Two or three days after the consultation mentioned above, Dora sent forher two devoted followers.
It was quite early in the morning, but she was already dressed for goingout--for a journey it seemed, though, in spite of the bitter cold, shewore none of her rich furs. Except that she was cleaner and neater,there was nothing to distinguish her from the poorest peasant-girltramping from one village to another, or perhaps going on a distantpilgrimage.
In the narrow belt, which she wore in the ancient Magyar fashion, roundher waist, she had hidden a few pieces of gold; on her feet she hadthick, heavy boots, and over her shoulders hung a rough cloak ofantiquated cut, which might be put over her head like a hood ifnecessary.
Somehow Talabor had never admired her so much before as he did now.Moses stared at her wide-eyed, for of late he had seen her always inblack.
The old huntsman looked as if he were wondering what new madness thismight mean, and one can hardly be surprised at him. But he was alwaysrespectful to Dora, and next to the old castle, and the woods, andMaster Peter, he loved her better than anything else in the world!Talabor came next to her in his affections, but a good way behind.
"Mr. Moses," began Dora gravely, addressing him first as she always did,because he was governor, in name at least, if not in fact, "I think thetime has come for us to follow your advice; we have not men enough todefend the castle, and if it is true that the whole country is laidwaste, it is very likely that one of the horrible Tartars who camebefore will take it into his head to come again. Besides, the thieveswho have deserted us know how few we are, and how much plate there isin the chests; and what is to hinder their coming back? Well, at anyrate, I have made up my mind to leave the castle, but I mean to be thelast. I shall not go until I know that every one is as safe as he canbe."
"I don't stir a step without you, mistress," exclaimed Moses.
"I am Dora Szirmay, Master Peter's daughter, and my faithful governorwill obey my orders!" returned Dora, in tones so decided that it wasplain she had not forgotten how to command.
Mr. Moses was silenced, and Dora went on, still in the same grave way,"I know that you are faithful, that no one is truer to my father and methan yourself, and so I can give you my orders with trust andconfidence. You, Mr. Moses, and everyone that is left in the castle,except Talabor and GAibor, will go to-day as soon as it is dusk, to oldGA?dri, the charcoal-burner. You can take JakA cubed's pony with you in caseanyone should be tired, and be sure you take all the arms you can carry.The food, too, you must take all that, though I am afraid there is notmuch left, for we have all been hungry for some time past, if we havenot been actually famished. When that is gone, there are the woods; andno hunter ever died of starvation."
"But yourself, my dear young mistress?" asked Moses.
"I stay here in the meantime with Talabor and GAibor. You know all I wishdone besides, good Mr. Moses," said Dora gently, with a smile, rathersad than cheerful.
"I need not tell you all to be prudent," she continued. "That we mustevery one of us be. Take all the care you can of yourselves!"
"And what about the horses?"
"They must be turned out. They will find masters: we need not betroubled about them; and if they don't, they can roam where they will,and there will be grass under the snow, down in the valleys. JakA cubed mighttake Fecske (Swallow), if he thinks he could feed her; it would be apity for her to fall into the hands of the Tartars."
"Fecske" was Dora's own favourite horse.
"You understand me, don't you, Mr. Moses?"
"Yes, young mistress; but--" he added uneasily, "what of the castle andeverything?"
"Well, Mr. Moses, you were the first to call attention to the unsafestate of the castle, weren't you? So what more can we do? We can'tdefend it, we can't live in it, we can't carry it with us! Now you willstart to-day, all of you, except Talabor, GAibor, and myself; and youmust trust everything else to us!"
Moses would dearly have liked to raise a multitude of furtherobjections, but he could not, perhaps did not dare. Just as he was aboutto leave the room, Dora stopped him, saying, "One thing more, Governor;when all is ready, let them all come to this room."
Mr. Moses departed, and turning to Talabor, Dora asked him what hethought of her arrangements. She spoke more brightly now, and Talaboranswered calmly and respectfully, "I will obey you, mistress! But, Ishould like to make one little remark--it is not anything concerningmyself----"
"No preamble, Talabor!" said Dora, who looked more cheerful everymoment. "Make any remarks you wish, and I will hear you out, because Iknow you don't speak from fear."
"Well, lady, wouldn't it be better to keep JakA cubed with you, instead ofGAibor? GAibor is a good, trusty fellow and active, but he is not equal toJakA cubed."
"I am not going to keep more than one with me, and that is yourself,Talabor! For safety's sake I must travel on foot, like a pilgrim, andwith as few followers as possible. Why I am keeping GAibor is that I wantto send him to seek my father by one route, while we take another. JakA cubedis the only one of the others who is capable of thinking and acting forthem. If I take him they have no one. Don't you think, now, that I amright?"
Talabor assented, and no more was said, but when he realised that he wasto be Dora's sole guardian and travelling companion, he felt as if hehad the strength of a young lion.