I hardly heard the colonel's orders. My head was in a whirl. I walked or ran just when and where the others did, wondering all the time what Stephen would do.
What a triumph for Count Beula!
Hitherto I had feared for my brother's life; now I would have cheerfully laid down mine that he might have a chance of risking his. Guided by the flashes of light and the sound of the guns, we ran on, hoping we might yet be in time to strike one blow.
The dawn was breaking; we could see our way more clearly, and were getting near enough to hear the shouts and cries of the combatants.
"Forward, my brave lads! forward!" I cried excitedly. "We shall do it yet!" But alas for my hopes! Suddenly there came a wave of cheering, and then, as if to herald the first pink streak of the opening day, the triumphant notes were heard of a song well known to most of us. The attack had failed. The victorious garrison were jubilantly singing the Austrian National Anthem, "Heil, unser Kaiser, heil!" as our three shattered columns hastily fled.
Seeing that for the present all was lost, Rakoczy halted his column, and in shame and confusion we retraced our steps.
Really it was a fortunate circumstance we had thus blundered, as the breach was not fit, and the scaling-ladders had been found too short for their purpose.
Our comrades, whose losses were enormous, had struggled gallantly, and by common consent the bravest man among them was Count Beula.
Everywhere we heard the most marvellous tales of his daring and recklessness. He had fought in the very front, had cheered his men again and again to the attack, and, while they fell around him in scores, had himself remained unharmed.
He had not got his foot inside Buda, but his reputation was established, and it was acknowledged he had made his vaunt good.