"I mounted the stairs first."
"I fought nearly half an hour with the noble in the cloth of gold."
And thus they continued. Each man, according to his own account, was the first and the bravest—each had performed miracles of valour.
"You have all behaved with great daring; but it is impossible now to prove what has happened. The proof must be given here, by all of you together, before my eyes, indisputably."
"Well, tell us how," said Lupuj impatiently, always fearing that the Decurio was going to deceive them.
"Look here," said Numa, drawing a small cask from beneath the bed—and in doing so he observed that the young girl half opened her eyes, as she glanced at him, and then closed them. She was awake, and had heard all.
As he stooped down, Numa whispered gently in her ear: "Fear nothing," and then drew the cask into the middle of the room.
The Wallachians stared with impatient curiosity as he knocked out the bottom of the cask with a hatchet.
"This cask contains gunpowder," continued the Decurio. "We will light a match and place it in the middle of the cask, and whoever remains longest in the room is undoubtedly the most courageous; for there is enough here to blow up not only this house, but the whole of the neighbouring village."