By the light of a few torches, a hideous crowd was seen before the windows, armed with scythes and axes, which they were brandishing with fearful menaces.
"Lock all the doors!" cried Jozsef Bardy, with calm presence of mind. "Barricade the great entrance, and take the ladies and children to the back rooms. You must not lose your heads, but all assemble together in the turret-chamber, from whence the whole building may be protected. And taking down two good rifles from over his bed, he hastened to his elder brother Tamas's apartments, and overlooked the court.
Have you heard the noise?" asked his brother as he entered.
"I knew it would come," he replied, and coolly continued to pace the room.
"And are you not preparing for defense?"
"To what purpose?—they will kill us all. I am quite prepared for what must inevitably happen."
"But it will not happen if we defend ourselves courageously. We are eight men—the walls of the castle are strong—the besiegers have no guns, and no place to protect them; we may hold out for days until assistance comes from Kolozsvar."
"We shall lose," replied Tamas coldly, and without the slightest change of countenance.
"Then I shall defend the castle myself. I have a wife and children, our old grandmother and our sisters are here, and I shall protect them, if I remain alone."
At that instant Barnabas and old Simon entered with the widowed sister.