Then, early in the morning of the fourth day, we set out to ride to Arad by a circuitous route, as the main road was barred by the Russians.
The people of the villages, who freely gave us food and shelter, were filled with strange rumours which totally contradicted one another.
At one place we heard that Kossuth was at Arad with Görgei; at the next it was believed he had fled into Turkey. Each man, I think, believed the report which best fitted in with his inclination.
At last we struck the trail of Görgei's army, and all our informants agreed that the fearful forced marches had told on the troops terribly.
They were short of provisions and forage; the men were half-starved, the horses like skeletons.
This we learned from the villagers, while I knew for certain there could be but a small supply of ammunition.
Then shock followed shock in quick succession. Dembinski, who had never tried to reach Arad at all, was totally defeated by the Austrians under the walls of Temesvar, which had held out against part of our forces for one hundred and seven days.
Following this came the news that Kossuth had resigned his office and fled, leaving Görgei to act as he thought proper.
"That's a good dodge," said Mecsey. "Our general's bound to surrender unless he wants all his men slaughtered; and then everybody will throw mud at him--call him a traitor, very likely."
I laughed at this prophecy, little dreaming how my heart would ache at its fulfilment.