This acrobatic feat required such an effort that he himself fell on his back—but it succeeded.
The robber, feeling himself in the air, lost his head, and left hold of Lorand's arm for a moment, with the intention of gripping his hair; in that moment he was thrown off and fell alone into the lime-pit.
Lorand leaped up at once from the ground and, tired out, leaned against the trunk of a tree, searching for his opponent everywhere, and not finding him.
A minute later from amidst the white lime-mud there rose an awful figure which clambered out on the opposite side of the pit, and with a yell of pain rushed away into the courtyard and out into the street.
Lorand, exhausted and half dazed, listened to that beast-like howl gradually diminishing in the distance.
CHAPTER XXIX
THE SPIDER IN THE CORNER
That day about noon the old gypsy woman who told Czipra her fortune had shuffled into Sárvölgyi's courtyard, and finding the master out on the terrace, thanked him that he did not set his dogs upon her—did not tear her to pieces.
"I wish you a very good day, sir, and every blessing that is on earth or in Heaven."