After awhile some few of the Tartar-Magyars returned from the placeswhere they had hidden themselves, and were re-Magyarised; but never, tothe day of their death, were they reinstated in the good graces of theirneighbours. The King, however, was more merciful than the populace.There were so few Magyars left that he was disposed to cherish lovinglythe scanty remnants, and not only showed lasting gratitude to those whohad shared with him the time of adversity, and rewarded all who haddistinguished themselves by acts of courage or self-devotion, but heeven became blind and deaf when any were denounced as turncoats.
Among the many who received the King's thanks for their loyalty, Talaborwas not overlooked. How he had repulsed the Mongol attack upon MasterPeter's castle, how loyal and devoted he had been to the Szirmay family,and especially how he had saved Father Roger from the wolves, was allknown to the King, who gave him a considerable property, the renewal ofhis patent of nobility, and the surname of VA(C)dvAir, _i.e._,castle-defender.
Father Roger became in time Archbishop of Spalatro, and in his"Lamentable Song" he left to future generations a full account of thetime of terror and misery through which the nation had passed.
Hungary had learnt something from her trouble, and the next time theMongols thought of invading her they were promptly driven back.
As for the treacherous Duke of Austria, he lived to see his neighbourmore firmly established on the throne than any of his predecessors hadbeen, and just five years after all the mischief he had done during theMongol invasion, he lost his life in battle with the Hungarians, orrather with the vanguard of the army, which, by a singular nemesis,consisted mainly of Kunok; and the three counties which had been sounjustly obtained by him were again united to the fatherland.
THE END.
_Jarrold & Sons, Limited, the Empire Press, Norwich._