CHAPTER XXXV.
It really looked as if Raby's flight had been a predetermined affair, sothat allowing him to get off in woman's clothes, the authorities mightrecapture him to lead him back to Pesth in triumph, more degraded thanever in the public eyes, only that the appearance of Villam Pistasomewhat disturbed this hypothesis.
Villam Pista, otherwise Fruzsinka, in fact, had learned from spies thatRaby had escaped from prison, having pitched her camp in theneighbouring forest--a fitting abode for the half-crazed woman who nowlived at enmity with all the world, though she boasted that what sherobbed the rich of she divided among the poor--a sentiment which causedthe ten thousand ducats to be taken off Gyongyom Miska's head and set onhers. But when she heard of the pursuit of Raby, her heart smote herwith pity for the man she had so cruelly wronged, who was now apersecuted fugitive.
With her companions she had lain concealed in the forest near the inn,till the arrival of the Pesth heydukes warned her that the time forreprisals had come--with what results we have seen.
But she only learned in what disguise Raby had fled, when she saw him.In an instant her plan was formed. The Pesth pursuers were all around;if Raby escaped them, he would be taken at the Austrian frontier, where,seeing the Hungarian trappings of his horse, they would relegate him tothe Pesth authorities to deal with. And meditating on this thought, shere-entered the inn. "She has escaped me," she cried, "and has dashed offon one of the heyduke's horses."
"You don't mean to say my cousin has run away!" cried Kurovicsanxiously. And he made as though to follow the fugitive Serb maiden.
"Not so fast, my friend," exclaimed the robber-chief, "besides you havenot told me your name." And she questioned the two closely as to theirantecedents--questions which they did their best to evade.
"Well, by way of passing the time, suppose I teach you how to dance!We'll just see what you can do?"
And with that, the pretended brigand took out an axe from under his coatand dexterously threw it at Kurovics, so that he jumped up nervously asit fell with its edge close to him.
But the noise of shots fired without, arrested these diversions. VillamPista did not stop even to pick up the axe, but snatching the rifle fromthe table bounded out to face this new alarm.
Outside there stood her horse, which quickly mounting, she shouted toher followers who were awaiting her orders, and galloped away into thenight. The fresh party of heydukes, with this new enemy to run down,forgot all about Raby (for on his head only two hundred ducats were set,while it was a matter of ten thousand with Villam Pista). And thatchieftain was thinking that this delay would give Raby time to cross theriver, while the frontier guards' attention would be distracted by theshots fired. Two of the pursuers at last succeeded in running downVillam Pista, and in cutting him off from his comrades.
They were closing upon him in a thicket, and no outlet remained.
"Is it the ten thousand ducats you are seeking?" laughed their enemycontemptuously, as she took two pistols out of the holster, and seizedthe while her horse's bridle in her mouth. And just as the assailantsapproached closer, the robber fired, aiming not at the riders, but attheir steeds. Both beasts fell, the one with his rider under him, theother on his knees, so that the heyduke was thrown over the horse'shead.
Villam Pista clapped his hands and laughed aloud. "Now you can overtakemy husband," cried the false highwayman, and for the moment the oldFruzsinka asserted herself.
Then she vanished into the thicket, the gathering fog hiding all traceof her, even as might disappear some wild valkyr of the old legends.