HARD WORK AT PESTH.
"Rakoczy! Not dead? Where did you spring from? Vienna? Been helping the prolétaires? No? Then you must have been plotting treason with the imperialists. But come into my tent. Who are your companions? I can see they are true Magyars. Sons of the late General Botskay?--Welcome, my lads! Your name alone would draw a welcome from any Magyar in the country."
A tall man, plainly dressed in the uniform of a major of Honveds, having a strong, wiry, but spare frame, his hair cut quite close to his head, sharp eyes--their light half hidden behind spectacles--his face hard and weather-beaten, with a reddish undergrowth of beard; such in appearance was Arthur Görgei, who was to become, without exception, the most famous general in Hungary.
From Vienna we had journeyed to Presburg, and thence to Raab, following the Hungarians, who were moving back on Comorn, and overtaking them at Raab.
Rakoczy, who had known Görgei in private life, immediately inquired for the general, and we were conducted to him.
"Haven't any refreshments to offer you," he continued, when we were inside the tent; "but never mind--somebody has."
He went to the opening, and we heard him say,--
"Here, Sturitz! Borrow me a bottle of wine or two, and some glasses.--So, old fellow, you've been watching the fight? Didn't you long to join in? How did the good citizens like to see our retreat from Schwechat?"
"Not at all. They were dumfounded. They couldn't believe it possible that the Hungarians were running away."
The general clapped the speaker on the back, and laughed with the most frank good-humour.