that you will settle matters with himover a cup of wine."
"Good," said the governor, who liked this suggestion very well. Then heshouted down through the opening, "Mr. Libor, before I admit thegarrison, I should be pleased to see you in the castle by yourself! I amsure you must be tired after your long journey, and it will do you goodto wet your whistle with a cup or two of wine; and then, as soon as wehave had a look at things all round, I will receive your good fellowswith open arms."
"Who is in command of this guard?" inquired Talabor, coming to thewindow again.
"Myself! until I hand my men over to the governor. But I don't answeryou again, Clerk Talabor! What need is there of anyone else while goodMr. Moses is alive? But I can't come and feast inside while my men areleft hungry and thirsty without. I will summon them at once! and eventhen they can come only single file up this abominable road where onerisks one's life at every step."
"Indeed so, Mr. Libor? Well, if you have all your wits about you, wehave not quite taken leave of ours. You would like to come in with yourtroop, but we should like first to have the pleasure of being madepersonally acquainted with your two wooden figures there! I understandyou, sir! but you should have come when times were better. These areevil days! Who knows whether Master Peter is even alive, and whether Mr.HA(C)dervAiry's governor has not come to take possession and turn this timeof confusion to his own advantage?"
So spoke Talabor, and Governor Moses was a little shaken out of hisconfidence. Indeed, the whole affair seemed strange. Surely, thought he,if Master Peter had wished to strengthen the garrison he would havefound someone to send besides the clerk, Libor; for he, of course, knewnothing of the latter's recent military advancement; and then again,Talabor was so prudent that during the past weeks the governor had cometo look on him as a sort of oracle.
"Then you won't admit the guard?" said Libor wrathfully.
"We have not said that," answered Moses; "but if you have come on anhonest errand, come in first by yourself; show me a line of writing, orsome other token, and we shall know at once what we are about."
"Writing? token? Isn't the living word more than any writing? And isn'tit token enough that I, the HA(C)dervAirys' governor, am here myself?"
"The garrison are not coming into the castle!" cried Talabor. "There areenough of us here, and we don't want any more mouths to feed! But if youyourself wish to come in, you may, and then we shall soon see how thingsare."
"Mr. Governor!" shouted Libor in a fury, "I hold you responsible foranything that may happen! who knows whether some stray band of Tartarsmay not find their way up here to-day or to-morrow, and who is going tostand against them?"
"We! I!" said Talabor. "Make your choice, if you please! Come in alone,or--nobody will be let in, and we will take the responsibility."
So saying Talabor went forward, and looking down through the loophole,exclaimed, "Why, Mr. Libor, who are those behind you?"
"TA cubedtok (Slovacks), they don't understand Hungarian," answered Libor; andin a louder voice he added, "Let the drawbridge down at once, I willcome in alone."
"Talabor!" said Dora, coming hastily into the room, "I see a wholenumber of men coming up the road. What does it mean?"
"It means treachery, mistress! Mr. HA(C)dervAiry's governor, Libor, _deAik_,is here asking for admittance, and I suspect mischief. I believe therascal means to take the castle," said Talabor.
"No one must be admitted," answered Dora.
As Dora spoke, Governor Moses turned round. The old man was not yetclear in his own mind what they ought to do.
If the reinforcements had really come from Master Peter, why then therewas no reason why they should not be admitted; and, left to himself, hewould certainly have let both Libor and all his followers in withoutdelay. But Talabor had "driven a nail into his head" which caused him tohesitate, and Dora's commands were peremptory.
"Excuse me, Mr. Governor," said Dora, "and allow me to come to thewindow."
"Mr. Libor," she went on, in a voice which trembled a little, "please towithdraw yourself and your men, and go back wherever you have come from.If we are attacked we will defend ourselves, and you must all be wantedelsewhere, if it is true, as I hear, that the Tartars have invaded thecountry."
"Dearest young lady! Your father will be greatly vexed by thisobstinacy."
"That's enough, Libor!" said Talabor, with a sign to Dora, who drewback. "We shall let no one into the castle, not even Master Peter's ownbrother, unless he can show us Master Peter's ring, for those were hisprivate instructions to me."
"Why didn't you say so before?" muttered Moses to himself; and then, asif annoyed that his master should have thought it necessary to giveprivate instructions to any but himself, in the event of such anunforeseen emergency as the present, he called down to Libor, "It isquite true! I asked you for a token myself just now, for I have had myinstructions too."
"I'll show it as soon as we are in the castle," returned Libor.
"Treachery!" said Talabor, addressing Dora. "The castle is strong, andit will be difficult to attack it. We will answer for that! Don't haveany anxiety about anything, dear young lady; but hasten back to your ownrooms and don't risk your precious life, for I expect the dance willbegin directly."
Talabor's manly self-possession had reassured her, and she looked athim with animation equal to his own; then, not wishing to wound thefeelings of the governor, she shook him by the hand for the first timein her life, saying, "Moses, _deAik_! if they should really attack us, Itrust entirely to you and Mr. Talabor. And, now, everyone to his post! Iam not a Szirmay for nothing! and I know how to behave, if the home ofmy ancestors is attacked!"
And having hurriedly uttered these words, Dora withdrew.
"Very well then, as you please!" shouted Libor furiously. "Hungariandogs! you shall get what you have earned!"
With that he turned his horse's head, and not long after the whole bodyof mounted men had reached the open space fronting the gate.
"Hungarian dogs!" thundered the governor, "then the rascally whelp canactually slander his own race!"
A few moments more, and not only the horsemen who wore the Hungariancostume, but also a hundred or so of filthy, monkey-faced Mongols onfoot, were all assembled before the castle, these latter having climbedthe rocks as if they had been so many wild cats. It was easy to see atonce that they were not Hungarians.
"Yes! Hungarian dogs, that's what you are!" shouted Libor, "and I am aKnA(C)z of his Highness, the Grand Khan Oktai, and I shall spit every manof you!"
So saying, he hurried away, and was lost in the throng.