"Now take three steps toward him," said Azraele to the dazed knight, "and speak to him."
Corsar Bey approached the figure before him with tottering steps, and said in a hoarse, quavering voice:
"My name is Corsar Bey; and you, accursed shade, who are you?"
"I am Balassa," said the spirit with a clear voice.
The white shroud fell off and revealed a mighty man with unsheathed sword in his hands.
"Corsar Bey, you are my prisoner," he said to the Turk, who stood petrified at the sudden turn.
The next moment the Bey put his hand to his side and not finding any sword there, ran with a cry of rage to his horse, threw himself into the saddle and used his spurs, but Oglan held the horse firmly with the bridle in his teeth, and when the horse tried to move, the panther dug his claws into him and held him back.
"To Hell with you, you cursed beast," yelled Corsar, foaming with rage, and gave the panther a kick.
But the panther only pulled the bridle this way and that, stood in the horse's way and frightened him with its leaps, compelling him to circle about.
"Speak to your beast, Azraele," screamed the Bey, turning around, and looking for his beloved saw her in the arms of the young Hungarian.