"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.
Barnabas had a huge twenty-pound iron club in his hand; grinding his teeth, and with eyes darting fire, he seemed capable of meeting single-handed the whole troop.
He was followed by the widow, with two loaded pistols in her hand, and old Simon, who entreated them not to use violence or exasperate the enemy.
"Conduct yourselves bravely!" replied the widow dryly; "let us not die in vain."
"Come with me—we shall send them all to hell!" cried Barnabas, swinging his club in his herculean arm as if it had been a reed.