That Count Beula could on occasion be brave as a lion I already knew, and he was yet to give me another proof.
We were, as I have said, distancing the cavalry in our rear, when a loud shout proclaimed a new and more serious danger.
The Austrians, by dividing their forces, had cleverly placed us between two fires.
A second body, instead of entering the village, had worked round to the right, and now debouched into the road in front of us; while their comrades, who had purposely held their horses back, dashed up at full speed.
The robber chief took in the situation at a glance.
"Trapped!" said he; "and in the very worst place. Smart fellow, that Austrian."
At the certainty of a desperate fight Count Beula lost his paleness. His face glowed with healthy excitement; he looked round on the band of brigands as if he were leading a regiment.
At the first sight of the enemy we had, almost without thinking, slackened our pace, and now Batori halted us altogether.
Riding to the front, he turned to his men.
"My lads," said he, "we're in a hole; but it isn't the first. You know what happens on these occasions. Those who get out will ride with me again; those who don't--" And he concluded with a pantomimic gesture which made Beula shudder.