The hussars dispersed, and entered the cottages in search of food, while I was pushed into the kitchen and dumped down not too softly on the floor.
Ober and the man called Franz remained on guard, and very kindly gave me a share of the black bread, fat bacon, and sour wine which formed their supper.
The food was hardly suitable for delicate stomachs, but my last meal had been supper on the previous night, and I was not in a mood to be particular.
Von Theyer, I suppose, went to see that everything was made safe, as he did not come in till nearly dark, and then passed with two other officers to the inner room.
He spoke a word to Ober, but took no more notice of me than if I had been a log of wood.
"Colonel's in one of his black fits," grumbled Ober to his comrade. "He'll make us smart for not catching that brigand."
"Wait till he does. Time enough to grumble then," replied the other coolly. "Who's going to take the first watch--you or I?"
Ober leaned over to examine my fastenings.
"Ach!" growled he. "We might as well both go to sleep. The Magyar's safe enough, and I'm as tired as a dog."
"All right. It's your head at stake--not mine. But we'll make doubly sure;" and getting some more rope, he tied me to himself.