Now in this awful moment Lorand knew that all this was possible. A man feels the extent of his manliness, left all to himself in the midst of danger.
He too was hunting, matched against the most dangerous of all beasts of prey—the beasts called "men."
Two he had already laid low. He had found his mark as well as the lion-hunter had found his.
He heard steps of the animals he was hunting approaching his ambuscade on two sides: and the leader of all stood there under cover, leaning against a pillar of the verandah, ready to spring, ten paces away. He had only two charges, with which he had to defend himself against attack from three sides.
Dangerous sport!
One of the robbers who hurried from the servants' hall disappeared among the trees in the garden, while the other remained behind.
Lorand quietly aimed at the first: he had to aim low for fear of firing above him in the dark.
It was well that he had followed his uncle's advice to use shot instead of bullets. The shot lamed both the robber's legs: he fell in his flight and stumbled among the bushes.
The one who followed was alarmed, and standing in the distance fired in Lorand's direction.
Lorand, after his shot, immediately fell on his knees: and it was very lucky he did so, for in the next moment Kandur discharged both his barrels from beside the pillar, and the aim was true, as Lorand discovered from the fact that the bullets dislodged leaves just above his head, that came fluttering down upon him.