"To Görgei or to death. I don't know which."
"I am not to fight?"
"No. Put your weapons down, and mine."
The Russian officer must have seen this performance, as I heard him calling off his men; and though I had not intended to deceive him, his mistake gave me a little extra time. This I utilized to take off my boots, a proceeding which greatly interested Mecsey; and then the Russian leader approached us.
"You have made a plucky attempt," he said in German, "but the luck is against you. Now, you yield yourself prisoner, and we will return together like good friends."
He was a nice fellow, that Russian officer, and I learned later that his courage equalled his generosity.
His German was far from good, but I understood him, and smiled.
Then, with a last word of farewell to Mecsey and a friendly gesture to my courteous enemy, I jumped into the river, which disappeared beneath the rocks.
Before striking the water I had filled my lungs with air, and it was well for me that I had done so.
I was a strong swimmer, but strength could avail nothing in this desperate venture.